Karrie Keyes interview (PJ Monitor Engineer)

[LuNY]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the ... 3f81e447ae

[rick malone]

"A fan since the early 90s, I knew that each and every show was unique and phenomenal because McCready, Cameron, Vedder, Gossard, Ament, and later – Gaspar – always gave 100 percent to their performances."

Has Boom's sound even been turned on the last five years? Nobody pretends he's a real member.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[LuNY]

Nice read, thanks for posting. But we all agree that Pearl Jam has pretty crummy sound, right? As the monitor engineer, it's not Ms. Keyes fault. But I'm just so sick of arena bands pumping the kick drum and bass up so high that you spend the whole show surrounded by a constant rumbling.

That has more to do with the venue. I love their live sound, Ed's vocals sound so round and full live, sounds clear to me, but I understand what you mean. Sound bounces around and echoes and it can get muddy, but that's with every live band, usually in arenas. The bass and drums sound clear to me at PJ shows, but I do recall some shows from the past that were not as clear sounding because of the space they were playing. I think live sound has come a long way in recent years. I just saw the Chili Peppers at MSG on 2/17, amazing sound, and the light show was out of this world!

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Strat]

Karrie Keyes gave me a backstage tour before the 2000 detroit show. She is wonderful

[Jorge]

The sound has always been bad the few times I've seen them live. Guitars are so fucking feeble.

[bodysnatcher]

The sound has always been bad the few times I've seen them live. Guitars are so fucking feeble.

They're just mimicking their modern studio sound

[Norah]

I don't recall having an issue with their live sound in 2000, 2003, or 2004, but in 2006 I remember not being able to hear Mike very well and it took me out of the shows. Since then it's been wildly inconsistent. Hartford 2010 probably was the best sounding post 2004 show I went to.

[Bammer]

I don't recall having an issue with their live sound in 2000, 2003, or 2004, but in 2006 I remember not being able to hear Mike very well and it took me out of the shows. Since then it's been wildly inconsistent. Hartford 2010 probably was the best sounding post 2004 show I went to.

GTFO with that weak probably shit. Was Hartford 2010 the best or was it not?

[Strat]

I don't recall having an issue with their live sound in 2000, 2003, or 2004, but in 2006 I remember not being able to hear Mike very well and it took me out of the shows. Since then it's been wildly inconsistent. Hartford 2010 probably was the best sounding post 2004 show I went to.

thats because you liked pearl jam back then.

I really feel like their sound has been consistent over the years. it all depends on the venue and where you are sitting. Its a big arena band so it is what it is.

[evenslow]

I don't recall having an issue with their live sound in 2000, 2003, or 2004, but in 2006 I remember not being able to hear Mike very well and it took me out of the shows. Since then it's been wildly inconsistent. Hartford 2010 probably was the best sounding post 2004 show I went to.

thats because you liked pearl jam back then.

I really feel like their sound has been consistent over the years. it all depends on the venue and where you are sitting. Its a big arena band so it is what it is.

ding ding ding ding ding
strat, as always, measured and wise. the rabbi of RM.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

The problem with PJ's sound is that their PA is way too quiet. Unless you are within 100 feet of the stage, you are going to hear a big wash of unintelligable echoey shit, which I have experienced even directly in front of the soundboard, which would indicate that their soundman is hearing the same barrage of shit. The only comments that I've heard about their sound being "great" was from Ten Club dorks who were standing right in the front.

I have a friend who was at the Saratoga 2000 show, and he thought it was a terrible show until he heard the bootleg and he couldn't believe it was the same horrible-sounding show that he saw.

There is no reason they can't turn their volume up a little bit, or at least do some research as to how they can get a good sound in the entire venue. I've seen Radiohead in venues that are twice as big, and their sound is always flawless no matter where you are standing. So I don't buy into that "they're an arena band" bullshit.

[evenslow]

So I don't buy into that "they're an arena band" bullshit.

Are you trying to say that RM's favorite rabbinical uncle - Strat - is a bullshit artist?

[96583UP]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-sound-behind-pearl-jam_us_58b0fc10e4b02f3f81e447ae

hilarious

FERGUSON: For those who are unaware of what a sound engineer does, can you explain your role in the band’s performance?

KEYES: On the level of Pearl Jam there are several different positions on the sound crew. Usually, the first person hired on the sound crew is the FOH Engineer who mixes the sound the audience hears. Usually, followed by a Monitor Engineer (my job) that mixes the sound the band hears onstage.

My job is considered one of the more difficult jobs on tour. It can be a volatile position. By the time the band walks on the stage, they are full of adrenaline and focused on playing, and they don’t want to deal with sound issues. And sometimes there are sound issues that you are not in control of. The mix I can be sending them sounds just fine, but we might be battling weather. We could be battling the acoustics of the room. And sometimes it’s just battling the mood of whatever musician you are dealing with. My job is 50% skill in knowing how to deal with those issues, and some of it’s psychology, and some of it is just being able to stand there and take the brunt of whatever is going on and not react to it. And that just comes from experience.

maybe because you suck at doing this? men sound engineers don't have this problem, according to the POTUS