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2024-12-02 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - The Academy, Dublin

Christmas came early this year for me.  Never did I think that  Me First and the Gimme Gimmes  would be playing Dublin, and never did I ever think I'd get to shoot one of their shows! Well, that all changed last week when they played the Academy in Dublin on a cold, damp, Monday night! I've been a fan since 1997, when one of the lads I worked with, brought in a copy of Have a Ball . It was love at first listen! I did manage to catch them live back in 2019 when they played the O2 Forum in Kentish Town , London, and it was every bit as good as I'd hoped, but it paled in comparison to Monday night in Dublin. So, how did it come about?  Well, back in 2013, I interviewed the band for a now defunct Irish website called Chunk.ie .  Over the years, I've stayed on their PR roster, so I took a chance and emailed my contact there.  Lo and behold, a few emails later and all was sorted, I was down to photograph the show. How was it?  Brilliant, amazing, fantastic,...

2024-02-09 Singles Stoneybanter - Kavanaghs, Stoneybatter

I hadn't seen the Wild Geeze perform since the Peacock Parlour back in July '22, so when I got a message from Leela Baron saying she was performing her Champagne Act at their next show, I thought to myself, I really should go see that...

Fast forward a week and I'm pulling up outside Kavanaghs in Stoneybatter.  The night got off to a great start, I got parking right outside the venue!

I met up with Leela and then with Laura and Breda from the Wild Geeze.  I asked some questions (what can I shoot, what don't they want shot and so on...), did some test shots and then settled in and waited for the show to start.

The crowd started to grow, each selecting a Green, Yellow or Red sticker to indicate whether the wearer was single, unsure or in a relationship.  Me?  I was wearing black, just like the colour of my broken heart, but that's a story for another day.

And then the show kicked off and the crowd were treated to a wonderful night of cabaret.  As the locals sat downstairs in the bar, supping their pints and watching the rugby, upstairs, there was a distinct lack of clothing, lots of comedy, music and a champagne show.  Now, I love my rugby, but wild horses couldn't have pulled me away from the cabaret!

Right, before we head to the photos, just a quick word about Stoneybanter.  First and foremost, it is a fantastic cabaret show.  Secondly, and this is very important, Stoneybanter is a queer friendly night  So, if you are wondering if you will be accepted for who you are, wonder no more.

Okay, now for the photos!

The Wild Geeze











Leela Baron






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