R.O.F. update part 2: Album release party/Bloodstock warm up show

Friday 10th August 2012
The 2 Pigs,Cheltenham

The official gig poster

We were very excited about this show.This was our album release/Bloodstock warm up show and we'd managed to get Sight of Emptiness (from Costa Rica) to support us.They too were playing Bloodstock and wanted to make coming over here worthwhile so they agreed to playing our show with us and used it as their warm up too.They also had a new album to promote and it was the first time they had played these songs to an audience.We were privileged to have them on the same gig let alone support us.

Check them out here:  http://www.facebook.com/sightofemptiness

     Home town shows are always chaos and this time we tried to do something different.The thing with R.O.F. is we play a show,then after the show we all start thinking "that was awesome,but how can we make it better for everyone next time".We're constantly trying to push the boundaries to make our show an actual show rather than just a gig.So for this,Cleaver (our sound man) managed to borrow some extra gear,an extra P.A. desk,extra lights and a screen to do a big reveal after the intro.So we turned up early,filled half the venue with extra gear and set about seeing what we could do.We'd also enlisted the help of a good friend & lighting engineer Andy Badgeman.He's the lampy at Gloucester guildhall,he's worked with Cleaver and me and Jon work with him every year at "The Gathering" (The Alarm's yearly mini festival).He does an awesome job every time.

Geoff getting roped into helping set the lights up.

We loaded in early and ran though a few ideas.Some worked,some didn't.We dropped the ideas that didn't.After a while,we were satisfied and gave the stage to Sight of Emptiness for their sound check.Then I went home for some food.

Here's some photos of us sound checking by the awesome Geoff Baehr:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.405137362879780.91815.115448255182027&type=3

Me n Missy made our way back to the pigs around 8ish and instantly,the albums and T-shirts were selling.We are still overwhelmed by the support everybody is showing.People travelled miles to see us tonight,including the Finnie family from Scotland!!!That is dedication!
We had a few beers and watched the 1st band play,or rather the lead singer puke his guts out,then waited for Sight of Emptiness to come on.They were awesome!Even after me and Jon had a few words with them before hand to tell them not to be too good cuz we don't want to be blown of stage.

Check this youtube link out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYIhVDqqknI&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

We took what was left of the stage at about 21:45 knowing we've got some work to do to top that.We decided against the "Big reveal" and came on after the intro.The set was the whole of the new album "World Detonation" played in album order followed by "Disconnect" and "Psycho Intentions".It would be easy for me to sit here and tell you we were awesome,but if I'm honest about it,we could have done better.I think it was more of a case that we tried to do a much bigger show than was possible.All of our playing suffered a bit and we just weren't happy about it.It was our fault entirely but we know for next time what works and what doesn't.I've always said "It's OK to make mistakes,so long as you learn from them".When you refuse to admit you're making mistakes,you won't learn from them and that's when everything turns to shit.
Even so,after the show,we got some awesome feedback and our bad moods didn't last for long.

My view from behind the drums during tune up

Jon and Ed rip it up

After the show,S.O.E. had to make a move as they had an early start.They had to get to Bloodstock in time but we didn't let them go anywhere without a double line up shot!

Reign of Sight of Empty Fury

Jaspa Mtm Rock Show came to the gig tonight too and interviewed me and Bison,so we managed to get a few points across that we feel strongly about.It's usually quite hard cuz if there is more than 2 of us doing an interview,we end up ripping the piss out of each other,so we lost Jon and found a graveyard for the idea metal interview location.Even if it was for radio.
And that was it,job done.Learn from our mistakes and move on.We'll do better next time but for now we must concentrate on being good for Bloodstock!

Next update will be the Bloodstock report.

Magic Dave.