A Dynamic New Sound
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Mew
I have been a sound engineer for over 3 years, in that time I've seen
close to a thousand bands. For those of you who have been patient
enough to accompany me to a gig, you'll be aware that I'll often comment/moan about muddy guitar sounds,
resonances at 100Hz and lack of clarity however hard I try not to say
anything. Its hard to find
myself lost in the music and really enjoy a gig since my ears are so
sensitive to how it would best sound. Tonight was different, it was special, I was left in awe and
exited the venue feeling an enormous sense of desiring no more than
what I had, suffice to say contented. Tonights performance was given
by Mew.
'Intelligent Progressive Epic Fairy-Tale Sonic Art' is a description
that still doesn't come close to encapsulating, with words, the music
of this Danish Quintet. Playing pieces from albums spanning the
sophomore period of their career, they humbly commandeered the Old
Firestation in Bournemouth with songs that excite auditory systems and
visuals that cheekily warm the heart yet at the same time unnerve the
beholders. Truely a complete visual audio sensory theatrical event. The
picture above shows mew being backed by the projected image of a cat
playing the violin. I was beginning to think that it could never happen
to me again, I thought professionalism/cynicism had thoroughly wrapped
its wicked paws over my ears. But tonight, I can honestly say, was one
of the best shows I have ever seen...
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9.2.06 02:04
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Idiot Pilot
///// 10/02/06 ///// Joiners /////
I've recently
acquired a free months subscription to Napster, i'm not sure if I agree
with it morally, but nevertheless I have downloaded
50+ albums in 3 days... One album I downloaded today was 'Strange We
Should Meet Here' by Idiot Pilot since I was going to be engineering
their sound this evening. I dismissed them as being an adolescent
punk/metal band.... I couldn't say why!! Sure, they are kinda metally
but
hardly in the same bracket as blink-182/ fodder for the teeny-moshers.
The night started off slowly, the bands
arrived an hour late giving me time just to hang around and troubleshoot any
problems with the system. The headliners (Idiot Pilot) were supposed to
be starting their setup/sound check at 4, but were delayed in
London as Micheal (lead singer) had lost his wallet (later I found out, that the night before
he had been drinking a great deal in the bar of posh London hotel with
Juliette Lewis and The Darkness (who are apparently on tour together)
and had left his wallet in the Taxi upon arriving back at his own
hotel). They strolled in at about 7.30, half an hour until doors, and
commenced a 24 channel sound check, for those who don't know, that
takes quite a while.
Lockjaw record signed locals 'Second Monday' opened, they were
Emo!*!*!*! Then tour supports 'Seal Cub Clubbing Club', apparently they
get away with having a name like that since there is no such thing as a
Seal Cub... Then finally at 10.50, much later than planned, Idiot Pilot
took to the stage. In a nut shell they sound like an Industrial-Screamo
version of The Postal Service. Just 2 of them, one armed with a guitar,
keyboard and an Apple Powerbook
the other just his voice, they mix trance-esque beats, click and pops
with soaring vocals, screams and 'Rock' Guitar while still maintaining
a Lo-Fi Ambient Downtempo sound in parts. Some of their sounds are
clearly taken from 80's video games. Micheal (vox) had the craziest
dance moves I've seen for a while, sort of like a Pink lady on speed
dancing to 'You're the one that I want', while Daniel (everything else)
was sporting an 'English' fever and looked quite ill. The night ended much
later than planned after a conversation (more, I was on the recieving
end of a monologue) with Micheal about the benefits of drinking Hot
Water, after which he ate half a lemon that he had requested to be put
on stage for him along with a jar of honey and a kettle. Nice Bloke!
I was kindly given an Idiot Pilot T-shirt :-)
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11.2.06 03:17
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The Boy Least Likely To
///// 18/02/06 ///// Joiners /////
This entry is a bit later than I intended. In an attempt to spice up my
blog-life I'm going to regularly feature bands that I have the
oppurtunity to work with as a sound engineer at the Joiners. I figure a
bit of name-dropping might add a bit of glamour and appeal to this
sorry state of a blog. So here we are...
Support came from a singer-songwriter from Oswestry, North Yorkshire
called Ali Whitton who deserves a mention. His Damien Rice-esque viola
accompanied acoustic set hushed the crowd into a silence - check him
out (Ali Whitton).
Second support came from BC Camplight from Philedelphia. I thought
these guys were brilliant. Piano driven oddball elevator rock music, I
particularly liked a track about a clown called 'Parapeleejo' -
inspired, although it is far from clear where the inspiration actually
came from, well worth checking out (BC Camplight).
"The
boy least likely to... : The Winnie the pooh of pop"..... is a
lame description I lifted off some music critics website, but does
kinda
give a a vague suggestion of what TBLLT are like. Seven members of a
what I thought was a
pop-duo strolled into the Joiners at about 4pm on Saturday afternoon,
they weren't the usual-looking suspects of country-alt-pop. They set
themselves up on stage in front of a gigantic yellow backdrop with
assorted child-drawn animal characters, deceptively the
brainchild of the lead singer no doubt. The lead singer Jof, was
perhaps a little scared of me on first sight. He was a very quiet
singer, hence the reason for 5 backing singers (besides playing midi
keyboards, violins, guitars, bass and drums)
while the boy who was left without a mic played what can only be
described as a Guijo (or a Bantar). From an engineers point of view
there was a lot to do, but it all went off without a hitch 
Their
lyrics express a fear of spiders and the countryside, a love of panda
cola and that they 'are only happy because they're stupid'. 'Monsters'
expresses a discomfort of visiting the town where (presumably) Jof grew
up beacuse of the occupying monsters, I can't shake the idea he's
digging at 'Chav's'. TBLLT are the feel good music of the year, simply
made up of sounds found in a primary school music room plus one Guijo,
music that conjures up childlike carelessness and is reminiscent of all
things that made up life as a kid. When they were on stage they gave
the impression that they were seven unlikely friends on a pop-music
adventure.......
These guys are soon to be big, just about to embark on a month long tour of the US with James Blunt, they are well worth an ear.
I didn't manage to blag a free T-shirt.
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22.2.06 01:12
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