CD Excitement
1 Jun 11
The stark empty space echoes and the air is dry.
It's hard to believe that tonight the audience will be cheering and stamping for our song waves artists.
After months of recording, mastering, liaising with artists, graphic artists, printers,cd manufacturers, backing bands, stage designers, insurers and the entertainment centre that we are finally here at the launch of song waves, the latest CD release from Ben Moore and his team.
The three panels of backdrop move gently past the stage hands bringing in the risers.
The sound equipment is installed and tested and the first of our musicians arrive.
The drum kit is set up on the risers and it's starting to feel like a happening.
Benny one of the artists is beaming and bopping.
He just got the news that he has the support gig for Marcia Hines later this year and his smile broadens if its possible.
The different groups are clustered in the dressing room humming choruses and tuning up.
Later on they will be jamming and swapping gig dates.
Set up day swings from excitement to boredom as we hang around waiting for the techies to fix glitches and musicians to rehearse.
Early ticket sales are strong and we are optimistic of a full house tonight
A final briefing from the Brodie from the entertainment centre and I'm ready to work as an usher.
I sneak into the foyer to photograph our foyer entertainers, Nadia Intihar and Stacie Hamilton and I'm overwhelmed by the number of valley people who
have come to support our guys
Jeremy Butterworth and Andy Gordon.
The doors open and people surge in.
Juggling ticket ripping, stamp checking, kissing friends and directing people to seats is harder than I thought.
Ricardo from Power FM is our energetic MC tonight and bounces up to the stage.
Ricardo's job is to introduce each performer and do a mini interview.
As a passionate supporter of our local artists he's videoing all our performers on his iphone, I wonder if we'll see anything on the Power FM website.
Sarah Butler’s stage backdrop looks absolutely stunning.
A sound wave crosses the panels with overlaid graphics.
It's a shame she doesn't get to see her finished product in performance as her job is backstage corralling artists on and off stage.
Sounds easier than it is as we must have a seamless transition between artists.
Tim Bowen's song "Mangoes" opens the show and I get a shiver.
The shivers continue as each of the artists come on stage.
Artist after artist delights and excites the audience with diverse styles from the humble and introspective ballad to the catchy pop song right up to the extroverted foot stomper that Nick Rheinberger delivered.
The eclectic mix reflected the wide range of ages and life experiences of the song wave musicians.
Our guys Jeremy and Andy are on in the second half of the show and Jeremy is coy about his previous rock and roll life with his new wife Kate sitting in the audience.
Jeremy's banter about songs of angst and hair loss hits the funny bone but his song is wistful and bittersweet.
Andy's positive vibe and energetic performance gets the audience toe tapping.
His voice rings out strong and rich ably backed by Roz Chia, dragging us into his keenly observed view of the world.
The hard working rhythm section from Southerly Change, Ben Fowler on bass and Matty Sykes on drums added an extra dimension to the performances.
Bennie Jame's song "We all keep on marching" closes the show but it doesn't feel like the end. People buzz around in the foyer, CD sales are brisk and there is lots of autograph signing. People linger to chat and the security guard gets twitchy.
We pack up and bump out full of energy inspite of a really long day.
The backstage echoes again and its hard to believe the night is over.
After a celebratory drink at the Bottle Rocket our initial buoyancy fades into exhaustion but we feel like it was a job well done.
Thanks so much for trekking over the hill to support us and see our great Songwaves artists.
www.skyedog.net
CDs are for for sale from Lazyfish Computers and Cafe Bella.
Of course you can call Liz or Ben too
Liz Aitken