Review: RC4 at the British Oak

Subject: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 05:22 AM

More than a bit nervous at exposing a vid of my band to the doubtless vitriolic criticism of the Mudcat, but here goes. This was a "fly on the wall" of 20 minutes out of a 30 minute slot, and there are a few guitar glitches, the balance was not perfect, and there was no foldback (that's my excuse for singing out of tune a few times). Some slightly odd editing too! Oh, it's in black and white so don't adjust your set.

Rachel Mathews (my youngest daughter), vox and occasional bodhran.
Sam Mathews (her husband), dumbec.
Royston Ford, vox (tenor) and guitar.
Me, vox (baritone and bass) and guitar.

I'll now go and hide behind the sofa. If you last that long we get pretty much onto a roll by the time we get to "Whip Jamboree" and apart from the guitar glitches and guitar balance I like the doomladen build of our rearrangment of the Brian Peters version of "Three Ravens".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da67EP6_JJg&feature=c4-overview&list=UUKDHqAH0C151nqsq1BJNkew

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 05:48 AM

Well, the video quality is horrendous, the sound mix is dreadful. The music singing and playing however, is truly excellent. Well done.

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 06:10 AM

*blush!

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: severed-head
Date: 27 Oct 13 - 07:32 AM

I agree with Silas. I am sure it was spellbinding to experience it live. Must venture south of the river a bit more often.
Well done Richard and thanks for posting the link.
Garry

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Kampervan
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 03:19 AM

Silas and severed-head have got it about right. Some of the arrangements sound very interesting, but maybe you could ask someone to record some tracks from your next gig using a digital video camera and post those for us to enjoy.

Bloody good though, cheers

K/van

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 05:43 AM

Thanks again and more blushing.

I'm pretty sure that was a digital camera. The recordist used to use a tape camera (digibeta or minibeta, I think) and he had a Rode mic that worked with that that really made your voice sound good, but the tape running time and the batery life were short enough to annoy him.

My favourite arrangement is off our gig-list at the moment - The Testament of Patience Kershaw - due to "creative differences". Everyone except me wants to cut or simplify my favourite bit of my guitar part, where I slightly and deliberately depart from the drum timing. I am a noid!

In fact we are also having differences about whether actually to gig as such. It creates pressures including on time - with two band members based in Stoke Newington, one in South Greenwich, and me near the Isle of Grain the only one with enough room and distant enough neighbours to rehearse. We can do the odd floor spot without stress, but getting a whole evening ready and delivering it correctly does result in damage to the patience of various people including me!

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Sue Allan
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 05:09 PM

Agree with above. And what a great voice Rachel has! Love to see/hear video with better quality.

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 05:17 PM

Hey - some great harmonies and sounds there - bravo! Great performances!

Just an honest comment or two - with the the best of intentions:

Your singer really doesn't need a music stand... I'm sure... :-)

Why not put a Zoom H2 or something similar on a mic stand in front of the band? The sound you make is really worth capturing in better quality. A better video angle would also help.

I'd love to see you live - I'd bring my own kit and grab that sound...

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 05:52 PM

Thanks again.

The music stand has the setlist on (and maybe a couple of safetynet words). When it's just setlist it could go lower. I am working on putting safetynets onto a 10 inch tablet and then that could go lower too.

Video angle is determined by the room. Fisheye (who does the filming) has to be over to one side or he obstructs the punters' view and they moan. I think I have a vid of the whole band at the 7 Stars from a year or more back and maybe he could edit that as well. And indeed there might be some from the Good Intent. I'm expecting some of RC2 (that's just Royston and me) from Eltham Rugby club some time, but Fisheye filmed for about 8 hours with each set of people getting only a 10 minute slot, so it might be a while before he finishes the editing.

Subject: RE: Review: RC4 at the British Oak
From: Will Fly
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 06:12 PM

One technique I use for getting a "full frontal" is to put the video camera on a tripod - at the back of the room - but high, and then use the zoom to fill the screen. Not perfect, but you can get a reasonable shot that way...

Here's an example: Ben Paley - "Yew Piney Mountain"