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Home , Chantoozies, Countdown Spectacular, Molly Meldrum, Mondo Rock

FEATURE BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH

CX had trouble keeping away when far too many of the old bands we once worked with were dusted off and shown off with brand new production values. Julius Grafton went way down memory lane…..

30 CX 15 NOVEMBER 2006 pectacular it was, and value for money at almost four hours running Stime. Countdown kicked off at 7.30 with singing alone on the thrust stage and a bunch of dance students doing a 2006 version of the Countdown TV show audience - hands outreached, hair akimbo. Half way through ‘Yesterdays Hero’ the rear revolve produces the house band whose work will back most of the acts. There was the voice from the box, Gavin Wood who bantered effortlessly with host Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum. Molly was the reason Countdown was such a central part of the music industry for two decades, and he is the reason that ’s Frontier Touring show worked so well. In the first fifteen minutes there were four acts rolled out, looking and sounding as good as the house band and a professional production could make them. Within the first half hour there was rock greatness with the likes of Choirboys showing that you can still manage a long career and play like you mean it. There was cheese, courtesy of the irrepressible of the Unfunny X-Men, and there was deja-vu with Cheetah, the sister act that came on looking quite fabulous. Real star quality emerged early with Leo Sayer who managed to engage with a female member of the audience, undo Introducing the new WMS400 wireless system from her hair and lay her on the floor of the AKG, which combines ease of use and innovative stage for a kiss, without missing a line of technology with these additional key features and the ballad. This was quality stuff….. peripherals: Alex Smith also managed to connect with the audience and to conjure up the sense of how it was by singing Gary • 50 mW transmission power Frost’s smash hit for Moving Pictures, • Single AA battery for up to eight hours of operation ‘What About Me?’ Acute memories of Mr. Smith’s intense/egocentric stage • Environment scan and auto-programming persona were quickly revived this night. • Rehearsal mode By the second hour the audience had • Five application kits available been up on their feet and back to the chair eight times, and a form of first half closure arrived with Hush, complete with Never before has a high quality, high performance fire breathing dragons and an extra multichannel wireless system of this category been guitarist. It was a strange segment made more innovative, more affordable to purchase and messy by the improbability of reviving a operate, easier to use, or quicker to set up. band whose singer has perhaps had some problems (and hopefully dealt with them) and who really only had one The Future is Wireless. standout musician, Les Gock. They did what they set out to do, and all credit to them. Les rocked hard, but you would expect that from the guy who made a motza from Song Zu.

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www.juliusmedia.com The Wolfgramm Sisters. Pic by Bob King.

HALF TIME and Grease In the foyer the punter feedback segments? Save the time and the was excellent and the merchandise money, I say! stand swamped with people fussing If you wanted a real musical over XXL T shirts and Sherbet CDs. moment there were plenty, for my Memo Gudinski: it was physically money it was Renee Geyer who good difficult to buy a show program. naturedly flounced her way through Strangely the junk food stands were her big pop hit ‘Say You Love Me’, a swamped as well, my girl Karen and I song she no longer performs at her noticed on the way in that a lot of the shows, then demolished the house audience seemed to equate nostalgia with ‘Man’s World’, made even with hotdogs and hot chips. mightier by Bruce Haymes on Part Two kicked off the gusto and keyboard. delivered the first bummer of the The house band were just mighty, night when was hung made even more so by the three out to dry by a technical fault that startlingly good Wolfgramm sisters - should not have happened. He stood Kelly, Talei and Eliza - on backup strumming a dead acoustic for what vocals. Two guitars, two keyboards, seemed like minutes, telling the bass, drums played left handed by audience there were “problems with musical director Peter Luscombe and the backstage crew”, and glaring at two brass joined often by the the foldback desk. After about 30 omnipresent Wilbur Wilde made for a seconds of this, someone found the tight and almost note perfect band correct wireless frequency or patch who were mainly toddlers when the and the guitar was heard. Reyne acts they were backing first sung the didn’t recover, and messed up his songs. medley. Swanee and John English had There were some ‘who were they’ presence and charisma, and even ‘why’ moments, with from looked and played performers who could have stayed the part, and four came home and contributed to a trimming on and reprised the girl band thing, of the show duration. Likewise I was looking great at the same time. unsure that the Countdown Dance Show standouts included Frankie J. Segment was worthwhile, the four Holden who played off the dancers on the tour were exceptional, aforementioned Wilbur Wilde, Joe but adding on thirty dance school kids Camileri made sax sexy again, and and doing Flashdance, Footloose, wow - really did rock

32 CX 15 NOVEMBER 2006 www.juliusmedia.com

1 "3$"/4"/ %"$$&4403 and got my personal band of the It’s conceivable that there could *&4 night award. even be a Countdown II with Men Eventually after Molly’s at Work plus Hunters and "6%*0  FRPDX Humdrum segment complete with Collectors headlining. There are $03103"5& the desk, after good banter and enough other acts still creaking

,QWURGXFLQJ bad, after a witty but sensitive around, like Radiators, Mentals, 3*6DOOPHWDO tribute to the singers who have left and perish the thought, Jimmy and 4&44*0/ us by a videotaped , The Boys. %DJ V &DVHVPDG WRSU H RWHFW\RXUJHDU the headline act cranked up and 5063*/( left me flat. I was a card carrying

 % *XLWD COUNTDOWN U $PSV  LQ WK H 86$ Sherbet fan, and have always been QRZ  'RZQ 8QGHU impressed by ’s TOURING VIDEO 456%*0 vocal delivery and style. Blacksheep Productions supplied / RRN)DPLOLDU" It wasn’t that guitarist Harvey the complete video production */45"--"5*0/ James spent the whole of the first solution for the show which  )6 :DWW'LJLWDOD /% PSXQGHU 3   &%4 FHQWVZDWWN song with his back to audience, 0' ) J included cameras, replay, ,17+ *() ,6, 5 $PS 668( &$) OL¿HUV & -*( &DVHV  RPSRQ )5* %DJV &R HQWV  /(  QQHFWRU  &'' Ù trying to coax sound out his amp. '-J V  *XLWDU &$5 Ù '-*1 HDU - $PSV 4 *5 07&3 projection, and a giant LED video  XNHV  '03 .0 .DUDR  0LFURSK 3& */' NH 3R RQHV 0  UWDEOH3  3URF $V  6SHDN Probably it wasn’t even that the HVVLQJ 6 HUV  WDQGV  screen with Blacksheep Project  second song of the short set was Manager Angelo Russo overseeing a forgettable flipside that was it all. included only because there was It was clear to producers from an entire film clip from the early the beginning that video would days that the band could play to play an important part in the overall in sync. design of the show. Show It was all there, really good Director Paul Drane worked as lighting by Hugh Taranto, supplied Director/Producer on the original by Chameleon with a crew of five. Countdown in the 1970s A Vertec PA from Jands, mixed (incidentally, he also created really well by Greg Rosman. Big pioneering music film clips, screen video with tight camera including AC/DCs infamous Long work from Black Sheep (see side Way to the Top), and as such he story). A great set designed by placed strong emphasis on the Otello Stolfo and built by ESS. visual element. When planning But at the end, the very late end, the event, Paul went to the ABC’s the headline band fell flat. They archive to source a range of video were then relegated to being just clips. These were then compiled part of a show with almost 80 into a number of “breakers” and performers, most of who came on supporting clips which, when stage for the obligatory and cheesy combined with a number of all star band closing segment, that generic graphic backgrounds to be mainly seemed to comprise a lot played behind songs, totalled over of skylarking and the stage 100 video cues. These clips were $"5"-0(6& managed ejection of Wilbur Wilde. played off Blacksheep’s hard drive A great night. Lots of fun. system. Paul also specified 4 065/08 $"-- /08 '03 " '3&& $01: -NNJNTSENQSGHRRHFM HMXNTQKNB@K@QD@

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www.juliusmedia.comCX 15 NOVEMBER 2006 35 FEATURE

cameras to cover the show live-to- D50 cameras were placed around allowed for any source to be screen. the venue – one camera sat in the displayed on any screen, and often A main feature of the set was the middle of the audience on a jib (to all four cameras were on-screen at large LED screen – Blacksheep allow for moves over the audience the same time so good supplied a 9.24m x 5.67m (11 x 9 when they stood up to dance communication was vital. panels) Monstavision LED screen. along); one camera was placed in There were a number of benefits in the pit in front of the stage; and two using this screen – rigging was were on-stage with wide lenses. quick as the panels traveled pre- Camera operators Mick Eady, rigged and pre-cabled in pairs; Brandon Batten, Mark “BJ” power supplies are separate to the Walkden, and Tony Marinceski put screen itself, keeping weight down in the hard yards every show to get (the whole screen including cabling through 4 hours of hand held and rigging weighed in at only camera work (therapeutic massage 3800kg); and programming was fees were not included in done wirelessly from front-of-house Blacksheep’s original quote). allowing for on-the-fly tuning These cameras fed SDI signals throughout the show. The screen into two Sony DFS switchers – one was fed an SDI signal via fibre optic, for the main LED screen, and one with a copper backup. Screen techs for the projection screens. Other Joe Borden and Chris Deschamps inputs included hard drive replay kept the screen looking good during (which was controlled by TD David the tour. Beattie), a Betacam SP player, and Either side of the LED were two other effects generated within the Barco R10s projecting onto 24’ x system. 13.5’ front projection screens. The Paul Drane (and wife Margaret, Barcos were also fed SDI. who worked as Director’s Assistant) The whole system was driven by collaborated with Director Ben one of Blacksheep’s portable Alcott to get the best images to Outside Broadcast units. 4 Sony screen. The system configuration

THE COUNTDOWN Bret Chin Quan – Assistant Tour Technician Manager John Streckfess – Lighting SPECTACULAR Adrian Carbone – Assistant Tour Technician Producer – Michael Gudinski Manager Derick Weith – Lighting Technician Co-Producer – Ian Smith Danny North – Lighting Technician Concept Liaison, Host & Hat – Ian Production: Meldrum Colin Skals – Assistant Production ESS: Director – Paul Drane Manager Set Builder Denise Turra – Production Assistant Writer – Margaret Drane Pyro Oz: Set Designer – Otello Stolfo Stage: Peter McGill – Pyrotechnics Lighting Designer – Hugh Taranto Dugald McAndrew – Stage Manager Screens & Cameras: Technical Director – Eric Robinson Dave Mayer – Backline technician Blacksheep Production Manager – Peter McFee Matt English – Backline technician Ben Alcott – Screens Switcher The Wardrobe: David Beattie – Screens TD House Band: Julie Smith – Costume Design Tony Marinceski – Camera Peter Luscombe – Musical Director Brandon Batten – Camera P. A : & drums Mick Eady – Camera Jands Production Services Bruce Haymes – keyboard Mark Walkden – Camera Greg Rosman – Audio Director Lilith Lane – piano Joe Bordon – LED Technician Michael Burdett – System Engineer Bill McDonald – bass Chris Deschamps – Screens/VT Ashley Naylor – guitar Tristan Johnson – Monitor Engineer David Newdick – trumpet Grant Barron – Monitor Engineer Showtravel: Mal Pinkerton – guitar Joel Whyman – Monitor Rigger Tara Robinson – Travel Agent Paul Williamson – saxophone Matthew Ownsnett – Audio Merchandise: Eliza Wolfgramm – backing vocals Technician ATM – Ros Braham, Jennifer Guy Gilchrist – Audio Tech Talei Wolfgramm – backing vocals Roberts, Andrew Irwin, Alina Tour Management: Lighting: Brown, Reece Page Yael Cohn – Assistant to Ian Chameleon Meldrum Graham Walker – Lighting Crew Merchandise Tour Design: Susie Steadman – Assistant Tour Chief Traffic Design Studios Manager Michael Simpson – Lighting www.trafficdesign.com.au

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Proudly Distributed by Musiclink Australia [email protected] E-mail for your free 56 page catalogue. NEWS PRODUCTION NEWS By GREENROOM GERTIE died of natural causes. Blaster is not 20 MINUTES TOO LONG? related to Master Bates. Star Wars has been rewritten for DOME OP OK AFTER the stage, in a show that runs for just WIRELESS RAGE 20 minutes. It was first played CHAIR FALL Theatres in the UK are trying to recently in London, by the people The Boy from Oz company were have the law there changed to allow who (re) wrote the Complete Works shocked when followspot operator the use of mobile phone blockers of William Shakespeare in 90 Andrew Oakshot fell from his chair within the venue. Some actors have Minutes. CX applauds this initiative, above the stage, pre-show in adopted a policy of walking off stage having never quite ‘got’ the six Adelaide. It appears that he was not if a mobile phone rings. More than movies despite having seen them all. connected to the fall arrest system at 75% of audiences agree that a ban, the time. Local safety inspectors are or electronic spectrum blocking, or on investigating. Although hospitalised the spot fines, should be introduced. PIGEONS UPSTAGE Andrew is said to have been very FESTIVAL fortunate, CX was told he is expected REPENT, AND HE DID The Quadrangle Festival at to make a full recovery. Just how civilised the theatre Texarkana, Texas featured more than industry can be … Director Tim bands. Some of the 40,000 punters at BLASTER BATES Highman was sacked by the Theatre this year’s event were startled to see EXPIRES Royal, Stratford East after the venue suicide pigeons. It appears the birds According to The Stage (London), alleged thirty thousand pounds went had consumed poisoned corn at an Blaster Bates has died at of missing. He made a full confession adjoining farm. An ice cream vendor 83. He was a demolition guy whose and apology, repaid the money, and told Pollstar magazine that he saw a use of explosives ended up the topic told the industry that his actions were pigeon nose dive onto the concrete. of a one man show that toured the incomprehensible. After obtaining “It just kind of hobbled over and UK. His slogan was “I’ll blast counselling, he found a job in another around and sat there and twitched”, anything” and he had a habit of company, whose management were he reported. This is now an extra line carrying around some spare dynamite fully aware of his mistake. Could that item for every festival safety in his pockets. Just in case. Blaster happen in Australia? officer……

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ONLY IN EUROPE For a sociocultural event you can’t go past the Zürich Love Parade. It lasts from lunch till midnight. More than 35 “Love Mobiles” parade through the streets running at about half a mile per hour. I’d just love one of those to come past my place. They are long-bed trucks equipped with powerful sound systems, foam firing cannons, DJ booths, and Go Go platforms- basically dance music factories on wheels. More than a million people attend this, umm, event. The history of the Zurich Street Parade goes back to 1992, when a Swiss student conceived an event based on Love, Freedom, Tolerance and Generosity. Although nobody believed in this student’s project, two thousand people gathered together dancing freely along the streets of Zurich for an entire day in front of the flabbergasted local authorities. The number of ‘demonstrators’ grew from year to year to such degree that nowadays the Street Parade is considered the cities largest peaceful street event. Strangely, even though the weather this year was cold and wet, the audience had a good time. In the entertainment production biz, we embrace anything that rents our equipment. But maybe we feel uneasy about our audiences being so whacked on illegal drugs that they feel no pain…..

Imagine this lot driving past YOUR house at midnight.

HIT US with the News… [email protected]

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