louderthangod wrote:So I saw Aldebaran open for Graves at Sea the other night and I thought they were fine but could have used some more dynamics in their songs. I love the minimal yet layered, melodic funeral doom that incorporates atmospherics and post-rock elements. There were many people around me saying how boring it was but I've been reading How Music Works by David Byrne of the Talking Heads and he starts off talking about how music and the venues it's played in are interconnected both for atmosphere but more importantly for acoustics. You couldn't pull off prog/fusion in a cathedral because of the natural reverb would make it all just sound like a blur and singer-songwriter folk music unamplified works fine outdoors if you can sit without 5' of the person but much beyond that and they just disappear. With my last band, our singer wouldn't play the last half of my favorite song of ours because it had a quiet ending that might have worked for a crowd ready to see Low but not for most crowds looking to raise doom claws (not that we could even satisfy those folks anyways).
So two things....where would be the ideal setting (anything in the natural world at all) to see contemplative, at times delicate and minimal and at other times a wall of sound type doom bands? Two, how can venues (doesn't have to just be bars and clubs) add elements to improve the experience these bands. I'd hate see bands like this solely go the way of studio projects only but hearing 50% of a crowd of 200-300 talk about bullshit while a band is trying to play an interesting piece of delicate music to set the mood for the upcoming crushing riff is frustrating for the band and for the audience that is trying to buy into the mood. So matter what my music gear is like at home, it's never the same as seeming a band really lay into a heavy riff live. There's got to be ways to improve this. I figure our collective intelligence should be able to come up with something.
I'm going to be hated for this and heavily questioned, but you asked and here is my opinion: Don't play too loud. Now, you also don't want to play too quietly or else you'll lose the attention of the audience, but playing too loud, there is such a thing and it is a problem I have experienced. The human ear cannot perceive intricacies past a certain decibel level, so if you're cranking two Marshall 100 watt amps into massive stacks and you're in a small room, the people at the back are the only ones who will hear the notes, and even then it's just a mush of distortion and power chords. Everyone will feel the 'push', and that push is awesome, but it's totally impractical for certain bands, which is why they require low stage volume. You have to balance, in a very general way, your volume.
You may also want to consider what type of music you play—more specifically, what parts each of you perform as musicians and how they intertwine with each other. If you have two guitarists playing the same power chord progression and a bassist simply following the route notes, the sound will be, for the most part, tight and punchy. But if you try to progress to more complicated soundscapes, then you have to be more aware of each part and instrument so that they are given their due space. That might, for instance, require long periods of the lead guitarist doing very little while the rhythm guitarist, bassist and drummer slug it out. That impresses a subconscious feeling on the audience. They feel less tight chested and more free. Then when the lead guitarist comes in with a sonically powerful lead melody, the impression is there, even if you can't hear the melody that well.
So it's not so much of a "How do I make sure every note is heard by the audience?" but more of a "How do I make the audience realise we're doing something complicated and fill in the gaps themselves." This is where knowing the music beforehand comes in. Seeing a band you've been listening to for years is so rewarding because, despite volume issues, there is a connectivity between you and the band; there is an understanding. You need to elaborate on this and adapt it into your own music. And you can do it with space. Encourage your drummer to take more breaks in playing and dynamically respond to the audience as he/she sees fit. Don't just get up on stage and slam the shit out of everything for 45 minutes. If that's your message then you're never going to truly grab the technically minded listeners out there. There is absolutely nothing wrong with throwing shit down for 45 minutes, but it's a different kettle of fish than progressive music and having a clear sound.
For instance, YOB are dynamic. They are one of my favourite metal bands because they have space. Doom in general as a lot of space in it; a lot of room for interpretation and personal vibes. But with the introduction of more modern styles like Post-Metal, you lose a lot of that effect because you work in a tighter frame and implement dynamics into the sound. I get the impression this is more your forte. That is why balancing your levels is so important. You could try talking to someone you know likes your music before the show and ask him to give you a little opinion on the sound in various different positions in the bar/club/arena. I would never recommend relying on that entirely, but it might work. I've done it before and seen others do it. Trusting the sound engineer more is also a helpful technique. Too few are quick to judge and bitch, but his job is to make you sound the best
for the audience, and that's what you wanted to improve on. Show some gratitude and work with him/her.
You also have to accept that you're not going to make everyone happy. I'd like to think that more than 50% is possible when they've all come out for a good show, but you can't win every heart and mind, irrelevant of the music style and their individual tastes. Some could be having a bad day, some could be too drunk or too sober, and some could have a lot on their mind and were hoping for some music to unwind, not damage their eardrums. If your aim is to damage eardrums and shake the foundations, go for it. But accept that some will hate you for it. It's a niche category and is not for everyone. If you want to spark the brain cells in people rather than kill them then you have to consider the dynamics of your performances.
My 2c.
