The Cutaways Live at The Historic Mabel Tainter Theater!!
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Posted on Dec 12, 2005 10:23 am
guitar_jim
Czar of Cheese
Member Since: Jun 09, 2004
About a month ago my band (The Cutaways) played a very cool gig at an old historic theater here in town. Here's a link to the theater web site, for those of you that are in to that kind of thing:
www.mabeltainter.com
They recorded us live that night. I recently received a DVD with all of the individual tracks from the live session. They put all drums on one track, all vocals on one track, bass on one track, and each of the three guitars on their own track. I think that the eight track was the drummer's vocal mic, but he rarely sings, so it's mostly cymbal crashes!
Anyway, I've been tinkering with some of the tracks, trying to get a good mix. It's hard not having separate vocals, and of course there are some glaring mistakes and some off-pitch singing. If you're interested in hearing any of the songs, they are posted here for download:
www.thecutaways.us/tainter.html
There will be more as time allows. :-)
Let me know if you have any tips or suggestions for improving the sound. These are not finalized mixes. (They haven't even been Har-Bal-ized yet!!)
The theater has an 8 channel MOTU interface (firewire, I believe) and recorded us using Adobe Audition. We're pretty pleased with the results, we're trying to get enough quality tracks for a one-CD live album.
Thanks for listening!
Jim
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Dec 12, 2005 11:59 am Awesome venue Jim!
I'll check this oot later when Im back from work.
But aye, the gig looked very cool, nice place and you seem to have all the essential ingredients for a top class mix.
I did listen to rockin in the free world already and it was good...I'll listen proper tonight.
Good work bud
Coco.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 12, 2005 10:50 pm Hey Jim, I'll be grabbin em all for sure. I definately like the Cutaway's stuff. It'll prbably be tommorrow before I get a chance to listen though.
Grand thing is I have been in that theatre 3 times in my life. First time was when I was still taking piano leesson's and my teacher was the local church organist. She took several of us there as her cousin or some relative was one of the worker's working on the organ restoration there. I actually took a trip back several years later and was able to play that organ. What a massive beast. The last time was to see some of the player's from the Prairie Home Companion who were doing a show out there.
If any of you ever get a chance to visit that place it is a must see. I found it more appealing then the Grand Ole Opry Hall.
Dec 13, 2005 11:48 am It's a cool place for sure, Noize!
Speaking of Prairie Home Companion, Pat Donahue is coming to the Mabel Tainter in February, and two of my fellow Cutaways and myself are going to be his opening act! He's actually appearing on PHC that evening, and then driving over to Menomonie for a show at the Tainter. We're going to start at 8:00, and play until he gets there! Mostly an acoustic blend of folk and bluegrassy songs...that's what we will be playing.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 13, 2005 08:29 pm Very cool indeed. Glad to hear your getting some playing time in as well. Bluegrass and folk, should be a good show indeed.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Dec 14, 2005 03:31 am Man very cool Jim! Great line up of songs, you guys really sound good. If I lived in your area I'd definitly be attending your shows! Nice job on "You Shook Me", tough one to do well.
Only suggestion I'd have is bring up the guitars some, mixes sound pretty dang good especially for live recordings.
Dan
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Dec 14, 2005 07:26 pm You can hear the theatre in there for sure. Must have been a packed house as there is not alot of echo, very good sound yet you can tell it's live. The bass is huge and the drum's sound pretty cool, they really have that live sound to them.
I gotta agree with OD on the set list. Great mix for all to enjoy, some rockin and some smooth stuff. Rockin in the Free World was great, the bass got a little heavy and distorted in spot's but hey, its live. 7 minute's long though, that's rockin for sure. Needed more wankin on the whammy bar though. :-)
Sounded pretty damn good to me on all the tune's really. A little tweakin and I dont see why ya couldn't release that live stuff.
Dec 22, 2005 07:33 am Weehey Jim!! ROCKIN YE WERE INDEED!
OK...my thoughts...
Rockin' in the Free World
Very cool version and indeed, for a band I had kinda thought would lean more towards the country stuff, this is rockin indeed and VERY well done. Good tones on guitar and good mix overall...good job!
No Goin' Back
Another good song. Well played and again, a good mix to my ears.
Two Horse Trailer
STAND OUT!!!!!!! The song of "ultimate optimisim" I think ye said...LOVE the lyrics man and yer vocals are SPOT ON. Top song, lovin it lots and thinking, a rocked up cover from ole Coco could be fun for me!!! Very cool...
Wonderful Tonight
Great guitar playing and tight on this song. I am not a big Clapton fan but this song is cool and again, very well done. Particularly good mix to my ears on this and very good vox in my opinion here.
Some Girls Do
Top drawer stuff...sounds the way I imagine you guys would sound and thats a good thing...very cool indeed. Again, nice up front mix and good song to boot.
Hard Day's Night
This one was a little quieter when I downloaded but I guess a little more on the mastering and it'll be up there fine enough. Just check the overall volume when ye master it and notch it up a wee smidgen. Otherwise, a good cover of a good song.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
ANOTHER STAND OUT! Very cool. And I might add, very nicely played. Guitars sounded crunchy/cool and I did like this one being a big Clash/rocker fan!!!! GOod ...
You Shook Me
STILL TO LISTEN TO THIS - Sure it will be cool though!
Nobody's Girl
EXCELLENT SONG. Now Jim, here's my take on this. I think (no offence to the guy in the band) YOU should do this one dude! It's one of your best songs methinks and I did like the band version rather than your band-in-the-box accompaniment but, if you were doing the vox, it'd be even better (though the vox on it ARE good, just preferred yours!). Also, on the chorus, "Noooobodies Girl" .. is kinda extended so it lasts the whole chorus whereas on your version, its sung "but she's nobody's girl" without holding all the notes...hard to explain but Im sure you know...I reckon your method of doing the end of the chorus sits better btu again, a good song on here and great performance overall.
4th of July
STANDOUT...bloody top song indeed! Lyrics/Performance/Song/Recording/Mix - EXCELLENT. This one is one I really like...I reckon, I could warm to this song myself and as I say, it really does sound good.
OVERALL:
OK, overall - it rocks man! The only things I'd change is move yourself to lead vocals on Nobodies Girl and alter that chorus phrasing to the way you done it. But thats not a gripe, just my opinion...
GREAT WORK. Soundwise, mixes etc - all very good indeed. A bit of mastering to raise the volume on a few tracks would be very good but not much at all needed here and for a live recording, it rocks!!!!
WELL DONE BUD
Coco.
