MACH SCHAU

2005

Mach Schau were an indie/Britrock/punk band from Southampton, UK, that played local gigs in the Southampton and Winchester area in the mid-2000s. They gained a fiercely loyal local following and played at venues all around England.

In 2005 I got the opportunity to hang out with them and photograph them before, during and after their gig at the legendary Joiners in Southampton (what a venue that is by the way). We had a mutual friend and she very kindly made it happen. Photographed on film, something I don’t do often these days, but I’m planning on changing that!

They were a fireball of punk rock energy and excess and were on the verge of something special, having already played alongside the likes of Larrikin Love, The Rifles, Babyshambles and Arctic Monkeys. They were fantastic to watch and were always on the verge of exploding into total chaos!

Unfortunately their rise was cut short by the tragic passing of their singer Johnny Macisaac in 2007. He was such a ball of chaos, the perfect punk rock frontman and I know he’s missed to this day.

I remember being sucked into the chaos and also being covered head to toe in beer (camera and all!) glorious!

They were supported by great bands that night, namely The Kiks, Bromheads Jacket (a personal favourite) and The Harrisons, who were pretty rock n roll themselves having procured street signs via questionable methods featuring various iterations of their namesake throughout their tour!

Rock & roll is cool kids, support your local grassroots music venues and support live music (and be nice to photographers).