The Chamber Rocks!

Chamber rock 5.11.2004

Been looking forward to this gig for months. Day by day the vibes began to rise. Chamber Rock was starting to feel like the next milestone in Lovexes history. The only thing to bring us down a bit was the lack of practice. The month before Chamber was spent in the studio, working on our web site and handling other Lovex stuff. We just didn’t find any time for practice.

Chamber rock –day started busy like most other gig days in Lovexes calendar. Out of bed and straight to the shower. We were due to leave from Vivian’s place for the sound check at 5. This time it would be better to be there on time and change the almost calling card style of being fashionably. Girls can get away with it but hair-dos and make-up don’t cut it now.

Unbeleivable but true, both Theo and Christian were both at Vivians by 3 and the others were on the way to Ikaali. We rocked and got the rest of the stuff loaded in the car and then we were away...

At the Ikaali health club there were loyal fans waiting when we turned into the car park. We were told that some of them had been waiting since 4.

Anyway, when we got into the hall I glanced at my watch and it was already 5. And what did the place look like? At least the stage had been put up. So, as is usual in the rock business – there was a terrible rush first and then waiting and then a hurry again. A never ending circle.

Half an hour later we were able to begin the sound check. Drums, bass, guitars and vocals set up one at a time and then we played through Guardian Angel. For Uniklubi/Bitch So Sweet, Janne sings harmony so we set up two mikes.

Around half past seven we left to Jason’s to prepare for the evening, and on the way we popped in the Sihi-drinkshop. We had a few hours time to relax a bit and we managed to revive our spikes with a bit of hair lacquer. Twister got popular with the gang. Watch you eyes with the spikes guys.

Once again a taxi-van took us to the gig. The whole schedule saw running late and we didn’t see T.A: P, Essential and Bitch so Sweet. Now it was our turn to rule the stage!

While paying the Intro the screaming and applause started reaching the stage. Wounds exploded into every corner of the hall. Lovex was the last band on stage but the fans were right with us even though they were clearly tired. There were a few mistakes on the playing side and the tempo was a little fast, but like Theon says, the speed covers the mistakes

Problems with the Timetable brought some disappointments for Lovex and the fans. Halfway through the set we got the bad news that the entertainment license was expiring and that there would only be time for two more songs. After a quick conference on stage we decided to play Guardian Angel and Bleeding for an encore. This meant that our hit Heart of Stone and I Try didn’t get played at all.

After the gig we had some mixed feelings. Happily signing some autographs dissolved any negative thoughts. There were a good crowd of kids trying to get some ink on paper. When the masses thinned out, we decided to go to the after show party at Jason’s place.

Twister, pizza and slowly sobering up brought the usual philosophising and people at about half past 5 people started wending their weary way home through the night.

Good Night Ikaalinen

-the court poet

Studio Diary Lovex "Story" EP recording

Studio sessions, October 2004

First studio day, Monday 4.10:

An early morning start. At the studio for 10 and started laying down the synth track. Then we started on the drums. When many snare, tom-tom and cymbal options had been tested and the set had been re-miked a couple of times we took a break. Then the drum recording began. We took the songs in turn; Heart of stone, Guardian angel, Lovex story and Wounds. After a few initial problems recording went pretty well. A few coffee and listening breaks broke up almost constant playing and by 2300 this drummer boy was utterly shattered…we nearly gave up for the day and left Wounds until Tuesday. A last wild push and we laid it down and it came out really well. The studio session which had caused the most apprehension was over. Actually, there was still more to do and the Ep recordings stretched over 2 more weeks because our producer, Jari Latomaa, wanted to take real care, as he thought the band had such potential.. There was so much material that we were unable to record it all with care in the time we had the studio reserved and the EP was a couple of weeks late. But then, good things are worth waiting for.

Second studio day, Tuesday 5.10:

Around 11 to12ish we were back in the studio and started to listen to the previous days drum recordings with wide-open ears and it still sounded really good. Then the bands singer, Theo, sang the demo songs, each recorded in one take. They sounded really good, even though it was just an hour after waking and without warming up. D Just like it made some difference in the end. DD.anyway,after a couple of hours and a coffee pot of setting up we started recording Vivian’s Les Paul riffs. All the songs got a really strong rocking rythm backing. After take-away pizzas Jason B started the bass sessions. The bass lines came off really well and the songs recordings went fast except for Guardian Angel where practically the whole bass score was re-written. The end result was a slew of earthshakin’ bass tracks! :) Around 9 we got Sammy Black set up and recorded another set of real kickin’ guitar backing tracks. Sammy’s tracks got done fast, with 1-3 takes per song! When all the rhythm tracks were in the can, we stared to record the lead and solos and nearly got them all ready. Only the clean acoustic guitar parts were still to do. We got out of the studio about 2am. I crashed over at Sammy’s for a whole 4 hrs before leaving on the 7:30 bus for home, a shower and fresh to my studies!:DD

So, that’s the school day over and from the text you can guess that I’m more than a little tired, but this got written as promised! The recording continues at the beginning of next week. I’ll keep you posted on the studio sessions and anything else of interest!

Peace & Love
Julian Drain

JeeJee Rocks!!!

The Music Bar Jeejee gig didn’t generate high hopes. It was on the worst possible day, a Thursday, and with the over 18 age limit some of our more active audience couldn’t get in. There were still caterpillars in my stomach. The long awaited Promo-pics got taken before the gig.

For a sleepy head the day started far too early. About midday started make-up and styling. Faces matt, eyes rock and roll and hair with attitude. After a few hours and some mild nervous breakdowns we were ready for the camera’s demanding eye. The time table was tight and we were late.

Sound check was ahead and we were getting hot (Vivian almost literally), when sleeves rolled, we shifted the instruments and gear from the training pad. Our driver had obviously been watching the rallies and our tyres screeched on route to the gig. At last we got set up and started the soundcheck.

Doing the sound check brought sweat to our brows and we had to call for make-up again. In a cloud of powder the caterpillars became fully grown butterflies until the lighting got sorted and we were each bathed in a spotlight. The butterflies disappeared and we started to get the vibes.

At 23.45 we got down to it. Rock and roll therapy. The punters moved from the bar closer to the stage and the brave ones found their way to the front row. Old and new fans joined as the music shook their bodies. The show exceeded our expectations and all our fears proved to be groundless.

We were feeling high after the gig went so well. It was time to sit and sample some of Jeejee’s offerings and pose for pictures with the fans.

The evening didn’t end at the Jeejee though. A taksi van took our group, (read stoned group) to Emma’s, the Tammela burger kiosk and finally back to the flat, to ponder the real power of music and to eagerly await the future.

- Court Poet