08 Jul, 2009 WHISPER IT!
It was a test and a rather extreme one at that! A few nights ago and just after playing to 15,000 on a warm summer evening in a beautiful outdoors situation, we turned up no less than a day later to begin the first of two performances in an 800 capacity club that had all the hallmarks of a true sweatbox gig. Including low-level roof, no discernable air conditioning and an outside street temperature that was rapidly heading towards 25 degrees.
Seemingly in just 24 hours we had gone from the sublime to a sauna, and as much as there was real excitement in the air as stage time drew close, I could see that conditions were going to be far from comfortable.
Truth be told part of me was starting to wonder why we had accepted these couple of small club dates set bang in the middle of the busiest part of the tour – between Luxembourg and en route to Paris – within a period that included 7 shows in 8 days.
In any case we had agreed, and in further to that we decided not to go easy on ourselves despite the heat, and play the full 2-hour set as we did everywhere else. How we got through it I will never know especially as after only three songs I was standing on a stage the was covered in dripping sweat. How the audience got through it is another mystery as evidently they were as warm as we were.
But first I should say – touching wood, that seemingly I am quite unusual among many performers who sing for a living, in that I can usually do three and four shows in succession and all without worrying that my voice will let me down or be noticeably weakened by fatigue.
I say seemingly because the only evidence I have of this is from our crew and management personnel who also work with many other musicians etc, and are able to report that many other singers prefer to do two shows maximum followed by a day or two break – in order to not stretch their voices too much.
It is at this point that I am tempted to scream out “lightweights!” Particularly as most of the others are a good deal younger than me also. I will nevertheless resist the temptation to do that through fear of having opened my mouth too soon and as a result invited some adverse effect to start playing funny buggers with my tonsils. Is that not usually what happens after all?
And what is the secret behind my ability to consider sometimes as much as five – two hour shows in succession as manageable? It’s simple; I just make sure that wherever possible I do get plenty of rest particularly with the voice.
Basically it really means that my lips are sealed and I keep very quiet most days outside of actually singing and doing interviews. I usually forego even talking much with friends etc who like to come along to the concerts and they for the most part understand the reason why that is.
Take today for example where I have decided in order to have maximum vocal power for what is always looked on as an important date, that I should forego sound check completely. Knowing full that the band and crew can do so perfectly well without me, I will choose the set in advance but then hang back in the hotel as they set out to go through their paces. It means I can get a few more very quiet hours while they prepare in depth for what is hopefully a great night. It means I can recoup a little more strength after the last few nights energetic performances, and especially so after those that took place in the sweatbox!
For me to not do this would mean on the other hand turning up at the venue nearly a whole five hours before we play. Inevitably being in Paris it also means that I would bump into many old faces and before I know it would have spent one hour singing and three hours or so chit chatting away as is the norm. All of which would be pleasant and fine, but not the best thing to be doing when you are on a schedule like ours, playing the kind of intense two hour programmes that we do.
Of course touring in summer is easier than doing the same work in the heart of winter. Travelling is much easier for a start and in addition there is usually a lot less colds and viruses just waiting to be caught. Nevertheless again I need to be vigilant, as the air conditioning that is part of summer anywhere and everywhere tends to play havoc.
As for working in winter, well the same things apply, plus at the end of the show I am usually gone and out of the venue before the audience has left their row of seats. The fact is that I simply cannot risk hanging around chatting and shaking hands etc as freely as I like if I want to avoid cancelling concerts due to some bug or other that I have picked up.
That can be a drag of course, and I remember last year after playing in our hometown that I forced myself to skip the after show meet and greets with friends and family, as I wanted to maintain good form for the following shows. The audience deserve that after all, they pay good money and need to see us giving our max. That would not be possible without some care and considerations. A sacrifice? Maybe so, but well worth it in the end!
Jim Kerr