Gig Two- "Woohoo." Room 94, Corporation

Entry Two

Sheffield Corporation, Sunday 25th March 2012

Our, Secret Romance's, 2nd gig. We supported Room 94. Amongst the other bands were Destine, (as big as Mcfly are in England, but in Holland, as one of the backstage workers informed us). They were very good, great stage presence and frontman had a great voice. Then us, then The Ocean's Eyes, (they were cool, they mentioned us and everyone cheered. Awesome). Then 8th Time Lucky played before the headliners- Room 94.

So, I'll begin The Olde Tale from the beginning. Obviously.

And then I went home! What a night!

Oh.

Again, Sunday morning, I wasn't nervous for the gig. I was slightly looking forward to it, but the clocks had changed, so I was tired, and my dad (hello) had kindly scheduled a walk for the day that was (apparently) only 7 miles. (It was actually 10)

"Ok, as long as I get to Corporation on time", I quote.

So we set off on the walk at 8:30, to the Peak District. It was a beautiful day.

Until I was informed that I wouldn't be back whilst 5. Bearing in mind the gig started at 6... Well, you do the maths.

Adam Elliot (Rhythm Guitarist) kindly informed me the night before (at 11) that we had to be there for 3:30 and that he'd confirm it in the morning. The 8 hours' notice, and the fact that he didn't confirm it the following morning, didn't help matters. Luckily, I managed to get home for 3:30-4. Adam rang me and tried having a go at me for being late, and "don't my parents realise how important this is? We have to sound check". Fair enough I guess, but a longer notice would've helped. And besides, there was no sound check, which I'll kindly comment on later on.

So, I got home, rapidly brought down all my equipment for my Dad to put in the car (I even have a checklist so as to not forget anything to avoid panic). I then threw myself in the shower (yes I exaggerate a lot for effect. OK, I stepped into the shower at a quick pace), and washed my hair. Ran the towel through it for about 30 seconds as fast as possible and just left it how it was, "placed" my clothes on quickly and we drove. I rung Cameron (drummer) to explain I was on my way.

We got there, (after trying to find the place through lots of one-way streets), and the guys helped me take my gear inside to our "backstage". I quote backstage, because for one, the word may give you the impression that it was behind the stage. So that I don't cause an uproar, I will quote the word and explain it was in front of the stage and to the right through some doors, next to the audience.

To say I was informed of a "free bar" and "our own room" you will understand my disappointment. (Also of wireless guitar leads, which I didn't get either).

We shared a slightly large room, that was painted black with poor lighting, with all the other bands. The room stank awful. Not of anything particular, but it was horrible. But I got over it, and accepted that I was lucky to have somewhere to put my equipment safely, and somewhere to talk. This is where we were introduced to Destine. They were awesome people, again, from Holland. They shook our hands and we spoke a bit. Adam Elliot tried asking for vodka that they had, to which their keyboard player replied; "One thing you should know about the Dutch; we don't share our alcohol." We were pretty disappointed but it was funny.

We were then given backstage passes which we wore around our necks. This made us feel slightly more important, and, as Adam put it, "our sexiness has gone up by about 10 points".
         10 points, as there is no known scoring system related to sex appeal, that I know of, is probably quite a large amount of points. (Later on when I left for fresh air, as the room was, as I said, horrible, I was asked for my ticket to re-enter, to which I flashed my backstage pass and he told me I could go in. I felt very cool.)

Then, as we did at Gig 1, we just walked around pointlessly. I was armed with my guitar and playing things to warm up my fingers, until told I should probably put it down so as to not snap a string. We listened to Destine sound check, and we were impressed.

Then we went outside for a bit after been told "There's girls lining up outside".

Now I began to get nervous. Not about playing, but about the fact we didn't have a soundcheck, and because I hate setting my equipment up on stage in front of people.

"No soundcheck? What?"

"Oh don't worry, you'll get a line check, so you just play for 10 seconds and we sort the mix out."

"Ah, ok that's not too bad".

(A sound check usually consists of playing one or two songs, in case you were unaware of the difference.)

"When do we line check?"

"In your set."

Wonderful. So we basically were mixed whilst playing our first song to the audience; but I trusted the sound guys new what they were doing and that we would be balanced very evenly. Ha, that went well. (I'll come to it later).

The doors were opened and girls started to come in. There were about forty to start off with, about ten minutes before Destine played. I was very nervous, and started to tune my V guitar after realising it was badly out of tune. I greeted two girls I invited, and also my parents. (And grandparents, who kindly decided to come.) I stood with the two girls for a bit, nervously chatting. They informed me my hair looked like Kurt Cobain. I always take this as a compliment, and here it every so often. But I was called it throughout the night. I was far from insulted.

So, after running backstage and back into the audience a lot, undecidedly, because I was restless, it was time. I picked up my two guitars and headed up the stairs that lead to the stage. This time, we actually had a high stage, not just a step.

I awkwardly stood with two guitars, waiting for the keyboard that was in my spot to be moved so I could place them. I set up my amp- putting it atop a massive amp, and placed my KH Wah pedal in the desired spot.

I noticed the crowd. I couldn't see a single male, with the acception of my step-father and grandad. And there were about 100-150 people. That's a lot of girls.

I plugged in my guitar, and played a bit, turning my volume to full on the amp. Now the volume was in the sound-crews' hands. I wonder if they even had hands...
And now, it was time to play to all these girls, my two friends, the bands that were listening, and my family.

We played the same set list as we did the DQ, (we will have more songs at our next gig, yay.) So I began Teenage Kicks and we played it really well, the crowd singing along to it quite loudly so we could actually here. However, my solo wasn't loud and even I could hardly hear it! (The people I spoke to afterwards said they could hear it, but only slightly.)

Next up was Psychoville, we played that fine.

Then Song 2, which I actually have something interesting to add. We played it really well, the crowd even sung the "Woohoo" bit, and I could hear them. This must mean loads of them sung it, because to sing "Woohoo" you have to use a falsetto voice- male or female- which is a lot quieter than one's ordinary voice. It got to my solo and as I stepped on my Wah pedal, my guitar strap came off at the bottom of the guitar. I was very annoyed, and embarassed. But still, the song went on, and I played an improvised solo as usual, and even managed to do it with speed, whilst trying to balance the guitar on my right leg. I felt, and looked awkward, but managed to finish the song well!

I took my strap off and switched guitars. The strap played up a bit more, but I managed to keep it in position. I also went to the amps to make sure my volume was at its highest. Unfortunately it was, so I couldn't go any louder. Whilst doing all this, and the band/crowd waited for me, Adam said down the microphone "Hey guys, it's Kurt Cobain!" People cheered and I felt happy, and laughed. Plugged in my guitar and finished Viva La Revolution next to my amp, getting wonderful feedback. (On purpose, I even pressed my guitar into the amp.) People sung along to Fight For Your Right, and then we just had Last Stand to play.

I played it all well, and then it got to the end of the bridge, the bit before the final chorus, where we have a quick drink for effect. As my can was in my hand, I took a swig, but as I did this, Cameron-unaware that I was drinking- counted in to the last chorus. So I missed the first chord. I had to look cool and not panic, so I continued to drink whilst he counted, sacrificing the first chord and then threw the drink onto the floor.

We had a large round of applause and cheers, and we began to pack up. All of my stuff put in the backstage, I then went to go and talk to my family and two friends. Apparently Andy (vocals) was a bit out on some songs, but his voice was perfect in Teenage Kicks. Also, apparently Josh Kubon (Bass) looked terrified throughout the whole set. Haha, he was terrified, but he's getting more confident, and he's a great guy.

My stuff was taken to my mum's car, as was my grandparents and the two girls, and I was left with my Step Dad. He was quite drunk, but he bought me beer and let me talk to people for half an hour before we had to go.

In this half an hour, I felt like a "rockstar".

I wore my hat (briefly, people kept putting it on their own heads and passing it around- I even put it on people's heads. It was like pass the parcel,) which meant people recognised me, if they didn't recognise me by my "Kurt Cobain" hair already. I had girls saying "hi" to me, and Josh introduced me to his girlfriend and her two friends. I spent the rest of this time mainly with them, drinking beer, and sitting on the floor next to the bar with a girl (I won't mention names). Others joined us, but they felt awkward and in the way of people trying to buy drinks and so left. Me and the girl didn't care and just sat there, talking to people who just stood next to us. We couldn't talk much due to the loud music, but when the band stopped we talked a bit.

8th Time Lucky came on, and Cameron shouted, (5 minutes before I had to go annoyingly) "Adam, that girl wants your pants off!" (I'm sure he didn't mean literally, but I got it.) "Good one!" "No seriously, she said!" So I was like... Wow, I'm actually liked here!" (In the gigging scene, not just Corporation) (At school I'm not the most popular kid, so this is a big contrast of course). Apologies to the girl if the girl is reading it that I mentioned what Cameron said, I don't know if it's true of course. But I haven't named names so no harm done.

Then I had to go, I was really sad, but optimistic and bloody excited for our next gig (May 12th O2 Academy Sheffield).

We each got paid £10 for doing the gig, and also Room 94 were wondering if we wanted to support them on their UK tour in August, (TBC).

Life's good. This life is, anyway.

So yeah.

And then I went home. What a night!

ARK. W.

\M/

Josh Kubon with two girls- notice my hat?

The only picture of me and a girl that was taken on my phone.

First Ever Secret Romance Gig- DQ Sheffield

Entry One

DQ Sheffield, 17th March 2012

This was my, and Secret Romance's, first proper gig. The DQ is a nightclub in Sheffield, with quite a small dancefloor, a big bar, and quite a lot of extra open space. We were asked to support Planet 9. Amongst the bands were Epitaph and Glacier. Personally, Epitaph were my favourite. Being a massive Metallica/Thrash Metal fan myself, why wouldn't I like Epitaph more? They played Seek and Destroy and Enter Sandman brilliantly. The frontman had a superb voice.

I only started to get nervous about an hour before we were due on. We arrived 4-5 hours before the gig was due to start. Planet 9 got the first sound check, and then the plan was that the band before them were to be next, and then Epitaph and then us, so in reverse order basically so that we were set up straight away to kick the night off.

Of course, nothing goes to plan.

Planet 9 took about 2 hours to sound check due to some technical fault. We grew worried that perhaps we wouldn't be able to even get a sound check. We weren't scared of screwing any songs up, but our last practice was the week before and everyone can make mistakes.

Then the drummer from Planet 9 kindly informed us that we weren't going to get a run through a set before the gig. Great.

So, hours passed, and we started to get restless and bored. Excitement, fear, and caffeine from my Monster Energy Drink created a strange mix leaving me in a strange but hyper active mood. I walked around with my guitar for two hours, randomly playing songs. To try and calm down, I sat in the little Lounge Area with my earphones in and played to some Megadeth. Me and Josh Kubon (Secret Romance's bassist) jammed a little bit unplugged, (therefore we went out of time and looked at each other confused a lot as if to say "What bit are you on in this song?!") to bits of our set list.

Finally, it was time to take to the stage!

We set our amps up, mine was micced up and stacked above some other band's amp (partly for the image, partly so the mic could reach it) and my Kirk Hammett Signature Crybaby Wah-Wah pedal was put on the front of the "stage". (I quote the word "stage" because it was actually just a step above the dancefloor, and then more room for us.) I placed my ESP LTD V200 (Signed by Children of Bodom (Alexi Laiho is, in my opinion, one of the best guitarists alive)) at the back of the stage, ready to pick up midway through the set to play our Drop-D songs. I plugged in my ESP LTD EC-1000 FR Deluxe in See-Thru black, and was asked to just make a noise so that the sound could be changed acoordingly. I nodded, and looked over to Epitaph.

"Hmm, I wanna show off to them. They're all wearing Metallica shirts..."

So I played some Metallica solo (One, I believe) before halfway through I realised I was been asked to stop playing. Yes, I am known for going too far!

OK, so, the gig is due to start in about thirty minutes. We were allowed to play one song to warm up and to check that the sound was the correct balance. So naturally we just played the first song from our set-list which was actually the first song I ever played with the band when I joined back in Autumn/Winter last year- Teenage Kicks.

We actually created our own little intro which consisted of me strumming the D chord a few times whilst Adam Elliot (Rhythm Guitarist) begins to palm mute D quickly in time to Cameron Murray's hi-hat. We tore through the song, and then we were done.

Fifteen minutes.

I kept my Eclipse with me as I went to stand with my Dad who had just arrived with my sister. There was no crowd yet, so I just went and talked a bit, still nervously strumming random chords.

I was beginning to get nervous, not because we were due to play our first ever gig and because I wanted to make a big impression to an audience, but simply because I was afraid there was not going to be an audience to make an impression with!

There was literally about thirty people stood around the edges of the place. Twenty of them people being the other bands. Come on people... The doors opened thirty minutes ago!

Two minutes to get on stage...

Finally! A few more people came through the door and stood near the dancefloor. Someone told me at some point there were going to be 400 people there. I could see about forty, all of them stood in different places, scattered around the nightclub.

We got on stage, I plugged in my guitar and we were all smiling at each other. Andy Hudson (Lead Vocals) was clearly nervous, as was Josh Kubon. Me, Adam and Cameron seemed fine though. All eyes were now on us. The guys nodded at me, and I turned my volume up and strummed the open D chord.

Let the fun begin!

Andy sung it really well, and there were no mistakes. There has been little greater pleasures for me than standing on my Wah pedal for the first time in front of a proper paying audience and improvising a solo to an upbeat song such as Teenage Kicks. I loved it, and I think it sounded pretty awesome. (Hey, Lead Guitarists are known to compliment their own work. Shush.)

Next up, pretty much instantly from the ending of the first song is Psychoville. This was the third song I ever played with the band on the first day I went to audition. I think this was the song that got me the spot as lead guitarist. They basically told me the lyrics, and the key of the song, but didn't really know how the guitar part went as their original guitarist left. So naturally I just made it my own. The introduction I thought of straight away, inspired by Megadeth. (Whether you think it sounds anything like Dave Mustaine or not, he was in mind when I said "What about something like this?") The verse I made just to be quick and energetic, and the chorus was slightly (apparently) similar to the original chorus that was meant for that song. The solo is improvised every time, but I have my own routine. (Start off Phrygian, end up Pentatonic, play as fast as possible.)

Again, I think we played this really well. We've probably played it better before at practice, but nonetheless, it didn't suck. The crowd (mainly girls, which I'm not complaining about) clapped along to the introduction. (This made me feel excellent. Girls, about thirty of them, clapping in rhythm to a tune I wrote? Yes please.) Adam also yelled down the microphone asking everyone if they would kindly step into the middle of the dancefloor. This made more of an audience out of them, they were no longer scattered around but now actually in front of us, participating.

Then we played Song 2, by Blur. This has a drum introduction, which (I suggested, but I don't know if it was because of this he did it) Andy introduced us to. Then I come in with the riff, with my guitar turned down slightly, before we all shout "Woohoo!" and my guitar is then full volume as we all blast out the song. Again, another improvised solo using my Wah-pedal.

Now we were halfway through our short set, and we went to switch guitars. This was really awkward. It was dark, and there were wires EVERYWHERE. If I tripped over or knocked something over, I feel that life would just end. (I am of course kidding, but I would still be embarassed nonetheless).

I picked up my V, plugged in again, and then we began Viva La Revolution- Adam Elliot's song. (To say he likes McFly, this is actually an awesome tune. I love playing it, despite the lack of a guitar solo. The break down (similar to One by Metallica) is epic.) Throughout this whole set I wore my "stage hat" as I call it. The reason I decided to play the guitar was because of Slash, so it was natural that I wanted a hat for the stage too. The first time I played on stage and everytime after I wore a similar hat, so I thought that traditionally, I should for my first proper gig. This is the song however, where the hat comes off. As soon as the "Break-down" kicks in, the hair HAS to be released, so I throw down my hat when we rapidly palm-mute the low D string, and let the hair out, so to speak.

Next up was our final cover of the evening- (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) by the Beastie Boys. It's fun to play. In this song, I remember, I couldn't really hear my own guitar for some reason. But I still played. It came to my solo, and I like to add harmonics to the start of the solo, so I literally ran my finger up and down all the strings without pressing down so as to create a weird harmonic solo before shredding in G-Minor. Fun!

Then, Andy addresses the crowd as if sad, to announce that "This is our last song, this is Last Stand!"

I LOVE this song. It's our own. I didn't write the main riff, it was actually Cameron's riff and chords. But this is the only song where I actually sat down and created a fixed solo. And again to compliment my own work, I love it. It even looks good! (Watching it back on YouTube, you can actually see my fingers moving really fast, and I don't often see myself playing guitar from any other position than looking down on my fingers, so it's great to watch). The heavy riff that follows was created purely by accident.

It was at a practice once, we were working on the song and I said "I want a long solo for this, the chords are awesome to jam to." I didn't get the length I wanted for it, but still, I am happy with the outcome. Anyway, I finished the solo (back when I improvised it still) and then we looked at each other as the D chord just rang in the background and we didn't know what was next, so I slid down the strings and just improvised that exact riff that we still use. I remember Cameron laughing at how he liked it, and so it just stuck. Andy improvised the vocals too; "You won't take me alive..." When i do backing vocals for that part, I like to put what I call my Dave Mustaine voice on. Whether it sounds anything like him or not, it does in my head, so I use it.

We finished the song, Cameron hit the drum kit as quick as possible and I just shredded as quick as possible (dedicated to the girls in the crowd) until we finished. The end was slightly sloppy as you can see on the recorded video, simply because I could've happily hit more notes for longer, but Cameron ended the set quicker than I hoped, so I just looked at him and awkwardly hit the D chord.

And then we were done. We packed up our stuff, got off the stage, and let Epitaph thrash on.

It was a great night, I enjoyed it.

Yes, I seemed to have written a lot, but afterall, first gig, lots of memories. I want to keep the memories for future years. The future blogs may be shorter due to the fact that I won't be explaining where songs we made came from etc. and maybe because the excitement about writing about the gigs may evaporate from my being. But yes, our next gig is Sunday 25th March at the Corporation. To me as I write this, that's in four days. I look forward to it.

Now I will sign off. Freezing cold hands, and World of Warcraft to get back to. I mean, um, something cool. Nevermind.

Thanks for reading, if you did.

AW (hmm, or ARK. Whichever's coolest).