The Archives
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04.18.08
Skinsize Kings play Passionfruit Theatre
Athlone-based band Skinsize Kings have actually been around for quite some time, making appearances at large concerts link Oxygen, as well as still playing the smaller venues around the midlands for they're core fan-base. Creating a different sound blending classic rock instrumentation with a bit of edgy vocal styling (with even a small rap twist), they have made a name for themselves as being original and unique. They also have the distinction of being the first rock band to play in the acoustic-based black-box venue of Passionfruit Theatre. Recently I got a chance to drop in on their sound ... -
04.18.08
Geoff Quinlan in Passionfruit Theatre
Diversity is a wonderful thing, particularly diversity in music, and not only just in songwriting style or genre of music, but in performance style as well. This past year's Songwriter showcase was full of diversity, from young trad musicians who write their own reels, to female-fronted rock bands, to a guitarist who has been floating around the midlands with a completely original flare for music. He's an acoustic fret-tapper, and he's brilliant. Geoff Quinlan has quickly been making a name for himself in the midlands music scene for his unique playing, and his unparalleled skill... and to top it ... -
01.31.08
Spiderbaby play Scribes
Take a popular pub venue located near the university, fill-it with enthusiastic albeit slightly inebriated students taking a break from exam preparation, and place a popular young band hosting a few of the best new musicians in town playing the latest head-banging delights from the radio, and you have a combination for a bit of a wild night. Scribes is the venue located on the Athlone Insitute of Technology campus and is a sure-shot for getting an appreciative and slightly over-enthusiastic audience to any band who will drive to the edge of town to play. However, Spiderbaby is not just ... -
01.26.08
Sofa King Cool in Bar Metro
This is actually more of a throw-away gig, since I was actually not in attendance as an official shooter, but simply a patron sitting in the corner, sipping my soda. However, the gig is unique for two reasons. Firstly, it's one of the few times a woman joined the Kings on stage, in the form of Michelle Gibbons, rock-singer extraordinarie, as well as the always entertaining Paul Allen. Secondly, since this is the last documented evidence of Sofa King Cool playing Bar Metro, it needed to be posted, because as some say, "It's the end of an era..." Sneak ... -
12.16.07
The Rocket Queens – R.I.P.
Guns 'n' Roses tribute band The Rocket Queens played their final gig in Bar Metro a bit ago, and the crowd was out in hordes. For those of you that don't know, the Rocket Queens are actually Sofa King Cool in drag as I like to say. A group of well-seasoned and talented musicians, each band-member is already a veteran to the band-scene in the Midlands, and while Sofa King Cool still lives on, the Rocket Queens are no more. Sneak Peek Continue Reading... -
11.22.07
Photo Shoot with Shawn Allen
Many people know Shawn Allen as the lead singer of Sofa King Cool or The Rocket Queens, but Shawn also happens to be quite the talented songwriter. Unfortunately, he rarely gets a chance to play guitar, particularly while performing. Throughout the life span of his performances over the last couple of years, hundreds of not thousands of photos have been taken by friends, family and general rock-savy members of the audience, and not one has him on the guitar due to his placement behind the mic as lead singer. To remedy that, we grabbed a guitar and an empty room ... -
11.16.07
Dead Mans Hand in Bar Metro
The rock scene in general is usually dominated by male bands, particularly male lead singers. Its quite rare to find a Gwen Stefani, a Hayley Williams, or an Amy Lee in an actual rock band, and anyone who tries to convince me that No Doubt, Paramore and Evanescence are anything more than glorified pop-bands will be sent a cold limp salmon in the post. There of course is nothing wrong with pop-bands, but I'm talking about rock bands, ones that make you growl like a bear, distort your face and punch your fist in the air, while ... -
11.16.07
Shawn Allen in Bar Metro
Long before there was Shawn Allen and the Fluffy Truffles, or Shawn Allen and the Sexual Chocolates, Shawn Allen was just Shawn Allen, a local singer-songwriter from Athlone, staying in the comfort zone of the cover bands he sang lead for (Sofa King Cool, The Rocket Queens, etc.). However, on one special night in November 2007, a friend of his from Dead Man's Hands asked him to fill in the break, and do an electric solo set midway through the night. I post these photos not because is was a great gig to shoot (although it was fun to listen ... -
06.11.07
Welcome to Lightholder Photography
If you've found your way to this blog, you must be amoung the curious, which is the exact reason I created this blog. During the past year that I've been photographing music in the midlands, I've had numerous occasions where I have been asked for information, advice, opinions or just for a general chat, as well as those simply looking for photos, so I set up this site as a general one-stop spot for all the music lovers in the midlands. Continue Reading...