Here’s video of our gig from the other night. This is our first crack at using backing videos, too. The set is 50/50 originals-to-covers. Just a small neighborhood bar by my house, but a good crowd that night. Don’t expect excitement, we tend to stand around like New Order, hence the video I guess. Currently a duo until we find a replacement drummer.
A fun, albeit imperfect performance, though these songs always somehow sound better in practice, don’t they? This is, I believe, our 5th gig this year, so we’re still figuring ourselves out on stage (and this place has a small stage, can’t even fit a drum set on it!). Last time I’d played out in a band was 1996. Forgot how much fun it is, and how much it sucks breaking down gear at midnight, full of booze, with a job to go to the next day!
That’s great stuff Jim, fair play. Have to say some of the best songs were originals, particularly ‘In Ruins’ & ‘Chasing Shadows’. Guitars and vox compliment each other very well. A live drummer would improve the live performance but that was great for just two lads belting it out. Are the visuals your own work? Worked quite well, esp. for ‘In Ruins’.
Thanks a lot, guys. Mick, I only created the intro/outro/segue images. The digital imagery is professional stock video, and there are a few lifted videos from other artists on there: Persuasion is “Stand Alone” by Pink Industry, Consumed is “Fear and Desire” by Siglo XX (w/a personal image at the end), All Night Long is “Dominic Christ” by Suicide, and Lucretia is “Mind The Gap” by Ajax. Our intro music is “Bent Massive” by Click Click, and the end credits song is the main menu music from the Tron 2.0 game!
I’m not much of a video guy, so this was my first attempt. I synched/published everything in Windows Movie Maker of all programs (really need to get Premiere again). Seemed to work out well, though I really scraped for the stock footage (the Blood clips are my favorite). It would be nice to start creating our own video. Still, we can use all those clips in any order at future shows, so it’s a nice gimmick on top of the music, makes watching a bar band a little less boring.
We had a drummer earlier this year, he played our first gig then quit a week later. The drummer we really want is married and lives in Denver, so that sucks for us (though he will be playing our album release party). We’ll probably look for a new drummer after the CD is finished. I do think we need that added layer of live performance again, so we’re not just a couple of guys pushing PLAY on a synth.
Live musicians always add more to a show. Nothing is more boring then 2 guys just standing there, except well one guy standing there (kid 606 i’m looking at you). At least you make up for it with the video. Keep it up. Once you start getting more in your bag of tricks it’ll really start snowballing into more interesting stuff
Definitely will inform the prongers when this project is finished. Thanks for the feedback. I agree Porkspam, it’s more interesting with more live instruments…we’re like Pet Shop Boys with guitars at the moment. We’ll get a live drummer back in the mix after the album is done.
We’re playing Halloween night at this place, and are planning to have a more gothic/industrial set that night, along with the originals. Already planning to cover 242, Ministry, Puppy, A Split Second, possibly RevCo, Nitzer Ebb and more. Should be a wild one!
Just thought I’d let you know that I downloaded a copy of Chasing Shadows. I love the bass intro when it gets really low. I definitely want a copy of the album when it comes out.
checked out chasing shadows…It’s pretty damn good sir! my only complaint is that your vocals are completely buried under the music and you’re voice isn’t fucked up at all, so there is no reason to bury your vocals.
My sister would love this. I’ll grab a copy, when you release it, for my sis. Not really my genre of music but I can appreciate the fact that what you play, you play well. I think your pet shop boys comparison was apt.
I hope you post your halloween show. I bet your ministry and puppy covers will be killer!
EDIT: all of the above applies to chasing shadows as I’m going through the rest of the set now
Late,
grmpysmrf
Covers we’re discussing (so far) for Halloween night:
Mambo Witch (A Split Second)
Waste (Front 242)
Yes (Click Click)
Everyday Is Halloween (Ministry)
Twilight Of The Mortal (Killing Joke)
I Am War Again (The Damage Manual)
Blood (Editors)
Lucretia My Reflection (The Sisters Of Mercy)
Moscow Underground (Simple Minds)
Fall Apart (IKON)
Back Door (Clan Of Xymox)
Black Celebration (Depeche Mode)
Hearts and Minds (Nitzer Ebb)
Testure (Skinny Puppy)
I Rage, I Melt (Click Click)
Headhunter (Front 242)
A Passage In Time (Dead Can Dance)
You’re So Close (Peter Murphy)
Hands Off Me (Red Lorry Yellow Lorry)
A Forest (The Cure)
Persuasion (IKON)
Transmission (Joy Division)
I Prefer (Ministry)
DCD, JD & Ministry choices +1 (Also suggest ‘Shadowplay’ as the guitar comes to great prominence, always raises the hair on the back of my neck, just like the solo from Pink Floyd’s ‘Time’)
For something a bit heavier Siouxsie and the Banshees’ ‘Jigsaw Feeling’. Or for an instrumental Bowie’s ‘Speed of Life’ (that requires 2 guitars, or at least 1 guitar and keys)
Anyway don’t mind me, you’re the boss. If it’s going to be filmed or recorded, do post it here.
