Working on our live show (Hype Man?) Warning: Punk Content

basskababble · #1 05-18-2010, 10:45 AM

We're a punk band in Miami, FL. The scene down here is hit and miss. Our only hope for a good local show rests in places like Churchill's keeping things real, and the occasional house party in Hialeah (hometown of local heroes Poison The Well). After seeing Agnostic Front on Friday, I'm obsessed with adding energy to our live show.

We don't play hardcore but there are three songs and two covers that I'd really like to get the band going on. They're fast, energetic, and get me moving at practice (I'm a gentle giant at 6'5").

I have two questions:

1) How can myself and the rhythm guitarist build more chemistry on stage within the next two weeks? I'm shying away from rehearsed punk moves, like backflips (which aren't exactly an option for me) and strap spins. We're close friends, and we argue quite a bit, sometimes he punches me so I'll remember a break in a song. It's all friendly and never bloody of course...

2) I'm usually motionless. How should I change that? Substances, like alcohol may help, but really hurt my already short term memory for a whole set list... and thc will only have me floating around up there. I was thinking of covering it over with an over the top gimic, like occassionally wearing a full body bear costume.

We're a fun band, and we don't take ourselves too seriously, at the same time we work hard, and strive to have the tightest sound possible. Any advice will help.

Here's a few links to the old lineup (with the exception of the singer)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtNC9iiiDGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCIfw3kZvU0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWs8lhdbu9g

Criticism is welcome, but it's irrelevant unless it's on the tunes, and the basslines, because this is a completely new lineup doing these songs. So "don't do what that dude does at 1:30" is great... but "your drummer looks like a dork" is welcomed, and probably agreable, but doesn't help much.

DudeWheresMy182 · #2 05-18-2010, 10:52 AM

dont booze it up, thatd only make it worse. just have funnnnnn with, and do whatever. (i am a fan of the full body bear costume though haha)

bruiser1964 · #3 05-18-2010, 10:55 AM

Nice tunes!
Lighting might help? even a cheapo lighting rig improves the visual and creates motion
I'm not a good mover but I find jumping up and down at lifts helps - its easy to do and keep the beat!
Not sure about the bear rig? will you not roast yer n*ts off??

good luck!

southshoreconor · #4 05-18-2010, 11:00 AM

You ever play that spot Goo? played there last summer and had to pay the homeless guys outside $5 to "keep an eye" on our van and trailer while we played. money well spent. south florida rules, i bet we know some of the same people.

basskababble · #5 05-18-2010, 11:02 AM

I forgot to mention the idea of a "hype man". AF had a dude doing backflips off stage the entire show. It really got things going. It wasn't obvious he was with the band, and I'm sure it wasn't quite that planned, but I'm thinking it may be a good idea to have some friends who are truly into the scene show up for the show and get things going in the crowd. Planting "loyal fans". It wasn't obvious he was with them, until we saw him behind the merch booth... (The show was great by the way. My black eye is making people think my girl beats me, but truthfully taking it in the jaw and the left eye felt GREAT.)

Feeding off the crowd is something I'm sure helps, but I've played with a local punk legend, for a full house (at churchills) with people singing along and all, and it just made me smile, that's all.

bongomania · #6 05-18-2010, 11:32 AM

IMO a huge part of that energy comes from your delivery onstage. Two bands can play the same tune at the same tempo, but if one of them delivers it "like they mean it", that band will get the crowd going. Sometimes it's about hitting each note like it's the "kill Hitler button" or the "free punani button". Sometimes it's about tight rhythm. Even some of the raggedest, roughest punk bands, if you observe that the crowd is jumping, listen closely and you will hear the band is locked in tight on the rhythm.

Too many punk bands are sloppy in their timing and lazy in their delivery.

RNV · #7 05-18-2010, 11:41 AM

Come up to Lake Worth and play at Propaganda Dive Bar. It is a very punk friendly place. As for the hype man..... please don't do it. If you want people to remember having a good time at your show because some Jackbag is doing backflips, then you'll be known as the band with the Jackbag who does backflips. Let your music make the crowd do backflips. I've been in the S. Fl scene (metal/HC/Punk) since '96 and I know it doesn't take a whole lot to get those Hialeah boys going Ape $#!+.

dg123 · #8 05-18-2010, 12:40 PM

I agree with Bongomania. The energy in your music makes people (and you) jump around, where as jumping around might not add energy to your playing (or maybe it might.) Point is, if you play the music with the right kind of energy, jumping and moving should come naturally. Rather then forcing it, try playing with more energy and groove and whatnot and see if that does it for you.

**TheFantod** · #9 05-18-2010, 01:45 PM

Been playin' punk since I picked up my T-40 back in 1986. (First song I learned was "Mass Hysteria" by Social Distortion.)

The energy comes from the band, nothing else. Some guy doing flips is just going to look like a schtick.

Just think of your influences, and think of some of the great shows you've seen. Ever seen NOFX live? They keep you laughing your arse off in-between songs. Think about Black Flag/Rollins Band. Hank didn't need any help, it all came from within.

You don't have to jump around like Flea. Look at Timmy C from Rage. He's a pretty "sedate" guy when it comes to moving around, but he sure can lay down the groove.
Check out this vid from Rage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8de2W3rtZsA

Zach almost whispers the first stanza of the song, but check out the energy in that band.

You guys just need to seriously lock in, and provide the energy yourselves. Create your energy, and give it all you have. That's what punk's about.

Let us know how it goes!

becker4567 · #10 05-18-2010, 02:08 PM

Backflips...? Strap spins, rehearsed, choreographed moves, and other gimmicks just make you look silly, but somebody has to show some enthusiasm on stage. Check out some older punk bands on youtube (but don't try to imitate them). The Clash and Pistols didn't "act" on stage, but their shows were electric! If you show energy, the audience will quickly pick up on it and respond, if you just stand there, no matter how good your music is, people become bored.

recreate.me · #11 05-18-2010, 02:14 PM

My band is the same way, we are three piece though so its kinda on me to get things going. I'm normally shy but on show days i really try (all day) to come out of my shell. I normally the guys "okay, i need to practice my stage personality now, so sorry if im a dick" and then i really try to be louder, more energetic and care free.

By the time the show comes i have had several hours opening up, so i can talk on stage, and really move around (watch live shows of bands with good stage presence) Hunter Burgan from AFI does a great job on stage i try to imitate that.

Just really TRY to move you'll find it. Forced 'punk' stuff looks really bad IMO, the only thing i would practice is jumps just so i dont eff up the song. The rest is fly by night!

EDIT: We try to have breaks in songs, or group vocals where the whole bands sings, and that gives the audience a chance to get into it, if they love us enough, or drink enough we have everyone crowded to the front with fists in the air singing along. (we always try to move everyone to the front before playing just to be sure they get into it)

Mo'Phat · #12 05-18-2010, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheFantod

Been playin' punk since I picked up my T-40 back in 1986. (First song I learned was "Mass Hysteria" by Social Distortion.)

The energy comes from the band, nothing else. Some guy doing flips is just going to look like a schtick.

Just think of your influences, and think of some of the great shows you've seen. Ever seen NOFX live? They keep you laughing your arse off in-between songs. Think about Black Flag/Rollins Band. Hank didn't need any help, it all came from within.

You don't have to jump around like Flea. Look at Timmy C from Rage. He's a pretty "sedate" guy when it comes to moving around, but he sure can lay down the groove.
Check out this vid from Rage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8de2W3rtZsA

Zach almost whispers the first stanza of the song, but check out the energy in that band.

You guys just need to seriously lock in, and provide the energy yourselves. Create your energy, and give it all you have. That's what punk's about.

Let us know how it goes!

That's pretty understandable...seeing as how his foot's broken in that video.

Broken or sprained, it was in a boot.

To the OP - YouTube is the greatest thing ever for seeing what your favorite bands do onstage. But look past the professionally edited ones to the ones filmed by some dude in the crowd.

Just say no to a hype man. It's just hype, and not talent.

Meatbass · #13 05-18-2010, 02:36 PM

You're playing to a crowd, not just practicing. Interact with the crowd and your band mates. My band (punk as well) has the same problem for a long time. Everyone played their instrument and did vocals, so I dropped the vox and am able to move around more (wireless helps because you don't feel restrained). Have fun.

basskababble · #14 05-19-2010, 06:25 AM

I'm not one for contrived punk, so the hype man idea is really easy to ditch. The "lock-in" advice is probably the smartest. That Rage stuff is incredibly energetic, and never would be if it wasn't that tight. We have some pauses that I'll suggest we really get tight at the next practice.

I have seen NOFX, and they're one of the better examples of stage presence, although I couldn't tell you much about having seen them unfortunately. My teenage years get really blurry, especially on the weeks surrounding the Warped Tours.

I'll be looking up some of my favorite bands, and ones who's sound most matches our own... and post any relevant videos here. You'll also most certainly get some feedback from our show. We're playing the 28th.

I really like those tunes Meatbass! And I've been to Propaganda. I saw a really tight band from down here called King Bee. They're in the jam band counting crows realm.

basskababble · #15 06-01-2010, 10:08 AM

I'm very happy to report that we had a great show! Our originals got a great reaction from the crowd. There was a pit going, and when we were all done we got a one more song chant that we couldn't deny...

For interested parties, some of the better "moves" or "Stage presence strategies" that I found worked for me were singing the lyrics to the covers with certain people in the crowd. Yelling the lyrics to the sweater song, and skulls at people who i notice mouthing the words. Brought them right up to the stage fists-a-flailin'...

There's no video, but there are pics!

This dude performed while we set up. Really brought the crowd around...

I'm in the goonies shirt... We were all feeding off the energy of the crowd...

So much better than this:

Mo'Phat · #16 06-01-2010, 03:31 PM

I thought the first pic was going to be your hype man...and I was thinking, "Aw hell no."

Set break entertainment is okay...Except I hope that clown broke his ass once or twice learning how to do that. Builds character...like ollie-ing a gap you have no business trying.

Oh, and New Balance are the best shoes for punk.

Good look, good vibe. Good improvements from your front porch (Let's just stare at each other and it'll be over soon) gig.

**TheFantod** · #17 06-01-2010, 03:48 PM

Nice...very nice....

I have to agree with MoPhat about that first pic! Glad he was just an "opener."

Your live pics look like you guys are not only rockin' out and having FUN, but it looks pretty energetic, alive and tight. Looking at those pics makes me think, "Now that's a band I'd like to see/hear."

Keep it up!

alapantera · #18 06-01-2010, 05:46 PM

Instead of feeding off of the crowd, you should start feeding off of each other. The only constant will be the band. Some nights you'll be playing to 10 people. If you can bring that same energy no matter the crowd, hopefully you won't have too many of those kind of nights.

clmayhew · #19 06-01-2010, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RNV

If you want people to remember having a good time at your show because some Jackbag is doing backflips, then you'll be known as the band with the Jackbag who does backflips.

Sigged...

EDIT: Or not. Too many characters...

basskababble · #20 06-02-2010, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alapantera

Instead of feeding off of the crowd, you should start feeding off of each other. The only constant will be the band. Some nights you'll be playing to 10 people. If you can bring that same energy no matter the crowd, hopefully you won't have too many of those kind of nights.

Appreciated. I'll make sure to encourage that with the guys. I saw Death By Stereo with 9 other people and i'll never forget it. It's almost more impressive to do that for ten people.

The clown wasn't organized by us at all. I can't say it wasn't legit though. The guy walked around all night like that, and finally did a few tricks and split. If I'm not mistaken it's a "brand" that the guys who organized the show are shooting for, as there was one or two more clown clad brew busters outside and in other bands.