Distributed in 94 countries, Mix is the world's leading magazine for the professional recording and sound production technology industry. Mix covers a wide range of topics including: recording, live sound and production, broadcast production, audio for film and video, and music technology.
I CAUGHT THE BLUE OYSTER CULT SHOW THE OTHER NIGHT and it was awesome. Sure it helped that the band was playing at Slim’s, a small 440-capacity club in San Francisco. Founded by bluesman Boz Scaggs in 1988, Slim’s is small, with good sightlines and a nice Meyer rig. I’ve always appreciated BOC as a great band, but what really drew me into the show was a chance to hear Mix’s sound reinforcement editor Steve La Cerra mixing the band–a gig he’s had for more than a decade. Like most tours these days, BOC runs lean and mean, with a minimal crew, so these days, La Cerra’s also doing double duty as both FOH mixer and tour manager. He’s pretty busy, but at least it keeps him out of trouble.
The other amazing thing about seeing BOC was the realization that this is their 35th year on the road, having started back in 1972. They’ve had a few personnel changes along the way–quite understandable after more than a third of a century of rock ‘n’ roll–but original members Eric Bloom (lead vox/keys/guitar) and Buck Dharma (vox/lead guitar) put on an amazing show, helped in no small part by guitarist/keyboardist Richie Castellano, bassist Danny Miranda, and drummer Jules Radino. Part of the key to longevity is the ability to adapt, so when fellow original member Allen Lanier (keys and guitar) couldn’t make this tour, regular bassist Castellano moved to guitar/keys and BOC temporarily brought back Miranda who played with the band from 1995 to 2004.
Hey, you gotta be flexible and the show’s gotta go on. Speaking of that, for a 35-year-old band, they guys still R-O-C-K and put on a sweltering 90-minutes of nonstop action. Everybody in the band was good, but I was particularly knocked out by Buck, who in a time of way-too-many me-too soundalikes, really pours out inventive and quite soulful guitar progressions that sounded fresh–never dated at all–yet distinctly in his own recognizeable style.
One thing that amazed me about this particular show was the age range in the audience. I somehow expected a mostly-older hippie crowd, but grey hairs were in the minority at this one. BOC really appeals to a wide range of listeners–maybe also even picking up a few metal fans along the way who were intro’d to BOC from Metallica’s cover of “Astronomy.” But this show was straight-ahead power, and thankfully was devoid of the usual lighting gimmicks that some misguided soul always thinks adds to the performance.
There was some opening band that night, but given the option of hanging backstage with La Cerra and the band or staying in front and risking certain ear fatigue, I opted for the latter. This was also a opportunity to see the machinations of a FOH mixer/tour manager in action, as after the line check, he checked e-mails, negiotiated the night’s set list with Eric and Buck and then printed set lists from his laptop. This of course was also on a day that started early for La Cerra, who flew in to the West Coast from New York that morning to pick up this leg of the tour, after enduring a 2-hour flight delay enroute, making for a few white knuckles as he wondered if he’d make the gig on time at all. But fortunately for the fans packed into the sold-out venue, La Cerra came through it all with his body and ears unscathed and laid down an incredible mix, somehow translating all the onstage energy into a consistent brew that kept the band’s punch, without making anyone’s ears bleed—not necessarily easy in this boxy, rectangular room.
It was one heckuva show for a 35-year-old band (even older if you also count their earlier years as Soft White Underbelly) and somehow I wouldn’t bet against these guys still rocking out in 2042 for the 70th reunion tour. See you there!
When not working on Mix stuff, George Petersen records and performs with the SF Bay Area-based rock band ARIEL. Check ‘em out at www.jenpet.com.
MUSIKMESSE/PRO LIGHT+SOUND ROLLS INTO FRANKFURT, Germany next week and it’s a monster event, with 15 exhibit halls of M.I., pro audio, DJ and lighting gear. It’s kind of like attending Winter NAMM, LDI, AES, DJ Expo, NSCA and more—all squeezed into four exhausting days. Newcomers attending Musikmesse/PL+S are often awestruck by the show’s size and scope, but with a few tips, it’s really quite manageable. Here’s some advice:
GETTING AROUND: You DO know your Musikmesse/PL+S badge is also a free pass for Frankfurt’s excellent public transit system, with U-Bahn/S-Bahn (subway), buses, streetcars…. Also, there’s a S-Bahn station inside Messe (in the Torhaus) that’s really convenient. Note: The transit system in Frankfurt works on the honor system; there’s a substantial fine if you can’t produce a ticket or pass, so keep your badge with you after hours as well.
MORNING CAB TRICK: If you’re taking a cab into Messe in the morning and coming from the direction of city center or the train station, tell the cabbie to take you to the Marriott Hotel rather than Messe (just walk across the street and you’re there). This way, you save time and $$$, by not having to endure the extra 1/2-mile–and frequently backed up–Hamburger Alee (yeah, that’s really the name of the road!) next to Messe, where the cabs have to double back to make a legal U-Turn to get to the front of the Maritim Hotel next to the Halle 5.1 entrance.
SHUTTLECRAFT: Need to get from Halle 5 to Hall 9 in a hurry? Forget those people movers and escalators in the hallways! Walk downstairs, and go outside to the shuttle bus stops, where free shutttles come by every 2 minutes and stop at each hall. They run all day in a loop connecting all the halls. Also, many of the halls are stacked above one another, so your next appointment may just be an escalator ride away.
THE FIND-A-CAB TRICK: There’s a cab stand near Messe in front of the Maritim Hotel, but after 5:30 pm, all the cabs disappear and depending on the lines, the cab wait is sometimes up to 40 minutes (longer when it’s raining). Same problem at the Marriott Hotel across the street. But you’re not stuck: Just use that free transit pass and jump on any streetcar heading toward the Hauptbahnhof (train station) about 2-3 stops away. Get off there, and go to the train station where there are always dozens of cabs out front waiting for customers. Alternatively, you can also ride the subway (or walk) from Messe to the Hauptbahnhof and get a cab there.
GOOD EATS: Unlike most convention centers, Messe has tons of restaurants, some very good–steakhouse, sushi, etc. here’s the link… http://www.accentegastronomie.de/en/restaurants_bistros_shops/e6-1.htm I like the one called Rotisserie… it’s at the far end of hall 6.1 with its entrance squeezed next to the staircases, making it hard to find… Not a hot dog place! Has linen tablecloths, table service, lunches about $12-$15… It’s fairly quiet and a great place for business lunches.
AVOID SATURDAY: If you’re attending for business, try to get everything done before Saturday, when the show’s open to the general public. Not only will the joint be packed, but the key players in many companies duck out on the last day.
SOUVENIR SHOPPING: The Floh Markt (Flea Market) is 8am-2pm Saturday mornings along the bank of the Main river in the Sachsenhausen district (about a 10 minute cab ride from Messe). It’s FREE and an awesome place to pick up odd trinkets, and last-minute gifts for the kids or folks back home. I’ve been taking people there for years and they’re constantly amazed by the odd stuff we find, ranging from treasures to genuine Eurotrash. But whether you buy or not, the Floh Markt provides a highly entertaining excursion that you won’t soon forget. Just keep your wallet in your front pocket! Speaking of Sachsenhausen, it’s the restaurant district in Frankfurt, with hundreds of eateries within a 10-12 block area—a great reason to return some evening.
STAYING UPRIGHT: If you’ve never attended a European show, you should know that there’s a bar (and occasional complete lounge) built into nearly every booth. German beer is very good and Messe-style is a very civilized way of doing business. But as you wander from booth to booth, you might consider alternating soda, juice or water with those beers, so you’re still coherent by mid-afternoon! Anyway, travel safe and have a nice Musikmesse.
DO A FRIEND A FAVOR! Know someone attending Musikmesse? E-mail them the link (http://blog.mixonline.com/audiobites/2007/03/18/musikmesse-survival-tips) to this blog. Thanks!
When not working on Mix stuff, George Petersen records and performs with the SF Bay Area-based rock band ARIEL. Check ‘em out at www.jenpet.com.
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