2009 has been a truly monumental year for me. I’ve been an avid concert goer for many years and have always loved photography but this year I decided to put my greatest two loves together and document the Melbourne music scene. Everyone calls me “Carbie”, as in carburettor. I am a music photographer based in Melbourne Rock Central and I shoot for a variety of music publications and websites. I only photographed concerts for ten months of this year due to my camera breaking in March and Canon took two months to fix it. Still I managed to clock up over 160 concerts in that period, including a few festivals. I even shot four different gigs in one day!
Here are my Top Ten best gigs for the year, illustrated with one of my FAV photos of that concert.
1. All Tomorrow’s Parties @ Mt Buller (9th & 10th Jan 2009)
Personally I have never been a fan of the summer festivals. Always a mixed bag of acts and I would rather see a full set of a band I love than a 30 minute performance in front of a indifferent crowd. All Tomorrow’s Parties was something unique and different. Curated by Nick Cave, it was like a summer festival was custom built just for me. There were just too many highlights to mention. Seeing Nick Cave perform three times! Once on keys with The Dirty Three, then as the mystery band Grinderman ripping up the stage and finally closing off the festival with The Bad Seeds. Seeing the reunited Saints with Chris Bailey and Ed Kuepper and I was pinching myself watching The Laughing Clowns. Plus Spiritualized, Silver Apples, James Blood Ulmer, Rowland S Howard, Primitive Calculators, Robert Forster and so forth. I could pretty much finish my TOP TEN with this one festival! All Tomorrow’s Parties is not coming back for 2010 but it makes me want to jump on a plane and catch the New York ATP 2010, with the Stooges playing “Raw Power” and the Scientists playing “Blood Red River”.
2. X @ The Forum, Melbourne (14th Jan 2009)
This was a significant concert for me personally. It was all about The Saints performing the classic “I’m Stranded”, as part of the “Don’t Look Back” series of concerts. Unfortunately The Saints performance was marred by angry punters not happy paying for a concert with poor sound issues and Chris Bailey’s negative attitude and condescending comments. It would only get worse with The Saints later gigs interstate, when he refused to play The Saint’s signature tune, “I’m Stranded”. I was there front row and centre to see the other band on the bill. Plus I had just seen The Saints close the first night at Mt Buller a few days ago. The other band was called X, that back in my youth I had originally purchased a seven inch single from Missing Link Records called “Dream Baby”. Then I went back to buy their “At Home With You” and “X-Aspirations” albums. I knew that Ian Rilen had passed away from cancer but I was so happy to see the legacy continue on stage. To my delight, Steve Lucas was vocally still in fine form. Cathy Green still looked like a teen dream, dresses in a leather nurse outfit on the drums. Kim Volkman, had the unenvious task of filling in Ian Rilen’s big shoes on bass but this guy was rockin’ his arse off! Here they were on this massive stage with the red velvet curtain and even The Horns Of Contempt, horn section were performing these songs that I knew and loved, as they played “At Home With You” in it’s entirety. I was in seventh heaven. Photographing the first three songs with no flash was the rule of the night. “STUFF IT! They’re gonna have to grab me, kickin’ and screamin’ outta that pit because I’m gonna photograph the whole set!”, I said to myself. It was my photos of X that got a few tongues wagging. Before I knew what was happening, I was getting phone calls from Sydney, I was taking promotional photos of the band and designing the artwork for their “X Live At The Forum” DVD for Aztec Music and getting my photos nicked by The Age. It was truly a special unforgettable and life changing moment for me to be at that gig. So many punters that I have become friends with over this year, who were in that audience agree with me that X completely blew The Saints away that night. Why didn’t X play a few days before at All Tomorrow’s Parties at Mt Buller. That still remains a mystery?
3. Neil Young at Big Day Out @ Flemington Racecourse (26th Jan 2009)
I got the chance to fulfil so many dream this year by photographing some of my musical heroes. I saw Alice Cooper die in stage five or six times. Elvis Costello performs a heart-warming acoustic set. Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips run around the crowd in a bigarse hamster ball at Festival Hall. The Talking Heads’ David Byrne and The Buzzcocks rips though some of their greatest songs. My person highlight would have to be watching the master, Neil Young headlining the Big Day Out. From the stark “Needle To The Damage Done” to the ball tearing “Hey Hey My My”. Playing a cover of The Beatles “A Day In A Life”, plucking the strings off his guitar or when the whole crowd were singing along to “Rockin’ In The Free World”. As Neil belted out the opening lyric…”There’s colours on the street, red, white and blue”. How appropriate on Australia Day, while Neil was wearing a “Hippy Obama” badge and a Koori flag T-Shirt. It’s better to burn out, than to fade away and Neil Young shone brightly that night.
4. Painters & Dockers at The Age EG Awards @ Prince Bandroom, St Kilda (20th Nov 2009)
I photographed Pauly Stewart playing in a band called The Transplant for the World Hepatitis Day Concert at Federation Square back in May. It was the first time he had been back on stage, since his life threatening liver transplant. Backstage Pauly tells me that there are plans for one last Docker reunion. What a reunion concert it was! As part of The Age EG Awards, The Painters & Dockers were inducted into the Hall Of Fame. They ripped through a set that brought a tear to my eye. I have never seen a gig where every band member were smiling from ear to ear for so much and enjoying every second on stage. Knowing it was the last ever concert, Pauly smashed up his trumpet into two pieces. Pauly finally revealed who was the boy who lost his jocks at Flinders Street Station but I didn’t care anymore. This was a truly memorable way to play your last ever concert, as they transformed the Prince Of Wales into a Docker’s Love Planet.
5. Eddy Current Suppression Ring at Roar Sounds @ Melbourne Zoo, Parkville (19th Feb 2009)
Are Eddy Current Suppression Ring the best band in the land we call OZSTRALIYAH? You BETCHA, m8! I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert numerous times during the year but this gig, as part of Roar Sounds, where the played the Melbourne Zoo was the definite highlight. There were animals at the zoo and animals in the crowd! The only time I felt that I was ever going to lose my life at a gig, when the boisterous crowd got out of hand. They had two rows of barriers, at it looked like that one of them was going to topple over as the crowd surged forward. Brendan, Mikey, Brad and Danny pumped out the music like a well oiled machine and got off on the crowd reaction. Such a memorable night!
6. Primitive Calculators at The Chapter Music 18th Birthday @ The Tote, Collingwood (4th Jan 2009)
Here is one band I never thought I would ever see perform live. They regularly played on “Little Band nights” back in the day, broke up and reformed in 1984 for the “Dogs In Space” movie. Then they were never heard of again. In the meantime, I wore out the grooves on my Primitive Calculator singles and album over the years. Suddenly they were on the line up for All Tomorrow’s Parties and word on the street was spreading that they were performing a secret warm up gig at The Chapter Music Birthday Bash at The Tote. My level of anticipation was off the charts! Stuart Grant’s stage presence was in total command and even though he kept on ribbing on Frank Lovece, who had to slowly download the drum parts, it just added to the lighthearted humour of their show. I saw them play a few other times during the year and they only got better and stronger. Best comeback act of the year in my books! So nice to see the young kids rediscoving this music. Just thinking about when they ripped into “CUNT LIFE” at the Melbourne Museum of Printing outdoor concert and watching the disturbed mothers covering their little kids ears, still puts a smile on my dial. 
7. Stems and Huxton Creepers @ The Corner, Richmond (9th October 2009)
This was such a great double bill. Rob Craw minus his lovely blonde locks playing with his band, The Huxton Creepers. PLUS! The final curtain call for the garage rock superstars, The Stems. I fondly remember buying The Stems singles and albums back in the day. All killers and no fillers on those STEMS recordings. It was such a joy to hear those songs one more final time. They did break up many years before but never said goodbye but with this tour Dom Mariani and the boys said their celebratory farewell with true style and flair.
8. Ears @ Corner, Richmond (16th Auguest 2009)
Seeing the Primitive Calculators was totally unexpected but I would have never guessed in a million years that the mysterious Ears would grace the stage one more time. I loved the two EARS singles back in the day. I knew that INXS, Michael Hutchence portrayed the lead singer, Sam Sejavka in the movie “Dogs In Space”. Besides some other Ears recordings, existing on obscure aussie punk compilations, as well as some of their songs being covers on the “Dogs In Space” soundtrack, very little exists of the band. The whole CD generation or digital downloads era completely bypassed them. I knew of Sam Sejavka’s other band after The Ears. The 80’s hair band, Beargarden but then he completely left the music scene. He decided to concentrate on acting and becoming an award winning playwright. With the “Dogs In Space” movie finally being remastered and releases as part of the Melbourne Film Festival, their was talk of an one off gig labelled as Sails Of Oblivion, by The Ears. Sam Sejavka performance of the night was so totally unexpected and it was the first time I actually heard the original singer singing those Ears songs. It was a fantastic night and it was so great, that The Ears played one more time at The Espy a week later.
9. Laughing Clowns @ The Forum, Melbourne (1st May 2009)
Seeing a short set at All Tomorrow’s Parties only had me wanting to see a full Laughing Clowns show. There was talk something was brewing and a few months later as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, my dream came true. Ed Kuepper was in fine form, joking that Bif Millar was behind a glass barrier because he had swine flu. There is that symbiotic relationship that Ed has with Jeffrey Wegener on drums. All the way from London, saxophonist Lousie Elliot made those notes soar during “Eternally Yours”. It was just, heavenly.
10. Charles Jenkins Blue Atlas Winter Ball @ Corner Hotel, Richmond (4th July 2009)
Charles Jenkins is one of the best songwriters in Australia. This was such a unique concert and was not your regular CD launch. Normally you would have the artist belt out the new record on stage and hopefully sell a heap of copies of the CD at the merch desk. The Blue Atlas Winter Ball took a completely different approach. How about getting a bunch of fellow artists to play the song and also play one song by the guests? Seeing Ron Peno of Died Pretty raise the roof playing “DC” or Tim Rogers in a tuxedo playing one of the stand out songs from Charles album. Other guests included Rebecca Barnard, Clare Bowditch, Anna Burley, Abby Dobson, Spencer P Jones, Davey Lane, Kerri Simpson, Liz Stringer and Van Walker brothers. I never seen The Corner Hotel look so good and it was great to see people all spiffy and dressing up for a ball in the middle of a cold Melbourne winter.
Carbie Warbie fronting the Hitmen
There were so many other highlights during 2009. The Community Cup, an event of such joy that shows the true Melbourne spirit and camaraderie. CherryRock009 in the heart of rock’n'roll, AC/DC Lane. Dave Graney coming back with a cracker of an album called “Knock Yourself Out” (featuring my photos) and some fantastic shows. A re-energised Johnny Kannis with The Hitmen reloading Tora Tora DTK. The razor sharp wit from ROOT! The unexpected return of Grong Grong, which has a lead singer who was in a coma for nine months. Too many other great concerts to mention.
Shooting over 150 gigs, I see a “helluva lotta” bands and I even though I’m getting on in years, I still know what I like. Seeing an exciting new band, makes me feel like a little boy discovering dinosaurs for the first time. This year started with me seeing one little known power pop band numerous times, playing to almost empty venues. That band is called The Wellingtons, who now are getting Triple M airplay. The Wellingtons deserve their future success, as I could tell at first listen that their songs were just so good
If had to make a Top Ten prediction for 2010 (in no particular order) of breakthrough acts, I would have to mention:
1. The raw and dirty rock’n’roll of The Bitter Sweet Kicks (so far banned from 5 or 6 Melbourne venues. Probably 7 by the time you read this)
2. The young but sophisticated kids whot make up The DreamTwins
3. The gorgeous leather clad all girl group, Doll Squad
4. The pounding garage rock duo of Wrong Turn
5. A Sydney band with Buzzcocks style punk tunes, Royal Headache
6. An all girl group that jam out with their clam out, The Killerbirds
7. The psychedelic sounds of Demon Parade
8. The in-your-face tunes of Ouch My Face
9. All the way from Tassie, an eclectic duo called The Native Cats
10. And finally a very special little girl everyone is going to hear a lot about in 2010, called Laura Knight.
