Just a gentle reminder that i have noticed recently in write ups, reviews and comments we are being referred to as The Silver Factory Superstars. Could everyone just be aware the our name is Silver Factory Superstars and therefore has no 'The'.
Tuesday, 27 March 2007
Photos From The Ditchbar Gig
Quick moan before the photos.
Just a gentle reminder that i have noticed recently in write ups, reviews and comments we are being referred to as The Silver Factory Superstars. Could everyone just be aware the our name is Silver Factory Superstars and therefore has no 'The'.
Just a gentle reminder that i have noticed recently in write ups, reviews and comments we are being referred to as The Silver Factory Superstars. Could everyone just be aware the our name is Silver Factory Superstars and therefore has no 'The'.
Monday, 26 March 2007
Have we forgot anything?
The Silver Factory Superconvoy started out from Nottingham at 3pm on Fri 23rd Feb for their 2nd gig of the year at the Ditch Bar in London. On our way to the big smoke we had to take a detour through Solihull to meet our tour driver Martin.
At this point we were still on time and still in high spirits listening to the reggae version of 'Ok computer'. As the bright lights of the city drew closer and lanes of traffic grew longer we could see that we weren’t going to make our 6.30 deadline. After about half an hour of phone calls to the bar to warn them of our late arrival and to our fan club contingent to tell them were the bar was we eventually arrived at trendy Shoreditch.
Being as we were now one hour late we hastily unpacked the tour vehicle and rushed into the bar were we was greeted with closed arms and a sneer. After a few minutes I located the sound engineer who asked me the usual questions
“What’s your line up?”
“Oh hello” I replied, “its 2 keyboards, 2 Vocals and a laptop but we will need an extra mic stand for the vocoder. Do you want us to set up around the other bands being as we are on first?”
He paused, then said “yeah, just go and set up your drum kit….” He stopped mid sentenced as he saw the confusion arrive on my face.
“Err… I don’t use live drums I’m a synthpop band, my line up is 2 keyboards, 2 Vocals and a laptop.”
“So you haven’t brought a drum kit then”
“No, isn’t that the job of the band who is on last?”
He then unfolded a piece of paper that showed the running order. He pointed to the last name on the list and said ”yeah, you are the last band on!”
As he said these words I started to laugh, which probably wasn’t a good idea as one of members of Red Badge of Courage came over to enquire what was happening.
The sound engineer then explained what the situation was and that the mix up was the fault of the promoter, Omar (who by the way wasn’t there). Red Badge bass player then turned to me and asked what Omar had organized with me. I then quoted the following email conversation to him.
Hi Omar
Just starting to sort out arrangements and E-promotion for our
forthcoming gig at the ditch bar on the 23rd March.
A few questions
What time do you want us there for setup/sound check?
Do you need to know any Technical Info?
How many bands are on?
What time will we be on (need to know for transport)?
Have you any promo posters/banners I can use for emails/Myspace etc?
Oh and finally is there anywhere to park at the club?
Looking forward to the 23rd
Mark
He replied
Hi,
Load in and sound check is at 6:30pm. Parking on street available after 7pm or carpark near petrol station down the road is available.
Free entry
3 bands total Temple and Red Badge. You guys on at 9pm for 30 minutes.
Thanks,
DiTch Bar
Once he had processed this, he then asked the sound engineer for Omar’s phone number, he said he didn’t have it (which is strange as he had just told me he was employed by Omar) and that Omar never comes to the event.
This had got the Warrington based band a bit angry as they had traveled all this way, booked hotel rooms and brought a small contingent of support with them.
While we set up our fictitious drum kit and electronic band the other two bands rapidly tried to find a spare drum kit. During this time the other band (who weren’t Temple as stated in the email) had managed to find a gig elsewhere in London that had a drum kit and Red badge decided to do a an unplugged style gig.
After our farcical sound check we sat down relaxed and enjoyed our expensive drinks and watched Red badge perform. They were really good and showed that they were a pro band by the mere fact that they can perform to a high standard under the harshest situations.
After their set I and Mark Lilley set up, line checked and proceeded to play.
As our virtual drum kit started to pump through the sound system and the bar staff started to tap their feet Red Badge packed up there gear and went, taking their small following with them. This would have been a problem if wasn’t for the Silver Factory Superfans, lead by Julia and Helen, who showed London how to party.
Just as I was getting into singing to the lightly populated bar the sound engineer started twiddling his knobs and cut the sound from the main speakers and never noticed until he took of his headphones, panicked and then turned it up so much that Glasgow could hear the distortion.
Once we had finished and the DJ hurriedly moved us of stage, we mingled, drank and then started our long journey home.
One thing that can be said for this episode is that it always pays to have a back up plan and always take your drum kit.
Roll on Brighton and the loving bosom of the Synth Community.
Just one final note, i have noticed that recently in write ups, reviews and comments we are being referred to as The Silver Factory Superstars. Could everyone just be aware the our name is Silver Factory Superstars and therefore has no 'The'.
Moan over.
At this point we were still on time and still in high spirits listening to the reggae version of 'Ok computer'. As the bright lights of the city drew closer and lanes of traffic grew longer we could see that we weren’t going to make our 6.30 deadline. After about half an hour of phone calls to the bar to warn them of our late arrival and to our fan club contingent to tell them were the bar was we eventually arrived at trendy Shoreditch.
Being as we were now one hour late we hastily unpacked the tour vehicle and rushed into the bar were we was greeted with closed arms and a sneer. After a few minutes I located the sound engineer who asked me the usual questions
“What’s your line up?”
“Oh hello” I replied, “its 2 keyboards, 2 Vocals and a laptop but we will need an extra mic stand for the vocoder. Do you want us to set up around the other bands being as we are on first?”
He paused, then said “yeah, just go and set up your drum kit….” He stopped mid sentenced as he saw the confusion arrive on my face.
“Err… I don’t use live drums I’m a synthpop band, my line up is 2 keyboards, 2 Vocals and a laptop.”
“So you haven’t brought a drum kit then”
“No, isn’t that the job of the band who is on last?”
He then unfolded a piece of paper that showed the running order. He pointed to the last name on the list and said ”yeah, you are the last band on!”
As he said these words I started to laugh, which probably wasn’t a good idea as one of members of Red Badge of Courage came over to enquire what was happening.
The sound engineer then explained what the situation was and that the mix up was the fault of the promoter, Omar (who by the way wasn’t there). Red Badge bass player then turned to me and asked what Omar had organized with me. I then quoted the following email conversation to him.
Hi Omar
Just starting to sort out arrangements and E-promotion for our
forthcoming gig at the ditch bar on the 23rd March.
A few questions
What time do you want us there for setup/sound check?
Do you need to know any Technical Info?
How many bands are on?
What time will we be on (need to know for transport)?
Have you any promo posters/banners I can use for emails/Myspace etc?
Oh and finally is there anywhere to park at the club?
Looking forward to the 23rd
Mark
He replied
Hi,
Load in and sound check is at 6:30pm. Parking on street available after 7pm or carpark near petrol station down the road is available.
Free entry
3 bands total Temple and Red Badge. You guys on at 9pm for 30 minutes.
Thanks,
DiTch Bar
Once he had processed this, he then asked the sound engineer for Omar’s phone number, he said he didn’t have it (which is strange as he had just told me he was employed by Omar) and that Omar never comes to the event.
This had got the Warrington based band a bit angry as they had traveled all this way, booked hotel rooms and brought a small contingent of support with them.
While we set up our fictitious drum kit and electronic band the other two bands rapidly tried to find a spare drum kit. During this time the other band (who weren’t Temple as stated in the email) had managed to find a gig elsewhere in London that had a drum kit and Red badge decided to do a an unplugged style gig.
After our farcical sound check we sat down relaxed and enjoyed our expensive drinks and watched Red badge perform. They were really good and showed that they were a pro band by the mere fact that they can perform to a high standard under the harshest situations.
After their set I and Mark Lilley set up, line checked and proceeded to play.
As our virtual drum kit started to pump through the sound system and the bar staff started to tap their feet Red Badge packed up there gear and went, taking their small following with them. This would have been a problem if wasn’t for the Silver Factory Superfans, lead by Julia and Helen, who showed London how to party.
Just as I was getting into singing to the lightly populated bar the sound engineer started twiddling his knobs and cut the sound from the main speakers and never noticed until he took of his headphones, panicked and then turned it up so much that Glasgow could hear the distortion.
Once we had finished and the DJ hurriedly moved us of stage, we mingled, drank and then started our long journey home.
One thing that can be said for this episode is that it always pays to have a back up plan and always take your drum kit.
Roll on Brighton and the loving bosom of the Synth Community.
Just one final note, i have noticed that recently in write ups, reviews and comments we are being referred to as The Silver Factory Superstars. Could everyone just be aware the our name is Silver Factory Superstars and therefore has no 'The'.
Moan over.
Friday, 16 March 2007
Live Video
Here is a great video shot by Stephen Loynds from Pullfocus Films, of us playing live at Nu electro.
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