Creating Space in Live Music

So it was really important to create space in the songs.

Variations in Live Performance

In certain songs in particular, they were just a really different animal when they were being played live. For example, there's a song called I Want More. It had a really beautiful, gentle acoustic guitar riff in it, but it was completely lost when we started rehearsing it.

• It didn't feel like it had the heaviness that the song needed to match the lyrics.
• So, we stripped it all out, completely changed the beat, and changed the parts that were in it.
• We took out the guitar entirely and just had pads that were spaced out in a particular way.
• This allowed the vocals to hang over the piece of music, which was what you could really hear.

Importance of Clear Lyrics

It's super important with a band, well, any band really. The lyrics are often what people are listening out for; they have to be really clear.

• People need to hear what the band is saying.
• If you can't hear the lyrics, you're kind of losing half the experience, especially with a band that uses a rapper and rap music and spoken word.

Sensory Overload and Audience Engagement

For us, it was really important to make sure the songs had space in them so that the audience could almost catch up. It was such a sensory overload with the sound, the lights, and the show experience.

• I like to run the songs like a DJ set. There was no break between many of the songs.
• The first half of a show would have every song segue into the next, and the segue sections were as important as the songs.

Combining Different Music Styles

This was a really exciting part of the show: how to knit together slightly disparate music, which included:

• Banging and clubby
• More hip-hop
• Funky
• Almost ambient

We had sounds that would recur through the show. We would have pads that created links between one song and the next. But the space within the songs was really important.

Transforming Mass Destruction

There's a song called Mass Destruction, which was a very different beast on record.

• Live, it became like a punk anthem.
• We sped it up but tried to keep it groovy.
• There was a big discussion about whether to keep this guitar riff running through it.

It was much more dynamic to have it chopped up. We worked on a section to allow the chorus to breathe, allowing the guitar to play simple notes whereas the recorded version created a dirge.

The Reality of Live Sound

However, you never know until you get into a venue just how these elements will work.

• "Whether Halliburton, Enron, or anyone, greed is a weapon of mass destruction."
• We need to find courage.
• "Overcoming action is a weapon of mass destruction."

Listening Back for Improvement

In rehearsals, a key element was listening back. This is crucial for improving as a band.

• Recording yourself can provide a useful reference point.
• It shows how far you've come from the beginning of rehearsals to the end.

Sound checks were also incredibly important to see if things worked in a cavernous arena.

Challenges with Different Venues

Every venue has its own reverb and sound qualities. For example, we got booked to do a show in South Africa in a sugar silo.

• The shape of it created a 20-second delay when the sound hit the back wall and then came back to us.
• Ultimately, we had to cancel the gig; it was impossible to play, leading to a confused maelstrom of sound.

Outdoor Festival Challenges

Having played at many festivals, I can say the weather makes a massive difference.

• Sometimes, the wind can blow the sound away from the speakers, making it difficult for the audience to hear.
• This can affect how you play on stage, as you're not receiving the right vibe from the audience.

Key Takeaways for Your Prep

Be aware of all these different factors when preparing for a show:

• Simplifying things
• Keeping parts tight
• Ensuring clarity of sound

These are all really important when you're in rehearsal.