Diary of a Sound Man...

So... I've never really had any formal training on any of this shit... I mean, I know some stuff.. and I'm a quick study... but Im really a novice... What I know, I've learned from either trial and error.. and/or hanging with others who know more (of which there are many) and picking their brains... watching, observing, etc...

So, as much as I LOVE playing live music.. I've always wanted to try my hand and both Studio Production, and live Sound... I even applied, and was accepted to both the Ontario Institute of Audio Technology (then, a rarity, now one of many) and St. Fx's music program, and was even gonna apply to Berkley... but obviously, I did neither... But I've often wondered, "what might have happened if"

anyway, that preamble was just to prove the point that when some good friends of mine asked me to do sound for them.... I jumped at the opportunity..

They are an upwardly mobile band in HRM, but still in that "growth/learning" phase... Not just in the music sense, but in the business end of it, and I gotta say... they're doing one helluva job on all fronts... In just the last two years alone, they've come, in my opinion, LEAPS and Bounds... improving the quality of their sound, stage show, gear, and venues...

Anyway.. I'd like to think its been a mutually beneficial, albeit part time for me, experience... They get a sound man whos sincerely interested and concerned in their success, and eager to learn.. and I get to "ply my trade" as they say, or Trial by fire, might be another way to put it...

Each gigs been different, and I'd like to think I'm getting better and better each time round.. In both getting to know the band better, the gear, but also what to do when shit needs to get done.. be it effects settings, wiring the gear up, eq, compression, and so on... I mean I think I got a good ear and all, but there is a learning curve to a lot of this stuff... Like how to eq a room, you can read VOLUMES on Compressor and/or gate settings alone... and so on and so on... But I love it.. I could read the manual for an eq and be as excited and "interested" and engaged in the reading, and the specs as some are for sports or porn!

its also good for my back: unlike when I play and have to lug my keyboard and/or guitar around... with these guys I just show up... I lift nothing.. so thats luxury fer sure....

So tonight was a key gig for them.. I mean they're booked steady, but there's some prestige that comes with playing Down Town... and Im proud to say... They Kicked ASS!!!!! They played well, they sounded great, and the crowd loved it!!! Im sure they'll be back... and I couldnt help but feel a sincere sense of Pride for them! They're mostly (but not all) a little or a lot younger then me, and all but one of them are single... (or at least, unmarried) so, well... you know the rest of that story... but as an "old married fart" I get to watch from a safe distance, somewhat sheltered from the circus, and in a small way, re-live some of my youth vicariously through them... which is also kind of fun...

But im all hyped up right now, cause this was a key gig, and Da Boys Kicked ass!!! I said that already, didn't I??? well. they did...

Mind you, its not my favorite Genre of music... but there's no denying its energy and drawing power.... and more specifically, "THEIR" drawing power.. They even have a group of fans that follow them from bar to bar... regardless of the distance... Da Boys are doing well, thats for sure...

in contrast, my own band doesnt share a single tune on the set lists... Mind you, were a collection of like minded "niche" musicians, playing mostly classic rock, and some B-Side stuff that no one else is doing, but that said, My god... it sure is fun sometimes to have a foot in both camps... its like having your cake and eating it too...

anyway, to get back on track... Tonight was a neat excercise. pun intended..

No snake... House pa, board in front of house... Yeah... you musicians know how hard that can be..

So Sound check! Wicked good.!!! I was so excited, I was giddy..

First song... Pure f--king MUDD!! All bottom, no top.. what the f--k ?? I was in shock.. running to the front, to change this/that.. running back to listen to its effect..

it took 3 songs for me to figure out that in the pre-set rush to find the light switch for the house par-64's, someone inadvertantly turned off the amp for the Mid-highs... so all the house was getting was the sub, and the wash from the stage monitors... ok, sure, pre-flight systems check could have avoided that, but who would have expected that??? anyway.. I fired up the amp, instant improvement, but it then takes me a good 3 or 4 more tunes, all the while RUNNING from front of house to the back to listen (did i mention there was no snake the board was on stage) fighjt the FULL HOUSE line up down the block to get in crowd... but then I get it.. and it was SWEET!!!! those little Bose speakers sound wicked, you could hear every string of the acoustic, every nuance of the each mic/instrument.. even the digital kit sounded wicked, with non of the low tom resonance I typical fight with by riding the levels by the 8th song, it was pure Butter!!!! or as Ted Templeton or Koko Goldstien might say "Smooooth!" (do a you tube search for "Yacht Rock" if you dont know who those names are..

Anyway... the rest of the night was just a slight tweak here and there... Normally, with a cable snake and back of house set up, I'd ride the levels.. Maxing the vocals during the songs... pulling them back in between to avoid feedback, giving the lead guitar a boost during solo's, riffs, cuting effects off during "talking" and back during singing, etc.. but for a stage mixed gig... you get the best "Compromise" sound you can get... mindfull of all the possible variables.. then you leave well enough alone! I left them on their own at the close of the 2nd set... quite confident they're well set up, and poised for a great weekend!!!

its a rush.. I mean, Im technically not "in the band" just a hired temp.. But they are all boys from home.. and I couldnt be any happier for their success...

Check them out at www.darock.ca and go see them live.. better yet, book them... They'll keep the bar flowing, and the dancefloor packed!!!

Cheers for now