No you did a great job as a Live performers - that what i’m talking about,
But Shpongle as “trippy shpongle” that make you feel like you are creating every moment and you are part of the moment and part of whole, well i didn’t feel it that time, as all musical instruments sounded like they are on different levels.
Well still I will repeat myself - You were great as a live performance and musicians, and yes viola sounded great, and devil was there for us :D
But to get old style trips I have to listen to it from stereo or as a dj set IMO
And I think friday sounded better for me because I was sitting on a balcony right in a middle, plus I was tired on saturday after friday.
Oh and please Simon, next time you orginising Live - please Include Star Shpongled Banner, as last year it was one of my fav. tunes - every atom and electron of me was singing that - I am a shaman… part
as some people say that the sound was not well balanced and stuff i’d like to say that for me, it wasnt really only about the sound, it was more like about the whole thing and i think that the “show” as a show was massive. it was more like a concert with theatre and stuff, not only a band that played their instruments. so maybe the sound and the playing wasnt perfect.. but that made it perfect for me. it was more about the vibe of the whole - and the shpongulator worked perfectly fine for me. the beelzebub in the 2nd track somehow gave me tears into my eyes because it was so funny and nice.. simply loved it - and i was completely sober (except for some lack of sleep as we had to stay awake all the trip from friday morning to sunday morning).
so, to all the shpongle crew: you made a really good job, it was worth every single cent and pence we spent!
hope to be able to see you again!
till then,
take care!
LOL @ ‘shpongle live is tooo live’!
I am guessing that you don’t go to a lot of ‘band’ shows? (Please don’t take that as any kind of put-down or negative judgement - some people just prefer hearing stuff played live from a laptop, where it sounds like the CD… ), but everyone i spoke to that watches a lot of live music (at least 10 shows a year) with real drums, bass, guitars, singers etc, thought it was hugely psychedelic! Obviously we don’t have the budget of Floyd, or Radiohead, or any act on a major label…. but personally i thought slinky man and cid doing his stilt/pan’s labyrinth thing (can you believe he hasn’t seen that movie??!!) were far more trippy and shpongley than the brazilian dancers from 2008, which i found a little bit too cabaret to be honest… even though they were fun, and i had the best view - from behind
Just out of curiosity yabsolute, can i ask what other shows you have seen this year?
I’d also like to ask anyone that came to both shows what did we think of the new line-up? Justin Quinn on guitar, compared to Pete Callard from 2008? (Pete couldn’t do this year as he is on tour in Australia with Elaine Page….. yep, you heard me….Elaine fucking Paige!!) And was the violin/viola a good addition?
I thought we did pretty good - i would have have liked to have played a few more older tracks, and played a bit longer…. but Andy Gangadeen (the drummer) had booked another show on each night… the slut! On Friday he had to run off stage and drive immediately to Nottingham, and on Saturday, Leicester.
Anyway, I am super proud of all the musicians… Friday night was only our second ever run-though of the set, and Saturday was the 3rd… because during rehearsals nobody could make it on the same days at the same time….
I thought Pixel Addicts did great with the lights… we spent so much money in 2008 on the show that we actually LOST money on a sold out show, so this time we asked Pixel Addicts to slash their budget by a third, and we didn’t record it, or film it… so there will be no DVD :(
The only person whose performance i will never be able to judge, is the front-of-house sound guy, because i am on the stage and not in the crowd… but the reports from people that see a lot of live bands seem to be pretty good… people that only see DJs or laptop bands are slightly less impressed, but i don’t mind about that, because turning up two faders with a stereo file is obviously a world apart from balancing 58 channels of microphones with massive dynamics (a snare drum compared to a cello?) and electronic outputs as well… but the couple of clips i checked out on youtube seemed surprisingly clear actually… Particularly in such a ‘boomy’ venue as the roundhouse.
Thanks to everyone that came…i hope you had a great Halloween… I’m gonna take a few well needed days off before going back in the studio with Younger Brother
x x x
I thought that musically this years show was way better than last years. The lights and visuals weren’t quite as good (although still amazing!), but that’s kind of to be expected as we can’t really expect you guys to make another loss now can we!!
For me the sign of a good live band (i take live music over dj sets anyday, and have seen hundreds of live acts…) is one who doesn’t just go on stage and simply play the tunes exactly as they sound on the album (this may sound like stating the obvious, but so many groups i have seen, including ‘live’ electronica acts, do this) but changes them in interesting ways in order to give the listeners an entirely new experience. You guys did this to an extent at the first show (the guitar in DMT for example, and some weird shpongley noises thrown in here and there), but the new show took this to a completely different level. Not only was the live instrumentation different to the albums but a lot of the electronics sounded different too (especially in my head feels like a frisbee, SUCH an awesome rendition!!). It made the whole listening experience so much more fulfilling and such an epic journey…
I also thought the guitarist was better this year. Pete Callard was great, but I noticed that in a couple of the latin-y songs he couldn’t quite pluck the acoustic guitar fast enough, but didn’t notice that this time round. That said however, Callard’s guitar work on DMT last year was absolutely epic!!
Loved the addition of the violin too, it made the strings sections sound waaay better. definately a keeper. Maybe some brass next time too?
And the performers were definately cooler this year too, LOVED the slinky and also cid’s stilt performance
My only complaint was that the sound engineering was a bit dodgy in places on friday. The first three songs didn’t sound very good at all, I was in the middle and all i could here was the drone of the bass, couldn’t hear the melodies in DMT or the guitar in when shall i be free and schmaltz herring at all :( They sorted it out later though, and all sounded good again except for the hang drum which was also quite difficult to hear (but beautiful again nonethless)
Other highlights:
The drumming in DMT (that sent everyone craaaazy)
Hari Om (how on earth did you find that singer? She is simply amazing… Took my breath away every singly time she opened her mouth
The moment the guitar from dorset perception started. Everyone’s faces all just turned into the biggest grin!!
Buying the new album at the end and listening to it 4 times in a row whilst sufficiently shpongled at a friend’s after session
I think the sound system on friday worked pretty well, it was better than 2008. I noticed the volume from the cello and violin section was very well tuned both while playing normally and plucking the strings. The energy was fantastic.
The lead guitar on Electroplasm was also very nicely adjusted - probably one of my favourite moments from this year. Now all I gotta do is try to learn it for myself and play along…
Hari Om struggled a tiny bit with heavy feedback distortion but she was able to tune it right.
Percussions sounded very well - that guy is really skilled! His performance was incredibly crisp, as were the drums.
The hangdrum sounded fantastic - that tune is outstanding.
All in all I got the feeling you guys had a lot of fun playing live. By the way - the Schmaltz Herring version you guys played early on was one intense biscuit - and being one of the absolute most memorable parts of Nothing Lasts, I was extatic to hear it.
Hmmmm, maybe i was standing in the wrong place then. I had some friends nearer the back and they said the sound quality was much better there.
Also, I met Nogera at the afterparty. Such a lovely and humble chap. He told me that his ‘ear was broke’ after the concert though. Oh dear, hope that didn’t detract from his amazing drumming on the saturday!!
.... but personally i thought slinky man and cid doing his stilt/pan’s labyrinth thing (can you believe he hasn’t seen that movie??!!) were far more trippy and shpongley than the brazilian dancers from 2008, which i found a little bit too cabaret to be honest… even though they were fun, and i had the best view - from behind
Word up Simon, the slinky man was a hit, no doubt but i think that Cid could do better. He was great, as usual, on Mysteries but the stilt-thingy was kinda “to much” for atleast me. There where no room on the stage for such things, a suggestion for upcoming shows is that he could dress himself in some fluoro suit and just dance so he won’t take so much attention away from the music and musicans. I’m so happy to hear that even you think that the can-can dancers from last year was a little to much. I remember when they entered the stage and people turned their head to each others like “WTF?!”
Hallucinogen - 03 November 2009 11:23 PM
I’d also like to ask anyone that came to both shows what did we think of the new line-up? Justin Quinn on guitar, compared to Pete Callard from 2008? (Pete couldn’t do this year as he is on tour in Australia with Elaine Page….. yep, you heard me….Elaine fucking Paige!!) And was the violin/viola a good addition?
I missed Pete, badly. Justin Quinn was good but Pete plays different, more “shy feeling”.
Violin player was cool but i think that they need to be more visible. A podium perhaps? When i think about it, during the 2 shows, maybe i paid 2-3 min attention to cello and violin. They where just to hidden on stage.
Hallucinogen - 03 November 2009 11:23 PM
and we didn’t record it, or film it… so there will be no DVD :(
What? Saw offset cameras placed all over the venue, 1 moving camera on friday and multichannel soundboarding stuff placed everywhere….
Hallucinogen - 03 November 2009 11:23 PM
The only person whose performance i will never be able to judge, is the front-of-house sound guy,
Here i bring forth the big hammer from hell!
If it was the same soundcrew as last year i’m dissapointed. These guys isn’t capable of handle a venue like Roundhouse and i tried to tell you that last year.
Hallucinogen - 03 November 2009 11:23 PM
balancing 58 channels of microphones with massive dynamics (a snare drum compared to a cello?) and electronic outputs as well…
That’s no excuse, i work with sets containing alot more than that (including monitor) and it’s not that hard. All you need to do is research and plan the shows well.
Now i got to try to clean my shirt from leaking projector cooling fluid
Hi, I came to see Shpongle last year and this year on sat 31st. I reckon that the sound quality this time was way better than last year, as for Simon’s question on the guitar player, I thought that both Justin Quinn and Pete Callard were both excellent and really there’s nothing to choose between them. The violin/viola was nice in the quiet passages but really I only noticed them a few times in the whole show.
I really enjoyed the show so much, it was great and nicely psychedelic. I hope that Shpongle can play live again in London, as I can’t imagine how much it must costs to put on a show like that with about 15 musicians and dancers, all of whom were excellent, lights and sound system. Anyway in answer to the question “Soooooooo, how was it?” the only answer is “effing marvellous!”
The only person whose performance i will never be able to judge, is the front-of-house sound guy, because i am on the stage and not in the crowd… but the reports from people that see a lot of live bands seem to be pretty good… people that only see DJs or laptop bands are slightly less impressed, but i don’t mind about that, because turning up two faders with a stereo file is obviously a world apart from balancing 58 channels of microphones with massive dynamics (a snare drum compared to a cello?) and electronic outputs as well… but the couple of clips i checked out on youtube seemed surprisingly clear actually… Particularly in such a ‘boomy’ venue as the roundhouse.
Unfortunately me and my friends (from Germany) didn’t make it to the Roundhouse this year
Therefor I spend most of my time (at work) in the forum to gather some impressions about this marvellous event and I’m happy and sad at the same time that my DVD from last year is ment to arrive soon but it won’t show me this party - anyways, for the sound-quality I have to say; when you have the position next to the FOH-engineer you can hear best what the guy there hears himself and thinks it’s the best for the house! I cannot speak for this year’s concert but last year it was not satisfying at all!! Sure - I had some worse experiences before (with easily 50 concerts a year - and I’m not deaf at all!!!). But the mixing guy there was simply not familiar to the Shpongle-sound. He wasn’t able to manage the Roundhouse’s ‘boomy’Acoustic-Charakter on an acceptable level. It was just enough to realize that shpongle was playing live on stage. It can be done better - in general…and it is truly not the main question of budget-topics.
The Shpongelists have deserved a much more distinct soundexperience for God’s sake (can I say that?) and as I’m a longtime student of Simon P’s musical expressions (it started in Brixton/The Fridge “Return to the source” in 95 or 96 with Hallucinogen live and e.g. Sid Shanti - where is he these days by the way?) I come to the concert with some expectations about what I eventually will hear from him. And live is definitely not CD nor Laptop or Harddisk with line-signal-FX! But!!!!! Live means getting surprised as fuck (by the likes of twisted artists in particular). Ever experienced some delayheaven from Ott which you cannot hear like that on CD? Or the total deconstruction of earthly parameters by Mr. Merv Pepler? I’m sure you did, and thats why we need somebody on the mixing desk who knows how to assemble all these 50something signals to bring the desired soundexperience to the show. All in accordance to the possibilities at the venue’s charakter I agree. But how can it be that e.g. The Cure sounded so brilliant and impressive at a huge 13k people arena (indoor) and some other (modern) major artist with much more equipment-capacity at the same venue simply weak and noisy?!
And how about the Academy in Brixton with HiD, Y.B. live? It was not bad at all for my ears, but I still wonder about the delightful twists and variations one can hear on the live CD. I’m sure I was on that concert but I haven’t heard all this! It’s a pitty because I love what these guys are doing with their knobs, faders and samplers and so on. And to experience this right in my face in front of Simon and Benji watching each other and grinning about what ‘mayhem’ they cause within the audience that’s the reason why I fly out to London and forget about german trance-parties (OK most of them).
By the way, was it Ott who did the monitor-sound in Brixton? Could he do some FOH- Engineering as well???
Thanks y’all I knew it was going to be ace, I just thought I would punish myself some more by asking On Saturday morning I still thought we were going to be there, even though I had missed the only plane that would have made it. Do you think they’ll do it again next year? I know I keep harping on about Mr Simon making a new show with Mr Benji, but ofc I would be more than happy for another chance to see Shpongle.
Regards that tart Gangadeen, I suppose it is to be expected, he IS the best drummer I’ve ever had the fortune to see. We are massive Bays fans so it’s lovely to see him and Chris up and at em again this year.
Wow, you guys fucking kill me! Picking apart live Shpongle like you’ve seen it a dozen times. Some of us in the states only dream of having the luxury that you just experienced!
Recently I started a relationship with a girl that lives a distance from me. One thing she asked me was “If you could be anywhere on earth, where would you be?” I told her “I’d be talking to you in person and not on the internet”, but “Just kidding! I’d be in London @ the Roundhouse! for Shpongle!”
I, like many of my stateside Shpongle heads, have realized that we may never see a full Shpongle performance. Last spring I saw Simon DJ three times in the southeast. That shit was great. But it’s nothing compared to a live show! These are the things dreams are made of people! Simon, keep up the good work!
but personally i thought slinky man and cid doing his stilt/pan’s labyrinth thing (can you believe he hasn’t seen that movie??!!) were far more trippy and shpongley than the brazilian dancers from 2008, which i found a little bit too cabaret to be honest… even though they were fun, and i had the best view - from behind
I wasn’t at 2008 gig but I’ve seen some videos… and yes, I agree with you. This year was a more shpongley show! Well done! Nice perfomance! )
I personally like your psychedelics suits (raja and yours)! How psychedelic they were! Sure they were specially done for you and this gig?
But I imagine after a while it was too hot for wearing under all those lights!
Hallucinogen - 03 November 2009 11:23 PM
I thought Pixel Addicts did great with the lights… we spent so much money in 2008 on the show that we actually LOST money on a sold out show, so this time we asked Pixel Addicts to slash their budget by a third, and we didn’t record it, or film it… so there will be no DVD :(
I would have loved a DVD of this show… that’s sad!
Anyway at least I was there! And there’s also some nice HD videos on youtube made by draeke604..
Hallucinogen - 03 November 2009 11:23 PM
The only person whose performance i will never be able to judge, is the front-of-house sound guy, because i am on the stage and not in the crowd… but the reports from people that see a lot of live bands seem to be pretty good… people that only see DJs or laptop bands are slightly less impressed, but i don’t mind about that, because turning up two faders with a stereo file is obviously a world apart from balancing 58 channels of microphones with massive dynamics (a snare drum compared to a cello?) and electronic outputs as well… but the couple of clips i checked out on youtube seemed surprisingly clear actually… Particularly in such a ‘boomy’ venue as the roundhouse.
I’m sure it could been better (at floor level), I didn’t hear very clearly some flute and vocals parts of some songs..
Anyway I loved to see you live, we got really shpongled!
I went with a friend and sure she will remember the show… so different.. so psychedelic, so beautiful!
Thanks Simon, thanks Raja and all the band members!
PD: Let’s see if I receive the pre-ordered Ineffable album this week for enjoying with a good equipment!
Flew from Denmark last year and this year as well but only for the friday treat since i was bringing my 7 months old baby boy to London (not the concert though. But he sure likes to be Shpongled in my living room when the music is playing).
I liked this year the most. I been listening to Shpongle for around 6 years now and it has continued to grow on me. Last year my expectations were huge and I didnt know what to expect. The show was amazing. The venue perfect and the exitement in the roundhouse was beyond what you could hope for. But I guess I felt like Simon explained the band on the friday compared to saturday. Not too relaxed. This year I didnt have to focus on all the surroundings since I already knew they were perfect. That made it a better experience for me.
I attend live concerts several times every month, music of all kinds, and I have to say that Shpongle by far is one of the more psychadelic and lively acts I have seen. The combination of all the theatrical elements and the perfectly skilled musicians is a top combination that makes the live experience unique just like the music itself. yes, there were some sound problems here and there - especially with Michele Adamsons mic - but it didnt ruin or even scrathed the surface of the overall experience. I could imagine the puzzle of getting the whole show together. It would be too much to ask to have every tiny bit perfect.
As a whole its one of those concerts where every single person in the room is dancing, chanting, floating, moving and singing in pure joy. almost religious and very spiritual. I would love to make it to London on a regular basis to attend another seance. I
Simon who was filming it the first night then just for personal use because their was a guy up in front filming the whole first night???? And I met the drummer at the after party the first night (he was very nice) ?! Hmmm was he really at that show you say? Haha amazing show and thank you for letting your beautiful gf and yourself flog my ass all night long =p
Dear Simon,
I admire you and the band enormously. The fact that you guys only had a few rehearsals for such an intricate piece of music is stunning. And as you mentioned, being able to mix 58 channels in real time ain’t no easy task! That’s true engineering. I’m quite curious though Simon, do you typically use a venues front of house engineer or bring your own?
well i didn’t feel it that time, as all musical instruments sounded like they are on different levels.
