I was expecting to share with you some interesting thoughts about O.Children at the Lexington; unfortunately they were on at 8.30 and I was still at home. I had spent the afternoon in a (photo) studio with Rubella, and by we had gone our separate ways it was quite late. Over the years many bands have talked of doing some publicity photos and I have even suggested it to some. But is really rare that any band actually organises a real date and does them.I am not criticising them, but it’s just a question of priorities and most bands don’t prioritise photos (even for free). And most bands I would not trust enough to book a studio. Rubella are different in that they understand that being a successful band is about more than music, they are also reliable people who enjoy posing :-) It's a good day and we should have some good pictures. In the evening I end up in Camden to give them copies of the photos. We have a nice chat and I see no bands at all. Its a pleasant drink at the Enterprise though.

My photographic vision, or why I may never be a great photographer........
I'm impatient and lazy in the studio. A real, top photographer would spend ages getting everything just right for each shot. I tend to try and get a generally good set up and then just take a shotgun approach. So my shots are rarely technically perfect. On the plus side my approach tends to be less scary and allows the subject(s) to express themselves. By definition getting the detail perfect makes the subjects feel controlled and manipulated, bored and uncomfortable, and the shoots therefore are liable to look stiff and unnatural.
So I'm not really unhappy to sacrifice technical excellence for photos with soul. But my first look at the photos always makes me think if only I'd moved that chair 1ft forward you wouldn't have the flare in the hair. This is particularly the case when I was aware of the potential problem at the time but too lazy to sort it out.
Anyway the most important thing is that they are happy with them - alright that was a total lie. The most important thing is that I like them.....but I do like them more if the subject likes them. (adapted slightly from a note I sent Rubella after the shoot explaining why I always find the first look through the shots disappointing)

Rubella are playing Levi's Ones to Watch with Underground Railroad headlining. I turn up early to catch Bleech sound checking over the road at Proud Galleries. Bleech have new amps that they want photos of for the vendor. It's quite fun to get a few posed pictures and the lights are much better than I have ever seen during an actual gig at Proud.

As I know Jason on the door at the Barfly I end up catching Rubella's soundcheck too (other people are sent back to the bar, whilst I breeze upstairs not realising it isn't open). It's not long until they are playing for real. I thought I detected a little tension or nerves during the soundcheck, but once they are playing for real they soon settle down and seem at home in front of a decent crowd.Some of Noush's humour may be a bit dry for some of the crowd, but some of us appreciate it. They do a a solid set culminating in their cover of I kissed a girl which gets a good reception from the girls in the audience; I see worried looks on the faces of some of the boys.The set ends with both Noush and (less surprisingly) Gems on the floor in front of the stage. Noush assures me that this was spontaneous. It's a stunning way to end the set. I'm feeling worn out just from trying to photograph it.
After another drink I think I might as well pop over the road and catch Bleech's set at Proud (as their sound check was so impressive).

ps Noush later assured me she wouldn't be jumping off any more stages and she had hurt her arm.

You might think it odd that with me seeing so many bands and being so ancient that I should get so excited about particular bands. You must surely have spotted my continued excitement with Little Fish and anyone who I ever talk to will be sick of hearing how good Death Cigarettes are (and they are playing tomorrow).
I am excited by Rubella tonight. I enjoyed them when I saw their first gig last October, but I think they are improving all the time. As someone who sees a lot of gigs it is interesting to see how the other bands on the bill react to a band. Rubella seem to get a fairly consistent good response (more than professionally polite).
Sometimes its good to have a less exciting evening, but in general I guess I wouldn't bother going out if I wasn't excited by the bands - I could stay in and go through thousands of negatives from years ago !
Rubella play a song for me; not a dedication but a song they have added to their set tonight (and worked on at rehearsals) because I said I liked it. For all the bands and gigs I have seen I'm sure this is a first. I'm rather touched.

Tonight is a nightmare for bands playing who I want to see.  Rubella seem to be playing early and Eugene Machine late in Camden. This seems to be a good bet for trying to see more than one of the gigs tonight. When there is no Victoria line for over 30 minutes (eventually revealed as a broken down train at Kings Cross) I arrive at Stockwell after Rubella should have played. I arrive to find them sitting at the bar showing no signs of having just played a gig. In fact the 5 bands of the evening have become 3 so those remaining have new stage times. This is a two-edged sword: I haven't missed Rubella's set, but by they actually play it is too late to go anywhere else.
I'm sure the other gigs that I didn't make were all good and I would have enjoyed any of them. But I enjoyed the evening with Rubella and have no regrets. I just wish that everyone didn't play on the same nights (and that Eugene Machine played less rarely).
Noush is a little drunk by Rubella get to play at 10.15 and batters the audience with some blunt words. An encounter with a heckler is handled well. It's interesting to see several people approaching the band afterwards expressing their appreciation. They are all women and I think the men may be scared of Noush.

Noush announces that this is as far north as she has ever been. It does seem a long way from Camden or Hoxton. The crowd is real and you don't need a mortgage to buy a drink.  It's a big stage and powerful lights. When they play the lights are such that Gems looks like she is playing Wembley and Noush looks like she's in a brothel. But these quibbles aside, it's a good evening. The boys from King of Conspiracy have turned up; it's always nice to see bands support each other. So who is Natasha?

Rubella are playing over the road at the New Cross Inn. There's not much choice for eating in New Cross, but I find a reasonable kebab. When I get to the venue it doesn't look open but I walk in and get a drink as the headlining band (here) are setting up to soundcheck. They sound quite good but they are playing at the same time as Kasms over the road. Rubella arrive as I am enjoying a pint of even cheaper Guiness than in the student union. For a London venue £2.50 must surely be the cheapest price for a pint of Guiness. It's nice to chat with Rubella again, even though I only saw them last night it quieter at the moment. Even their boyfriends have decided it's too far to travel; I think I am probably the pnly person to have seen them both nights. They do a good set, probably helped by last night's good warm up.
We watch the Bobby McGees who aredifficult to describe. However you describe them I'm sure I would think they don't sound like a band I would like. But they are teriffic performers and their set is hugely enjoyable. Next up are the 'Lovely Eggs', a duo from Lancasterwho manage to combine some serious music with humerous chatter. Again very enjoyable. Next up is Helen McCookerybook who used to be in a band called the Chefs who I think I probably saw years ago. She looks kind of familiar. But as Rubella have decided its time to make a move, I head out with them. They go home and I head back to Goldsmiths SU where Kasms will play.

Dilemmas tonight: I hearts are at Madame JoJos headlining and Ghostcat playing earlyish at the Water Rats. Rubella are playing their first gig of the year, in Hoxton Square. Its a new venue to me - Underbelly. At first I thought I should be able to see one of the other gigs depending when Rubella play, but Gemma's boyfriend is in a band who are also playing and I have said I will photograph their first gig. Rival Eyes arev flaying first and Rubella last, so I settle here for the evening.
On a typical night I don't pay much attention to more than 1 or 2 bands as once I've photographed a band I like to relax with a beer or go home. Sometimes it seems a bit rude, but one can only concentrate so long and processing pictures of random bands takes a long time. So photographing first and last bands of a bill is unusual and tonight I watch the two bands in between properly. I have come upon King of Conspiracy a couple of times and have a positive impression of them, but on neither occassion have I given them proper attention. Tonight I am impressed and even take some pictures.
Rival Eyes make a good impression on their first gig and they seem confident with good songs and movement, although Mat tells me afterwards that they were very nervous. I think they will get comparisons with Blondie because they rather remind me of Blondie and Aimee has a big mop of blonde hair. I had no idea what the band would be like when said I'd photograph them so its really good to find that they are worth seeing. Hopefully they will get some songs on myspace soon.
Rubella do a typically agressive punky set and are lovely to talk to before and afterwards.

Today we have a work lunch in Soho followed by drinks in a pub in Bloomsbury. Rubella are playing Catch in Shoreditch; Kaputt are playing the Water Rats. I had harboured thoughts of doing both, but had my doubts about how I would feel after an afternoon in the pub. I therefore declined Kaputt's kind offer of a place on their guestlist, as I never get on a guestlist and don't turn up. It turned out that the pub we were in was a short bus ride to Catch. Although not a great venue its pleasant enough. So my record of seeing all of Rubella's gigs continues. It's a bit quiet when they play at 8.15. I decide that I should get an early night rather than waiting for the main band Slow Blade who are good, and on any other night I would have stayed to see.