Study the Artist
Filmed at The Sound Academy, this video turned out pretty good. It may interest you to know that the sound recording technique used was belittled by the sound engineer that night. In fact he wasn’t the only one questioning it. There were a few other cinematographers there that night… I was the only one who didn’t have a board feed (that’s a direct line from the main console – what most think to be the best sound source). At any rate, I would typically set up a room mic towards the back of the venue, but this time around, like Wakestock 2007… the audience was far too large to make it happen.
So I ended up placing a mic right up against the side fill speakers on stage and marrying that feed to the cameras feed. Voila… simple non-restrictive sound recording. The side-fill speakers gave me a good up close listen to Jay Malinowski (singer for Bedouin Soundclash), while getting a decent room ambiance off the camcorder’s mic at the foot of the stage; providing enough guitar and bass to fill out what the side-fill was lacking.
As usual, this was a 2 camera production with one safety camera propped up on stage next to Pat Pengelly (the drummer). Little did I know he was a left handed drummer and would therefore have his back to the camera the entire show. Note to self: study the artist before setting up for their backside.
The show was packed with an opening performance by Zaki Ibrahim, a female performer from Toronto. She’s been getting a lot of press and according the Now magazine is deemed to be the next Amy Winehouse (without the drug abuse). You’ll get a glimpse of her in this video on the very left singing backup vocals.
There was also another guest appearance that night. Kenny Bridges of Moneen sang a song with Bedouin Soundclash and may I say… he’s a damn good singer. As a matter of fact, I first discovered him in Hamilton almost 8 years ago when I was just a kid. I witnessed him back flip on stage with his guitar in hand. The stage presence he brings to the table is well worth any ticket price. He’s a really nice guy, I shared a few words with him backstage and hope to cover his band in the coming months.
Bedouin Soundclash has released a new record entitled “Street Gospels” on the same label Goldfinger is now working with; Side One Dummy Records. Bedouin Soundclash’s current single “St. Andrews” in the top ten of the Much Music Countdown right now. Listening to their new album, I think there will be another single up there in the near future… my lips are sealed though… wouldn’t want to ruin any surprises.
Speaking of surprises, while reading up on the band at www.wikipedia.org I discovered that bassist Eon Sinclair and guitarist/singer Jay Malinowski went to school together at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Kinda makes me laugh when I think of their music as the sound of Kingston, Jamaica. But it’s reaffirming to see that you don’t have to drop out of school to make it as a band. There is some truth to becoming too old to be a rock star… but my gut feels that cutoff is now older than it used to be and still getting pushed back even more.
Until We Burn In The Sun
For more information about Bedouin Soundclash or to find out where they’ll be next, visit www.bedouinsoundclash.com