When things go wrong
Lesson time: (0min 0sec)
Sister Bliss shares how a live band's versatility lets you recover quickly when something goes wrong on stage, drawing on Faithless's own near-misses.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Studio to Stage: How Faithless Created Their Live Sound
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
The Joy of Live Band Versatility
Introduction
One of the game changers and lifesavers of being in a live band is the flexibility and versatility that comes with simply playing music.
The Power of Jam Sessions
Sometimes, during rehearsals, we engage in little jam sessions. These may never see the light of day in a performance, but they bring us joy beyond the confines of our set songs.
An Unexpected Challenge
We once faced a significant challenge when a cameraman was shooting us for a huge MTV show. Just as we were about to launch into the big riff from "Insomnia," everything went dead, the power was cut!
- Panic Mode: As the keyboardist, my heart sank. Silence enveloped the stage.
- Quick Thinking: Maxie grabbed the mic and encouraged the drummer to set up a beat. Even though the electronics failed, the drums kept going.
Creating Spontaneous Music
The guitarist and bass player joined in, and we unexpectedly created a funky jam. The crowd loved it and got into the moment. Once power was restored, we seamlessly transitioned back into the song, and the audience erupted.
"Sometimes when things go wrong, it can actually give the show a bit of humanity."
Addressing Crowd Safety
The Importance of Vigilance
During performances, it's crucial to stay aware of the crowd's well-being. We've seen situations where crowd control became a concern, and it's important to address these issues.
- Call It Out: If you're on stage and notice something amiss, don't just carry on. Lives may be in danger.
A Personal Experience
We headlined a massive festival in Denmark called Roskilde, where serious crowd management issues occurred. People were actually crushed to death, leading to the establishment of proper barriers for crowd control.
- Mosh Pits: While jumping and being part of a mosh pit can be fun, it should never come at the cost of safety.
Speaking Up Matters
As a band, being aware of our surroundings can save lives. We must be prepared to stop a song and address issues when necessary.
Navigating Tour Challenges
Infrastructure Issues
On tour, covering vast distances often means relying on the available infrastructure, which isn't always reliable.
I recall a significant situation during a massive tour in South America, where our cargo plane with freight couldn't take off, leaving us without gear for a gig.
- On-Time Arrival: The band flew in separately, but we felt the disappointment of the delay.
An Improv Solution
Fortunately, I had been running a pared-down version of Faithless, known as Faithless Sound System, which consisted of percussion, Maxie's vocals, and my DJing. I had instrumental versions of our songs on a USB stick.
An Impromptu Set
To make up for the lost performance, we put together an impromptu DJ set with live vocals. This allowed us to connect with the crowd and give them a taste of Faithless.
"It wasn't our fault, but we were able to make it up to the audience."
The Value of Backup Plans
DJ Sets as a Contingency
Having a DJ set as a backup has become increasingly popular among live artists. Many acts now perform both live and DJ sets.
- Examples:
- Faithless
- Basement Jaxx
- Orbital
- Disclosure
- Rudimental
Conclusion
If you're touring, consider preparing a DJ-ready set as a safety net. Being flexible and adaptable in the face of unexpected challenges can transform a setback into a memorable experience for both the band and the audience.
About the instructor
'Sister Bliss never stopped writing music. She's an accomplished composer for film and TV, a club DJ, and an advocate for the creative industries'. Billboard One of the most successful British dance music artists of the past 25 years, Ayalah Bentovim AKA Sister Bliss is the musical force behind Faithless. Together with iconic front man Maxi Jazz and producer Rollo Armstrong, she formed Faithless: one of the most successful electronic acts of their generation, with a career spanning more than two decades that included 8 albums (3 at number 1) and six top 10 singles. To date, Faithless have sold in excess of 15 million records worldwide and have played live to millions across the world, headlining festivals, stadiums and arenas. The band have collaborated with artists such as Jazzie B, Boy George, Cat Power and Dido, never conforming and moving effortlessly across an eclectic range of genres. Over a 25-year career that took her from the underground UK club scene to sold-out arena shows and festival headline slots around the globe, Sister Bliss has become one of British dance music's longest-standing and most influential female electronic artists. She comes off the back of releasing Faithless' first studio album in ten years, the highly anticipated 'All Blessed' - Faithless' love letter to electronic music that presents them at their very best. The album reached number 6 in the charts and the singles, along with their premiere remixes, garnered extensive support across BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and BBC 6 as well as Kiss FM and Capital. A classically trained multi-instrumentalist, she has also scored numerous TV, film and theatre productions. Credits include 2012's film Knife Fight starring Rob Lowe and directed by two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag, commissions for Sex & The City 2, Chasing Amy, Danny Boyle's The Beach, A Life Less Ordinary, acclaimed British film The Hide, Crossing The Line and the BAFTA-winning TV dramas Life Begins (ITV) and The Poison Tree (ITV). For theatre, Bliss has written music for The Black Album and The Emperor Jones at The National Theatre in London, as well as composing an original piece for the London Sinfonietta, which was performed at Fuse Festival, UK. She recently had a lead role in major prime time BBC1 show 'This is My Song', mentoring the contributors and producing their final recordings. She released a new collaborative album with Rollo and Dido in 2019 under the moniker 'R PLUS' - 'The Last Summer', following a jam-packed summer of festival headline DJ sets throughout the world including sets at Bestival, Exit Festival, Glastonbury, Creamfields, Ibiza and beyond. Her hugely successful weekly radio show and podcast 'Sister Bliss in Session' is syndicated to over 100 stations and 43 countries worldwide. She recently guest presented Gilles Peterson's acclaimed show on BBC 6 Music and regularly stands in for Ana Matronic on the Dance Devotion show on BBC Radio 2. She has also presented a 5-part series on Bauer Media's Scala Radio station joining the dots between classical and electronic music, which won the Bronze prize at the New York Festival Radio Awards, competing against 30 countries. She currently teaches at Tileyard Studios' Masters MA course, including modules on songwriting, production and writing to commercial brief, and mentors individual Masters students - the same hands-on knowledge she shares in Studio to Stage, breaking down exactly how Faithless turned their records into a stadium-filling live show. read more