Stories Behind Gigs - Artists talk

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #10 - EL YUNQUE (BE)

El Yunque is a Noiserock band from Limburg (Belgium). On the 4th of February they played as support for Brutus in Ancienne Belgique Brussels, where this picture was made.
I asked the guys to answer these 5 simple questions about playing gigs and here’s what they answered:

How do you look forward to a gig? “Belle Perez once said that she gets up in the morning and she just eats her shoes. That sentence just touched us all so hard, not because she’s one of our idols but she speaks a clear language. And if she can perform in her own way, then so can we!”

What does the backstage looks like? Any habbits? “Our acoustic drummer and frontman (Jonjo) always eats 20 bananas. After that, he keeps asking us if he’s a pretty girl.”

How do you feel right before showtime? “Once we thought like a collective, like one mind. We ended up in a sheltered workshop in Azebeidzjan. It’s a long story. After that we decided to think for ourselves right before we go on stage.”

What are you focussing on while playing the gig? “Because our entire show is improvised, we try to ignore each other as much as possible.”

Any funny/sad/juicy/awesome/emotional/… stories about gigs in the past? They answered something about ecplises and I didn’t understand shit of it!

If you’re interested in El Yunque (you should be), go visite them here: https://www.facebook.com/elyunqueband/

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #9 - JAN SWERTS (BE)

“I try to think as less as possible about an upcoming show. That’s not only because I don’t like to be on stage, but also because my personal life takes a lot of my energy. I have a family with 5 children and a fulltime job as a teacher, I think that says enough.


Thinking too much about playing a gig is contra productive, it’s like appearing too early on an oral examination. You become too self-conscious and you start thinking about everything that could go wrong.
 Because of all that, I don’t rehearse much (1 or 2 times a year). I want the music to be spontaneous and I’m afraid that rehearsing too much kills the authentic emotions that comes with the music. So for me it’s important to be surrounded by very technical  but still creative musicians. They have to be open or even yearn to improvise. A non-verbal sign (like nodding my head or moving my arm in a way) and the common feeling and love for melancholic music are enough for a show to be unique and successful without caring too much in advance.

During our backstage time: 
- We don’t talk about music but rather about politics
. - The use of social media is reduced to a minimum. We all hate the narcissistic self-adulation of many other artists on social media. 
- We play a lot of board games. At the moment ‘Love Letter’, ‘Crooks’ and ‘Machiavelli’ our popular in our group. I gave my best performance in the Handelsbeurs in Ghent after I had to get on stage 30 seconds after I’ve won a exciting game of ‘Machiavelli’. The flush of victory combined with the fun of doing something non-musical with the band before the show gave me the right feeling that night.
 - We don’t have a lot of ‘Diva-demands’ on our rider. Some of the musicians hopped on the Gin-Tonic train and I have a Red Bull addiction (6 cans in the fridge ;-) ). When my band goes for diner, I have the habit to isolate myself and go into the city to look for a Mc Donalds or Burger King to fulfill an other addiction of mine: the Big Mac or Whopper. 
- For as far as I know there is no sex or drugs, neoclassical music isn’t that rock ’n roll.

During the previous tour with my album ‘Anatomie van de Melancholie’, I was often paralyzed by my own perfectionism. I wanted to perform the music exactly like it sounded on the album, and of course that causes stress. Before a show, I suffered from palpitations and very shaky hands. Most of the times I just wanted to go home instead of playing the gig.
But this tour of ‘Schaduwland’ is totally different. There are some reasons for that. To begin with, life has slapped me in the face so hard that I’ve begin to put playing gigs in a perspective. Also the fact that we play an interpretation of the album (and that’s different every show) is liberating. The last thing that comforts me more during this tour is that I’m no longer in the center of the spotlight. I’m a part of the band.
 Nerves and stress have been turned into curiosity and surprises!

While I’m playing the gig my sight is limited because I’m in profile with the audience. Since I’ve got a 100% trust in the band, I play most of the times with my eyes closed (In that way I’ve got a better feeling of what I’m playing). If I open my eyes it’s because I have to look at my fingers on the piano. I don’t play with sheet music so I have to ‘read’ the keys sometimes. An other reason to open my eyes is to look at the projection. I’ve put a lot of effort and times in making it (it’s a compilation of scenes from my favorite zombie movies) so I have to check if the timing and the feel of the projection is still good.

The concert in The Roma in Antwerp was very emotional. My father, my ex-wife and new girlfriend were there that night. The second song of the set ‘Claire’ is about my mother. She recently past away and I knew that the song (and the related projection — the wedding picture of my mother and father) would cut very deep in the old man and in that way also in me.
My ex-wife (I haven’t had contact with her for years because our splendid relationship ended terribly) told me she would be there. So when I played ‘Ruth’ and ‘Alkenstraat 9’ it felt like she was sitting next to me at the piano. (Both songs are about her). My new girlfriend, and her 3 children, were also in the audience — Like they were the counterweight to all the heavy elements from my past.
So that night there were a lot of fighting, but also embracing feelings. That version of ‘Schaduwland’ was so pure, real and bittersweet because of all that.”

Jan Swerts

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #8 - GUIDO BELCANTO (BE)

“I look forward to gigs as if they were dates with people I’m in love with. That means happy but also a bit nervous, like a soldier leaving to the front, scared but ready to be a hero.

The day of the show, I try not to speak. If I do, it’s very quietly because I want to save up my voice. The last 15 minutes before showtime I want to be all by myself, I don’t want to see anyone. I brush my teeth, drink a cup of ginger tea, I do a handstand against the wall and then I put on my suit (not earlier!). I look at myself in the mirror and I give myself a little peptalk.

As I’m entering the stage, I feel like a boxer entering the ring. Like a parachutist right before his jump. Like toreador walking in the arena.

While playing, I pay a lot of attention on my hair. It has to look good under every circumstance (and it’s not as easy as it may look). I try to really get into the song, into every word I sing, it’s important to pronounce every word as it should be. The little talks in between song are also quite hard because you have to make it sound like it’s the first time you’re saying those words (also not that easy).

25 years ago, during the Gentse Feesten, my dressing room was a caravan. Inside, there was a mirror with lamps around it. I hang my costume around that mirror and went out to go for dinner. When I came back, my costume was on fire because someone has putted on the lights… Also a long time ago I had to play a show somewhere in the Netherlands, I believe it was in Breda, in a huge concertbuilding with different rooms and stages. Back in those days, I smoked a joint before a gig to get my nerves under control. In the middle of our set, the orchestra played a little instrumental piece and I went back to my room to smoke a little bit more of my joint. I had 3 minutes to be back on stage, but I got lost in the huge building. I ran around (while panicing) and I saw indicators containing the word ‘scène’, so I followed them. But instead of reaching my stage, I entered a stage where a musical was being performed. You had to see the faces of the actors, they really didn’t understand what was happening! It took me at least 5 more minutes to find the right stage, but fortunately, my band played the song 3 times as long as usual, like nothing happened and it was planned. Thank you for that guys!”

Guido Belcanto

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #7 - MICAH SHEMAIAH (JAM)

"When I have gig, I don’t have a way to look forward to it, I just wait for the day to come (lol).

I use the time I have before a show to visualize the performance by actually doing it. An other important thing is to find the calm spirit before entering the stage. But before I go on stage, I’m still nervous.

While I'm on stage, I'm listening if the sound on stage and in the venue is good. That’s important!

In 2016, I've played a festival in Holland and I was greeted with a beautiful portrait of myself. It was made by a local artist and it was amazing!"

Micah Shemaiah

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #6  - BLACK SLATE (UK)

"We look forward to all of our gigs, playing music for people who want to hear us gives us a warm feeling and joy in our hearts. I think the audience can see that when we're on stage!

We feel like every show is different, so we don't have any habbits before we have to play. Maybe, if looking forward to a gig counts, than that would be one. Right before we enter the stage, we feel a little shaky. Even tough, that feeling goes away very quickly after we begin to play. I would say it dissappears once the first notes were played and from then on we just enjoy being on stage, playing the music.

During the gig, we pay attention on the people. Our audience is the most important thing because the have to understand what we are saying and the show that we make. If they do, we can get them in our zone.

When the Almighty is present, it makes us bond with the people, we all become one and that is the most awesome feeling for all of us!"

Anthony Brightly - Black Slate

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #5 - THE SCABS (BE)

“If we have to play a show, I get up in the morning and the gig is the first thing that comes into my mind. Does my guitar need new strings? Is there a clean shirt in my closet? Do I have to go through some stuff I will play tonight? Is everybody well informed? - That kind of stuff.

I usually leave pretty soon te be at the venue in time, sometimes even way to soon te be ahead of traffic. If I’m too early, I drink a cup of coffee or some tea and I take the time to relax.

I like to take a moment with the band alone right before the show. No more difficult questions from the organization or roadmanager, just a moment for myself and the guys. I have no spiritual or religious habits. I don’t pray or something like that before a gig like some (American) artists do, I’m too much ‘down to earth’ for that.

Usually I go up without any alcohol in my body. I like the feeling of being a little nervous, I let it happen because the nerves go away by themselves after the second or third song. Then they make room for a healthy portion of adrenaline.

During the show, I keep my eyes on the audience and their reactions. If I sense that we are losing ‘contact’ with them, I dare to change the setlist because for me it’s important to get the audience into the vibe of our music by the end of the gig.

A long time ago, we played as support for The Kids in the university of Brussels. I came on stage and did a short but powerful announcement of a song that has to be introduced by a killer guitar riff. But when I struck my guitar, there wasn’t any sound, my cable wasn’t connected. In Belgium we call that ‘going down like a watering can’.”

Guy Swinnen - The Scabs

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #4 - FLEDDY MELCULY (BE)

“Playing gigs is always nice! During the day of the gig, it’s quite all I think about. We have to make sure everything is well organized and we don’t forget anything. If we play, every little thing has to be okay. The moment we see it is, we can start enjoy the whole thing.

The time in the backstage, for me, is boring as hell. Except for the beers we have. I try to keep in mind that I don’t eat anything in the last 3 hours before the show. 

Right before we enter the stage we try to create some adrenaline by shouting at each other!

The last minutes before a show there’s a little bit of stress but it’s more like excitement than nervousness. I’m getting pumped up the moment our begintune starts and we go up. Once on stage, I start focusing on the music and the energy it gives me. I want to bring that energy to the audience, for the band and me that’s really important. Standing there like a ‘bag of potatoes’, like you don’t care isn’t what playing a show means to us. Moving around the stage, bringing energy, that’s what counts. We want our audience to feel like there’s a storm coming over them! During the gig, I also pay attention on the talking parts, I really want everyone’s attention. I want them to listen te me!

We’ve played many shows on a lot of different locations and regions this year and each one has a different story. The show is build up in that kind of way that makes us able to create funny and hilarious moments. That is also what playing a concert is about, creating memories. I conclude that wherever we go, we have the most funniest fans. For example, they make their own handmade ‘Fleddy Melculy shirts’ and they don’t ask us for a regular selfie but they want to make it special in a way. It’s awesome to have that kind of fanbase, we love them!”

Jeroen Camerlynck - Fleddy Melculy

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #3 - TINY LEGS TIM (BE)

“Playing gigs has become a part of my daily life. The past six years I’ve played so many shows that it feels like something is missing when I don’t play for a week or two.

Most of the times I’m going alone to a venue, so for me time in the backstage isn’t as spectacular as people would think. I drink some coffee en I play a little guitar, that’s it.

Back in the days I was nervous right before the gig, but now it just feels right and I’m going up thinking that I want to convince people to like me. I never play a show without giving it the full 100%.

During the show I focus on the sound, the groove and the reaction of the people. The more energy I get from the audience, the more intense it makes me play. But in the same time, if the sound is good, the groove will be good and that has a good effect on the crowd. Everything has an influence on everything during a show, that is what makes performing so interesting!

One of the most memorable moments of my career must be the time John Mayall (for me the godfather of the British Blues) followed me after my show to my merchandise corner and convinced people to buy my CD. That was an awesome compliment from a man with his status!”

Tim De Graeve - Tiny Legs Tim

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #2 - NEWMOON (BE)

“Before the show we hang in the backstage, just talking and joking like friends do. This often goes with a couple of drinks to get into the vibe.

The closer we come to our stage time, the more nervous I get. I have the habit to go over all of my gear again because I want everything to work just the way it needs to.

When I’m actually going on the stage I try to clear my mind. But sometimes I think about someone in particular. For instance the show in Brussels, where this pictures was made, was on the birthday of my grandfather that passed away. I remember thinking that I was going to play that show just for him.

During the gig I try not to focus on what I have to play. If I do that, it usually goes wrong. It’s important to relax on stage en get in this kind of trance. I try to escape reality for a while and just enjoy playing our music.

After the gig everyone is always welcome to come with us and have a party. Most of the time those nights turn into a big mess!”

Giel Torfs - Guitarist Newmoon

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STORIES BEHIND GIGS #1 - STEVEN H (BE)

“I look forward to all of my gigs and I try to do at least one rehearsal a couple of days before the show. Because I work full time, it happens that I have to go straight from my desk to a concert. The thing is that you have to try to make a switch in your mind as quickly as possible.

About 15 minutes before the show I put on my black suit, without it I just can’t perform because I’m still Steven Heyse then and not Steven H. Once I forgot the pants so I went all the way back home to get it, it’s that important! 
In the past I used to be nervous but now that’s all gone. In those ten years I played at so many weird places and for such a diverse audience (punkers, metalhead, seniors, party animals, …) that I don’t get impressed so fast anymore. If you get a stage, you have to make it your own and just do what feels right to you.

On stage I start with focusing on the technical aspect of the show. I listen if the sound is good, the volume of the music is just right, everything is clearly hearable, …
During the first song, I also start ‘reading’ the audience. That’s important for me to know how I can anticipate on the atmosphere of the gig.

In the early days, I think it was hard for the people to understand my way of bringing a show. It even happened once that a promoter shut down a concert by completely cutting down the volume because he thought that the show was just too bizarre. I just stayed on stage and kept dancing until the other band started to set up their instruments.
 Nowadays most of the people and of course the fans get the whole concept. It’s nice when they are singing along or even come to the show dressed in a black suit or with my mask on their face. Yep, I’ve made masks with my head on it.”

Steven Heyse - Steven H