The Mekano Set

I'm posting this because I think it's an interesting reaction to what we are about, and I also thought it was quite funny:

Someone sent me a link to this post on a web site called 'Expert Musicians Forum' or something like that. It's a reference to the gig we set up last year Upstairs @ The Hobgoblin in Brighton. I think it was written by the bass player from Jennie's former funk metal band {on the night in question, The Mekano Set featured Beth, me, Jo, Lewis and Nige}:

"Well it's done, it's over and we really didn't play well. On the positive side though, despite us thinking we were way below standard the audience thought we were good... It didn't help that the other 'band' - The Mekano Set - managed to fill the stage up with cellos, flute, synths, drum machines, computers, effects, and more leads than I've ever seen in such a small space, so we spent the gig tripping around them, and our guitarist (Jon) was forced to be stranded right out at the front with a spotlight on him! And no soundcheck. But that is the way of gigs - you just have to deal with it and to be honest, we were a bit out of practice at that."

I really like the bit about "the other 'band'...". That's a nicely condescending touch. Exactly the kind of thing I expect and maybe even want? Interestingly enough - it doesn't happen very often.

It's funny because to me it's obvious that we've never been a conventional 'band' and we have no interest in trying to be one. It's worth noting that in the room in question, there is no stage, we only had one quarter-size cello {there was also a double bass - but that belonged to Toby from Fenris Wolf}, one synth, one laptop, no drum machines, no drum kit, and no massive amps. The bass player from their band had more effects {those lush, exotic looking line-6 type things} and cables than the rest of us put together.

It's also worth mentioning that there were actually three bands {and three bands worth of equipment} that night. The third band was essentially a live jam between Jennie and Fenris Wolf.

The room in question is tiny and I make no appologies for filling the space because we organized the gig, Beth paid for it, we let the other band/s headline and we gave them as much time as they wanted. No one was forced to do anything - we were all crammed into corners as much as anyone else, in fact Nigel was practically invisible behind a speaker that was a poor substitute for a total lack of monitors {see picture below}.

We were all as accommodating as possible, and well behaved {apart from the embarrassing 'personal space invading' moment when their guitarist threatened one of our female members for daring to put an empty pint-glass on his 'Marshall stack'}, no one got a proper soundcheck. And from what I heard neither band went down particularly well - actually a lot of people found the whole experience pretty dull, including band members.

The other band have actually split up anyway {Jennie now plays with our guitarist Nigel in Shrinking Sixpence}. People seemed no more interested in seeing a music-student type funk metal workout than they did an electronic improv 'ensemble' {that's a better word than band isn't it? Far more pretentious}.

At the end of the day, it was meant to be a bit of fun - you can't take that place seriously, it's just a tiny room above a pub with an awful PA, no stage, no monitors etc. We all had far too much equipment for the place - but everyone had been there before and should have known what to expect.

Exhibit A: This is a picture taken on the night {by Poggy}:



{From Left to Right: Milk, Jo {and Austin, the junior cello}, Finn, Lewis {The Steam Age}, Nodule}. The effects at the front of the stage and just behind the big speaker on the right belonged to the other band. That's Toby's cool black and white double bass on the right just behind Mr. Steam. Ironically, it's Jennie's drum kit that looks swamped.}

Maybe we'll post a page of Poggy's stuff as there are some funny shots of us 'before, during, and after'.

The Mekano Set