Pro Guitar & Sound

The Rock 'n Cafe {home of Pro Guitar & Sound} has held its official Opening Celebrations, fittingly on Australia Day !

Some great performers, including Phil Emmanuel, Smokin' Joe Robinson, Steve Edmonds, Stu Marshall, Ella Freestone,  Jesse Emmanuel, the Floorboards and Anno Domini were on hand throughout the day to support the new guitar and quality gear shop in Hornsby. 

 

 

Click on the thumbnail in the sidebar to see the photos of the celebrations.

Here are some of the other artists helping to celebrate the best guitar, drums, keyboards, PA and amps store in Sydney - manned by real musicians and current performers.

Here's Stu Marshall of Empires of Eden - guitarist and songwriter best known as a member of Dungeon for four and a half years and now the leader of Paindivision. Apart from these bands he also played on the album Fear No Decay by Japanese band Cerberus. In late 2007 he released a solo album entitled Altered States.

 

A bluesy set was played by the Steve Edmonds Band  - Steve has played guitar for  Jimmy Barnes, Renee Geyer, Richard Clapton, Matt Taylor,  The Australian Idol Band, Shannon Noll and Delta Goodrem.

 

The delighful Ella Freestone played in the lounge - this 18 year old from Manley has a lot of promise and talent ..

 

 

Down from Coffs Harbour and with quite a dynasty of talent in her forebears and rellies, Jesse  Emmanuel reckoned it was more fun playing and singing in Hornsby than spending Australia Day getting wiped on the beach ... she was terrific .. loved that green Fender acoustic !

 

... and then there was Joe Robinson .. for a young lad, this winner of the Australia'a Got Talent 2008 has played at a lot of places including London, New York, Helsinki, Budapest, Sydney, Berlin, Milan, Vienna, Bangkok, Rome and Amsterdam.

 

Finally, there was a the great wall of sound from Anno Domini ... striving for the death metal gong in Australia, like Dred, Templestowe,  Aeon of Horus and I guess the famous Behemoth from Poland ... just the job for Hornsby on a hot Australia Day arvo

On New Year's Eve 2010, I was delighted to shoot  Kate Miller-Heidke. 

Here is  Johnny Wishbone from the ever-so-colourful and disrespectful Snowdroppers.

 

 

... and here she is, star of TV's Spicks 'n Specks, Megan Washington performing with her great band Washington at The Bellbird, where I shot her for Home Brew Radio ...

 

 

 ... you may recognise both Martin Rotsey and that battered Fender Jazzmaster from Midnight Oil, now reformed after pointing Peter at the Parliament, as The Break ... wipeout, halfway between  The Chantays and the Beachboys .. which I guess is where The Oils started, in surfrock.  

 

 

 

 

.. and Ella Freestone, 18 and as talented as she is delightful, at Pro Guitar and Sound where you can buy the best guitars and gear in Sydney from the people who play them ...

 

 

At Thompsons Square Gardens, I shot the legendary Kevin Borich ...

I was lucky to find  bassist Suzie Bambach (pictured) and Ellie Plummer (daughter of well-known festival photographer Noel Plummer) from Paul Greene and The Other Colours at the Illawarra Festival.  

 

.. - and here's Phil Eammanuel at the opening of Pro Guitar & Music in Hornsby

 
  

.. adding some glam, Phoebe Juskevics on the drums and tinkle for Adam Hole & Marji Curran Band at the Fitzroy Hotel

 

... and in the blue light, Jan Rynsaardt of my fave rave band of the moment, Chase The Sun at The Macquarie Arms ... one of the best bands in Sydney .. get out and see them

One of the very best acts at the Peats Ridge Festival was Love in the Circus.

Strange and eerie, fronted by the sultry Leanna Rachel, who also swings a big bass, this is a hybrid act with a lot of front including dancers and bizarre presentation. To me, the band sounds like The Motels, sprinkled with Sade.  I like this stuff.

The music is a sort of gentle soul {like Martha Davis' Total Control} within a multi media performance. Regan Remy, on the harp {see her in the photos in the album in the sidebar}, creates a bizarre sight and sounds, with her great makeup and mask - and then there is troupe "Tuju Taksu" dancing around - plus trumpeter Johan Asplund. Excellent.

 

 

... and here's the Delta Riggs,  performing at The Underworld, led by the oh-so-colourful, smoking brave, Elliott Hammond

 

.. more photos as they happen by going to the individual band photo albums listed in alphabetical order in the sidebar.

Illawarra Folk Festival

I was down the south coast at the weekend .. great drive .. to shoot the festival at Thirroul, at the bottom of the Bulli Pass.  Click here to see images of the Illawarra Folk Festival.

To whet your appetite, here's Ami Williamson, doing her famous "Boil the Bunny" stunt while singing "Woman in Love" - great stuff ... she is just terrific ..

Love in the Circus

One of the very best acts at the Peats Ridge Festival was Love in the Circus.

Strange and eerie, fronted by the sultry Leanna Rachel, who also swings a big bass, this is a hybrid act with a lot of front including dancers and bizarre presentation. To me, the band sounds like The Motels, sprinkled with Sade.  I like this stuff.

The music is a sort of gentle soul {like Martha Davis' Total Control} within a multi media performance. Regan Remy, on the harp {see her in the photos in the album in the sidebar}, creates a bizarre sight and sounds, with her great makeup and mask - and then there is troupe "Tuju Taksu" dancing around - plus trumpeter Johan Asplund. Excellent.

Chase The Sun

One of the best bands I have seen this year is Chase The Sun.  I have seen them a couple of times, firstly at The Sydney Blues Festival in Windsor and again at the Peats Ridge Festival.  In the sidebar you will see two albums of photographs, one from each occasion. They are a tops, all-round band of fine musicians.

 

Above, Chase The Sun, appearing Thursday with a cracking opening set mid afternoon.

Jan Rynsaardt leads this powerhouse trio - with top bass player Ryan Van Gennip and drummer Jon ?Howler? Howell.  Excellent.  I will go and see them at any opportunity, one of Australia's best bands.

The Break

Give me The Break !   I love this band and their music.  It's sort of Duane Eddy with the Beachboys, a bit of Jet Harris - and is of course the guts of Midnight Oil - without Peter Garrett and with a new, driving bass player - and I am sure they have a Theremin. 

Maybe The Oils always had one, I dunno, but I have never seen one on stage before.  Here it is ...

If you don't know what a Theremin sounds like, watch Midsomer Murders on TV;  it's the instrument that plays the theme tune over the credits and intro. You just waft your hand near the aerial and it produces this wavering sound. Spooky. ... the Beachboys were using a Tannerin on Good Vibrations, not a Theremin. 

Washington

Now, here is a top performer ...an artist.  Megan Washington.  An individualist.  I have never seen anything like this.  An accomplished musician, writer and leader of her band.
 

I immediately liked Megan Washington - because she sings and plays with a feisty individuality and talent.  I thought she was brilliant and a breath of fresh doo-dah after some of the other stuff I have been listening to.

Full-on, no bollocks, no punches pulled; saying it how she sees it.  Sure some numbers carry a few riffs but it's not you know, pop;  she reminded me of Billie Holiday the first time I heard "Strange Fruit". Luved her. 

I felt quite gutted when she had finished, I guess because although I was crawling all over the stage with my camera, trying not to trip over amps and wiring, I was captured by her music.  Ever tried taking a great shot when yer fingers are popping, you can't keep still and yer feet start a-movin' around ?

Dan Kelly's Dream Band

Another great band taking the stage was Dan Kelly's Dream Band ...  I like the gravy ..

Forget his uncle, this guy is his own sailor.  Dan Kelly floated my boat.   This is a great band, and I love the texmex man - and the Bindi Irwin takes over the world number.  Excellent !

Delta Riggs

Hear come the Indians ... The Delta Riggs, a great band to watch indeed ... Elliott Hammond opens in his stunning Red Indian head gear ,  Alex Markwell an inspired lead guitar.  Loved 'em.

A strong, gritty band playing with gusto and perhaps some satire - the Boy George hat and the red indian headdress on the swivel-hipped Elliott Hammond - although I am sure the hat was intended to generate visions of the arch chameleon, not the fags.

They are moving to Melbourne, so watch out for them down there. 

Khancoban

I did not see much of Khancoban, as they had nearly finished the set by the time I got to their tent.  What I heard was terrific ...

I think they sort of echo a rhythmic, country folk band with a lot of oomph.  They are certainly pretty polished and sound like they are based you know, half way between Sydney and Melbourne.  Yass man, great stuff.

Barrel House

Roll out the barrel, it is New Year's Eve in Sydney ... and what ho, here is Barrel House.  I like this band.

Just three guys make up this tight outfit.  Plenty of dirty guitar and a balanced sound make this great stuff.  Loved it myself. 

Kim Churchill

He's a one-man band, Kim Churchill.  Harmonica, stomp box and guitar.

Indie and bluesy, plenty of effervescence ... a great entertainer and worthy of the centre stage, this finger-pickin' feller sure gets the party popping. 

Matthew Barber

Another representative of the Canadian genre, is Matthew Barber.

Yes another leftie, records recently in Toronto and composes rich, rather sad songs - but his delivery and presentation are tops ... welcome to the land downunder Matthew.

The Cairos

The Cairos - a pretty good, Brisbane based indie band ... I liked them ... the band is good ...

..  and there was also herself.

Ernest Ellis

Ernest Ellis was pretty, well no not pretty exactly, but impressive ... pretty good I think ..

I liked our 'Ernie ... music composed with some thought and balance ... a change from the screaming I sometimes have to hear ...  I will go and see him again for sure ... good stuff Ernest.

Holly Martin

Now Holly Martin, an interesting dichotomy.  I am confused.

Great voice and she can sing too.   I like Holly very much.  Inside the Chai Temple, I took some more shots - but it is very hard to get good pictures in a red light.  I also liked her rather kinky looking band.  Holly at Christmas, can't beat that.

Dead Letter Chorus

There is nothing rigor mortis about Dead Letter Chorus.

Gabrielle Huber has an endearing quality that makes you want to stop and listen.  I stopped, I listened and took some photos ...

The Chemist

The Chemist was a stimulating band ...an animated group with plenty of body chucks around the set ..

As for music, well everone seemed to like this Melbourne mob and with reason - they are loud and entertaining alright. Alright.

Dan Mangan

Another Canadian - is there anyone left up there - Dan Mangan thinks that Australian audiences are weird, as we are the only crowd who want to dance to his music.  Yeah, well we know a good stomping song when we hear one.

These guys are good, really enjoyed their music.  Very polished, deserved a bigger audience.

I thouht Che Guevara got shot in Bolivia, but no, he's here in Peats Ridge, playing bass with Dan Mangan and a great bass player he be too.

Georgia Fair

Ben Riley and Jordan Wilson make up the original members of Georgia Fair.

Likened to The Beautiful Girls, these guys are on the move I guess. I thought they were great.

Jason Collett

 Jason Collett comes with some big tickets {Broken Social Scene - is that right ?} from back home in Canada ... and pretty hunky dory Down Under too ...

.. there is no doubt that his backing band in Australia, Zeus, is a great outfit ... talented musicians, fair dinkum. 

Jason comes with a big reputation from Toronto.   He's a  pretty nice, laidback bloke - well, he's Canadian and they are much like us - and his band is terrific, all seem to be able and willing to muck in and use different instruments and take on alternative roles.  Great entertainment - challenging before a Sydney audience on a very hot afternoon.  I'd go an see him again for sure.

Evan and the Brave

... and now, just when we thought all the Indians were beaten ... Evan and the Brave ..

Daniel Mifsud has built a strong line up of musicians, playing a sort of country and blues based eclectic set ... very professional.   Get up, get out, go and see them.  You'll be so glad you did.

Lurkers

I was lurking in the Chai Temple at Peats Ridge, I found The Lurkers lurkin'.

Double bass, banjo ... Australian hill-billy ?  Not at all - this is excellent. It's cheeky, it's compelling, it's full of life, it's modern ripalong and folksy without the bluegrass stuff.  I hate bluegrass.  It is d-i-f-f-e-r-e-n-t ... get to see them.  I liked them.  Thought they were were refreshing.  Great stuff.

Gin Club

The Gin Club, great name for a band.  All very serious ... but quality, even a cello.

They seem to change their members depending on who is available, but here I think we have Bridget Lewis on cello, Ben Salter on drums, Conor Macdonald on guitar and voice and Dan Mansfield on bass.  I dunno, this is sort of Sonth Pacific folk and soft rock.  Good stuff. 

Kate Miller-Heidke

On the big stage on New Year's Eve arvo, stepped  Kate Miller-Heidke ...  everyone was jumping around .. apart from me, I was trying to shoot her ..

Kate is another grad from the Queensland Con (like Megan Washington and Katie Noonan) and is a very accomplished singer - it was a family day, and she is very sweet and she can sing .. no, there is more, she has a great band ... I like her accompanying "woof" singer too, Nicole Brophy.

Daniel Lee Kendall

Daniel Lee Kendall creates some rich musical arrangements - songs of love and disappointment ..

.. without lust or desperation,  always warm and sort of "comforting".   He brought his own fanclub which seemed to be mainly young, enthusiastic ladies, dressed for a very hot day - so I liked him !

Seriously - Daniel is very talented indeed and has a big future I am sure.

Ngaiire

Now, about Ngaiire ... very colourful and a professional entertainer in many respects ...

.. harmonies, sass and some soul .. and those red pants, yikes, they are ample.

Waiting for Guinness

This is another strange band - I guess they are theatre entertainers as their act is almost subdued vaudeville.  It isn't trad jazz, nor blues nor Dustbin Skiffle.   I dunno. 

They are great musicians and include  banjo, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, accordion, mex bass, flute, guitars and drums. Certainly entertaining and fitting for the Festival.