[Harp-L] Re: Loud Dynamics

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well said Clay. I still don't like 'loud' though. Speaking of Led Zepplin, I did a support gig for Robert Plant 'round 1983. Plant actually came to see my outfit as he was looking for an appropriate support act for the stuff he was into at the time. We were a little western swing/country boogie outfit; small amps, low volume (and deliberately so) Robert said he was actually looking for a rockabilly act, but  he liked us enough to have us put on the bill. We got to hang around backstage after our set, and I must say that their onstage sound was not that loud, even for a bunch of rock music refugees like us. Out front was a different matter, but none of Plant's men were going to get ear damage from the onstage sound.
Heard this one? A drummer has just finished doing a take in the studio. The producer comes over the monitor and says: "That was great Jim, nice feel. But can I just say one word? 'Dynamics!"   "Dynamics?!!" says the drummer " I'm playing as hard as I can already!"
Cheers,
RD

>>> "Clay Goldstein" <clay@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> 14/11/2007 10:24 >>>
I want to move this string into the realm of dynamics.

It' not about playing loud or quiet.  My pet peeve when seeing bands is
groups that compress the dynamics: volume dynamics AND tempo dynamics.  A
band can effectively be as loud as a cannon for a section of a show or
song and make it work if they also are as quiet as a whisper.  It's what
made bands like Led Zeppelin or most of the bands I like (although I love
the Ramones).  When a band is loud and then drop it to nothing with that
great snare shot...my knees get weak.  But quiet (not counting acoustic)
can get tired unless inspired.  You have to hear that snare go crack!

Tempo is another area where bands end up playing Medium fast, medium, and
medium slow...all at the same volume.

Clay

PS:  Poor Vince Meghrouni   ;}

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