Post by Djevara on May 16, 2011 19:25:12 GMT
After 5 (or 6 - who's counting?) years, we've decided to leave the warehouse that we've called home for new pastures.
Initially, I [Geoff] was looking for a live in studio that could feasibly double up for a Djevara HQ, where we could rehearse any time we liked, and potentially set up recording facilities. In the few years that followed, we did just that, and the warehouse was our primary rehearsal studio, as well as the location for the recording of Corsa Al Ribasso, part 1 of the Rising Tide series.
We also knew that this was a perfect opportunity for some killer parties. Inspired by some of the more intimate venues on our European tours, we set up the first parties. The idea of the LFD as a project grew out of those early days.
When we set up Genin to release our first Djevara record, it made sense to get other bands we knew and respected on board; not in the traditional label sense, but in the more collective sense of an umbrella resource under which we can help promote each other through a shared ideal. The LFD project grew out of this similar vision to give access to a resource to underground bands, as a place to rehearse, and a place to showcase themselves. That's why we always referred to Showcases rather than parties - it was always meant to be an exhibition, as much as a good time.
Important too was the house-party atmosphere. Based as much on Djevara's bad experiences of shows as the good ones, we always tried to mitigate the worse aspects of playing live, as well as emphasise the good ones, and from the bands perspective in primacy over the audience, the belief being that if the band is comfortable and happy, then the show will be that much better. So, parties were always free, it was always BYOB, and BYOF (friends). The aim; to eliminate all the usual barriers of door prices, bar prices, bar queues, etc. that typically come between you and your enjoyment. From the bands perspective, we moved the 'stage' area to the middle of the room, placing them right in the middle of the audience. In part this was to minimise the option of 'stand at the back of the room as far away as possible' mentality of most audiences, but also to try and break down barriers between the band/performer and the audience, making for a much more visceral performance. The band/audience are right in your face (depending on which you happened to be).
Early adopters of the LFD studio were TSNK and Claypigeon. Both have been integral to the project from an early time, and have contributed heavily (TSNK alone to several PA's, though not always through pure altruism).
Over the following years, we grew the scope of the project to encompass much more than just music, and used the showcases to display paintings and photography, and introduce spoken word and poetry. Dina, who always had such a huge part in the early presentation of the shows, got progressively more involved, and began to develop her photography skills and over the last 2 years, the warehouse has been used primarily as her photography studio, and she has begun to develop an impressive catalogue of contacts.
We've also enjoyed the presence of several sculptors (Görkem Münirolglu), painters (Johannes Vetter), dancers (Balin Palmer) and filmographers, and the studio has been the set for music videos for TSNK, She Makes War, and Dana Jade, among others. We've had a student film from Wilma Stefani, album launches from Claypigeon, Bleak, TSNK, and Kids Uncanny.
This is not the end of LFD; rather it is the end of this chapter. The list of our achievements over the time we've been here is long, and we feel that we need to move on to bring us up to the next stage in our development.
To help see us out, we're planning one last hurrah - one last showcase at Joann-Marr House, on the 28th May. We have LFD Stalwarts Claypigeon who have played here more than anyone else, and who have their own celebration too, and relocated their gig to be with us one last time. We follow that with Another Dead Hero, 4-piece awesomeness from Essex with whom we've played several times recently and felt that they absolutely had to play here before we left. Djevara Redux will kick off the procedings, and Djevara will then close the evening, as we opened years ago.
- Geoff
Initially, I [Geoff] was looking for a live in studio that could feasibly double up for a Djevara HQ, where we could rehearse any time we liked, and potentially set up recording facilities. In the few years that followed, we did just that, and the warehouse was our primary rehearsal studio, as well as the location for the recording of Corsa Al Ribasso, part 1 of the Rising Tide series.
We also knew that this was a perfect opportunity for some killer parties. Inspired by some of the more intimate venues on our European tours, we set up the first parties. The idea of the LFD as a project grew out of those early days.
When we set up Genin to release our first Djevara record, it made sense to get other bands we knew and respected on board; not in the traditional label sense, but in the more collective sense of an umbrella resource under which we can help promote each other through a shared ideal. The LFD project grew out of this similar vision to give access to a resource to underground bands, as a place to rehearse, and a place to showcase themselves. That's why we always referred to Showcases rather than parties - it was always meant to be an exhibition, as much as a good time.
Important too was the house-party atmosphere. Based as much on Djevara's bad experiences of shows as the good ones, we always tried to mitigate the worse aspects of playing live, as well as emphasise the good ones, and from the bands perspective in primacy over the audience, the belief being that if the band is comfortable and happy, then the show will be that much better. So, parties were always free, it was always BYOB, and BYOF (friends). The aim; to eliminate all the usual barriers of door prices, bar prices, bar queues, etc. that typically come between you and your enjoyment. From the bands perspective, we moved the 'stage' area to the middle of the room, placing them right in the middle of the audience. In part this was to minimise the option of 'stand at the back of the room as far away as possible' mentality of most audiences, but also to try and break down barriers between the band/performer and the audience, making for a much more visceral performance. The band/audience are right in your face (depending on which you happened to be).
Early adopters of the LFD studio were TSNK and Claypigeon. Both have been integral to the project from an early time, and have contributed heavily (TSNK alone to several PA's, though not always through pure altruism).
Over the following years, we grew the scope of the project to encompass much more than just music, and used the showcases to display paintings and photography, and introduce spoken word and poetry. Dina, who always had such a huge part in the early presentation of the shows, got progressively more involved, and began to develop her photography skills and over the last 2 years, the warehouse has been used primarily as her photography studio, and she has begun to develop an impressive catalogue of contacts.
We've also enjoyed the presence of several sculptors (Görkem Münirolglu), painters (Johannes Vetter), dancers (Balin Palmer) and filmographers, and the studio has been the set for music videos for TSNK, She Makes War, and Dana Jade, among others. We've had a student film from Wilma Stefani, album launches from Claypigeon, Bleak, TSNK, and Kids Uncanny.
This is not the end of LFD; rather it is the end of this chapter. The list of our achievements over the time we've been here is long, and we feel that we need to move on to bring us up to the next stage in our development.
To help see us out, we're planning one last hurrah - one last showcase at Joann-Marr House, on the 28th May. We have LFD Stalwarts Claypigeon who have played here more than anyone else, and who have their own celebration too, and relocated their gig to be with us one last time. We follow that with Another Dead Hero, 4-piece awesomeness from Essex with whom we've played several times recently and felt that they absolutely had to play here before we left. Djevara Redux will kick off the procedings, and Djevara will then close the evening, as we opened years ago.
- Geoff