Punk Rock Photo Shoot

Glasvegas, L-R, Paul, James, Rab, Caroline. Photos: Kirsty Anderson - Lighting/production/song requests: Daniel C./The Sunday Herald

Piling out of a black taxi on a Wednesday into the rare afternoon sunshine walked three journalists - one with a pen and pad, one with a camera, and the other just lugging some gear. We were not really sure what to expect from an earlier e-mail, which presented the Sunday Herald with the opportunity of meeting a Glasgow band, who were spending a much needed day off in their hometown between months of endless touring.

It seemed there would be time to chat, and the band had also agreed to participate in a photo-shoot, where we hoped the frames would suit the cover of the weekend issue which was to be an exclusive interview with the band, to come out on the same day the rockers were to play the Glastonbury festival in England.

The email from the bands manger Geraldine: "Directions. Turn left at the 'snack van' -selling chips and burgers – off Castle street, and head to the end of the cobbled car park. You have arrived, and the band will meet with you at 1:30pm."

We walked to the end of the car park - arts editor and veteran reporter Alan Morrison, Getty Images magazine photojournalist of the year, Kirsty Anderson, and well, me. The only thing at the end of the parking lots was a decrepit and seemingly abandoned post office building, an unassuming eye sore in the East End of the city centre.

Anyways, long story short, rockers GlasVegas have owned and occupied this building for a number of years, using the backroom as their rehearsal space. After whirlwind tours of American and Western Europe, the band barely fit in a space which has been taken over by tour cases.

Bottles of vodka and cheap wine still line the amplifiers, where GlasVegas promo posters cover the pealing wallpaper along with a number of famous photographs of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. The job was supposed to be wrapped in an hour. 4 hours later we were still sitting at the pub across the street, where the band had suggested for ‘breakfast’.

On the menu: Chips and gravy, carbonara pasta and garlic toast, endless Marlboro lights, pitchers or ‘Sex on the Beach’ cocktails, and about three rounds of pints as well. I was happy with my black coffee, but the band wass adamant we all order American-style mixed cocktails to help us enjoy the sunshine.

“You look like you could really use a cocktail. Just pretend the pub is a French villa, and the motorway is the Mediterranean, and you’ll be alright mate,” lead singer James Allen had told me. The band was on ‘rock-star’ time to say the least, but I can’t blame theme, as they just had a show the night before in Manchester with Kings of Leon.

Great stories were told and exchanged, and I’ll tell you a little more later on. I was offered a free ticket to the show with KOL in London this coming Tuesday, and if I had a free dollar to my name, would be down there to cover the gig for the newspaper. Not to be in my current situation I’m afraid. I’ll be happy to see them open for U2 in August, which was something of great conversation.

Band has my digits in the iPhones as well for the upcoming Canadian tour. We talked for about two hours, which was mostly listening to stories that will never be printed in any magazine, including how to get away with decapitating a statue at the Bellagio, and how to pretend you're a straight and model citizens when in question by French-Canadian border police.

I’ll post the pictures tomorrow after the newspaper decides which ones they want to use. All I can say about the photo shoot is that it was amazing to be an assistant to such a professional photojournalist. Kirtsy, who is all of maybe 5’3’’, kept guitar player Rab, who is about 6’6, in line the entire time as he taunted her with the choice commentary you would expect from a rock star towards a pretty girl. She got the shots off pretty fast, and Rab’s ego I think is okay too.

Lead singer James, in a rock star tone you would expect, had told Kirsty to finish her shots by the time he was finished ‘Blue Moon’. About two minutes yeah? Lucky was she that guitar player Rab went into ‘Earth Angel’, which bought her some more time. I demanded the band play ‘Johnny B. Good’ as an encore, as it is the song Marty McFly famously plays after ‘Earth Angel’ at the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea Ball’ in Back to the Future.

Such a geek I am, yes. It worked, the band laughed, Kirsty had more time, we got the shots. After that the band were taking requests in a private gig for an audience of three, but I was unsuccessful in getting the boys and their lovely female drummer to play a U2 track ahead of their opening gig with the Irish legends. Photos to follow, and more on the story as well.

Goodnight.

Daniel C.

P.S...While I am dead broke, and will probably not be enjoying a glass of wine anytime in the near future, I can still drool, and offer you my advice for summer sips.

1 - Chilled Pinot Noir Rose should be embraced like a lover on those warm evenings.

2- Prosecco for midday and afternoons when it's hot. Prosecco for all times. Primo Franco.

3- Skip the oak, and stick to the crisp minerals. Love that gruner is mentioned here, a sweet little grape I love.