One of the persistent challenges I've faced is how to amplify all my various instruments, and mute them individually where necessary. I've pretty much worked out the system for my fiddle, big pipes, and finally the flute. I use a 4-input mini-mixer to balance the levels of the various instruments, and a volume pedal (for the fiddle) and stomp boxes to mute the various channels.
The smallpipes have been a tough nut to crack. Previously we'd given them their own vocal mic channel, shared with Chris' bodhran. The levels on these two instruments were so different, though, that it proved impractical. And there's the issue of the sound guy forgetting to turn up the smallpipe mic (as happened at Southern Maryland last year). Chris loaned me a wireless vocal mic package to try to use, and we thought we'd got it balanced in time for the Tartan Day gig - but the mic was so hot it ended up being a feedback magnet.
So I'm going to try a new approach for Southern Maryland this year: I will run a vocal mic through my mini-mixer, and have a dedicated stand for it, which will also host the mic stand clips for my whistles and flutes. The mic and cable will be stored in my pedal case, and the levels pre-set, so it'll be transparent to the sound guy. It would also facilitate me using the border pipes as well, which I'd like to do on Tramps & Hawkers eventually.
Wish me luck!
In other news, look for some minor site updates this afternoon in the "Calendar" and "The Band" sections.
-Peter
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tartan Day 2011 & Band Update
The National Tartan Day Festival in Old Town Alexandria was one of the more challenging gigs we've played this year, mainly because of some very Scottish weather! Despite a forecast of 18% chance of 0.01" of rain through the day, we alternated between bouts of pouring rain and sunshine through the whole day. Much of the day was spent waiting for breaks in the rain to bring out our performers. Scheduling conflicts reduced our turnout of performers this year, but we had good crowds considering the weather.
The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums put in a fantastic performance during one of our dry spells, and we did a long set early in the afternoon and a short set to wrap up the show. It was a lot of fun to have our friends at the Carlyle House, Celtic Society of Southern Maryland, and Virginia Scottish Games in the audience to hear us, and we appear in the video that the Washington Times put up, shown below:
Especially fun was having fiddler Rosemary Hall play with us again, and we've invited her to join the band for all future gigs for which she's available (what with starting college in the fall!).
We've taken something of a hiatus, performing only two public events, plus a birthday party and a Burns supper, in the last year, but we're back and trying to get into venues and festivals, and are hoping to be playing a lot more in the last half of this year. We've added new songs to our repertoire: Hi Ri Him Bo, John Barleycorn, and Craigieburn Wood; and are working on some new instrumentals, specifically some slip jigs, a hornpipe/jig set and a hornpipe/reel set.
And it's finally that time. Soon we will sit down and begin to record our first album.
The City of Alexandria Pipes and Drums put in a fantastic performance during one of our dry spells, and we did a long set early in the afternoon and a short set to wrap up the show. It was a lot of fun to have our friends at the Carlyle House, Celtic Society of Southern Maryland, and Virginia Scottish Games in the audience to hear us, and we appear in the video that the Washington Times put up, shown below:
Especially fun was having fiddler Rosemary Hall play with us again, and we've invited her to join the band for all future gigs for which she's available (what with starting college in the fall!).
We've taken something of a hiatus, performing only two public events, plus a birthday party and a Burns supper, in the last year, but we're back and trying to get into venues and festivals, and are hoping to be playing a lot more in the last half of this year. We've added new songs to our repertoire: Hi Ri Him Bo, John Barleycorn, and Craigieburn Wood; and are working on some new instrumentals, specifically some slip jigs, a hornpipe/jig set and a hornpipe/reel set.
And it's finally that time. Soon we will sit down and begin to record our first album.
Monday, March 28, 2011
New Shows!
The Devil's Tailors are coming off a bit of a break and are playing shows again. Come check us out at Market Square in Old Town Alexandria, VA on April 2nd for the National Tartan Day celebration, and on April 30th at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Lots of New Happenings
Greetings, all!
The Devil's Tailors played a fantastic gig at The Royal Mile Pub on January 9th. We started a bit late, but the house was packed almost until we finished up around midnight, and had a great reception! We debuted a lot of new material, including "Ye Banks and Braes", our Shetland-inspired take on "The Bonny Ship the Diamond", a 17th century song called "The Mosstrooper's Lament", and the original version of "Auld Lang Syne".
I'd like to apologize now the the server who tripped on one of our monitors, causing the breakage of a plate, delay to a customer's meal, and the loss of a perfectly good fish & chips. To prevent a repeat of this situation, I have purchased some smaller ones, which we tried out last night with great success.
Driving into DC the second of this winter's four snowmageddons, on January 30th we followed up with a Burns Supper and Ceilidh for the Edinburgh University Alumni Association of DC, with Liz Donaldson joining us on piano for some dance sets: The Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant, and The Eightsome Reel. In addition to the brilliantly fun dances, we got to play some slow tunes not normally in our repertoire during dinner, and debuted the Burns song "John Barleycorn", in addition to "Ye Banks & Braes". Thanks to the Edinburgh U. Alumni for having us, thanks for dancing to us, and we hope to see you again!
And we've got some great new gigs on the horizon.
There's the National Tartan Day Festival at Market Square in Old Town, Alexandria on April 3rd - a staple for us, and we'll be sharing the stage with a pipe band, highland dancers, Scottish Country Dancers, and possibly another band (more details as groups confirm).
Then a week later, we're playing a tartan ball in Arlington, again with Liz, for the St. Andrew's University Alumni Association of DC.
On April 24th, we've been invited to take the Pub Stage at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival at Jefferson Patterson Park in St. Leonard, MD. We're very excited about heading down for this one!
Then we return to our home port of The Royal Mile Pub on May 22d with guest fiddler Katy Summerlin, and again on July 24th.
After that, it's the Virginia Scottish Games and more fun through fall 2010. So keep watching, because great things are happening!
The Devil's Tailors played a fantastic gig at The Royal Mile Pub on January 9th. We started a bit late, but the house was packed almost until we finished up around midnight, and had a great reception! We debuted a lot of new material, including "Ye Banks and Braes", our Shetland-inspired take on "The Bonny Ship the Diamond", a 17th century song called "The Mosstrooper's Lament", and the original version of "Auld Lang Syne".
I'd like to apologize now the the server who tripped on one of our monitors, causing the breakage of a plate, delay to a customer's meal, and the loss of a perfectly good fish & chips. To prevent a repeat of this situation, I have purchased some smaller ones, which we tried out last night with great success.
Driving into DC the second of this winter's four snowmageddons, on January 30th we followed up with a Burns Supper and Ceilidh for the Edinburgh University Alumni Association of DC, with Liz Donaldson joining us on piano for some dance sets: The Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant, and The Eightsome Reel. In addition to the brilliantly fun dances, we got to play some slow tunes not normally in our repertoire during dinner, and debuted the Burns song "John Barleycorn", in addition to "Ye Banks & Braes". Thanks to the Edinburgh U. Alumni for having us, thanks for dancing to us, and we hope to see you again!
And we've got some great new gigs on the horizon.
There's the National Tartan Day Festival at Market Square in Old Town, Alexandria on April 3rd - a staple for us, and we'll be sharing the stage with a pipe band, highland dancers, Scottish Country Dancers, and possibly another band (more details as groups confirm).
Then a week later, we're playing a tartan ball in Arlington, again with Liz, for the St. Andrew's University Alumni Association of DC.
On April 24th, we've been invited to take the Pub Stage at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival at Jefferson Patterson Park in St. Leonard, MD. We're very excited about heading down for this one!
Then we return to our home port of The Royal Mile Pub on May 22d with guest fiddler Katy Summerlin, and again on July 24th.
After that, it's the Virginia Scottish Games and more fun through fall 2010. So keep watching, because great things are happening!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
New Dates
2010 is going to be the Year of the Tailor!
The Devil's Tailors is proud to announce that we've booked several engagements; we'll be playing the Royal Mile this Saturday (January 9th), and again in May and July. We're playing the National Tartan Day festival in April, and the Virginia Scottish Games again in September. We're also playing a private Burns Supper at the end of January with caller and master dance-pianist Liz Donaldson.
We're also trying to book another couple of festivals and pub gigs from February through June, stay tuned and check our calendar page.
The Devil's Tailors is proud to announce that we've booked several engagements; we'll be playing the Royal Mile this Saturday (January 9th), and again in May and July. We're playing the National Tartan Day festival in April, and the Virginia Scottish Games again in September. We're also playing a private Burns Supper at the end of January with caller and master dance-pianist Liz Donaldson.
We're also trying to book another couple of festivals and pub gigs from February through June, stay tuned and check our calendar page.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Devil's Tailors play the Royal Mile Pub
We had the great honor of being invited to play the Royal Mile Pub for the party celebrating the transition to its new owner, Michael Moore. Michael and the Royal Mile sponsored the fiddle tent at the Virginia Scottish Games this year, and we were thrilled to return the favor by playing the party in his honor.
Also thanks to Barbara Saliunas (who came away from the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Competition with an arm full of prizes just last Sunday!) for filling in for Susanne, who couldn't make it.
We had a blast, and the audience and pub loved us, and really look forward to playing there again in the future!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Virginia Scottish Games
Two shows at the Virginia Scottish Games left us ready for more. We shared the stage with some great acts, Dileab Phriseil, The Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club, Terpsichore, Peat & Barley, The Homespun Ceilidh Band, Becky Ross w/ Liz Donaldson, and the teriffic trio of Andrew Dodds, Liam Andrews, and Collier Hyams.
Saturday was the wilder gig, with a tent flowing to capacity and more; but we had a great crowd Sunday as well. Just someone remind me not to wear ankle socks with the kilt ever again.
Pictures over on our page on Facebook, and possibly some video soon!
Saturday was the wilder gig, with a tent flowing to capacity and more; but we had a great crowd Sunday as well. Just someone remind me not to wear ankle socks with the kilt ever again.
Pictures over on our page on Facebook, and possibly some video soon!
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