On Sunday 26th, me and the band had another rehearsal at the Polish Club. Unfortunately, the bassist Dominic could not be present because he was in London. Nevertheless, it proved to be very productive and successfully ran through two new covers - another Iron Maiden cover "Blood Brothers" and the Megadeth classic "Symphony of Destruction". For both these songs, I focussed on my vocal work, picking up the guitar only for solos or when a third guitar part was required. Here is a link to a video of the best parts of this rehearsal: http://www.esnips.com/doc/2cfb2f0a-b6f2-4a07-856a-850efa0b37a1/October-26th-Rehearsal.
We also made a start on a song Ragnar had started writing composed of several riffs which I helped complement with appropriate harmonies. For next time, Ragnar said he would attempt to learn my song that I sent him a tab of. Also, I am enthusiastic to cover some Opeth, which would be challenging to learn and I feel would lead the band in a positive direction.
(4 hours)
Also, afterwards Anna had arranged an acoustic practice with me and her friend Marcelina. We rehearsed a list of songs they had prepared including "Heartshaped Box" by Nirvana, "Stop and Stare" by OneRepublic, "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon and "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol. You can view a video of this here: http://www.esnips.com/doc/70bbfaeb-d886-41ea-9b8d-7ece990562e2/Heartshapedbox.
(1 hour 30 mins)
We plan to play some of these at the Ryansbar open mic night on wednesday. I will also be doing a set of my own.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Stage Rehearsal and Acoustic Gig
On Saturday the 18th this week, I had a planned rehearsal with the band from the Polish club. Because the drummer could not make it, it took place at my house in my room as it would save shifting the huge amount of equipment I would need.
After succesfully setting up all the amplifiers for the guitars, doing the vocals acoustically, we went over Phantom of the Opera again to try and nail the more difficult parts. This proved a little difficult without the drums, especially due to the transition into the first guitar solo.
We also began learning an interesting piece that Ragnar proposed we perform as an on-stage intro. We arranged it so that Peter (guitar) would begin with the simple accompaniment, then Ragnar (guitar) would enter with the main melody. After a cycle of this, I would provide an ambient guitar-swell counter melody. Dominic on bass would then enter, completing the arrangement. The piece has a gradual tempo increase near the end, and this required tremendous levels of concentration to get right. Here is a link to a video of us practicing it:http://www.esnips.com/doc/b2a65fc4-e54f-4479-83cf-ddd3a29d1b7f/Intro-Track
We also began learning the guitar parts to Iron Maiden's "The Wicker Man", which was not hard considering two of us knew it already. For this song, I would only be doing vocal duties, taking up guitar only for the solo in the middle. This was because firstly, there was only two guitar parts anyway and secondly it would give me a lot more freedom as a frontman.
(2 hours 30 mins)
The next day we would run through all this material again with the drummer at the Polish club venue. Initially there were a few technological errors - to start with we had difficulty finding the necessary cables to hook up the mixer amplifier to the PA. Also, due to the number of instruments involved, the noise pollution system would cut the power to the PA mixing desk. Eventually we resolved this problem by hooking the mixer to a different power outlet.
I have included a link to a video of our performance of the Wicker Man and Phantom of the Opera, recorded on a camera phone becuase the real camera I had brought had run out of memory space.
After we had sorted these songs, I began teaching Ragnar the first parts to a song I had written, although this not extend beyond the first couple of verses. We arranged that I send him the tabs for it as well as the demo recording of the actual song. As well as this, I was tasked with learning the lyrics and tune to Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction" for next week since all other members of the band knew their respective parts for it already.
(5 hours)
Additionally, on Monday 20th this week I had an acoustic gig, which since my voice had recovered went very well, with a decent audience size and a payout of fifty pounds! I did end up having to play another half an hour for the money because I was three people short of the number I needed to bring.
Included here is a link to a video compilation of some of the moments my friend captured on digital camera: http://www.esnips.com/doc/613f7cc2-92c2-4023-9a4a-68e9a73368f6/20th-oct-gig-video_0001
(2 hours)
After succesfully setting up all the amplifiers for the guitars, doing the vocals acoustically, we went over Phantom of the Opera again to try and nail the more difficult parts. This proved a little difficult without the drums, especially due to the transition into the first guitar solo.
We also began learning an interesting piece that Ragnar proposed we perform as an on-stage intro. We arranged it so that Peter (guitar) would begin with the simple accompaniment, then Ragnar (guitar) would enter with the main melody. After a cycle of this, I would provide an ambient guitar-swell counter melody. Dominic on bass would then enter, completing the arrangement. The piece has a gradual tempo increase near the end, and this required tremendous levels of concentration to get right. Here is a link to a video of us practicing it:http://www.esnips.com/doc/b2a65fc4-e54f-4479-83cf-ddd3a29d1b7f/Intro-Track
We also began learning the guitar parts to Iron Maiden's "The Wicker Man", which was not hard considering two of us knew it already. For this song, I would only be doing vocal duties, taking up guitar only for the solo in the middle. This was because firstly, there was only two guitar parts anyway and secondly it would give me a lot more freedom as a frontman.
(2 hours 30 mins)
The next day we would run through all this material again with the drummer at the Polish club venue. Initially there were a few technological errors - to start with we had difficulty finding the necessary cables to hook up the mixer amplifier to the PA. Also, due to the number of instruments involved, the noise pollution system would cut the power to the PA mixing desk. Eventually we resolved this problem by hooking the mixer to a different power outlet.
I have included a link to a video of our performance of the Wicker Man and Phantom of the Opera, recorded on a camera phone becuase the real camera I had brought had run out of memory space.
After we had sorted these songs, I began teaching Ragnar the first parts to a song I had written, although this not extend beyond the first couple of verses. We arranged that I send him the tabs for it as well as the demo recording of the actual song. As well as this, I was tasked with learning the lyrics and tune to Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction" for next week since all other members of the band knew their respective parts for it already.
(5 hours)
Additionally, on Monday 20th this week I had an acoustic gig, which since my voice had recovered went very well, with a decent audience size and a payout of fifty pounds! I did end up having to play another half an hour for the money because I was three people short of the number I needed to bring.
Included here is a link to a video compilation of some of the moments my friend captured on digital camera: http://www.esnips.com/doc/613f7cc2-92c2-4023-9a4a-68e9a73368f6/20th-oct-gig-video_0001
(2 hours)
The songs shown in this video are: Drive (Incubus), Technically Alive (Exit Ten), Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin), Midnight Musings (me), Certain Shade of Green (Incubus) and Business Time (Flight of the Conchords).
The full setlist is as follows:
SET 1: Let it Die (Foo Fighters), Heartbeat (King Crimson), Losing the Gift (me) Solsbury Hill (Peter Gabriel) Drive (Incubus) Patriarch (me) Love Left Unspent (me)Starlight (Muse) Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin)
SET 2: Family Snapshot (Peter Gabriel) 7:45 (me) Message in a Bottle (The Police) Top Yourself (The Raconteurs) Midnight Musings (me) Betray (me) Would? (Alice in Chains) Leave My Heart (me) Time is Running Out (Muse)
SET 3: Old Enough (The Raconteurs) Technically Alive (Exit Ten) Too Close for Comfort (me), A Certain Shade of Green (Incubus), Rooster (Alice in Chains), Little by Little (Oasis), Business Time (Flight of the Conchords)
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Unexpected band rehearsal!
Last weekend, (that is the 11th and 12th October) the people who I played drums for at the Polish club invited me to join them in a jam session with another two musicians. This time I would be playing guitar and singing, and in the rest of the lineup there were also the two original guitarists plus a bassist and a drummer. It took place at one of the guitarist's (Ragnar) garage, and he gave me a lift in transporting the equipment that I was bringing.
We spent most of the time working on the Iron Maiden epic "Phantom of the Opera" which required intense levels of concentration due to its complex musical structure and multiple instrumental parts. A lot of the riffs and themes I had to learn on the first day, as well as the vocal tune in the verses.
(3 hours)
In spite of this, by the end of the second day we were able to play the whole seven minutes of the song, albeit with a few mistakes. I have included a link to an audio file of one of the takes we played - http://www.esnips.com/doc/cb5bcb01-856c-4f2f-9f2f-7cd1ba1ea83b/Recording-(1). Only problem is that the vocals cannot be heard due to the position of the phone that recorded it. In addition, we jammed seceral other tunes such as "In Bloom" by Nirvana, "American Idiot" by Greenday, "Time" by Pink Floyd, "Rooster" by Alice In Chains and "Drive" by Incubus.
(4 hours)
It seems very likely that this activity will continue, as Ragnar tells me that he will attempt to book a studio that he knows for this weekend.
Unfortunately, my open mic activity is currently suspended due to my voice being out of action for singing. This is because of a combination of a throat infection and trying to sing at the mentioned rehearsal whilst I had it. On Monday 20th I have an acoustic gig at The Brewery Tap pub, so hopefully my voice will have recovered by then and a friend should be able to video the performance for this blog.
We spent most of the time working on the Iron Maiden epic "Phantom of the Opera" which required intense levels of concentration due to its complex musical structure and multiple instrumental parts. A lot of the riffs and themes I had to learn on the first day, as well as the vocal tune in the verses.
(3 hours)
In spite of this, by the end of the second day we were able to play the whole seven minutes of the song, albeit with a few mistakes. I have included a link to an audio file of one of the takes we played - http://www.esnips.com/doc/cb5bcb01-856c-4f2f-9f2f-7cd1ba1ea83b/Recording-(1). Only problem is that the vocals cannot be heard due to the position of the phone that recorded it. In addition, we jammed seceral other tunes such as "In Bloom" by Nirvana, "American Idiot" by Greenday, "Time" by Pink Floyd, "Rooster" by Alice In Chains and "Drive" by Incubus.
(4 hours)
It seems very likely that this activity will continue, as Ragnar tells me that he will attempt to book a studio that he knows for this weekend.
Unfortunately, my open mic activity is currently suspended due to my voice being out of action for singing. This is because of a combination of a throat infection and trying to sing at the mentioned rehearsal whilst I had it. On Monday 20th I have an acoustic gig at The Brewery Tap pub, so hopefully my voice will have recovered by then and a friend should be able to video the performance for this blog.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Activities Proposal
I got involved with the Polish Club music/dance show (on the 4th of October) through a fellow singer-songwriter Anna I met at a Derby open mic who originally wished to collaborate with me on performing an acoustic song together. She invited me to perform at this music show she was organising and so we arranged rehearsals in the week leading up to it. We practiced two songs that we thought would be appropriate – “Drive” by Incubus and “Wonderwall” by Oasis.
Upon realising I could also play drums to an extent, she invited me to play for an Iron Maiden tribute who would be playing at the show but were in need of a drummer. This would be the very first time I had played drums at a real live environment. I have a video file of this performance that was recorded on a phone - http://www.esnips.com/doc/253d129b-7cbd-4f40-a94a-15f1f15b57d5/04102008003.
Additionally, we had the idea for me to improvise an ambient guitar lead line over the intro song for the show sung by Anna with dancers. Although improvisation is something I have extensive experience, putting it in this particular context was something new.
I also provided a significant portion of the guitar rig, which one of the guitarists from the band would use. It has been discussed that there may be more of these shows to come, due to the hugely positive response it received, and it was a very valuable experience and took place within semester time. Due to this, I expect many musical opportunities to arise from the contacts I made, particularly through Anna and Ragnar, and I will be documenting these as part of my complementary studies weblog.
Additionally, I will be continuing my open mic and acoustic gigging in Derby and documenting my progress in obtaining more frequent paid performances. This will include the production of my home-made acoustic EP to the Derby audience. Please see www.myspace.com/martinjacksonacoustic for samples of this material. One of housemates may be able to gain me some live airtime on D:ONE radio as he did last year.
I have also been working on getting a band together with the people I am currently living with. This weblog will track our rehearsals and detail our efforts of managing this in a non-studio environment.
Upon realising I could also play drums to an extent, she invited me to play for an Iron Maiden tribute who would be playing at the show but were in need of a drummer. This would be the very first time I had played drums at a real live environment. I have a video file of this performance that was recorded on a phone - http://www.esnips.com/doc/253d129b-7cbd-4f40-a94a-15f1f15b57d5/04102008003.
Additionally, we had the idea for me to improvise an ambient guitar lead line over the intro song for the show sung by Anna with dancers. Although improvisation is something I have extensive experience, putting it in this particular context was something new.
I also provided a significant portion of the guitar rig, which one of the guitarists from the band would use. It has been discussed that there may be more of these shows to come, due to the hugely positive response it received, and it was a very valuable experience and took place within semester time. Due to this, I expect many musical opportunities to arise from the contacts I made, particularly through Anna and Ragnar, and I will be documenting these as part of my complementary studies weblog.
Additionally, I will be continuing my open mic and acoustic gigging in Derby and documenting my progress in obtaining more frequent paid performances. This will include the production of my home-made acoustic EP to the Derby audience. Please see www.myspace.com/martinjacksonacoustic for samples of this material. One of housemates may be able to gain me some live airtime on D:ONE radio as he did last year.
I have also been working on getting a band together with the people I am currently living with. This weblog will track our rehearsals and detail our efforts of managing this in a non-studio environment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)