This term we were asked to produce a Live Lounge set and we had to choose an album from the book ‘1001 Albums to Listen to Before You Die’. We went through a few albums and a drummer before deciding upon what album we were going to cover to the best of our abilities.
We eventually chose “Purple Rain” by Prince and The Revolution. Our lecturer Chris recommended it to us as we were incapable of agreeing as one at the time, it showcases our unique abilities as musicians with a driving vocals, complex guitar solos, funky bass-lines and technical drum parts.
The Studio Room set up consisted of a front line built up on three vocal mics, one for lead vocals at the centre of stage with the backing vocals on the guitarist and drummer.
Within this song, for the majority of it we were very tight as a band and you could hear that we were all locked in with each other. Until that slowly changed over time which then led to the change over in another verse which was the dreaded F. Someone chocked on it and I may be to blame as per but it ruined the flow which led to a downhill stride from there on out.
We could have done so much more with this song but we chose not too as our line up couldn’t support the vast amount of instruments prince had access too.
I would like to say that going into this song raw is a terrible idea 100% of the time every time. My tone was sharp and bright for the most part, and when it came to the solo the bends and shifting was clear as day.
But when it came to the end of the solo I tripped up majorly which led to the most comedic facial expression 2019. It was a dead give away that I messed something up and it’s one of my common traits and I haven’t been able to drop it since Year 11…
Whilst we were running through the amazing ending, we all started to trip up and stumbling everywhere. We all looked incredibly distraught but we all caught up with each other in the end. There was a successful ending on the F# which was our saving grace out of our whole performance.
- “When Doves Cry” – Lenny Kravitz cover
This was the *best* song in our set, as a band musically we were tight again; alongside the vocal melody Millie was putting across. Me + Lucy’s backing vocals were spot on as per usual as we take great pride within them every time we play or rehearse this song.
Guess who stupidly left the closed wah on, which made the chorus I was using sound incredibly drowned out, this guy!
It got to about half way in when I realised my stupid mistake. You can see me constantly check the levels of all my pedal and then look at my amp in sheer confusion to what I have done wrong.
Next time, ( when I perform this song at a gig or rehearsal) I will learn how to use the board to its full potential. Rather than throwing it all together seconds before a set. If given a second chance it would be ten times better and a lot smoother.
Apart from that our set went okay, if given a second chance we’d do brilliantly, I will soon link our performance below…
Ellie Thornton Music 