I took more photos than ever and did two ‘proper shoots’ offering my services to Daylight Music. It’s definitely a different experience. Though enjoyable I don’t think I’d want to photograph every gig properly as the photography overrides the enjoyment of the music.

As usual I saw British Sea Power quite a few times, but this year, the Wytches take the award for most seen band, seeing them 8 times.

Best gig: The Wytches album launch at the ‘Old Operating Theatre’

A number of gigs stand out this year. British Sea Power’s Christmas Krankenhaus was a cracking evening as was their Brownsea Island gig.

BSP performing on the Ferry to Brownsea Island

The Wytches put in several blistering performances this year, but their standout gig was their album launch. An acoustic gig in an old operating theatre to a select audience. By no means their best performance of the year, but definitely the most memorable.

The Coathangers played the Shacklewell Arms in November. A gig I’d looked forward to for several months. Sometimes these gigs end up being disappointing. Unable to live up to your own expectations. This gig however, was everything I’d hoped and was an absolute blast. It  was also a pretty good day for music, with me fitting in four different venues.

The Coathangers at the Shacklewell Arms

Another really memorable concert was a BBC Prom. It took place on ‘lights out night’ that was taking place in London as part of the memorials for WWI. The Tallis Scholars sang in near darkness. As the lights of the Royal Albert Hall were lowered the Prommers held up small ‘electric candles’ creating a beautiful atmospheric event.

Another memorable evening was in the presence of Karen O’ as she played one of her low-key gigs at Bush Hall to support her new solo album. Nice to see the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s singer showing a more reflective side.

Karen O’ at Bush Hall

But I think, just for the oddness of the gig. The Wytches playing an acoustic gig to a very select audience in such an odd venue, has to be my favourite gig of the year.

Band of the year: The Wytches

Consistently good throughout the year.

Biggest disappointment: British Sea Power at the Barbican

The gig that didn’t happen! Unfortunately, with us all in our seats, the gig was cancelled 20 minutes before the start due to a power cut. You can’t get more disappointing than that.

Best new band: Wolf Alice

A number of new bands stood out this year. I finally got to see Wolf Alice having failed to see them in 2013. They have catchy tunes and put in great performances. With their first album being released this year, I think they’re destined to be big in 2015.

Honeyblood released their first album and split up shortly after. But the new line-up sounded good when I saw them late last year. Each performance seemed to be better than the last.

I think I first saw John J Preseley in 2013 as a support act. But I’ve since seen him perform as a headline act. I love his gritty blues rock sound. I’m hoping that he can capture his live sound on his album. It’s looking positive as the few singles he’s released sound great.

This is a very close category. But I’m going for Wolf Alice.

Best venue: Union Chapel

With me attending so many Daylight Music events and having explored behind the scenes when photographing for them. I’m going to have to give the ‘best venue’ award to Union Chapel. Every gig helps contribute towards the upkeep of the building and the bar and cafe helps pay to feed the homeless every week. So a good reason to give it the thumbs up.

Most Interesting venue: The Old Operating Theatre, The Wytches Album launch

Best Festival: The Great Escape

Not much competition this year. It tries to be SXSW but it’s not. There’s not enough venues and not enough bands. But it was still a decent enough festival and I’ve already booked for 2015.

Worst Venue: Village Underground

I just don’t like this venue. The space is too big. The bag searches, annoying. The audience are usually noisy. The gigs always seem poorly organised and it’s all ‘too Shoreditch’ for my liking.

Best gig photo: Ella and the Blisters at Hanwell Hootie

I’ve already written about my favourite photos of the year, and winner is Ella and the Blisters. I just think this captures the bands sound and performance so well.

Best gig video: Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer

Again, I didn’t create capture many videos. But this one is fun

Music Application of the year: Songkick

Songkick continues to be the most important music application.

January

Evil Blizzard supporting the Teeth of the Sea at Electrowerkz (Sony A7 – 50mm f1.6)

February

Drenge at Scala (Sony RX100) – Lucky to capture this lighting effect.

March

John J Presley at Green Note (RX100) – John is really interesting to photograph. He’s got a good expressive stage presence. Probably not the best shot of him I’ve taken this year, but I like this one the most.

April

Ella and the Blisters at Hanwell Hootie (Sony A7) – Really like this photo, taken with a Sony A7.

Black Mekon (RX100) – Black Mekon put on a good show. Really wished I had my Sony with me as the low lighting in Shacklewell Arms meant I struggled with my compact.

Diane Cluck (RX100)

May

Dum Dum Girls at Scala (RX100)

The Subways at The Horn (Sony A7 35mm f2.8)

Bo Ningen (RX100)

Daylight Music (Sony A77 90mm)

Daylight Music (Sony A7 35mm)

The Minutes at the Black Heart (RX100 with flash) – Like the way the drummer is hanging in the air captured by the flash

July

Teen at the Lexington (Sony A7 50mm)

Hey Sholay at the Garage (RX100M3)

August

Delora at Rhythms of the World (Sony A77 70-300mm)

Alvvays at Birthdays (RX100M3)

DZ Deathrays (RX100M3)

Swathed (A7 50mm)

October

British Sea Power at Brownsea Island (Sony A7 16mm)

November

Daylight Music 1st Nov – Rachael Dadd (Sony A7 35mm) – Photographed the soundcheck at Daylight Music. I managed to get some really interesting candid shots

Daylight Music 1st Nov – Rachael Dadd (Sony A7 90mm) – Photographed the soundcheck at Daylight Music. I managed to get some really interesting candid shots

Honeyblood at Dingwalls (Sony RX100M3) – It’s rare that the lighting’s good enough, and I’m close enough to get a close shot with the RX100. Think this one came out well.

Paper Aeroplanes at the Union Chapel (RX100) – Sometimes you’re just too far away to get anything interesting. Sometimes, you get something interesting because you’re far enough away. This is one of the few shots I’ve taken from the back of a gig.

December

Kingsley Chapman at the Lexington (Sony A7 70-200mm F4) – Rarely have a big zoom with me at gigs. But I was playing with a new (second hand) lens on my Sony. Pleased with some of this photo. Think it captures the ‘brooding’ nature of a Kingsley performance.

Vaulted Skies at the Horn (Sony A7 70-200mm)

Tonight’s evening of music was curated by Roger. Featuring acoustic acts he likes. The all-female lineup had a good mixture of styles and was a really good line-up.

Lindsay West

Lucy Kitt

Salwa Azar

Alicia Catling

Win some sprouts

Old Sarge and Malleticious

Malleticious

DaemöniK Fonce

BSP

Good crowd

BSP

BSP

BSP

Crowd surfing bear

BSP

Brass band

Krautrock Karaoke

Krautrock Karaoke

Krautrock Karaoke

Krautrock Karaoke

Krautrock Karaoke

Krautrock Karaoke

Kiran Leonard

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep

Seftel

Seftel

Kingsley Chapman

Kingsley Chapman

Orlando Seale

Unfortunately, I then messed up. I’d knew Ultimate Paintings were playing at the Lexington. Their album’s has grown on me over the last few weeks so I made an impulsive decision to give My Sad Captains a miss and to try and catch Ultimate Painting’s set. But it was 2240 when the bus reached the Lexington. So I’ve decided to head home early. I should have stayed at the Shacklewell. Especially as I’ve seen Ultimate Paintings a few times this year already.

Support came from Blonde Bunny and Telegram, bands I’ve seen several times.

Blonde Bunny just don’t work for me. They produce lots of interesting sounds. They’ve got a great drummer who introduces some jazz-like loops. The guitarist manages to eek out interesting sounds and squeals from his guitar. But unfortunately, I have no time for the vocalist. He sings in an unnatural key. At his natural key, he’s got a decent rock/indie voice. But for most songs he sings at his top-end and I find it doesn’t work for me

Next up was Telegram. A band I’ve enjoyed on previous occasions. But tonight, I thought the sound was off with the guitar low in the mix. So I’m afraid didn’t really get into their performance. But to be honest, I’m not sure they did either. They seemed less dynamic than I’ve seen them before – and it’s not the venue, I’ve seen them play Scala before. But they’re a decent band. So I’ll put tonight down to sound.

I think this is the first time I’ve seen the Wytches since their album launch. Since then, they’ve basically toured non stop. With another trip to the US and a small UK tour. Tonight was the last night.

As usual, they sounded good. The audience clearly enjoying their performance with lots of surges. I have to admit, I’m starting to find I don’t enjoy being on the fence and at the brunt of these surges. They’re enjoyable when you’re in the mosh. But not at the brunt of the mosh. I find I lose a little bit from the performance as I’m trying to be aware of where the surges are going. I think it’s often to do with the location. The Wytches set themselves up with the singer on the left. So the surge is a lateral surge as most people who want to mosh go to the centre of the barriers. Once they realise the singer’s on the left, the surge is pushing along the barrier.

Because of this, tonight was the least enjoyable set I’ve seen. Although the seemed to have a little bit less energy than I’ve seen from them, it was significantly less and they played well and had a good mix of songs. I just didn’t feel completely engaged with them tonight (but then I have a cold, maybe it was that?). Don’t get me wrong. This was not a bad set. I enjoyed this more than most gigs I’ve seen this year. It just didn’t connect with me as much as some of their performances earlier in the year did.