Music, photos, films and getting wasted…

I’ve finally finished my exams. The past few weeks have been hell, a mix of the stress that comes with studying binges and exam pressure while trying to stay on top of all the other things in my life. Now that they’re over it’s a strange feeling, having a few minutes to just do nothing.

I’ve said my goodbyes to classmates and last night got messy as we celebrated the end of our 2nd year, only one short year left and I’ll have my degree. As I sit here, finally getting a chance to write a blog post again I’m writing my “to do” list for the coming summer.

Here’s a couple of my upcoming summer activities on the list, most of which will be constantly blogged about;

1. Firstly, I’m gonna catch up on the last few weeks sleep. I didn’t have time to sleep!?

2. Last week saw Lost for Karma and the return of Waiting to Explode. I’ve got some cracking shots from the gig on their way to the KilkennyMusic Gallery very soon.

This weekend sees the return of Innate, I’m looking forward to this gig, and the chance to hear and shoot the guys again. This upcoming gig will be my first gig shoot with my brand new Nikon D80. Yes, I’ve finally managed to get enough money to buy myself a proper camera, which means I’m also hoping the summer will see both an improvement in my photography skills and the quality of pics on my website and here on KKM.

Unfortunately the camera has been sitting in the box since last Tuesday. Arriving in the middle of my exams meant I had to leave it there to avoid another study distraction. Tonight I’m gonna charge the battery for my new baby and finally get to see what an €1100 camera can do.

I also have to find a way to thank Ken for allowing me to use his camera for the last year and a half! Giving it back to him would probably be a good start anyway. Thanks alot Chief.

3. I’m doing a promo shoot this Saturday with the Devious Theatre Company. I’m looking forward to getting back on the stage this summer. Firstly with the return of Heart Shaped Vinyl, back in Cleeres Theatre by popular demand in June. Then in August with Cannibal the Musical, straight from the creators of South Park, it promises to be unlike anything the Watergate Theatre has ever let take to the stage.

I’d also like to actually show up at the Devious Theatre Company sunday morning meetings again.

4. I’ll be spending plenty of time on the road with Itchy Trigger Finger. I’m currently helping the lads organise the launch of their E.P ‘The Wrong Side of Misery’, aswell as the launch of their new website, featuring over 150 of my photos, some videos, my Finger Diaries, and of course a nationwide tour.

I’m hoping I can get at least 2 music videos shot for them over the summer aswell.

5. I’m nearly finished the script for the long awaited and much anticipated ‘Trig & Boo’ movie. It will be shot this summer and will hopefully be the funniest, sexiest, most action packed buddy cop movie ever made!?! I’m also hoping KKM funding will allow us to buy a new video camera so I can get some live footage from the gigs up on KilkennyMusicTV.

6. I got a message yesterday telling me that one of my shots was used in ‘Brutallica‘ metal magazine. Apparently SlaveZero have a full page spread, featuring one of my pics of the lads in action and a track on the free cd. I’ve never heard of the magazine before but was delighted to get my first publication in a music magazine.

I also never heard from the magazine about using the picture, but thinking about that makes me think of my answer on the Copyright Infringement question in my Law exam yesterday, which in turn makes my head hurt more than all the tequila I drank last night. Hopefully I can find my credit card to order a copy of the magazine, I know I put it some place I thought it would be safe!?

7. I have to apologise to Daw and Sla, finding a way to make it up to them for having to live with me over the last few weeks. Actually I should probably also apologise to anybody who came in direct contact with me, possibly facing one of my outbursts caused by stress.

8. For anybody who hasn’t ever visited my bebo account, then you won’t be familiar with my ‘Summer Well Wasted’ competition. I’ll be announcing new prizes and rules for the second competition this year. Last year saw an amazing 3 months of completely wasted fun. Check out the pics if you like things like drinking, public nudity, air guitar, music, raising the sign, toilet paper covered cars, celebrities, gigs, pile-ups, wedgies, road-trips and generally hanging out with some of coolest, most amazing people this world has to offer!

We had two winners last year, my hetro-sexual life partners; Daw and Jimmy Trigger. I’m also hoping to actually finish their prize aswell, a gallery of them shot by me which gives true insight to who those two legends really are!

8. I’m also looking forward to getting back into the podcasts. And the upcoming Itchy Trigger Finger feature podcast.

So there’s a couple of things off the list, and of course all the other KilkennyMusic activities, gigs and madness, it looks like the summer is gonna be great!