So here goes...
This isn't really a review as such. I'm way too biased to write a review, because 1) Mark and I are both in the band, 2) Ian and Andy are our best friends 3) We're recording the album, and 4) I fucking LOVE this music.
It was only 2 weeks before the gig that Mark got a call from Ian (Mr Kizilok himself) asking, no telling him that he was going to be playing bass. The phone call was funny to listen to. Mark said "Yeah" and "Uh-huh" a lot, then hung up. His next words were "What the hell have I just agreed to?" He looked like a rabbit in the headlights.
The last time Mark played live in front of an audience was when Melt (our old band) played at the Lazy Sunday festival in Bedford, 1993. So it's a big deal to get up there and do it again. Scary stuff!
In those 2 weeks he not only had to learn and practice all the bass lines till they were tattoo'd onto his soul, but we also had to create backing track new mixes of the 6 track set. Quite a lot of work.
Mark practiced every single day until he knew the bass lines. Then he practiced some more, learning to play them standing up, which is very different from playing them slouched in a chair. Then he played them in front of me - a small step towards having people watching you.
Mark was as nervous as hell, which is understandable. I was just as nervous for him, if not more so.
The gig was on a Sunday night at a central Manchester venue called The Tiger Lounge. We went up a day early, to make as much time as possible for practicing. Mark had practiced a lot on his own, playing along to the backing tracks, but as yet Mark, Ian and Andy hadn't actually played together. Ian and Andy hadn't also hadn't heard the new guitar part Mark had come up with for one song. In fact, I hadn't even heard it.
On Saturday afternoon Mark and Andy ran through the set a couple of times. It was sounding good and they seemed to be comfortable playing together. It was missing the vocals though.
Saturday evening Andy had a gig, so he left us at his house and Ian came over to hang out and run through the songs with Mark. It was great to be there to witness the birth of the next part of Kizilok's evolution. I was just so excited to hear them play together. Everything went smoothly, with no hitches. The real revelation though was when they came to play the song Ray, which already had bass on the backing track. Mark had written a new guitar part and Ian and I were both pretty blown away when he played it to us. They were both so into it, swaying together, totally connected through the music. It was pretty powerful stuff. When the song finished we all just stood there grinning at each other.
The gig itself was the usual. Disorganised and frustrating. Soundcheck took too long (doesn't it always...) and the venue opened before Kizilok even had a chance to set up. First on means last to soundcheck. Unfortunately this meant they ended up soundchecking in front of the audience, which is never ideal. Ho hum, such is the lot of the support band I guess. There was the usual confusion over who was using whose gear, what was supposed to be supplied by the venue (and wasn't). Same old, same old. Nothing's changed.
The sound was a bit ropey (nothing's changed there either then) and when it came to Kizilok actually playing, you could hardly hear a thing. Some things were too loud, others were too quiet, they couldn't hear themselves, let alone each other, feedback etc etc.
Personally (and here comes the I'm biased bit) I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was beaming with pride at Mark and loving every minute. You won't get a critique of the music from me. After all, this isn't a review. I got video of the whole set, so you can make your own mind up if you want to. I'll tell you now though, if you don't have anything nice to say to me about Kizilok, best not say anything at all. Hahaha...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJY8hPrF0eQ
It wasn't a bad sized crowd and it was the right crowd. A good mix of friends who were oozing love and support and people who were there to see the headline band Music for Aborigines. They seemed to like Kizilok anyway, which gladdens my heart. The reception was good, the applause was loud and genuine.
All too soon it was all over. Mark breathed a huge sigh of relief and went to the bar, where he had to deal with something he's not used to - fanboys! It was hilarious to stand back and watch as he tried to deal with the strangers who were coming up and shaking his hand and telling him how much they enjoyed the Kizilok set. Highly entertaining.
Mark and Ian practicing.
All smiles after the gig. Andy, Mark and Ian.
After Kizilok there was another band on before Music for Aborigines. They weren't really our cup of tea so we went to hang out outside in the freezing cold with various people and just generally catch up with our northern friends. At one point Mark and I were standing outside the venue when this VERY drunk guy staggers up to us and tries to sell us a pack of parma ham. Random or what?
The Music for Aborigines set topped the night off nicely. Love this band. Love these guys. Andy Whit was a rockin' front man at this gig. I could write another whole blog about MFA. Maybe I should some time...
I'll leave it with this for now. My favourite MFA tune, played a little shambolically, but with love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbjgg4FbRqc
Saturday evening Andy had a gig, so he left us at his house and Ian came over to hang out and run through the songs with Mark. It was great to be there to witness the birth of the next part of Kizilok's evolution. I was just so excited to hear them play together. Everything went smoothly, with no hitches. The real revelation though was when they came to play the song Ray, which already had bass on the backing track. Mark had written a new guitar part and Ian and I were both pretty blown away when he played it to us. They were both so into it, swaying together, totally connected through the music. It was pretty powerful stuff. When the song finished we all just stood there grinning at each other.
The gig itself was the usual. Disorganised and frustrating. Soundcheck took too long (doesn't it always...) and the venue opened before Kizilok even had a chance to set up. First on means last to soundcheck. Unfortunately this meant they ended up soundchecking in front of the audience, which is never ideal. Ho hum, such is the lot of the support band I guess. There was the usual confusion over who was using whose gear, what was supposed to be supplied by the venue (and wasn't). Same old, same old. Nothing's changed.
The sound was a bit ropey (nothing's changed there either then) and when it came to Kizilok actually playing, you could hardly hear a thing. Some things were too loud, others were too quiet, they couldn't hear themselves, let alone each other, feedback etc etc.
Personally (and here comes the I'm biased bit) I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was beaming with pride at Mark and loving every minute. You won't get a critique of the music from me. After all, this isn't a review. I got video of the whole set, so you can make your own mind up if you want to. I'll tell you now though, if you don't have anything nice to say to me about Kizilok, best not say anything at all. Hahaha...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJY8hPrF0eQ
It wasn't a bad sized crowd and it was the right crowd. A good mix of friends who were oozing love and support and people who were there to see the headline band Music for Aborigines. They seemed to like Kizilok anyway, which gladdens my heart. The reception was good, the applause was loud and genuine.
All too soon it was all over. Mark breathed a huge sigh of relief and went to the bar, where he had to deal with something he's not used to - fanboys! It was hilarious to stand back and watch as he tried to deal with the strangers who were coming up and shaking his hand and telling him how much they enjoyed the Kizilok set. Highly entertaining.
Mark and Ian practicing.
All smiles after the gig. Andy, Mark and Ian.
After Kizilok there was another band on before Music for Aborigines. They weren't really our cup of tea so we went to hang out outside in the freezing cold with various people and just generally catch up with our northern friends. At one point Mark and I were standing outside the venue when this VERY drunk guy staggers up to us and tries to sell us a pack of parma ham. Random or what?
The Music for Aborigines set topped the night off nicely. Love this band. Love these guys. Andy Whit was a rockin' front man at this gig. I could write another whole blog about MFA. Maybe I should some time...
I'll leave it with this for now. My favourite MFA tune, played a little shambolically, but with love.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbjgg4FbRqc
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment