Violent Soho

Violent Soho is one of my core clients and is an Australian rock band from Queensland, Australia. Violent Soho includes band members Luke Boerdam, James Tidswell, Luke Henry and Michael Richards. Violent Soho debuted their first EP, Pigs and T.V., back in 2006. I remember buying a copy at The Zoo when they supported The Grates. I wish I could find it now. For a band that formed in 2004 in the Brisbane suburb of Mansfield, Violent Soho have cemented their position as one of Australia’s premier rock bands.

Many publications called Violent Soho’s early sound as similar to The Vines. If you remember The Vines, they were a 90’s-sounding grunge act that had a whole bunch of songs you would know if you heard them.

Back in 2008, they appeared on the Laneway Festival lineup, and almost 10 years later, I joined them on their return to the festival. Faker took Soho on the road to tour their album, We Don’t Belong Here, before heading overseas to play shows in the UK and USA. Australian music festivals also invited Violent Soho to play on stacked lineups, including Meredith Music Festival, Falls Festival and Homebake (oh the memories).

In 2009, Violent Soho signed with Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)’s record label, Ecstatic Peace! Records and released their second album. Jesus Stole My Girlfriend was the first single, and the album was carefully produced by the same producer who had previously worked with The Pixies.

2011 saw the band back on Laneway Festival, supporting Jebediah, and on a Les Savy Fav-organised festival in the United Kingdom. The Arctic Monkeys asked Violent Soho to escort them around Australia in 2012 before being nominated for an ARIA award. The Band then went onto sign with I Oh You and released a double-sided single for Tinderbox and Neighbour Neighbour.

Violent Soho – Hungry Ghost

Violent Soho recorded their follow-up album, Hungry Ghost, at Brisbane’s iconic studio, The Shed in 2013. ‘In The Aisle’, was the first single from the album and had a video released for it, and soon after followed videos for ‘Covered In Chrome’ and ‘Saramona Said’.

Violent Soho – WACO

In 2016, Violent Soho and I linked up while they created and prepared their fourth studio album, WACO. WACO stormed the ARIA charts and went on to win the band two ARIA awards (Best Rock Album and Best Group)

The photography albums below document everything since then.

Violent Soho’s Like Soda Clip

The Like Soda clip was the first piece of work I did for Violent Soho. I had photographed them in the past, but this was the first piece of work I did directly for them. It was a two-day shoot that started at 6am on the second day for makeup application. It was a really fun shoot at Bardon Bowls Club in Brisbane. Check out the behind-the-scenes photos.

Violent Soho’s Like Soda Tour

Following the behind-the-scenes shoot for Like Soda, I then covered the Brisbane show for the tour supporting the first single from WACO. It was at The Zoo, the sweatiest venue in all of Brisbane. Check out the photos from the sold-out show.

Recording Violent Soho’s WACO

Violent Soho returned to Brisbane’s favourite recording studio, The Shed, to record their follow-up to their second album, Hungry Ghost. The Shed has since been torn down, so these are the last photos of Violent Soho’s recording sessions in The Shed recording studio.

Violent Soho on Laneway Festival 2016

I joined Violent Soho on Laneway Festival just after Viceroy was released. All of the cities were amazing, but Melbourne’s show was especially memorable, as Soho played My Pal on the Dean Turner stage. Check out the photos of Soho on Laneway Festival.

Brewing Violent Soho’s East Coast Crusher Beer

We all love beer, but we love beer brewed by a great band even more. After Violent Soho brewed their own East Coast Crusher beer as a partnership with Stone and Wood, it sold out everywhere almost instantly.

Gig of the Century

Where were you when Violent Soho played Crowbar Brisbane on an hour’s notice? I was there, and the event raised around $5,000 for local community radio station, 4ZZZ. If you weren’t there, or even if you were, revisit the huge show with these photos.

Behind the Scenes on Violent Soho’s No Shade Clip

Mansfield’s oval was the scene for the clip for ‘No Shade’. A circle of cars illuminating the band while they play to everyone who travelled was such a cool concept, and like the Like Soda clip, I shot the behind-the-scenes photos.

WACO Signing

Brisbane’s iconic Rocking Horse Records opened their doors to hundreds of Soho fans to celebrate the release of WACO. Soho signed lots of different stuff, from shoes to VHS tapes, and of course, a lot of copies of WACO.

Violent Soho’s WACO Tour

I joined Violent Soho on tour to support the release of WACO, in some of the biggest venues the band had done to date. My personal favourite shows from the tour was the shows at The Enmore Theatre in Sydney’s Newtown. That venue is just beautiful, with a huge ramped floor and upper deck. Check out the photos from the tour.

Violent Soho at Unify Gathering

Tarwin Lower was the stage for the annual Unify Gathering, with Violent Soho and Alexisonfire headlining.

Violent Soho’s Christmas 2017 Shows

Violent Soho brought Christmas to Mansfield, playing two nights at the Mansfield Tavern. The Mansfield Tavern was Santa’s base for the two nights, with Violent Soho being joined by WAAX, Lindsey McDougall of Frenzal Rhomb and Santa himself. Check out the photos from the special Christmas shows.

Violent Soho at Big Pineapple Festival

It was a rainy day, but everyone’s spirits were bright. This show was the first time Violent Soho played a new song since WACO, titled ‘Scrape It’. These are the photos from Violent Soho’s set at the 2018 version of the annual Big Pineapple Music Festival.

Violent Soho at BrisFest 2018

Riverfire in 2018 was a special one, with BrisFest showcasing some of Brisbane’s best musical acts between fireworks. Violent Soho played a huge set, including debuting a new song, surprise appearance by Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning. Check out the photos from the BrisFest show.