New Zealand Music Month, 2008 Gig photos.

Auckland 2008
New Zealand Music Month.

I have been a music fan since my teens and have had an interest in photography for almost as long, so it was inevitable that these two interests would collide. I bought my first digital SLR in late 2007 and though I didn’t go to many gigs in those days I did take my camera to the ones went to.

Bill Direen and the Builders
Masonic Tavern, Devonport, November 2007.

Mint Chicks
Kings Arms, March 2007.

I loved the Mint Chicks!

I can’t remember which photo I posted on the Flickr website that led to ‘A’ from the ‘website that shall not be named’ getting in contact with me to ask if I would do some gig work for the website, though I am pretty sure it was photos from the above Mint Chicks show. I did a couple of years of photography for him, but in the end it got too much and I had to stop. I couldn’t do two late nights a week and my immensely busy day job. Of course the gig photos were done for free, but I did get a photo pass.

As May is New Zealand music month, the images here are just the New Zealand bands I shot for the website. I only shot a small number of overseas acts, though I did get to see some good ones; Broken Social Scene, The Breeders, Spiritualised and Stiff Little Fingers being highlights.

So, here we go, gigs from 2008.

Shocking Pinks
Supporting The Clean, Kings Arms, January.

Nick Harte, in the photo, is the Shocking Pinks, with band members roped in for gigs. This photo still gets used by him and is the photo on their Spotify page. I guess it is my most viewed image.

The Clean
Kings Arms, January.