In some respects, it does depend on what the band in question is trying to achieve - if the live performance is considered an absolutely essential and implicit part of the bands direction (i.e. a rock band that wishes to associate its sound and image with its onstage presence, such as "man, those guys really ROCK live!"), then the live performance is definately the way to go; it allows a band to really develop themselves on the spot without the distractions that continual practices tend to have. On the other hand, if a group or artist chooses to focus on grounding themselves in a purely media-based environment, then for the purposes of honing one's skills to suit that format, less of the 'live' and more time in the studio would be the obvious choice.

Speaking from experience, in my last (rock) band we didn't play that much in a live setting which was probably to our own detriment, as we ended up succumbing to the 'practice distractions' that invariably cause a lot of internal problems. As hindsight is 20/20, I really regret not putting more time into live shows instead of attempting to create a 'perfect' product or sound in the rehearsal room; I think had we (I) made more of an effort to "get out there" more often things would have turned out a lot differently!

Well, I picked up a 2nd-hand DOD Digi Delay / Sampler in Auckland on a whim a few years ago, and it ended up being my staple guitar effect in my last band for 3 odd years - perhaps to the point of being overdone however! I also used a Boss Chorus II on some earlier songs for that early 90's grunge feel, but haven't had the need for it over the last 2 years. I also use a Boss 6-band EQ for that little bit of extra bass "grunt", or as a third channel on my Marshall to create a nice fuzzy mid-distortion in between the nice jangly clean and the blow-yer-head-off JCM900 overdrive. Way way back in the day I used to own a little Zoom digi effects unit, but had to sell it to make rent :-( Still wish I had that now - most of the guitar simulations were crap, but you could create some wierd and wonderful soundscapes and random noises when it was fully cranked up.

*double hug*

Aw dude, that's no good you're feeling low...

Interesting issue though. Most mental illness (for want of a better term for depression) is a culturally defined phenomenon; it's prevalence within our peer group / generation can probably be attributed to a number of factors in this increasingly rationalised society. We live a consumerist environment, always buying new toys and new ways to "find" happiness, even education and ambition are a marketable commodity; with so much emphasis on 'filling the gap' with materialistic pursuits, it's no wonder a large chunk of the younger population have had their brains hardwired and conditioned to 'needing' continual instantaneous gratification and fullfillment on a material and mental level 24-7...our everyday 'depression' in that regard is simply the product of disappointments wrought from the inherent idealism drummed into us from day one. Go flush that playstation down the toilet and take a walk :-) Stop looking for a way to alleviate your percieved emotional shortcomings... It's a natural human emotion after all. It's ok to feel down, and to admit that you feel down...Just say "I feel down today." That's real, and it's true, it's logical and fulfilling. Embrace it for the friend it is, light/dark, duality, complexity. It's all good bro...

Thanks again for the great jam on Sunday guys. Rewind and Thingymebob are sounding awesome. I get the feeling that Phil is going to be responsible for an awful lot of laughter-related injuries with that new kit of his...

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse