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Setting Levels
May/June 1999
"The music is what it’s about..."
Edited by Paul L. "Pro" Pearson, Ph.D., (pro@strangepleasures.com)
Strange Pleasures-www.strangepleasures.com
Tape of the Month
Site of the MonthSince I’m really only a novice taper-and solely from the soundboard-something I’ve been wanting to do for a few months was include an interview from someone who is actively involved in taping live shows. Thus, I’d like to introduce you to Charley Cioffero from Omaha, NE. Charley has been taping for quite awhile and has a reputation in Omaha for making some DANK tapes. Anytime there’s a killer jamband show at the Ranch Bowl or Sokol Hall, or somewhere close like Lawrence KS or Ames IA or Kansas City MO, there’s a good chance that Charley will be there with his rig and a big smile. He even comes down to the Saddle Creek and tapes some Strange Pleasures shows when he feels like it...hope you enjoy his insight!
SL-Pro
CC-Charley Cioffero
SL-What was the first show you ever taped?
CC-When I was 17, 10/7/87, Pink Floyd at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
SL-What bands do you like to tape?
CC-All the jambands-Phish, Widespread Panic, .moe...also other shows like Stevie Ray Vaughan and 311’s first shows at the Omaha Bryan HS Talent Show.
SL-How many shows do you tape a year?
CC-It varies, but up to 30 a year.
SL-Who is the easiest band/sound engineer to work with?
CC-Most of the jambands are happy to let you tape and easy to work with. It’s hard to understand when bands WON’T let people tape.
SL-What first attracted you to taping live music?
CC-The thought of having tapes of the shows I’ve been to.
SL-What gear do you use for taping?
CC-AKG 4600 mics, Tascam DA-PI portable DAT, Sony D-8 portable DAT, Pioneer CDR
SL-What would you recommend for the novice taper with about $500-1000 to spend?
CC-Sony D-8 portable DAT, no MI’s or minidiscs. Save up another $1000 for mics.
SL-How about for the advanced taper or somebody with a bit more money?
CC-Tascam DA-PI, HHB, Fostex PD-4; lunatec V2 preamp; Neumann, AKG or Sennheiser mics; Oade Brothers equipment; apogee 1000
SL-Microphone placement is key for quality live recording. Any suggestions?
CC-No hypercardioids or shotguns up close, use cardioids or omni’s. Use a 90 degree X/Y configuration or 110 degree to approach true stereo.
SL-What was your worst taping experience?
CC-A Dave Matthews Band show. People walked on decks, knocked over mics and continually talked loudly in the taper’s section despite being reminded at least 6 times.
SL-Flipside, what’s your best?
CC-4/22/90, Stevie Ray Vaughan in Omaha. It was Earth Day, it was one of my earliest and best tapes and it has been regarded as his all-time best show.
SL-Jambands have been seeing a dramatic increase in popularity. Why do you think this is the case?
CC-With jambands, there’s a lot of freedom and the music is what it’s about. Taping just seems essential when you realize that with jambands, a song won’t be played the same way twice.
SL-Any advice for the novice taper that is just starting to get into it?
CC-Go to all lengths to tape all bands, even stealth taping local bands and commercial acts. Twenty years from now, the tapes are priceless and historic. Don’t get me started...
SL-Any other stories or thoughts?
CC-Too many. Taping is essential, but it’s the music and the beautiful chicks at the shows that’s important!!
Thanks to Charley for taking the time to complete this interview. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to a few of Charley’s tapes (not nearly enough, though...), and he does a very nice job. Plus, he’s a great guy to hang around with and talk about music, taping, sound engineers, etc. He’s seen a lot of bands and has a good ear for good sound.Send in an article, ideas for an article, super crispy boots or website recommendations for next month’s "Setting Levels." In the mean time, act surprised that it costs so little when the doorman asks you for $5, wear your ear protection, be nice to the sound guy and dance like nobody’s watching. Catch me when I’m grooving and we’ll chat...
Take care,
Pro (pro@strangepleasures.com)
KVHW-1/17/99, Powerhouse Brewery, Sebastopol CA
Thanks to Rolf Kirby who sent this tape to me last month in exchange for the .moe tape I offered. My copy is CDR -> Analog, so yours will be CD2. This is the first KVHW I’ve listened to and I enjoyed it. Great background music while surfing jambands.com!
Side One
High and Lonesome (definitely some Hide Away in there too)
Ring Around the MoonSide Two
Why Can’t We All Just
Samba?
Pau Pau Go
Bad Hair
In TimeIf you’d like a copy of this tape, here’s the rules: you have to have less than 20 hours of jamband tapes (unless you want to trade one of your recent acquisitions), you have to send me blanks and postage, and you have to promise to be a good trader and spread this tape around. If you are interested, you can include an extra blank and I’ll spin you a copy of Strange Pleasures 5/1/99 set one from the ATO Truckin’ VIII party in Manhattan KS (setlist at http://www.strangepleasures.com/links/sets/050199bset.htm) . I’m pretty proud of this one, some good type II jamming and the mix is crunchy. You’ll get a soundboard DAT -> Analog -> Analog (SBD2). The second set on a 60 minute will be your bonus if I get it done in time.
aliveOne-Chicago (http://www.aliveone.com)
Normally I put a site on here that deals with taping, trading, sound equipment or something like that. Well, this month I decided to be a little less serious and publicize a taper-friendly venue that I recently visited. When you’re in Chicago, especially if it’s a Wednesday night, you need to visit aliveOne on N. Halstead. Lots of good beers, a great vibe and on Wednesday, LOTS of good bootlegs. Say howdy to Ted the bartender and tell him Pro sent you. Tip him kindly and he’ll play the CDR’s you bring in or you can pick one from their extensive collection. You’ll hear the Dead, Phish, Disco Biscuits, Panic, String Cheese Incident-just about any jamband out there. When I was there, Andy Gadiel brought in his CDR of Phish’s New Year’s show AND I met a trader that I had sent a Strange Pleasures tape to just a week before. A KIND venue to visit when you are in the Windy City, especially on Wednesday nights...
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