Hi all,
I certainly don't want to get in the habit of posting based on negative experiences, but after our recent two shows with Brisbane band, 'The Red Paintings', I feel it necessary to.
We were asked to do two shows: one at the National Hotel (Geelong) and the other at the Ding Dong Lounge (Melbourne). We were very excited to be playing the shows, despite being told we were getting a very small guarantee while 'The Red Paintings', were taking more than 95% of the door takings. We figured it was a good experience to do a support for a touring band and also a great chance to play in a really nice, big venue, such as Ding Dong in front of a good sized crowd.
On both nights we were forced to cut our sets short due to the Red Paintings insistence they start at 10:40 on the dot (the band's stipulation, not the venues). The second night at Ding Dong we played for less than 20 minutes, only fitting in 4 songs, before being asked to get off. At the end of each song the Red Paintings roadie walked up to the front of the stage to tell me how much time we had left and Jenny, our pianist, was simultaneously getting this treatment from the red paintings tour manager on the other side of the stage. I cannot express to you how frazzling it is on stage when you are constantly being reminded of how much time you have left: doesn't make you feel exactly wanted up on the stage if you know what I mean. I'm not usually the nervous type, but my legs were buckling under me and my face was red with embarrassment for the entire performance.
The nervous tension didn't just begin on the stage either: it was from the word go. Upon arriving at Ding Dong the tour manager walked straight up to me--no hello, or any type of greeting--and proceeded to tell me that we must be finished by 10:20, 'not a second later'! Not the best way to put me at ease prior to the performance. They were so uptight about this deadline that they ruined our performance, our confidence and our entire night. We were hoping to put on a really good show, but I feel we came across as nervous and total amateurs (which we certainly are not). On the night the tour manager also harrassed us once we were off stage to get our equipment out of her way so she could set up canvases for the guest painters for the red paintings show. We had nowhere left to put our equipment as the red paintings had taken up all the spare areas and when we asked her where we should put our gear she said: 'you'll have to work that out for yourselves'. It felt like we were supporting a heartless corporation, not an upcoming rock band from Brisbane.
On the first night at the National Hotel we had a better time, but were still surprised at the lack of warmth from the band. When Jenny complimented their violinist on a good set she didn't even reply with any thanks: all she could offer was a nasty poker face. The next night at Ding Dong she shoved past Jenny (who was still packing up) as she tried to prematurly get her equipment up on stage.
Of my 15+ years of performing, this would have to be my worst musical experience. I like to think of performing music as one of the greatest joys and releases in my life, and also a time to share in the warmth of a talented musical community. This particular night I felt our integrity and souls were completely undermined. The opening band at Ding Dong also echoed our negative sentiments of the night. We're sorry to anybody who paid the $20 cover charge to see us rushed through barely 20 mins of music with frazzled minds and nervous fingers.
Looking forward to the next one.
Adam
i don't get it. so why don't you start your set earlier? was there another band before you?
maybe you all look like victims.
or the red paintings really are the wankers they'vve always appeared to be.
either/or
Well, they have 33000 myspace fans..
And the first two songs there are the two worst covers of the two most overly/too recently covered songs ever (mercy seat and mad world).
Its obvious they are heading for stardom, at least you will have a story to tell when they break the usa to pieces.
i've seen red paintings once. they had a big all ages following. the kids need to get home early. before the buses and trains stop running.
I'd really like to make a mean comment about being surprised that an evening with the Red Paintings was awful. But I won't.
Oops.
who the hell are the red paintings anyway?
Much discussion here, sister.
The worst band I've ever had the misfortune to be in a room with. Nazi/religion/alien fixated Billy Corgan clone from Geelong surrounded by a rabble of central coast hippy passive aggressive tool bags. Probably going to be huge.....
95% of the door takings? Did you discuss that with the venue, or did the band tell you that?
I don't wish to discount your story, but are you sure they got 95% of the door takings? That means the venue would have only got their pay (door, sound, other venue costs) from drink sales...
What? No one is there usually for the first couple of bands at Ding Dong. Cal, Sonia and Sunny rock!
a brisbane band with annoying whiny vocals.
sorry to hear of this Adam. Some people are just cunce and think because of the position they're at (which is not much in comparison to many others out there) means everyone else is below them. Funny that they'd treat you, with your musical history and knowledge, and no doubt the same goes for the others in your ensemble, with such contempt and lack of respect. I mean... they asked you to support them!
I'd like to counter this story with just saying how awesome it was 3 years back supporting Gelbison and how lovely those guys were. Is nice when you get to meet and share the stage with someone genuine.
Oh yeah, and I hate the Red Paintings too.
hm
and 95% of the $20 entry fee, leaves $1.
did that get split up among the supports, or the supports and the venue.
ow
and a_h, i haven't been involved in gigs in melb, but in perth (during my time) it was regular for the bands to take all of the door charge, and yes, the bar lives on drink prices
different city, different time, but it's not unheard of to me
did red paintings get some expensive archibald winning painters or something?
Rare these days, though.
Anyway, could be possible. I know very little about the Ding Dong's management.
x-post
hehehe
I can derelict my own balls thanks very much
Archibald... heh
Yeah, it sucks when this kind of thing happens. Although it sounds like the real culprit here was the tour manager.
Ha, reminds of an incident when a headline band's roadies started setting up their gear while my band was still mid-set. Good times!
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After five years of waiting, Australian fans of The Red Paintings finally get a taste of the band’s debut record on April 12th with the release of the first single, You’re Not One Of Them.
The track's biting alternative rock also features a 35-piece string orchestra brought together in Brisbane for the recording of the album. It is a classic example of the band's self-dubbed orchestral art rock, touching on singer Trash McSweeney’s experiences as band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
You’re Not One Of Them has already picked up steam overseas ahead of the release, having been added to over 100 stations across the UK & Europe, including spins on XFM, Kerrang and the BBC.
The video clip for the track is by far the most unique, exciting and unpredictable adventure The Red Paintings have ever taken. Produced and directed by frontman Trash McSweeney, the performance art focused video features mind-bending special effects and costumes, with all set pieces hand-made by the band and their fans. The video follows a series of award-winning clips from the band which have been screened at film festivals worldwide. You can view it here:
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
band members grew apart through their successive international tours and during the making of the record.
Cheaply hilarious ego stroking excuse for a video aside this will get picked up by triple J, unless Kingsmill has a Basics-esque vendetta against them. The kids will get into it. Daytime bogan festival slots await! SUCCESS!
Album arrived in the mail yesterday - treating it like the video in The Ring.
cmon there's a think piece in it for you
What's kingsmill got against the Basics? Snappy dressers imo
http://www.messandnoise.com/discussions/1036635
Enjoy catching up with that one!
Um thanks Flukazoid...
I was expecting some mindbending effects in that video but all I got was cheap mirror tricks and some camera techniques...
How much of the $40,000 was spent on that video?
is it as good as the follow, sorry, the art's album?
So, the band formed in Geelong, but from that video he sings with a really strong American accent. Is he American? Or just trying to make money from the same people who buy 30 Seconds To Mars records?
I wonder how much was spent on a voice/ American accent coach?
The X Factor/Australia's Got Talent generation would love that lame ass single, it screams ''industry contacts''.
that was terrible. the affected american accent is fucking laughable. 30 secs to mars and all that other teenage crap indeed. urgh.
and the guy has to be in his 30's, yet he has made himself up to look like a 16yr old emo kid. embarrassing.
That's not what I was expecting. indie circa 1997.
Incidentally this thread rules.
Probably the first time the singer got laid, been recreating the moment ever since.
WHY DID I CLICK THE LINK????
Fuck me, that was terrible. Pretentious, self-important, stuck in a late-90s musical landscape. The whole thing is clearly the singer's personal Chinese Democracy.
The band will press up a large number of copies and distribute them to JB. However most of their sales will be on iTunes and at gigs so these records will all end up at Arthur Daley's Clearance House inside of six months. The band will book a launch in Melbourne over two nights, They will sell 300 tickets a night however 200 of those tickets each night will be to the same people.
The band will then break up and the singer will finally finish that real estate course his parents have been bugging him about. He will work for 40 years paying off the credit card debt accrued during his musical ''adventure''.
Entertainment.
Good lord, that was terrible.
Brutal.