#storiesbehindgigs

[storiesbehindgigs-blog]

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

[storiesbehindgigs-blog]

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

[storiesbehindgigs-blog]

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

[storiesbehindgigs-blog]

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

[storiesbehindgigs-blog]

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