First show video, wanted : Constructive critics!

[sandmangeck]

Hey, my first show in awhile. if your got a minute, check out the video. im interested in all input, and am hard shelled, so don't worry about offending me. thanks. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoID=32359749

[Spinal Tapper]

Wow, well your fingers are going NUTS!
Nice workin' it! It's too bad though, I can't really hear the bass in the recording, and those people talking in the background are annoying. I'll assume you put this up for a visual critique over a musical critique seeing as how the audio is pretty bad.

As far as live performance goes, I'd try and rock it out a little more. Move your head/knees with those cymbal crashes maybe? A little less looking down at the floor/fretboard and maybe more interaction with the crowd, or at least interact with your band. Your drummer is very talented. The singer has a pretty good voice - kinda Maynard James Keenan-ish...I like his voice in the song with the acoustic guitar more than the first song you showed here.

But anyways, my suggestion is just ROCK IT OUT a little more! You've got the skills, that's for sure! I would just try and have fun up there and don't be afraid to move around. That's what the crowd is gonna get into - not if you hit every note perfectly every time.

Hope this helped! Cheers.

[thesteve]

The song itself sounds good, but I think overall you guys suffer from a lack of energy that a lot of bands suffer from. I agree with Spinal Tapper that the band needs to interact more with each other on stage, not just at a musical level. I realize that music might be your primary focus, but I'd like to see a bit more energy on stage when I go to a live show. I know that drummer is kinda glued to his seat (though he could probably benefit by looking into the crowd every once in awhile and smiling at someone), but your guitarist never gets very far away from the microphone and you just stand in the same spot most of the time.

I would just work on interacting with each other and the crowd more. The musical chops definitely sound like they're there, but the stage presence is definitely not there.

[Spinal Tapper]

I agree with thesteve. Anyone who goes to see you and pay money for a rock show is going to want a show - not just the music. If you guys plan on playing out, work on those moves.

Don't take this the wrong way, but there's 10's of 1000's of hard hitting rock bands out there - you want to try and stand out and the first thing you gotta do is move it!

[barbarbass]

I actually like the fact that you guys are kind of stoic, on-stage. Let me explain it this way -- I remember hearing a recording of Jimi Hendrix from his famous "Isle of Wight" show, and thinking to myself, "Wow, he must be jumping all over the lot playing this stuff."

But then, years later, I actually saw video of that concert, and he was standing dead still, not smiling, but just tearing the hell out of it. I was so much more impressed by that, than if, in fact, he had been jumping around and acting the fool.

To me, bands that stand in one place have a "heavier" or more "visceral" presence than those that dance around.

That said, you can see that I don't follow my own preference (videos of a recent show of ours): www.youtube.com/user/nathanhallband

By the way -- even if I were to listen with the sound on mute, I could tell you have enormous chops as a bassist. I would get tired after one song of doing what you do. Keep it up. I have nothing technical to say to someone better than I am.

[stflbn]

Using the previous posters 'chops' theme...


Just because you have chops doesn't mean you have to cook until burnt every phrase of every song.


Seemed monotonous to me.

[Spinal Tapper]

Originally Posted by barbarbass

I actually like the fact that you guys are kind of stoic, on-stage. Let me explain it this way -- I remember hearing a recording of Jimi Hendrix from his famous "Isle of Wight" show, and thinking to myself, "Wow, he must be jumping all over the lot playing this stuff."

But then, years later, I actually saw video of that concert, and he was standing dead still, not smiling, but just tearing the hell out of it. I was so much more impressed by that, than if, in fact, he had been jumping around and acting the fool.

To me, bands that stand in one place have a "heavier" or more "visceral" presence than those that dance around.

That said, you can see that I don't follow my own preference (videos of a recent show of ours): www.youtube.com/user/nathanhallband

By the way -- even if I were to listen with the sound on mute, I could tell you have enormous chops as a bassist. I would get tired after one song of doing what you do. Keep it up. I have nothing technical to say to someone better than I am.

I think for your style of music, you guys should move around more. I don't mean doing guitar-whips and spin kick backflips and stuff like those of Fall Out Boy or AFI, but definitely bend the knees and walk around a little. Don't force it, but be limber. Remember, you're the one up there and people came to see YOU, so give em a show!

As far as the Jimi Hendrix analogy...c'mon dude, I don't wanna bust your balls here, but...it was Jimi Hendrix...he also lit his guitar on fire and would wear strips of LSD tucked under his headband during performances...everyone idolized him and didn't care if he was sittin' on a tree-stump, or up there on roller skates. You have to work to get to that level...and by work, I mean get fans, and what do 99.9% fans at a rockshow want to see? A band that moves it!

All I'm saying is, the times have changed and there's more bands than ever out there...unfortunately people are very visual. Give the crowd something memorable to visually relate to your great songs, so when they listen to your CD after the show, they won't forget how hard you guys rocked live. You seem like you're young and in pretty good shape physically...use it to your advantage!

[troyus]

I saw a 3 piece awhile back that pulled it off proper. Interaction is key for the 3 piece I think. When I saw them though, Watt was basically inside the drumkit, was pretty funny stuff.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ydz4yF9Ny0M

[sandmangeck]

i agree with everyone about the stage presence. it was lacking def. in the first song half way through my sound cut out and i about threw my amp on the ground. i couldnt figure it out. i just had my amp out of the shop so i thought it cut out. but from the vibrations the ac from my sonic stomp fell out of the wall, and its at the end of my chain. i looked at the sound man, and he gave me the "it's not me, its you look". i thought it was my cord, but finally figured out at the end when i was packing up that it was the stomp.
so for the set, i had none of my effects or tuner. in which some of the songs i play the lead melody, and to be frank, it sounds dry after rehearsing with the different effects that filled out the sound. so for the most part i was pre-occupied with my sound. the only member i can hear was the drummer as well. but all in all i should have blown it off, and just rocked out.
the sound at the show from the audience i heard was awesome. but onstage and the camera wasn't. we all learn from all the mistakes.

[walknbluez]

Originally Posted by barbarbass

I actually like the fact that you guys are kind of stoic, on-stage. Let me explain it this way -- I remember hearing a recording of Jimi Hendrix from his famous "Isle of Wight" show, and thinking to myself, "Wow, he must be jumping all over the lot playing this stuff."

But then, years later, I actually saw video of that concert, and he was standing dead still, not smiling, but just tearing the hell out of it. I was so much more impressed by that, than if, in fact, he had been jumping around and acting the fool.

To me, bands that stand in one place have a "heavier" or more "visceral" presence than those that dance around.

That said, you can see that I don't follow my own preference (videos of a recent show of ours): www.youtube.com/user/nathanhallband

By the way -- even if I were to listen with the sound on mute, I could tell you have enormous chops as a bassist. I would get tired after one song of doing what you do. Keep it up. I have nothing technical to say to someone better than I am.

+1

I agree that the bands that stand in one place have a "heavier" presence.