BEHIND EVERY GREAT GIG IS A STEVE!
NO SOUND. NO GLORY. THE STEVE STORY
A. J’s Pub could just as well be labeled as a landmark in Weltevredenpark where locals , along with many musos and music lovers travelling from near and far are sure to be found. And one of their many charms is the wizard behind the wall of sound. Here you’ll find the guy who hears things that you don’t and makes your ears happy. Steve Greenwood.
Steve Greenwood needs no introduction. So I’ll spare you a history lesson in which you are more than likely well versed when it comes to this legend. I will however share one of my own fond experiences in working with Steve. I have had the pleasure of working with Steve on many occasions and have always, as we all have, complimented and thanked him for awesome sound after a gig. - that’s a bit of an understatement - rant and rave about the awesome sound would be a more accurate account. One Saturday night, not so long ago and after another incredibly awesome gig, I again thanked him and gushed on about how remarkable his sound engeneering is, and being the humble human I know him to be, he replied with, “ you know, Ruby…I used to think that you were just being polite whenever you told me this - but I’m starting to believe you. I’m starting to think you really do think the sound is as good as you continually tell me” ( and everyone else) - well duh, Steve!
But more than just a remarkable sound engineer, Steve Greenwood has consistently been not only an astoundingly brilliant musician but more so an amazing human - one that I am honoured to call friend. In lui of this, I thought it was about time that I featured him on Ruby’s Review and here, on my blog. And so, I had a little Q&A with Steve. Read on to learn more about SIX STRINGS, TEN THOUSAND WATTS AND ONE STEVE!
Let's start at the very beginning :
1. Q: Who is Steve Greenwood ... The man behind the sound desk , and the man on and off stage.
A: Just a humble appreciator of music I like to think 😂 it is a little deeper than appreciate though 🙏
2. Q: When (where, who, how) did your music journey start?
A: I’ve always loved music -I used to come home from primary school and sit by the hi fi with headphones listening to John Denver, the BeeGees and Shania Twain ( my crush) I only started playing guitar at the age of sixteen though. My parents thought I was tone deaf from my singing 🤣. But it all snowballed from there.
3. Q: And did you always know that you wanted to venture into the world of music ?
A: Not at all. It took me by force and I lovingly accepted 🙏
4. Q: And specifically sound engeneering?
A: Sound engineering came from a little curiosity and a lot of necessity. While I never formally studied sound engineering - I had the absolute privilege of learning from the incredible engineers I worked with. Like Danny Helsing, Ash Gaisford and Morne Van Helsdinger to name but a few.
5. Q: Tell us more about Cosmic Wonder? When, where, how, who... Etc
A: Cosmic Wonder is a band formed by some music teachers and enthusiasts -we aren’t interested in fame or fortune, but rather performing for the love of live music, and the drug like effect it has on performers and listeners alike.
6. Q: Previous projects /bands etc.
A: I was in a few bands called Mismatch. Cycle of 5ths (C5). Burning Blue. South of Nine. Ninja Bikini Carwash. And just a load of other projects.
7. Q: Now's the time to spill the beans...share some bragging rights.
A: Burning Blue got to play on live TV at Elis Park for a Lion vs Sharks game (if I remember correctly). When we arrived the engineers had one mic and a line out for the bass amp. So my little 30WATT Marsha, my brother’s (Ryan Greenwood) drum kit, and our vocalist’s (Hunter McWilliam) acustic guitar were not connected to the sound desk. As the stream went live, we started playing. The only thing you could hear was the vocalists voice being disintegrated by the bass guitar (Dylan Chapman) through the stadium speakers. It was so bad that the TV live stream was cut and we were asked to stop after our second song.
Later we learned that the bass had bust a couple of the stadium speakers as well.
Burning Blue was the first band to perform at the Ice Rinks. That went well though. We also beat Short Straw in a heavily controversial Battle of the Bands.
8. Q: Growing up, who were your greatest musical influences?
A: Bon Jovi was probably the biggest at the start of my musical journey. But I could fill an entire exam pad with local and international influences. You can learn so much from every single artist and even their fans - if you take the time.
9. Q: Instrument(s) of choice?
A: Guitar
10. Q: If your instrument of choice and/or your sound desk developed the ability to talk, what would it's first complaint about you be?
A: My Guitar would probably love it if I were less clumsy…and The sound desk would love it if I learned how to use Gate properly 🤣
11. Q: One word of advice for new musos/ new bands from a sound engineer perspective.
A: We can’t hear your monitors! Even with headphones -we can only get an idea! So be picky. We would all (I’m like 99% sure ALL) prefer you said something on stage over the crowd, instead of off stage to the crowd ( yea, we see those dirty looks). Monitors being cut or bad eq and stuff like that-sure, that’s your engineer. But if you “ settle” for the monitor you don’t like, well that’s on you.
Also: look up the Fletcher Munson Curve. More volume equals more low low end and high high end. If you crank your guitar volume on a patch you mixed at home on low volume - that lady gonna squeal!
12. Q: One fun fact that we don't know about you.…
A: I put bovril with my scrambled eggs on toast.
13. Q: Share one 'most embarrassing' moment.
A: Once, I got so plastered on stage that I forgot the order - “Am - F - C - G “ repeatedly. I don’t drink anymore 😂
14. Q: What is your favorite sound unrelated to music?
A: Pandas chewing.
(And here is something Steve and I have in common…)
15. Q: Share one useless real world talent you have.
A: I can be late for anything and everything.
16. If you could change one thing in the local music scene, what would it be?
A: Shew…. There’s a ton but number one would definitely be that bands must stop blaming everything from venues to other bands to themselves for the state of the scene. Especially the slightly heavier alternative bands. The scene is thriving - it’s incredibly well supported - just not evenly of genres. Unfortunately -an impossibly small percentage of SA listens to rock/punk/metal style of music, so they don’t get to see it. It’s no ones fault. At this stage -it’s not our job to grow the scene, but rather to keep it alive and give it the chance to flourish one day! It sucks -but the worst thing you can do is to make it suck more by being a ‘doose’.
17. Q: Do you sing in the shower? And if so.. What songs?
A: Yes. Only Good music 🙌
18. Q: What do you think distinguishes a great band from a regular, garden variety band?
A: Effort. Unique stage uniforms, unexpected twists in songs, unique lighting and decorations, themes, crowd interaction that doesn’t feel but is natural for practice. Don’t just show up in jeans and a shirt and strum on one spot for 40min and think the crowd will eat it up. Move, engage. We don’t just listen to music - we wanna seeeee it. Experience it!
19. What trends are you currently seeing in the music industry?
A: Music is getting edgier and people are becoming more versatile in their listening and accepting of a wider variety of styles. So hold the line! DON’T BE A BOX!
20. How has the rise of digital media changed the music scene if at all?
A: Much smarter people have answered this much better. But in my personal opinion is that it has opened up the possibility to be seen by far more people - far more people made music in hopes of being seen - lots of those people maybe shouldn’t be releasing just yet 😂
It’s not that there aren’t any more legends like Freddie Mercury or Jimmy Hendrix anymore, it’s that there are hundreds of them and we are too spoiled for choice to make just one a legend.
It’s taken a toll on people’s ability to listen properly and for long periods, so make your music more attractive early on. And keep changing up! Spice that shiz! We’ve heard 100 seether bands -
let’s get something fresh 🙌
Catch the full show here: Catch the full review here: https://musiciansdomain.com/activity/p/8298/
Back a Buddy -> Do it ! You know you want to! : https://www.backabuddy.co.za/
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