Hi headbangers!
Welcome Back on Hellfan for this brand new interview! This week, Aldo find out how to contact Headcharger, a french metal band from Caen (lower normandy), to ask them his famous questions about Hellfest! Enjoy this article while listening to their son "All Night Long" on Youtube, avaible at the bottom of this page!
Alexis
This week, we have the pleasure to chat with Sébastien and Florian, respectively lead siner and backliner of French Norman band HEADCHARGER. As they took part of HELLFEST 2011 edition, we found it normal to gather their point of view about Clisson’s Festival.
Aldo - Can you please present yourself and your band?
Seb - Hi, we are HEADCHARGER, french band playing Rock Metal. We are close to releasing our fifth album, and prepare to relevant tours and meetings. Actually, all that is part of the story of a Rock Band.
HEADCHARGER was part the HELLFEST 2011 edition’s line up. Did you ever attend one of the previous editions in the audience before playing there. What did you think about it?
Actually I remember being part of the festival that preceded HELLFEST (a.k.a FURY FEST) in 2003 and 2004 with DOGGYSTYLE (NB: hardcore band in which founding members of HEADCHARGER used to play). Since then, I attended several edition as a spectator, or as a band member. Everytime, this moment has great value to us. There you meet all the people you cross on the road all through the year. Also you discover some new stuff. You actually find ther all that makes HELLFEST one of the Festivals that count…
Who initiated first contact. Was it the band, or was it HELLFEST PROD ? When did it occur ?
I can’t remember how it happened. Our booking agent and record company handled all the stuff. All I can remember is that we got in touch in order to replace BLACKRAIN, as they passed up because of unsatisfying schedule of their gig, on their point of view. O nour side there was no hesitation: we had to come and play. As long as conditions are fine enough for us and the audience, there we are to play…
How and when is scheduling decided ?
Considering all those concerts proposed, you don’t even think about scheduling matters. Of course, we would have prefered to play later in daytime, though we would have never been choosy, and according to the amount of people attending our gig, we were right.
How many people are involved in HEADCHARGER’s road crew ?
Three techs ride with us on the road. Our tour manager Cedric manages all issues for us, Florian is our backliner, and takes care about us on stage. Finally, Guyom, our sound tech, is in charge of sound for the audience. In brief terms, we are five people on stage, but the three of them are quite important, so that the show goes on the best way.
How did the band prepare to this concert ?
As often, we were touring at that time, so that concerts were following each other. I think that the best way to get ready for that kind of gig is to focus on what really matters. Playing times are often limited, so you don’t really have the time to ask yourself questions…
Before each tour, we spend some time rehearsing all together. This is time for musicians to make their mark regarding new tunes, in stage conditions that are much different from simple rehearsal. On our side, as the road crew it is a way to try things concerning sound, like chosing the right mikes, determine the best tone for instruments, and so on… When you’re playing in a festival, we only have time to line check, prepare instruments and amps, then we set the mikes, all this being done before stage turnover. Then we roll everything onstage, and we’re almost ready to go! Each one of us knows his part, it’s fast and efficient, and all the time that we save is helpful for the band. When stage manager asks if you’re ready, that means « Now » !!
What did you learn living this experience ? I think you don’t manage a festival concert the same way you do in a club, and some mistakes have to be avoided…
This reaches to what I told you earlier: you just have to focus on what really matters. You always learn a lot when you are in position to watch those « big machines » working. There you realize that nothing’s left to chance. I think that some details make the difference.
This is also interesting to see how some bands work onstage. There you realize that everybody has little hacks to save time while setting on stage, or to amp an instrument…all this is made for musician’s welfare an efficiency!
I guess you enjoyed the Fest…What do you remind about it ?
As each time you have chance to be part of that kind of event, you obviously have a bunch of stories to tell. On a musical point of view, I remind Clutch’s concert as being like a slap on my face. Nothing much, just the right thing…Their set was so classy. Then we also remind that big after-party in the VIP corner…
On your point of view, what makes HELLFEST so special, as an artist, and also as a spectator ?
I think that being a french festival is what makes this event so special. You’re obviously proud of having this kind of event in your homeland. To launch this, you need guys who believe in that kind of project and have balls enough to get into it. Today HELLFEST is one of those that count, and this is well deserved.
Huge thanks to Sébastien and Florian for their availability
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