Comets On Fire announce one-off UK date for May

...

They're playing at the Hemlock Tavern, which is pretty small. Going to make sure I get there early this time.

from the non ball/bank busting we got tickets folk
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/15725

I was in the audience with friends and wasn't digging the sound, couldn't find a spot in the hall where it sounded better, kept moving and ended up right in front of the desk - sound normally sounds best there - it didn't. So, asked the engineer if it was possible to make changes to the mix as it hadn't got better in the first half hour.

Changes were made. Mainly the kit came down and the mic'd bass (a 421 had been used) was backed off in the blend. I was invited into the booth where I discussed the mix.

Surprisingly he allowed me control of the board after I asked him to walk around the venue to hear what it sounded like out front - he returned and agreed it wasn't sounding as good as it could but was sounding slightly better, so I gradually made changes to the mix over the course of two songs so as not to alarm the whole place too much. It's like stearing a speeding oil tanker with a spoon.

Brought the masters back by a third, remixed the kit to sit in the mix not over it, reblended/EQ'd the DI and mic'd bass, threw the guitars right up in the mix panning Ethan FOH SL (i wish he'd get a KMS 105 for his vox - would really be alot better than a 58) and Ben SR, NVH sounds jumped in volume alot but didn't want to compress too much so just played with the level and panning as his input is an integral part of the sound.. To be honest there was only so much you can do with limited time when the band are in full flow - re sound checking isn't an option and the cofig of the rig at the Scala doesn't lend itself to extreme volume - sound reflects off the back wall and reflections build in the room. Only exacerbated when gig volumes and excitedness in a full room is louder than the sound check in an empty hall... The dynamic of the hall changes dramatically.. Also, what you need is side fills, keep the volume high, keep clarity, fill holes in the hall, negate the need to blast the hall with the stacks..... aaaaaanyway I could go on here...

All I know is people started cheering and there was an encore.

To be fair, the front of house FX racks at the Scala block out frequencies from the SL stacks and it would be very easy to fall into a bass and drum heavy mix.

Thing is, if you aren't enjoying a gig go talk to the engineer. That's what I did, I love Comets and couldn't bare to hear their music suffering.... I hope you enjoyed the last few songs..