A solution to just standing around on stage reading email!

kennerb · Post by **kennerb** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:19 pm

Or at least not looking like it

My friend just received his Zendrum that he ordered and it is beautiful. This thing is like a drum machine held like a guitar. I cannot believe how expressive you can make this thing. They are a little spendy but they are custom made out of wood. I want one!!! They are so cool! Does anyone use one of these with Live?

http://www.zendrum.com/index.html

Kas. · Post by **Kas.** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:55 pm

I don´t look like I´m reading email on stage; my emails tend to be much lonfer then just a single space.

:¬p

suburbanbather · Post by **suburbanbather** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:48 am

I'm at the point where attending a show performed with laptops is just as exciting as a band. I'm just there to hear and feel the music, not see what the act is doing. Watching a band is kinda boring if you ask me. Wow! someone is playing a guitar or whatever, OMFG!!!!!!!!! There are a few exceptions though. Fantomas- Mike Patton is a trip. Gwar- have'nt seen them yet but know what goes on at their shows. Skinny Puppy- The costumes, stage props, and videos will deffiniately stir up some strong emotions, good and bad. Along with the extremely loud decibals that will pierce your earplugs and still make you feel like you are going deaf.

Angstrom · Post by **Angstrom** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:27 am

funny you should mention GWAR, I noticed they are doing a tour of the UK ... the last time I saw them was in 1991 !

Some laptop musicians can be so dull, I think if those people cant put out a stage presence they shouldnt put themselves in full view like that - it just exposes the weakness IMO
Trad rock acts have a set of tricks to make them look exciting when they are often just moving their fingers about. Theres no reason we shouldnt harvest a few of the better tricks.

One Benefit of analogue gear was people could see me frantically repatching stuff mid song. I fucking hated it at the time as I was having heart attacks - but people thought it looked good.

I know from experience that people really get into it if they can see you making the big stupid noises. It doesnt have to be expensive midi tympani and grand opera staging. Even projecting up the laptop screen helps a bit.

god save us from keyboards with straps and handles though .. aaaargh

suburbanbather · Post by **suburbanbather** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:47 am

For me personally, just seeing someone playing an instrument is not exciting. Theatrics and videos make it better. I do understand where people are coming from when they want to see a performer playing an instrument, but to me its all the same press a button on a laptop, strum a guitar, hit a drum, tweak a knob on a synth or controller. The live sound itself is what I'm really there for. If the show has a pit going and I'm not too shit faced I'd rather do that than just stand there and stare at people playing instruments.

suburbanbather · Post by **suburbanbather** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 1:48 am

Funny pic by the way

I am a keyboard virtuoso!

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:10 am

suburbanbather wrote:Funny pic by the way I am a keyboard virtuoso!

That there is the Lync MIDI Controller. And I must confess to owning one.... a very long time ago!!! (Not the Jan Hammer "signiture" model, tho)

I'm very happy to not look at the screen at all when I play live. In fact the Macs are off to the side, side on to the audience. I come from a band background so I'm really happy not to have a "wall of tech" between me and the crowd.

suburbanbather · Post by **suburbanbather** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:22 am

I can see where you are coming from as a performer. But me as a spectator, seeing what the band is doing is not interesting to me. Am I weird or something? Oh yeah!, Now that you mention Jan Hammer, I kinda wish I still had my Miami Vice soundtrack tape.

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:05 am

Nah, You're not weird - just weird!

Former Pharaoh · Post by **Former Pharaoh** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:07 am

I've seen GWAR 8 times and it STILL doesn't get old.
If you go to a show to stand there and watch the stage, you are stuck in the old skool days. Nowadays, it's all about foam partys, mosh pits, blood spewing on the crowd (Gwar), etc. etc.
Don't get me wrong, you can make the crowd busy by making them the attraction while still shaking your ass on stage but who wants to go to a show just to see some dumbf**k moonwalk or shake their booty?

Pitch Black · Post by **Pitch Black** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:14 am

Former Pharaoh wrote: but who wants to go to a show just to see some dumbf**k moonwalk or shake their booty?

I agree, but I want to see a performer "in church" as it were, giving their all FOR REAL. I'll pay my money to see that anytime, regardless of genre.

AndrewDuke · Post by **AndrewDuke** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 3:46 am

kennerb wrote:Or at least not looking like it

My friend just received his Zendrum that he ordered and it is beautiful. This thing is like a drum machine held like a guitar. I cannot believe how expressive you can make this thing. They are a little spendy but they are custom made out of wood. I want one!!! They are so cool! Does anyone use one of these with Live?

http://www.zendrum.com/index.html

funny subject line. one of my worst-received live gigs ever was at a pub with a too-eclectic lineup (i was on after an acoustic guitar player) and i got heckled all the way through my set (despite my trying to make it accessible as possible by through in a live remix of the doors and some other things they might know) with cries of "he's just up there checking his email" and "how's your solitaire game goin', buddy". i could have ignored them if only there had been monitors! never play there again, ever! andrew

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:30 am

John McLaughlin (one of the best guitar players ever)....

Once played at the local RSL (Returned Service Mans League) Bowling Club
(Yes lawn bowls)...... One of my old guitar teachers was there lapping it up,
the guy is amazing.....

The crowd was yelling out "Play something we can sing too!!!"

-Ben

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:32 am

wow that things almost like a drumitar (Futureman, Roy Wooten)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techi ... itar_x.htm

http://www.zendrum.com/resource-site/futch.htm

http://www.flecktones.com/the_guys/futch.asp

I'm actually building something very similar (if the rest of the parts ever arrive).

-Ben

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 5:44 am

$1200!!!

Holy shit! There is room in the market!

I was thinking it would be hard to make them for less than $250 if home-
made with small production runs. Was thinking that might be too
expensive..... Dood.... There is like.... AU$100 worth of parts there, if mass-
produced more like AU$50 cost.....

-Ben

A solution to just standing around on stage reading email!

A solution to just standing around on stage reading email!

Re: A solution to just standing around on stage reading emai