Live dubstep? Opinions.

tek-one · Post by **tek-one** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:24 pm

Hi guys,
I just recently started a live dubstep act, but which I can also operate as a regular DJ.
I've toured as part of a successful band, and also had reasonable success as a singular dj under a different alias, and as a dj-duo.
I know I personally would much rather go to a club night and watch a few of my favourite djs than stand in a gig nowadays...
Is this just me?

Do you think that in this climate there is enough demand for a live dubstep act? Do you think it makes sense to put a live act on with live acoustic drums DURING a club night? Or do you think djing is the only sensible route to take?

If you're interested you can check it out here:

http://www.myspace.com/tekoneuk

test_recordings · Post by **test_recordings** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:54 pm

There's always a demand for quality dubstep (though sometimes you'd think people wouldn't be interested in decent production, but ya kno'...) at the end of the day it's up to the promoter what goes on.
A band can play pretty much whatever a DJ can do and quite a bit more as well as expand on what they're doing with more versatility beyond mix gain, EQ and pitch/tempo that a DJ's limited too (you could actually mix records in with the band's mix as well), you've basically got a studio recording happening on the fly. A bands more interactive as well because they can change they're flow to follow what people seem to be liking even within the boundaries of the same song (improvisation!), people are gonna shack out just as at a gig if the bands playing out the same kinda shackin' out stuff that's on vinyl.
The only problems with having a band is the physical space needed for the musicians and the mic'ing them all up right etc etc but I think the end results worth it because a real analog instrument sounds infinitely better than the digital equivalent

dubstee · Post by **dubstee** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:17 pm

IMO the live drum kit is problematic with dubstep in a way that it's not with for example live dnb. With dubstep there's a massive emphasis on the kick and snare, which with a live kit is going to lead to rock drumming - there's not enough room for subtlety. Live percussion is a different thing entirely though.

-dubson- · Post by **-dubson-** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:45 pm

dubstee wrote:IMO the live drum kit is problematic with dubstep in a way that it's not with for example live dnb. With dubstep there's a massive emphasis on the kick and snare, which with a live kit is going to lead to rock drumming - there's not enough room for subtlety. Live percussion is a different thing entirely though.

yeah this wouldn't work with 90% of dubstep

timmyyabas · Post by **timmyyabas** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:01 pm

dubstee wrote:IMO the live drum kit is problematic with dubstep in a way that it's not with for example live dnb. With dubstep there's a massive emphasis on the kick and snare, which with a live kit is going to lead to rock drumming - there's not enough room for subtlety. Live percussion is a different thing entirely though.

i don't see how this would lead to rock drumming.

test_recordings · Post by **test_recordings** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:40 pm

I think you're assuming what a band's going to be like, I think you'll find some bands drummers have the vibe nailed perfectly. It's a bit like my mate thinks a song isn't jungle without the amen as the drum line...

abZ · Post by **abZ** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:50 pm

All I know is I would love to see Jazzsteppa live but it doesn't seem to be possible to bring them to the states. Not enough turn out to justify flying a whole band overseas.

I have thought about getting a band together here. I talked to a percussionist already I can do a lot of the programming and play guitar but honestly it would probably take more time than I have to give it but if it is possible it may happen.

test_recordings · Post by **test_recordings** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:40 pm

Just think if you stick on it you'll have an amazing living, breathing project constantly on the go!

dubstee · Post by **dubstee** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:43 pm

abZ wrote:All I know is I would love to see Jazzsteppa live but it doesn't seem to be possible to bring them to the states. Not enough turn out to justify flying a whole band overseas.

They fall into the aforementioned trap unfortunately.

collective · Post by **collective** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:00 pm

i played in a live dubstep band and to over come the sound issues of an acoustic kit, we used a hybrid kit.

Midi kick and snare and hi hat, but the rest of the kit was still there, piccolo snare, regular high hat all the cymbals and percussion.

Worked out sounding great actually. In the end it was:

Drummer on hybrid kit
2 people on virus, mpc , other synths

planas · Post by **planas** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:29 pm

http://www.myspace.com/submotionorchestra

ruckspin's live band =

sick

spiderman · Post by **spiderman** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:46 pm

tek-one · Post by **tek-one** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:47 pm

TEST RECORDINGS wrote:There's always a demand for quality dubstep (though sometimes you'd think people wouldn't be interested in decent production, but ya kno'...) at the end of the day it's up to the promoter what goes on.
A band can play pretty much whatever a DJ can do and quite a bit more as well as expand on what they're doing with more versatility beyond mix gain, EQ and pitch/tempo that a DJ's limited too (you could actually mix records in with the band's mix as well), you've basically got a studio recording happening on the fly. A bands more interactive as well because they can change they're flow to follow what people seem to be liking even within the boundaries of the same song (improvisation!), people are gonna shack out just as at a gig if the bands playing out the same kinda shackin' out stuff that's on vinyl.
The only problems with having a band is the physical space needed for the musicians and the mic'ing them all up right etc etc but I think the end results worth it because a real analog instrument sounds infinitely better than the digital equivalent

That's exactly how I run our live show at the moment, areas of improvisation based around the tracks I've written, coupled with areas of dubstep 'anthems' and current hits.
And as for the kick and snare issue, I've been touring with a live electro group and it's fine so long as you have an engineer with half a clue, and a drummer with a click track in his ears and a tumpin monitor. Just have to mix the live kick and snare down a bit, just use some frequencies off the kick drum. The real pleasure for me from the acoustic kit in the dance environment is the power that you get from real cymbals, try recreating that!

My main concern is that I don't want it to appear too gimmicky.
That was the problem we had encountered in the early days as an electro act in the past where we have played during club nights, to a load of pissed people going "what the fuck is this? where's Justice gone? put Daftpunk back on, I'm gunna get a beer" or just stand there and gawp.
I think a partial solution to this might be the inclusion of a 'less is more' mc to hype the crowd. opinions?

tek-one · Post by **tek-one** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:52 pm

collective wrote:i played in a live dubstep band and to over come the sound issues of an acoustic kit, we used a hybrid kit.

Midi kick and snare and hi hat, but the rest of the kit was still there, piccolo snare, regular high hat all the cymbals and percussion.

Worked out sounding great actually. In the end it was:

Drummer on hybrid kit
2 people on virus, mpc , other synths

That is a good idea it has to be said, although I still think I'd rather let the engineer mix the kick and snare down slightly and let the tracks do most of the kick/snare action, just so it doesn't seem like 30 odd minutes of the same electronic kick + snare. Although then I suppose you changed it up?

jbird22 · Post by **jbird22** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 12:43 am

I think it would go down real well at the festivals

pkay · Post by **pkay** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:53 am

Given the tempo of it all I'd imagine it'd have the same niche appeal as say live trip hop.

The crowds you would appeal to aren't going to knock or embrace you based on having a live drum kit versus hardware. They're going to knock or embrace you based on how well you pull it off.

eleven8 · Post by **eleven8** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:38 am

ive done quite a few live drum sets of my own material,
and as you have said, the biggest problem is getting the kick and the snare to match the PA etc
the shows ive done have always gone down well, just have to make sure there is definatly an engineer with some drum mics...

some vids from back in march..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D69kYQGAH4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1oVEnPD1Vk

tek-one · Post by **tek-one** » Tue May 05, 2009 1:16 pm

Pkay wrote:They're going to knock or embrace you based on how well you pull it off.

true dat

dub chamber · Post by **dub chamber** » Tue May 05, 2009 1:51 pm

Planas wrote:http://www.myspace.com/submotionorchestra

ruckspin's live band =

sick

yes!!! lovin this!! jazzsteppa is doin a live 8piece horn section over his sets now!! lookin forward to this a the big chill, check it on youtube!!

ruckspin · Post by **ruckspin** » Tue May 05, 2009 2:12 pm

Planas wrote:http://www.myspace.com/submotionorchestra

ruckspin's live band =

sick

no rock drumming whatsoever...
but yeah we have live percussion as well as live drumkit
(the audio on the myspace is only a rehearsal without trumpet or percussion)

Live dubstep? Opinions.

Live dubstep? Opinions.

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