Week 121: Technology as an Accelerator II

Hi Guys!

I'm looking more into technology, art, installations and audience interactivity. How can technology help us to enhance an existing live act?

Checkout the intro video and slideshow of the concert.

TEI Promotional Video:

By chance I met Volker at the Wednesday webmaster meetup. We got chatting about streaming and agreed that subscribing to 3rd party providers to stream live would be possible and affordable. Volker sent me a  link to checkout: www.ustream.tv/platforms/plans

He was participating in a 3/4 day conference TEI (Seventh International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction). Barcelona, the 7 th annual conference. So I put a note in my diary and made a point to check out videos on the organisations webpage.

Monday, February 11th at 8PM

Razzmatazz2, Carrer Pamplona, 88, 08018 Barcelona

http://www.salarazzmatazz.com/

Across from the conference concert hall is the venue Razzamatazz where the delegates could enjoy a free concert and demonstration of the use of these technologies. It was at one of the smaller halls-Sala 2. I was impressed at the lighting mood of the place. It felt like being in an aeroplane hanger with atmospheric lighting effects of blue and complimentary red of the bar in the distance was going to present a visual experience (See this slideshow below).

The first performance was an award winning entry for a new bio-instrument that was plugged into the muscle and blood flow monitoring equipment of Marco Donnarumma : Hypo Chrysos | Action art for vexed body and biophysical media (Xth Sense Biosensing Wearable Technology) and amplified his exertions on the stage into audio effects and synchronised with a slideshow in the background. Although  the two stones he was dragging about didn't really entertain the crowd for too long, some variations of the curious dramatic art performance and visual graphic projection did get me thinking about biofeedback and other ways the technology could be integrated into an already established and choreographed live show performance.

The second were a trio who created a backing track and and performed their songs in a simple rhythmic way with bat tons for drum sticks hitting he air for bass drum and snare rhythm, a minimalist guitar style and over-processed vocals with a synth player adding effects.

Not very musical, but in the hands of accomplished musicians or dancers the technology could shine much more and the audience would be satisfied at least with the skill of the performers.

There were 6 Macs onstage and little musicality. I think I'd like to take some of the ideas, get my hands on the technology and apply them to live shows of bands performing gigs to develop audio visual compliments and interact more with audience participation at live shows.

Any collaboration of music with technology are welcome.. Please contact me on zackqureshi@gmail.com

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Week 120: Event Organisation - Moritz (founded 1856) & Timeout

Hi Music Lovers!

We arrived promptly at 9pm and went down the steps to a basement/museum area. There was a table of event organizers dressed up in various costumes. 

I was invited by Alejandro whose friend was one of the organizers of the event 'Ornitorrinco'. It was free to enter if you were wearing a 'Fancy dress' costume, if not, 5 euros including a drink. We had come to see the first gig in the Moritz Fabrica sponsored by TimeOut Bcn. The restaurant upstairs has been open since Nov 2012 and the basement had been prepared for live music events. The sound and lighting systems made it good for live music and great for photos!

The hall was an open space with curiously placed pillars that divided the space into different corners. In one corner the band and stage, in another the temporary bar.

The lighting was very good and created a warm atmosphere. Sponsors logos were clearly visible as projections on the walls around the hall and 2 colourful projected logos around the stage area. There was also a Timeout advertising board and a 2nd stage for the DJ to spin after the gig.

The organizers concept was to put 2 bands: MiNE & The Seihos of varying styles onto the same stage, playing the same song and thereby creating a fusion. The second song I heard was Walk of Life by Dire Straits. The bands had clearly come out to entertain and get the party atmosphere going. As you can see the costumes were quite outrageous and very entertaining on stage. It was a university crowd and most of them were really up for it when it came to dressing up. My favorite was the three matadors (great costumes guys... where did you nick them?!).

Moritz Beer Factory Opening Party In Barcelona: http://youtu.be/SwmMwngInW0

Address: Cerveses Moritz, Ronda Sant Antoni, 41 08011 Barcelona.

Tel: 93426 00 50

Website: www.moritz.com/

Moritz on G+

TIMEOUT: TimeOut on Facebook

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Participants:

Aleko Capilouto, Xavi Pablo, Dani Royo, Ariadna Cebrián, Adrià de Yzaguirre, Mireia Serrano, Adri Ortiz, Héctor Ferreño, Dani Pujalte, Smile Films, Teo Campos, Luis Lungarini, Laura Guitérrez, Gal·la de Yzaguirre, David Oliete, Josep Torelló, Leonora García Casacuberta, Lucia Meler i Maria Vilaredas

Week 119: Technology as an Accelerator

Hi Guys!

I wanted to do something simple like a slideshow with all those lovely photos that I´m taking. So I uploaded to FLICKR and embedded to my website and blog. Only problem is that people on mobile devices couldn´t see the slideshows! Then I tried with HTML5 but it didn´t work.

Finally good old YouTube and movie maker (free in windows) gave me this result. I played around a little more and added my guitar audio tracks as background music as well as effects and cool transitions between the pictures. I could also add text to some of the pictures. Finally add intro title and credits at the end and voila! You have a more interesting way of looking at photos.

I'm also preparing some Pink Floyd songs for our Jam session this coming Friday 15th Feb. We are planning some gigs and recordings in the coming months.

Look forward to seeing you there and streaming online in the near future.

Zack a.k.a. RedeyeZack

Here's an interesting reference to technology in music:

David Byrne, founding member of the Talking Heads, label owner, Byrne makes the point that while technological innovation creates efficiency for the savvy artist, technology alone cannot enable you to have a successful career. 

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Week 118: Setting up a covers band

Hi Music Lovers!!

This picture was taken in a cocktail bar called 7Sins!!

It's a great place for my first creative video, very glamourous and stylish (coming in the spring). I'm going to perform my own original songs acoustically in small places in Gracia and play with streaming services, so you can watch the gigs live in the comfort of your own armchair. 

Well it's back to work this month (Feb!) Jan was very slow here in Barcelona. The covers band could be good fun but more than this, it's an incentive to practice on set songs. I've been to 2 rehearsal Jams at BAMM. The 1st was a general Jam & the 2nd was a Beatles Hommage. On Feb 15th we have the Pink Floyd night.

I've put my own list of covers together (see below) and I'm planning to name a date in about 2-3 weeks for the session. Let me know which songs you would most like to hear. Finally we have to select 15 from them.

Let me know if you would like to be involved in any way: zackqureshi@gmail.com 

PLJ 

Zack a.k.a. RedEyeZack

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