#right as i finished stage2????

[youaremysunshine-court]

genshin fucking crashed on me...

[thekingofgear]

EOB Feb 2020 Tour Pedalboards

Ed at his pedalboard in Chicago on February 8, 2020. Photo by jules.is.tired.

Ed recently finished his album release tour across North America in support of Earth, with a live band consisted of guitarist Ross Chapman, bassist Dishan Abrahams, keyboardist Hinako Omori, and drummer Alvin Ford Jr. Ed picked these musicians to realize Earth in a live context (they didn’t play on the album itself), with a relatively stripped-down setup – at least compared to the expansive studio setup discussed in the last post. The amps are on the small side, and Ed’s using some Fender Acoustasonics, but there’s still a hefty quartet of pedalboards assembled by TheGigRig.com and even some MIDI syncronization. The tour brought Ed the size of venue that he’s rarely played since the 90s, with far more fan interaction than would be possible at a Radiohead show. One result is a wealth of photos that provide endless details of the band’s full setup, so for now we’ll just tackle the pedalboards.

Ed O’Brien’s Pedalboard

Ed’s pedalboard in Toronto on February 7, 2020. Photo by @andyschwartz.

A closeup of Ed’s pedalboard in Chicago on February 8, 2020. Photo by @andyschwartz.

Unused jacks on the back of Ed’s pedalboard in New York on February 10, 2020. Photo by Yasuko.

Ed’s signal chain:

TheGigRig.com Three:2:One

RJM Mastermind PBC/10 pedal switcher

BOSS EQ-200

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Deluxe compressor

Hudson Electronics Sidecar overdrive

Kingsly Page overdrive

Digitech Whammy V pitch shifter

Meris Polymoon delay

Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man 1100-TT delay

Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe delay

Strymon Timeline delay

Catalinbread Epoch Pre preamp

Pedaltrain Classic 2 pedalboard

The RJM Mastermind is a pedal switcher with 10 loops, and the pedals labeled 1 to 10 are connected to the RJM in that order. At the first show of the tour, the RJM had a “TheGigRig.com” sticker over the name, but this sticker was removed by the second show. This is the first time since 2013 that Ed’s pedalboard hasn’t included a TheGigRig.com G2 pedal switcher, which also has 10 effects loops. Even Ed’s pedalboards for the recording of Earth featured a G2. This makes it likely that the RJM has a benefit specific to live performance – perhaps extended MIDI capabilities.

The TheGigRig.com Three:2:One is most likely used to enable quick switching between guitars. Ed only has cables plugged into two of its three inputs, so the third position is most likely used as a mute switch.

These shows were also the first time Ed publicly used his BOSS EQ-200, Catalinbread Epoch Pre, Meris Polymoon, and Hudson Electronics Sidecar. But Ed previously mentioned the EQ-200 in an interview for the book Pedal Crush: “I’m excited about the new BOSS programmable EQ pedals. The EQing of sound in the studio is key. I love the idea of a pedal that can store EQ settings that you can change mid-song... or even mid-note! I like those places in between, and the movement between each setting.” In the same interview, Ed mentioned using his wah pedal to “sculpt the EQ,” so perhaps it’s unsurprising that this is Ed’s first live board to lack a wah pedal in fifteen years!

The Catalinbread Epoch Pre was also mentioned in Pedal Crush, alongside the Catalinbread Belle Epoch Deluxe delay which Ed has used since 2017. “Catalinbread’s Belle Epoch Deluxe is my favorite-sounding delay pedal, but I’m not sure I can use it live, as I need a tap tempo. The Epoch preamp is fantastic too; it sits right at the end of my chain, before the amp, and makes it all sound proper!” It looks like Ed was able to make the Belle Epoch delay work in a live context, even if it is next to three delays with tap tempo.

In Pedal Crush, Ed also outed himself as a fan of Tubescreamer-based pedals. “I’m pretty late to Tubescreamers, but I love them now.” That said, Ed has used quite a few Tubescreamer variants since the early-2000s, and the Hudson Electronics Sidecar is another addition to that list. The Sidecar is essentially a Tubescreamer with a 2-band EQ, which is more versatile than the single tone knob more offten found on Tubescreamers. Ed hasn’t discussed the Meris Polymoon previously, but it’s hardly a surprise to see him using one given the affection he’s had towards cascading delays since the mid-90s.

Ross Chapman’s Pedalboard

Ross’s pedalboard in New York on February 10, 2020. Photo by @jnl.000.

The ins and outs of Ross’s pedalboard in New York on February 10, 2020. Photo by Yasuko.

Ross’s signal chain:

RJM Mastermind PBC/10 pedal switcher

Digitech Whammy V pitchshifter*

MWFX Judder**

Diamond Comp Jr

Barber Gain Changer SR

Strymon Sunset overdrive (labeled “6”)

Free The Tone PA-10F programmable 10-band EQ (labeled “5”)

Meris Hedra

Strymon Mobius modulator (labeled “3”)

Strymon Timeline delay (labeled “2”)

Source Audio Ventris reverb (labeled “1”)

Moog EP3 expression pedal

Temple Audio pedalboard

Palmer DMS (Dynamic Mic Switcher)

As with Ed’s pedalboard, the RJM Mastermind is a pedal switcher with 10 loops, and the pedals labeled 1 to 10 are connected to the RJM in that order (even though the labels on the pedals themselves are in reverse order).

*Ross uses some interesting techniques with the Whammy. One is keeping his foot on the Whammy treadle and wiggling it lightly for some subtle pitch variation. Another is turning the pedal’s knob with his foot to glitchily jump between multiple pitches.

**To create dynamic jutters, Ross adjusts the “BPM” knob of this pedal with his foot while holding down the “tap” foot switch.

Dishan Abrahams’s Pedalboard

Dishan Abrahams’s pedalboard from tour rehearsals in Wales in January, 2020. Photo by Dishan Abrahams.

Dishan’s signal chain:

TheGigRig.com Three:2:One

TheGigRig.com G2

TC Electronic Polytune 3

Ernie Ball VP 40th Anniversary Edition volume pedal

Mission Engineering expression pedal

Origin Effects Cali76 compressor

Malekko Diabolik fuzz

Source Audio C4 Synth

Empress ZOIA

Future Impact

BOSS OC3 Octave

Hamstead Subspace overdrive

Tech 21 SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI

The G2 is a pedal switcher with 10 loops, but the order of the effects in unknown. However, the Polytune is definitely connected to the G2′s Tuner/Aux Out, given that nothing is connected to its output jack. Dishan posted the pedalboard on Instagram on February 3, thanking Dan, Jake, and Joe from TheGigRig.com for their help assembling the board. It looks like the SansAmp might be used primarily for preset tone/EQ options, since nothing is connected to the DI output, but that may just be because this photo is from rehearsals.

Hinako Omori’s Pedalboard

Hinako’s setup from tour rehearsals in Wales in January 2020. Photo by Ross Chapman.

Hinako’s signal chain:

Board 1:

RJM Mastermind LT MIDI controller

Sustain pedal (Sequential OB6)

Sustain pedal (Clavia Nord Stage2)

Palmer DMS (Dynamic Mic Switcher)

Board 2:

Kenton THRU-12 MIDI Thru distributor

Empress Ecosystem delay

Chase Bliss Thermae delay

Pigtronix Infinity looper

Strymon Timeline delay

Earthquaker Devices Avalanche Run delay/reverb

Earthquaker Devices Space Spiral delay

Digitech Whammy V pitchshifter

RJM Effect Gizmo #1

RJM Effect Gizmo #2

RJM Effect Gizmo #3

The three RJM Effect Gizmos are under the pedalboard, but visible from the three sets of audio jacks sticking out from the back of the board.

It’s worth noting that while Ed, Ross, and Dishan are all using pedal switchers, Hinako is using an RJM MIDI controller. Since the MIDI controller can only send MIDI messages, it does not connect directly to pedals and cannot switch them directly. However, the MIDI controller can switch pedals when connected to a RJM Effect Gizmo (a compact switcher box). In fact, since 2017 Thom Yorke has used a similar setup with an RJM Mastermind GT/10 for his solo tour pedalboard. So what is the benefit of using an RJM MIDI controller instead of the RJM pedal switcher? It allows the user to more easily control a variety of destinations with a single button press. Most likely, Hinako uses the MIDI controller to switch synth presets and other settings in addition to switching pedals, making it much faster to change sounds between or during songs. This is likely the case, since Hinako is using a Kenton THRU-12 MIDI Thru distributor with nine of its twelve MIDI outputs in use, meaning that the RJM is controlling at least nine different destinations.

And although drummer Alvin Ford Jr doesn’t use a pedalboard, he does use a Tama Iron Cobra kick pedal.

[nellpire]

[171222] Nell Official 2017 Photobook Fan Q&A (translation)

1. You are about to reach your 20th anniversary.. What do you think when you see fans maturing(!) together with you? Do you have any questions for the fans? Jongwan: Standing tickets or seated tickets, what’s better? Jaekyung: Though it’s intimate, since we only meet in concert halls, sometimes it feels a bit surreal^^  We can’t meet often but I’m always happy and grateful to see you… - A question for the fans / Why do you like Nell…?  Junghoon: I’m always thankful. And I feel a sense of kinship with you since we’re maturing together. And of course happy that we’ve been able to be together for this long through music.

2. What part of the chicken do you guys like the best?  Jongwan: Wings Jaekyung: Hahahaha / Wings vs tenderloin Junghoon: For chicken, wings are the way to go.

3. Please introduce your individual instruments! I want to organize Nell’s room. Please check any incorrect entries.  Jongwan: I think they’re too many to introduce; when we record we use about 13 different guitars and 12 different synthesizers.  Jaekyung: If I were to introduce the ones we use for concerts only.. Fender stratocaster (lemon) - Jeff beck signature Fender stratocaster (red) - Greg tessler masterbuilt PRS-custom24 Suhr - Scott Henderson signature Gibson 355 - Standard Gibson 355 - Historic Gibson Lespaul 59 - Historic Schecter Telecaster - Lee Jaekyung Custom model (a gift from Schecter Japan~^^) James Tyler Telecaster - Mongoose Retro Gene Baker B3 - Humburker Gene Baker B3 - P90 Morgan Acoustic Guitar - Jumbo orchestra  Taylor Guitar - 414CE Nylon Bogner Shiva amp 20th anniversary Nord stage2 88

4. What is ripped jeans to Jongwan wanja-nim? Jongwan: Clothes that would be okay even if they ripped even more.

5. Which instrument does Jongwan feel the coolest while playing? Wan is cute when playing the drums!  Jongwan: Guitar

6. How do each of you deal with stress? Jongwan: Alcohol, sleep Jaekyung: Deep sleep or heavy exercise Junghoon: Movies, games, music, travel Jaewon: Alcohol, friends, parties

7. I’ve just come back to Korea after studying in Russia for 6 years. I learned that Russian people all enjoy rock music (I often saw grandmothers with Nickelback songs for their ringtone and grandfathers with AC/DC for their ringtones. Seriously…!). Do you have any plans to advance into Russia?  Jongwan: Spasiba Jaekyung: We went with Seo Taiji to perform in Vladivostok in 2004, and I could feel how the country loves rock music. How much they like alcohol and how cold it is also suits Nell well k I’d like to try it if we get a chance.  Junghoon: Any place where people listen to our music and we can perform would be good, of course. Russia go go.

8. Is there a Korean musician who you want to be like or respect? Also, is there a person who you look at and think ‘let’s not become like them’? For the last question I’m more curious about whether you have someone like that or not, not who it is.  Jongwan: I respect Lee Seunghwan-nim / Way too many Junghoon: I respect all musicians who go forward playing their own music, whether they are seniors or juniors. As for the last question, we definitely do.

9. Do you have any plans on doing this (Q&A) regularly? Aren’t you curious about the fans’ thoughts? Jongwan: We have ‘plans’.  Jaekyung: I think it’d be fun to do this in some shape or form every once in a while!

10. What electronics or instruments are you interested in recently? Jongwan: UNFAIRCHILD 670 M II  Junghoon: Playstation VR / Rolan Gaia

11. What song would you like to play a cover of at least once? Jaekyung: Purple Rain - Prince (even though not doing it would be better) Jongwan: Hallelujah, Jeff Buckley version

12. Any songs you want to play as Jung Jaewon band? kk Jaekyung: Beat it - Michael Jackson (even though not doing it would be better) Junghoon: Celine Dion’s Power of Love Jongwan: Nessun Dorma

13. Can you recommend us a movie, exhibition, concert, book etc that you’ve enjoyed this year?  Jongwan: I, Daniel Blake Jaewon: The movie Maudie Junghoon: Manchester by the Sea, and for concerts Depeche Mode

14. If you could transcend time and space and meet one person in the whole world, who would it be?  Jongwan: It’s not a person, but I’d like to see a huge dinosaur in real life. Junghoon: Rather than a meeting, I’d like to go to a Nirvana concert.

15. If you could give the fans anything (with no regards to cost, and it doesn’t need to be an object) what would it be? Jaekyung: Our unreleased songs (minus the bad ones k)

16. Jaekyung oppa, when you record entire concerts the file size must be insane, so how many external hard drives do you have? Do you have more Kumamon plushies or more external hard drives?  Jaekyung: I have 5 hard drives. And I have 2 Kumamons that the fans gave to me k (the picture I uploaded on instagram was taken in a store hahaha)

17. Which out of your own songs are you the most pleased with? Jongwan: ‘What do you think’ Jaekyung: ‘Farewell’ Junghoon: ‘12 Seconds’ Jaewon: ‘12 Seconds’

18. If someone other than Jongwan hyung-nim were to take the role of vocalist in Nell, who would suit it the best? Jongwan: There’s no way.

19. Can you please show us the Selfish Love music video just one more time? Jongwan: No. Jaekyung: We can’t.  Junghoon: How could we ever?

20. Jaekyung-nim, you know you’re good-looking, right? Jaekyung: Of course^^

21. I’m curious about your individual ways of overcoming painful experiences (alcohol and cigarettes, that’s no no, minus those two!)  Jongwan: The thought that I would still have a hard time even if this didn’t happen. Jaekyung: If I can solve it then I do, and if I can’t then I do as much as I can, accept it and let time heal. Junghoon: I just keep thinking about it. Immerse myself in it. Then it will slowly start to get better.

22. If you only had one day left to live, how would you spend it? Jongwan: First I’d say goodbye to my family, then spend 8 hours in the studio before putting on a concert and finishing off with an afterparty with people I love.  Jaekyung: I don’t know if there’s anything specific I’d want to do -- I think I’d listen to the songs we were unable to finish and then say my goodbyes.  Junghoon: I’d be with my family. Jaewon: I’d watch the sunset by the ocean.

23. How come Junghoon has never once shown us a bass solo? And as you always use a pick instead of fingering (of course using a pick will sound better on some songs but), is there a reason for that?  Junghoon: I will work hard.

24. How do you release everyday stress?  Jongwan: Travel

25. What pictures do you use as your kakaotalk profile pictures and cover photos.. k (Jaekyung uses a cover photo of a street full of fallen leaves and no profile photo, Jaewon uses a picture from the movie Maudie)

26. I’m curious about the members’ favorite movies. Also, is there a movie that has influenced your music, like how you got your name from the movie Nell? Jongwan: Stay, Never let me go Junghoon: I like too many movies so it’s hard to choose, but Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind comes to mind.  Jaewon: Lords of Dogtown, Stand By Me, Gilbert Grape

27. If you were a color, what would it be? And please tell us the reason as well. Jongwan: Grey Jaekyung: (picture of… the moon..?)

I love you. Junghoon: Me too.

28. Who cries the most out of the members? Jongwan: Me and Jaewon. Junghoon: Could be me. Jaewon: I don’t know who does the most, but Jaekyung cries the least.

29. Who do you think will get married next? Jongwan: Don’t

30. I’m sad because I can’t go to this year’s christmas concert, and I’m a 13-year fan who wishes to receive a signed CD at some point. I like you so much that I want to ask a question this badly. I love how pretty the album art is; do you decide on the design yourselves? Jongwan: We decide on the concept, the designer makes the art.

31. To. Jung Jaewon / Do you have other hobbies aside from surfing and skateboarding?  Jaewon: Drawing, hiking.

32. To. NELL & SPACE BOHEMIAN / Who first coined the phrase ‘seubo-in’?? Do you like it? Jongwan: I like it. Junghoon: Was it Jongwan who used it first? I don’t know too well, but I like it.

33. Is there a singer you’d like to work with?  Jaewon: The late Shin Haecheol-nim.

34. Chicken vs Pizza Jaekyung: Pizza Junghoon: Chicken Jongwan: Complete victory by the pizza

35. Jongwan oppa, I remember hearing you say on Nell’s Cruel Radio that you like to read. Please recommend me a good book. Jongwan: Blindness (José Saramago)

36. What’s the most memorable performance you’ve seen? Jaekyung: I’ve seen too many, but the ones that come to mind now are Black Sabbath in Korea, 1995 / Steve Vai in Korea, 1997 / Metallica in Korea, 1998 / Roger Waters in Korea, 2002 / Marilyn Manson in Korea, 2003 / Nine Inch Nails in Korea, 2007 / Björk in New York, 2012 / Paul McCartney in Korea, 2015 / Among those, Roger Waters’ (Pink Floyd) concert was the most memorable to me. / As for Nell, it’ll be this year’s December concert. ^^  Junghoon: That’s a difficult question. Off the top of my head, The Verve live in Japan. Their charisma was astounding.

37. Do you have any thoughts of letting us know the lyrics in the backmasked parts of your songs? Jongwan: No. Junghoon: I don’t think so.

38. Can you reveal the playlists you’ve been listening to recently? Jongwan: Currently listening to this year’s Christmas concert setlist. Jaewon: Elbow, Death Cab for Cutie.

39. What are each of your favorite foods?! Jaekyung: Galbi, lobster, soy marinated crab, (bigmac)  Junghoon: Braised spicy chicken Jongwan: There’s too many. Beijing-style duck, steak, pasta, Pyongyang style cold noodles etc.

40. When will Jongwan oppa do a V app live in your house like you said you would? Junghoon: Did he say that? Jongwan: Soon.

41. Junghoon oppa, at some point you started recording the fans with your camcorder -- do you…watch those back..?? Also, you’re taking a lot of pictures with your film camera recently. Have you been influenced by Simz oppa to do that, or is there another reason? Please reveal a few cuts that you’re pleased with! Junghoon: I’ve seen all of them at least once. I edited some (of the videos) and posted them on social media. I was taking pictures with a digital camera using a filter to make the pictures look like they were taken with a film camera, and so I thought ‘if this is how it’ll turn out, I should buy an actual film camera’, so I did. I don’t know anything about photography so I’m just taking pictures with my P&S.

42. Please tell us a song you’re disappointed with from each album, or a song you don’t like, and the reason for your choices, please. Or an album you’re displeased with. Jongwan: Walk Through Me. I think we could give each song a more fitting sound if we were to record that album now.  Junghoon: ‘Reflection of’, ‘Speechless’. At the end of the day, it’s a pity how they turned out. If we had been a bit more skilled at recording and writing, I think they could have turned into a little bit, or a lot better albums.

43. If you were to be reincarnated, what would you like to be born as? Jongwan: A dolphin living in a place no human has ever touched. Junghoon: Wonbin.

44. What do you think when you see your increasing amount of male fans? I’m a fanboy too, haha!  Jongwan: It feels good. Jaekyung: It’s good to see. The sceaming (of the crowd) became thicker! I understand now!!  Junghoon: It’s great.

45. When do you recruit workers for Space Bohemian? (My ultimate goal is to become an employee there… just wait…)  Jongwan: 11AM~8PM

46. Do you use Logic (music editing software) or Pro Tools more? If you use both, which is better?  Jongwan: We don’t use Logic, we use Cubase and Pro Tools. We use Cubase up until the recording, then change to Pro Tools for the final phase.

47. Junghoon-nim, please let us know what brand of sunglasses you wear!  Junghoon: I wear several different ones, but my favorite is Karl Lagerfeldt.

48. I’m curious as to what you’re thinking about! Jongwan: It changes a lot. Jaekyung: I think most of what’s in my head goes into our albums!  Junghoon: All kinds of tremendous desires.

49. What is Bori’s gender?! Junghoon: She’s a girl

50. Is Junghoon-nim’s Bori doing well? Do you have any plans to open a separate instagram account with just pictures of her? Junghoon: Yes, she’s doing well. I don’t think I’ll make another instagram account.

51. I’ll give you a multiple choice question. How long will you continue making music? A. Until I die / B. Until all I have left is the strength to hold a spoon / C. For 50 more years / D. Until our 70th debut anniversary Jaekyung: A Junghoon: A Jongwan: If possible, A.

52. Is it okay to ask for a signature if I see you on the street? It is okay to let you know I know who you are? I love you.  Jaekyung: Yes.  Junghoon: Please be our friend. Jongwan: We don’t go out a lot, so.

53. What are your favorite Coldplay / Muse songs? Any songs you intend to play live sometime? Jaekyung: Coldplay: Gravity / Muse: Exogenesis: Symphony part 3 Junghoon: Coldplay: True Love / Muse: Stockholm Syndrome

54. What’s your most used apps?  Jongwan: Lotte cinema Jaekyung: Hi-Q recorder / Soundhound / Producer tools / Metronome / Boss tuner  Junghoon: Naver cloud. Coupang. Jaewon: Navigation.

55. Tell us about a movie you’ve seen within the last 3 months that left a deep impression, whether it was good or bad. Junghoon: The Outlaws. “Do you know who I am?”

56. What’s your favorite time of day?  Jongwan: 9PM~5AM. Jaekyung: One hour before the sun sets. Junghoon: The space between midnight and 4am. Jaewon: Just because the sun rises.

57. To Junghoon and Jaekyung: Who’s your Twice bias? Jaewon: Tzuyu.

58. To all: What’s your favorite cover of one of your songs? Jaekyung: Taeyeon’s Time Spent Walking Through Memories Jongwan: Kim Feel’s Time Spent Walking Through Memories. Jaewon: Time Spent Walking Through Memories.