[Dancecult-l] liveness

[out left]

To answer the original question .. Here in NZ .. live music (bands) have
taken a much greater popularity than Dj's in the last few years.

In many clubs/bars djs have been sent back into the corner, becoming an
element of background entertainment, not always the central focus.

As a solution, many Dj's form Sound Systems, that collaborate the Dj process
with MC's, vocalists, live instrumentation (drums, sax, flute).

Djs alone _by default_ do not make entertainment, as they did during the 90's.

People might pay $20 to see a set from a local band, but would not pay $5 to
see a local Dj play all night.  Dj's are expected, bands are an event.

International Dj's still command a price & audience in NZ but this scene is
matched and often outpaced by a live band scene.

Even in the the community Rave scene more money has been spent on
'live' acts than Dj's at recent events.  The core (pure) dance scene has a lot
more attention for acts that either produce their own music or perform 'live'.

There is a cross over though, in that the most successful 'live' music is often
a derivative of dance music, not Rock n' roll.

Examples of NZ bands are:
Shapesifter (DnB) Fat Freddys Drop (Dub) Blackseeds (Dub & Funk)
Pitch Black (Electronica) Salmonella Dub (Dub & Breaks)

Bands like this make the draw card billing for festivals like:

http://www.phatclub.co.nz
http://www.splore.net/home.html
http://www.rhythmandvines.co.nz


//



Sonically I think 'liveness' has alot to do with microphones & pickups.

The sonic experience of listening to band will involve one or more
open mic channels or pickups that are constantly on the verge of feedback.

The PA system becomes 'live'  .. the sounds being made and amplified are
by their very nature alive, barely restrained by performers and engineers
from the inevitable feedback.  It is an open loop, of which the performer the
the audience are all a part of.

Turntables are wonderful instruments for producing low frequency feedback, which
I feel is a big part of the reason why vinyl is a popular medium for dance music.

Ever seen a Dj drum the turntable in time to the music?

People like to talk about the 'vibe' and how djs or performers pick it up and then
feed it back.  While you could argue this on many levels there is a basic process
of feedback happening through any form of pickup.

As the music get turned up the so does the inherent feedback.

As the audience gets excited, the very real noise energy from the crowd becomes
part of the sound that is feedback. The system becomes alive.

In this regard I would suggest that introducing microphones, pickups into any
performance would give it that sonic feeling that we associate to 'liveness'.

'liveness' is just the sound of hearing the place that you are.

This is why I feel that bands and live music are becoming popular again. People
want to sense themselves as part of the process, part of the sound.  People
want to see & hear music in front of them.


.simon


-------------------------------
  www.obscure.co.nz
&  http://psurkit.net
-------------------------------
i love minimal beats