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Amateur Night? Not for These Bands
AMONG the familiar tenets of successful musicians — play loud, live fast, blame the bad stuff on the drummer — there’s one that is rarely heard beyond the tour bus.“It’s well known in the business that New Year’s Eve is amateur night for bands,” said Jerry Vivino, saxophonist in the Max Weinberg 7, the featured players on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.” He is a veteran of many Dec. 31 gigs with his own jazz quartet. “People are out getting drunk,” he said, “so the music doesn’t matter. Anybody can play and people will have a good time.” But Mr. Vivino — a Paterson native and brother of the rock guitarist Jimmy Vivino (who also plays in the Max Weinberg 7) and the comedian Uncle Floyd Vivino — was speaking broadly. For the third time since 2004, he and his band will play this New Year’s Eve at Shanghai Jazz in Madison, where revelers, he said, are respectful. “This is an educated crowd,” he said. “If people are looking for a certain type of party — loud, a lot of drunk people — they’re not going to find it in this setting.” Across New Jersey, more than a few well-known clubs and the home-grown artists who love them are doing their best to erase the amateur-night designation. Like Jerry Vivino, who now lives in Nanuet, N.Y., the New Brunswick-based post-punk band Thursday will play the room they consider their home venue, according to Geoff Rickly, the front man: Starland Ballroom, in Sayreville.Not that Thursday is expecting the same dressed-up, well-behaved crowd that Mr. Vivino is.“We’ve done a holiday show the last four years, but never New Year’s Eve,” said Mr. Rickly, who just completed a tour with Thursday behind this year’s “Kill the House Lights” (Victory Records), a live CD partly recorded at Starland Ballroom. “This year we’re taking the plunge.” What he expects, he said, is what he usually sees at the Sayreville haunt, only with “more of a buzz.”
Classics Gain New Fans Thanks To ‘Guitar Hero Effect’
Those of us who consider ourselves diehard classic rock fans may be tempted to borrow from a well-known track by The Who that says, "The kids are alright."
I will admit that I was rather unimpressed with the whole "Guitar Hero" concept when I first heard about it. Much like cartoon dad Randy Marsh on South Park, I thought time spent with a toy guitar in front of a TV screen would be much better spent learning how to play a real guitar.
Despite my earlier reservations, and the fact that I still do consider time spent with a real guitar more valuable than with a toy, there do appear to be some good things coming out of this whole "Guitar Hero" craze.
Beyond providing some good clean fun for folks who don’t have a desire to learn how to play a real guitar, games like "Guitar Hero" are creating a whole new generation of classic rock fans.
The proof is in the numbers. Figures from Neilsen SoundScan, a company that tracks both digital music downloads and music sold through more traditional outlets, sales of the Aerosmith single "Same Old Song And Dance" rose 136 percent the week after "Guitar Hero III" was released and then exploded to 400 percent the week after the Christmas holiday.
Class rock artists also seem to have found new appreciation for this generation of games that allow just about anyone to feel like a rock star on stage in the comfort of their own living room.
How badly do some artists want to have their songs featured on a version of "Guitar Hero" or "Rock Band?" Well, the Sex Pistols were willing to return to the studio to re-record "Anarchy In The U.K." because they did not have the original master recording and Living Colour went into the studio and re-recorded the guitar solo on "Cult of Personality" because it was considered too easy.
Parents around the country are reporting that their kids are embracing a lot of the classics many of us baby boomers grew up listening to after being introduced to the music by playing one of these games. Something that should help classic rock endure well into the future.
In closing, I offer a tip of my hat to the creators of games like "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band." I can’t think of anything but good things to say about activities that help keep classic rock alive for future generations.
For more on this story, check out MSNBC.
From Real Rock News Classic Rock News
Tags: Artists, country, music, News, Son
Greenbelt
There has been a gaping hole in my experience of live Christian music up till now. Since the early 70s the Greenbelt Festival has established itself as THE event of the year when it comes to live Christian music in the UK. Deciding it was about time I witnessed this festival for myself, I headed towards Cheltenham to see Delirious? perform at the final day of Greenbelt. Whilst on route I received a call from Jon and we arranged to rendez vous at the Air Balloon Pub, about 20 minutes outside of Cheltenham where he and his friend Jamie were stopping for lunch. Once there Jon filled me in on the band’s recent tour to Asia, an eventful trip with numerous stories ranging from bomb-threats to police raids. A little while later (and several trips around Gloucestershire’s roundabouts) the three of us arrived in convoy at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Making our way through the festival site, we located ‘mainstage’ and the glamorous ‘backstage area’. Said place is a fenced off area immediately behind ‘mainstage’ where technical crews and artists ‘hang out’. Yep, this is the place to be. You’ll be needing your red ‘mainstage pass’ (see below) to get past the yellow-jacketed security personnel and into this exclusive, no doubt luxourius, part of the festival. Or so I thought. On arrival it appears that dressing rooms at Greenbelt are not quite what you may expect. In fact they’re just small portacabins with a couple of chairs and a table (see above). So disappointing.
Jon was particularly keen for me to take photographic evidence of the provisions that had been laid out for the band. Yes I think it’s fair to say that this band have some outlandish demands on their rider. A bowl of crisps - EACH, and a whole basket of fruit. Nothing but the best for these superstars. Anyway, enough about the backstage facilities.
Rumour had it that there was a ‘contributors patio’ which was reserved for holders of the ‘purple pass’ with provisions for contributors. I followed Jon and Jamie through the throng of people gathered by mainstage to watch Chas & Dave as we weaved our way towards this alleged nirvana, all the while feeling slightly guilty that I would be passing myself off as a ‘contributor’. It turns out that Jon is a pretty popular guy. We could barely walk a few steps without him passing somebody he knew and stopping for a chat. Eventually we arrived at our destination, which was also slightly less glamorous than it sounded but did have a very pleasant man offering tea and coffee. After most of Littlehampton had said hello to Jon, we departed on a walk to the far side of the site guided by Mr Andy Hutch (lights and video genius) to visit the tented village he was sharing with another group of people who all seemed to know Jon (he really is Mr Popular). Anyway, in the interest of not getting completely bogged down in irrelevant details (and before I start writing about festival toilets), I’ll just skip the next few hours of general browsing of the festival.
The remaining Delirious? band members had by now arrived, and they were due to do ‘press’ backstage, so I wondered off in search of some music. Before long I discovered a tent where Retrofect were playing. For those not in the know, there is a d: connection with this band, Jon’s brother Ben is the drummer and Martin’s nephew Tom plays guitar. I noted Mum & Dad Thatcher proudly watching their youngest, and Jon also had a quick listen. Anyway… some more time passed [skip to the interesting bit] and at last it was 9:30pm and time for Delirious? to go on stage. I stood at the back of the stage watching as the band walked on and rocked straight into new song ‘God Is Smiling’. The view from on stage was stunning. I could see endless faces stretching out into the darkness like a vast sea, all focused on the 5 guys on stage just a few meters away from me.
Armed with a camera and my red pass I walked round to where the pit between stage and crowd was located. The yellow-jackets had other ideas. Apparently it was fine for me to stand within spitting distance of Stew and his drum kit on stage, but going in front of the stage was a no-no even with a red pass. After some careful negotiation they reluctantly agreed to let me in, on the condition that I wore ear plugs “for health and safety reasons”. Their concern for my hearing was touching but it occurred to me that standing in front of a band with yellow and pink blobs of foam stuck in your ears was about as big an insult as you can pay any band. So I graciously accepted the ear plugs I was offered by the yellow-jacket, shoved them in my pocket and entered the pit to start taking photos. A tap on my shoulder and apparently yellow-jacket had noticed I wasn’t wearing my life-protecting ear devices and was non too pleased. Reluctantly I stuck them in my ears and hoped the band wouldn’t notice.
There were more photographers in the pit than I’ve ever seen at a Delirious? concert, but being a Christian festival there was no jostling or pushing. Just polite excuse-me-pleases and envious looks from me that everyone else had professional looking gear with lenses longer than your forearm. One yellow-jacket took one look at my less than impressive camera and whispered in my ear (well it was more of a shout to be heard through my ear plugs) “are you sure you’re meant to be here?”. I scowled and moved to the other side of the pit.
Before I knew it Delirious? were coming back on stage for their final song encore. I made my way round the back of the stage again and up the steps to watch from the side of stage as they received their applause and took their bow. It was an impressive sight. Back in the portacabin dressing room Tim was relieved they’d done ok without a sound check and everyone seemed happy. Now to negotiate the Gloucestershire countryside for the journey home.
Tags: Artists, form, music, Photos, site, Son, Video
The Christmas Show 2006
The Delirious? Christmas Show is always one of the highlights of the year, and this year was no exception. I’d been told before arriving that my pass from the recent UK tour would be valid for the Christmas show, so I arrived at about 4:15pm and knocked on the stage door around the back of the Shepherds Bush Empire. When the security guy opened the door I waved my pass at him, only to hear the words “That pass isn’t valid any more”. Good start. Thankfully he was one of the few helpful security guards that exist, and I was escorted inside to the security desk where he asked my name and checked me against his list. “You’re not on the list”. Things were going well. Half expecting to find myself back outside on the street with a sore backside, I was surprised when instead he picked up his phone and called tour manager Ian. “I’ve got a Dave Wood at stage door” he said, before listening to the response for a few seconds and hanging up. Good news or bad? I wondered. Sigh of relief as he reached for a bright red pass marked ‘AAA’ and handed it to me.
With the potential crisis averted, I became aware of the unmistakable sound of a Delirious? sound check in progress. Heading through the doors, down the steps, and through a few more doors I arrived onto side of stage, behind Trevor’s mixing desk (monitor engineer). In front of me, in the semi-darkness (stage lights not yet in use) I could see Delirious? and a large choir assembled on stage. The choir leader/conductor was stood in front of the choir talking to them. “If you don’t know the words just sing ‘Rhubarb’ or something. Whatever you do, don’t turn around and look at the words on the screen or I’ll shoot you” she said to them sternly. The band and choir rehearsed the moment when the choir will walk on during ‘Majesty’ and join in for the chorus. Next up, Delirious? practice a very rock and roll version of ‘Hark The Herald’, and then the sound check is finished. The band come to greet me and I wonder off upstairs to the dressing room with Jon. On the way we pass Matt Redman arriving through the stage door (unlike me, his name is on ‘the list’).
One thing that always impresses me about Delirious? is that they surround themselves with top professionals, especially when it comes to their crew. Tonight they have Neil on lights, who has just returned from shooting a TV series. Matt their sound man has just rushed back from doing the sound for Jarvis Cocker on this afternoon’s recording of tonight’s Jonathan Ross TV show. Another crew members has spent the day working with Natasha Bedingfield, also shooting a TV show. These aren’t just guys the band found hanging around a street corner, they’re all recognised experts in their field of work who actively choose to fit Delirious? into their busy schedules, packed full of big name mainstream artists. It says something about the level of professionalism that goes into a Delirious? show. Anyway, a little while later it’s time to head to a restaurant for dinner. Once inside, the band are pounced on by an extremely enthusiastic fan who has come all the way from Italy just for tonight’s gig. Despite the slightly unexpected intrusion, they pose for photographs without complaint before we all take up seats for dinner. Sat either side of me are Jon and Stew, across the table are Neil (lights) and Jamie (a journalist friend of Jon, who I’m told has plenty of dirt on him - so I happily take his business card when it’s offered to me!). Over pasta and pizza we chat about various things. It amuses me to hear that Jon has just had his adapted suit (complete with bat wings) back from the dry cleaners (I bet the dry cleaner got a bit of a surprise when they cleaned the outfit).
Back at the venue everyone gathers in the large room behind the stage for a pre-gig prayer meeting. The room is rather over crowded as the 30+ members of the choir, 5 members of Delirious?, Matt Redman and band, plus hangers on (like me!) gather together. Stu G says a few words, thanking everyone for coming to perform tonight and then looks over at Martin and says “So, what do we do now?”. There’s general laughter as people joke that Stu doesn’t know how to pray. Stu responds with a story about the first band he was part of, many years ago, where he was the only non-Christian in the band and quickly had to learn how to talk like a Christian. Matt Redman quips that he must be talking about a band called “Cutting Edge” and more laughter fills the room. When things quieten down, Stu, Martin, Matt and a few others say prayers and then we file out of the room. On the way back to Delirious’ dressing room, we again pass the stage door where Carrie and David Grant are just arriving. I see another familiar face behind them, who I’m fairly sure is athlete Jamie Baulch.
As we head upstairs to the dressing room, I pass Tom (tour manager Ian’s right-hand mand) who stops me and says “Dave, would you like to fire a cannon tonight?”. I ignore the pictures flashing through my mind of large black cannon balls flying off the side of a pirate ship, and focus instead on the confetti cannons that get fired to shower the crowd with millions of tiny pieces of paper, creating a fake indoor snowstorm. I happily agree, and arrange to meet Tom during the encore. In the dressing room the band start to ready themselves for the show. Setlists are looked over, Jon practices with his Bass and Stew hits his drumsticks against a practice pad on his knee. I’m amazed to find that Stew is an almost entirely self-taught drummer, having only had 2 lessons in his entire life “and they were a couple of years ago” he explains. I leave the band in the dressing room and head onto the side of the stage to watch the end of Matt Redman’s support set. He’s doing well and the crowd are very receptive.
Finally it’s time for Delirious? to perform. I crouch down in the security pit between stage and crowd and take as many photos as I can for the first few songs, before heading again to the side of stage to take some photos looking out from behind the band out onto the crowd. Then it’s up into balcony level 1 for some more photos. Later as I stand just off the side of the stage, I notice Matt Redman sitting on the floor, watching Delirious? and singing along to ‘Our God Reigns’. Before I know it, the band leave the stage for the encore break so I dash off to find Tom. He hands me a clear plastic tube, about a metre in length, stuffed full of tiny pieces of paper. He gives me a few instructions and then we head off, along with several other cannon wielders, up the back stairs to balcony levels 2 and 3. He sends each of us off to a different part of the balcony so that we are arranged all around the perimeter, and then we wait for our cue.
Delirious? come back on stage to sing All This Time followed by Stronger, and then their final Christmas number, Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Mid way through the song we all pull the release cord on our confetti cannons and a cheer goes up from the crowd as the confetti fills the venue and floats down on everyone from high up in the roof. I pull out my camera again quickly to take some photos of the scene, before the show comes to an end. With everything finished I catch up with the band again in the dressing room, and then follow Jon down to the after show party where friends, family and colleagues are gathered. It was a stunning night. My only regret was not being able to stay for longer at the after show party, but as it was I didn’t get to bed till 2am after the train journey home - and then got woken at 6am by my daughter, so I think it was just as well I left when I did!
Tags: Artists, form, News, Photos, Son
DVD and UK Tour
Thank you to everyone who added comments to my previous blog post, making suggestions for things you’d like to see me write about on this blog. I’ll see what I can do in the near future!
Just thought I’d write a quick post to say that things are about to get exciting in d: world. The DVD was filmed last week and more news and details about it should be revealed shortly - what I’ve heard about it so far sounds fantastic so expect a top quality product with some interesting twists. As you’d expect, the packaging and the extras will make this something very special when it hits the shops in October.
Also, details of the October UK tour should be announced in the next couple of days. I’ll be adding news about it once I get the go-ahead, but I’m told tickets will be on sale by the weekend or early next week. The tour will end in London on October 31st and the support artists for the tour should be pretty cool, but more on that shortly.
I must know: Who thinks Hip-Hop is total S**TE and can’t wait for it to DIE!
Board_threads: * Board_threads: * How many people still buy CDs? Board_threads: * metal Board_threads: * 46 Birmingham bands/artists that are better than The Twang… Board_threads: * Answering Machine, Daggers, Dead Disco…. Board_threads: * I
Tags: Artists
How We Do It "In the A" (feat. Ludacris) - Single - Lloyd
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Tags: Artists, music, New Releases, Son
Shakira at Latin Live Aid
Artists, intellectuals and leading businessmen from Latin America are in Panama to announce a series of benefit concerts. Several stars including Colombian singer Shakira and the Panamanian salsa singer, Ruben Blade will perform at these concerts. Buenos Aires, Miami and Los Angeles are among five cities hosting the events.
The concerts are part of the Latin America Solidarity Action Foundation who tries to reduce regional poverty.
Related Links:
- Stars to launch ‘Latin Live Aid’
Famous Pals Belt It Out In Kimmel/Affleck Clip
Jimmy Kimmel’s “I’m F*cking Ben Affleck” video on his late-night ABC talk show, which features such artists as Josh Groban, Perry Farrell, Macy Gray and members of Good Charlotte, tallied almost 500,000 views on YouTube less than 24 hours after it premiered.