Update message! (Drummer's special)

So this is now really more for drummers, but however, I thought it's worth it to post this one - after long discussions between myself and several glasses of beer :) -

In my previous post you read that I was quite happy to have my drums @ Rock Hal, but here below you will see how I finally structured my Toms and Octos. The issue for me was that I really intended to include the Octos in my basic drumming, but they have, up to last Friday, always been set-up left sided. Even by using another snare, it was really complicated to use them more than only for effects and stuff like that. Well, the solution was to get rid of the "old-fashioned", or let's call it "traditional" way of setting up the drums. I simply used the space where the smallest toms (8" and 10") have been sitting and placed the Octos right there.

 As you can see this works out, but if I want to keep the 3 Toms together, it means that the 8" has to be right at the top of the 10" and 12" or I shift everything to my right side. I went for the unusual solution, but hey, I can tell you, after a 30min trial, I would never ever change this again. I get much more speed, accuracy and power. Especially when it comes to really fast track breaks. (Always depending which kind of style you are playing). Sure, having 3 toms in an equilateral triangle*, the moves become much closer, there is no more left to right (for lefties: right to left) upper body turn if I just play the toms. When including the Octos into a break, the turn will stay, but at least I manage to include them. So  here we go, I have exactly what I needed: Octos included in each kind of break.

Furthermore, as I am using 3 snares, I now have enough space to place them "strategically" correct.
I did not try them three last Friday, but I will certainly do next time and if the beers still manage to persuade me to create a post for that event, you  will find it on this blog latest Sunday19th Nov (late night)

I can tell you, this set-up rocks.
As evidence: Have a look on the pic that Yves took on me right after the rehearsal ;)

Oh, I forgot to say that we worked also on a new song. Nevermind.
Stay tuned.
Chris

* I love this language ;) lol - to be honest, I have no damn clue if my 3 toms are set equilateral, but this word sounds f***ing good!

Update message!

Finally I was able to put my own Drums into Rock Hal.
This is very important for further development of our songs.

Next Friday, I will add some more stuff and in a near future I will also add my SPD20 electronic pad.

 Above, you can see one of the best Sare drums actually on the market. I am very happy to have this integrated into my set and this one made it quite quickly to my main snare.

Last but not least I'd like to thank Jacques from Rockhal for making it possible.

Plan B

Previousely titled as "Plan B" and also available on YouTube. This part has been taken while we were in a totally creative phase of composing. (Recorded with a mobile)
Enjoy ;)

Blackwater news

As some of you requested to hear something we are actually working on, we took the decision to not only record a song and post it, but to camcord ourselves and create a kind of video foretaste.
What you will see and hear is the first part of a song called Blackwater. The reason to choose this song is that it is representing in a short frame what we intend to do. Unfortunately this is the Intro of the song and the vocals will not be part of it. However, this fact gave more time to Nico to create the pictures. (Thank you Nic) Also we just want to point out that this is the first time a song has been taped together with our new member Nicolas. We are now complete and on the best way to present ourselves in 2013.
Enjoy.

Welcome Nicolas

After the last few rehearsals we were very happy about the progresses we made, but at some stage we all felt that there is something more to happen. So we came to the conclusion to look out for another musician at our side.

After we had some disappointing  experiences, last Friday we faced Nicolas Parcollet. As he is a very open minded and friendly guy, we started rehearsing with a very good feeling and we have not been deceived.

Without willing to go too deep into details, I tell you that he was adding some really good parts to our songs and has a very creative mind, which made it absolutely easy to work together.
At the end we had some discussions in another pub in Dudelange and we are mow more than happy to anounce that Nicolas agreed to join the Band.

Herebelow the link to his homepage where you will certainly be as impressed as we were when we first called it up ;)
Enjoy.
 

www.nico-parcollet.com

Vocal experiences and creative flows

Last Friday, we had a very exciting rehearsal. Especially because it started as usual but this lasted just as long as Mulles started to play some kind of new riff. It felt extremely catchy and we were launched. We extended the riff rhythmically and created a whole basis for a new song.

Yves' thoughts went to the more melodic aspects and by doing this the result was a 3 voices volcal part. We took the time to develop this and the result was just amazing.

After the rehearsal we had a few beers, but this time we really deserved it ;) (As you can see below)

Deadlines, Projects and funny rehearsals

Even if no further information was posted since a while, After Tank is still going on. We needed to set the deadline for being ready to the end of 2012. It is crucial to have a fixed date ahead if we want to progress. Without, we'd just feel having all the time in the world and would just spending too much time on analysing and correcting the songs. (Believe me, I know what I am talking about)

However, as you can see on the below picture (Yes, it's all in Lux) we still have fun while rehesrsing. We are actually moving in an "free your mind and love to everybody"  phase. Don't know how this came up but it's really funny hearing Nico say, after having played a heavy and sub-grooving part of a song, "Oh, that was cute and now we are going to dance our names. Who will begin?" Well this has been refined and brings a lot of side jokes during our rehearsings.

The next projects we are focussing are to tape our songs in an adequate quality and to create a new home page.
(The link will be presented within this blog.)

See you soon.
Chris

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of you from us, After Tank!

I know it's a while ago since I posted something here but the reason is that we focussed on composings and had nothing really new to post (appart the fact that we progressed better than we thought)

Furthermore, we have had some separate rehearsals over the winter holiday period.
What does this mean? Well, Yves, Mulles and Nico worked separately on some new songs on a very acoustic basis, while I was rehearsing for the Christmas Concert with Harmonie Forge du Sud of Dudelange, a local Brass Band. (http://hafosud.de.tl/Home.htm)
The best about this was that, beside having a complete different musical approach as usual, we met right after the rehearsals and exchanged our experiences. For Yves, Mulles and Nico it was a complete new composing attitude and for me a trip back in time. All in all the guys made another song and collected a few very good Ideas for further songs whereas I was able to refresh some "classic" percussion and drumming basics I wasn't practicing since the last 15 years.

From now on, you will have regular updates at this place. Pictures, Videos (better than  the very bad one I took with my tab while trying to play with one hand only. Beware: Very low sound quality) will take place as well as informations about upcoming events.
So, the whole Band hopes you'll stay tuned ;)

Have a nice one,
Chris