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"Setting Levels"
Edited by Paul L. "Pro" Pearson, Ph.D. Strange Pleasures-www.strangepleasures.com

As I haven't received those piles of submissions I was expecting on web audio, taping, mixing, etc. (hint, hint), I've decided to ramble again about the inner workings of a not-yet-known jamband and their fledgling soundman's continuing education. But first, some new features in Setting Levels…

Tape of the month: As a new feature (started last month by Kyle Blomenkamp, who wrote an intro to tape trading), I will spin one of my most recent acquisitions for anyone who is interested in beginning tape trading, but doesn't know how to get started. The offers will require you to have less than 10 hours of tapes, send me blanks and postage (B&P) and agree to be a 'good' trader and spread them around. As in all good offers, a good story makes it all more fun-tell me a little about your first (or most recent) jamband show. This month, I'll take up to the first ten requests that meet those requirements.

This month's tape is:

Ominous Seapods-New Year's Eve at Styleen's Rhythm Palace in Syracuse, NY.

I received a crispy first generation analog from RJ (thanks!), who taped this show from the soundboard on minidisc. It's complete and it's very good. This show featured the passing of the guitar helm from Max Verna to Todd Pasternack. I will spin this show (3 90 minute tapes) and Strange Pleasures' 2/4/99 show from the Saddle Creek Bar in Omaha (one 90 minute). Just send an email to me (pro@strangepleasures.com) with your story…

Site of the Month: Another new feature, I will take submissions or reviews from anyone for sites dedicated to tape trading, mixing, web audio or related topics.

This month's featured site is:

Druid's Resource http://24hour.net/druid

submitted by Ethan Drew, who was the sound engineer for Jiggle the Handle for six years. This site is a growing reference for working bands that need replacement PA, lighting, backline, equipment fixed, etc. It contains hundreds of addresses and phone numbers for music shops around the country. Ethan also adds a section with numerous books for the working soundman (I'm going to check a few of them out myself.), as well as other links. Check it out!!

The Best Seat in Someone Else's House

Strange Pleasures is currently trapped in a weird segue between merely existing as a barely known Omaha/Lincoln, Nebraska bar band and taking off into a regional, national and world wide wave of sound. Although this segue is sometimes dissonant and scary, it is a tremendously exciting time to be doing what we're doing. I can see a lot of momentum building on the jamband scene nationwide. Reading the reviews and articles in jambands.com and even just seeing the names of the bands on this site in the local entertainment rags around the country fills me with the belief that this thing is starting to take off in a big way. Pushed merrily forth by all of you supporting the scene, jambands are starting to make inroads all over the place. I can see the beginnings of a lot of momentum on our part as well, and can only hope it continues on the upwardly spiraling staircase as it has thus far. We completed step one on this journey a few weeks ago-playing somewhere other than our home state. We took a four show road trip to Colorado this past month, and I'd like to tell you about it and the things that happened to me running sound on three different house systems.

The first night, our second trip to the legendary Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE, was a trying night for me. While I respect a house sound man who has done over 2000+ shows wanting to maintain the integrity of the system and protect his source of income, I don't expect to be treated like a first grader who just picked up someone else's favorite toy. Even the wonderful addition of Randy Miller on keys (from the local jamband S.O.U.P. aka the Grateful Dudes) sitting in for the first two sets wasn't enough to make me smile, smile, smile. I've asked that the band fire me before our next Zoo gig (trusting blindly that they will ultimately rehire me afterwards), just to save the hassle. Add on to that a scrape on the side of my car and two flattened tires on our bass player's van, the trip began on auspicious note. We didn't draw a huge crowd, but it was comparable to the crowd for Lincoln band Happy Dog (who we especially enjoy) playing around the corner at Duffy's. Einstein Electric (http://www.e-e.org) from Lawrence had a bigger crowd than either of us at Bodega's Alley (right next door to Duffy's). Three quality jambands in less than a block-IN NEBRASKA?? I think the times they are a-changin'.

The next afternoon we piled in our '73 Travco and headed down Interstate 80-destination Kearney, NE and Cunningham's Journal. When we arrived at the bar, I got a markedly different reception from the house soundman there. He gave me a quick five-minute brief and said, "I'm outta here." While it was a refreshing change from the night before, it was nonetheless stressful at times, despite the fact that I got my first run on a Mackie 24 X 8 board. (I'm sold on it as a necessary upgrade from our 24 X 4. The capacity to have a separate 'mix B' for taping was the best extra feature for me right off the bat.) Things went very smoothly for the opening band-Listening Example #9, from Kearney-who put on a very good set with some nice jams, including an extended 'Chitlins Con Carne,' and their hilarious original, "Hermaphrodite Dog."

However, while playing CD's during the break, the amps for both the highs and mids kicked out, leaving only subs to comprehend. Luckily for me, turning them off and back on again worked to alleviate the problem (only to be repeated during subsequent setbreaks). A buzzing bass signal (which ultimately turned out to be an improper setting on an unfamiliar compressor) led me to attempt a cable switch mid-first set, resulting in an mistakenly unplugged lead guitar cable for most of "Lovelight." From that point on, things ran smoothly and we turned in a show that had the locals talking all weekend.

After a couple hours of partying and hanging out, we took off for Denver, only to stop a couple hours later at a truck stop in western NE to sleep for awhile. Everybody was too bushed to continue, but we had time to spare. We eventually made it to Denver, found our motel for awhile, grabbed some grub and made it to Quixotes True Blue Café on East Colfax in Aurora http://www.quixotes.com . To me, Quixotes exemplifies what is so right about the jamband scene. We were greeted with nothing but smiles, expectations, compliments and kindness while we were there. From the hundreds of pictures of Jerry and the boys to the 'Steal Your Stage'; from the jamband stickers on the walls to the friendly regulars; from Phil Bianchi's behind-the-bar rhythm section to brother Jay's pile of Dead DAT's, we felt at home from moment one. Friday's show went well and the only comments I got from the house sound guys were suggestions (e.g. cut 1.2 and 1.6 kHz in the main eq's) put forth in a helpful AND respectful manner. Suggestions that I was glad to accept and implement.

Saturday night we once again made our way past the strip joints and pawn shops to Quixotes and lit a fire. The crowd was alive, the boys were on, and the sound was super bad. Our performance was good enough to get us invited to an intimate party-a few of the regulars and the owners (Jay and Phil). We played a few acoustic tunes, compared tour stories, and got further acquainted with our new family. That hour or so was the highlight of the trip for me, except when the sound was good enough for me to close my eyes and groove around behind the board…

Stay tuned for the next step in our climb to the top, as we open for a 'name' jamband in our home bar, the Saddle Creek. I hope you can make it for an extremely green St. Patrick's Day in Omaha, because we're opening for The Disco Biscuits. You can bet that I'll be stealing some licks that night…

Take care,
Pro

Comments? pro@strangepleasures.com