In the eighth installment of All About Wireless, we will identify several common sources of noise that affect wireless microphone and IEM systems.
In the seventh installment of All About Wireless, we will continue our focus on transmission lines, examining the importance of impedance matching, the effect of standing waves, and the implications of transmitting RF over fiber optic cables.
Biketopia is a traveling music collective using pedal power to raise environmental awareness and amplify their concerts. Shure spoke with the cycling musician-activists during their recent summer tour.
In this issue, we will focus on transmission lines, beginning with an explanation of coaxial cable impedance and why 50-ohms is the standard in RF systems, followed by a review of cable loss specifications.
In this post, we will focus on RF system connectivity; specifically, best practice recommendations for wireless microphone antenna signal distribution and combining, as well as IEM transmitter combining.
Welcome to the fourth installment of All About Wireless. In this issue, we will focus on antenna positioning.
In this post, we focus on Electromagnetic wave propagation, covering the concepts of wavelength, reflection, diffraction, absorption and polarization.
As governments around the world sell off portions of the spectrum, it is becoming important for audio engineers to have a thorough understanding of wireless microphone and IEM technologies. For this reason, Shure have partnered with Entertainment Technology Asia to present a series covering RF Engineering theory.
Is it possible for an indie rock fan to find the American Dream mixing monitors for pop divas like Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera? Shure spoke with French engineer Anne-Lise Coulet about her transatlantic career in pro audio.
Guitar tech, Pjay Johnson (Busted, McFly, John Newman) walks us through his five top tips every guitar tech should know.
Working with the likes of The Kooks, Plan B, Marmozets and currently Catfish and The Bottlemen, Russ Tite is a music industry pro both in the studio and in front of the stage. He answers some questions for us below on technology, mixing and how he hates being cold.
Few pieces of gear inspire so much passion and loyalty as Shure’s SM58. From Led Zeppelin to Henry Rollins, admiring musicians have helped turn this microphone into an icon over the past 50 years.
We caught up with FOH engineer, Bryony October who shared her experience of life on the road, including some unmissable advice for any new engineers getting started with live sound.
Well known for her earlier work with the Noisettes, Bryony October’s story is one of classic hard work and determination to make it in an industry where it’s notoriously difficult to get your first break. We caught up with her between tours.
Drummer Danny Molad of Lucius reflects on their input list and why it works for them, plus what it’s like to perform with live looping.
In this excerpt from his book for church sound volunteers, sound engineer and systems integrator James Wasem explains the basic rules for miking a choir.
Disclaimer: The following interview contains references to the interviewees past work with Prince, and was conducted before his untimely death on April 21st 2016. Cliff is a live sound, touring, and production specialist with comprehensive experience covering many well know acts, including Prince, Rebecca Ferguson, and Laura Mvula. Armed with a shiny new KSM8, a heap of expertise, […]
Shure talked with Head Tech Les Mommsen about his favourite mics, including KSM313’s, Beta 58’s & KSM44A’s.
Ryan Smith of Shure Artist Relations talks with the owner and head of audio at this beloved Nashville venue to learn the secret of their 25-year success.
Shure artist endorser Meg Mac sat down with us to talk about her on-the-road techniques for keeping her voice healthy.
We talked with the band Dorje and asked them to describe the difference Shure PSM300 IEM’s has made on their performances.
Maroon 5 Monitor Engineer Kevin Glendinning and Front-of-House Engineer Jim Ebdon share some tips and tricks they employ to combat crowd noise on a nightly basis.
When it comes to wireless audio signal quality, nothing is more important than maintaining excellent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Nothing. Alex Milne, author at Audio Gloss, explains more.
Ahead of the upcoming summer Olympic Games in Rio, we caught up with Norwest Technical Manager and RF engineer, Steve Caldwell.
When it comes to RF interference, there are two elements that come up frequently as common culprits – metal and salt water. We’ve written plenty of detail about these major RF enemies before, and the following post should help to add context.
As a relatively new development in the ongoing debate about the future of spectrum, Whitespace Devices are often overlooked or misunderstood. In this whiteboard session, we cover what whitespace devices are, why and where they operate, and how they cause some concern for wireless microphone users.
This Whiteboard Session is all about RF antennas and best practice placement.
When setting up a wireless rig, you need to maximize the amount of channels on air and ensure reliable performance by understanding what spectrum is available. This week’s whiteboard session overviews how to do this by visualizing your RF environment.
RF cables are an often overlooked aspect of wireless systems. You can have everything else set up perfectly, but when all is said and done, it’s all too easy to shoot yourself in the foot by selecting the wrong antenna cables. This post will answer common questions about cable components for your RF setup.
In this week’s whiteboard session, we’re going to tackle the often misunderstood concept of intermodulation. Intermodulation is a product of two signals interacting with each other while on air simultaneously.
Digital wireless systems are increasingly common in the world of professional and semi-professional audio. Their growth over the last few years is the result of many factors, from the continual pursuit of better quality sound to the increasingly pressing issue of RF spectrum clearance. Like other areas of the audio world, though, the debate as […]
In this post, we explain some wireless microphone best practice with an overview of how to coordinate a wireless system (or frequency coordination as it’s otherwise known).
Tom Colman from Shure UK’s Systems Group explains how antenna diversity can eliminate interference in your wireless microphone system.
In this post, we cover the most common parts of spectrum used for the operation of wireless microphones and explain why the UHF bands are the preferred space for professional users. With the latter in mind, today’s episode will look at what’s happening to the UHF space and how it affects you.
For radio microphones to work reliably, we need access to clean spectrum – this much is well known and documented. What’s less well known, is which bands of spectrum are best suited to each given application.
Tom Colman from Shure UK’s Systems Group gives a concise description of antenna distribution and its practical use with wireless microphone systems.
Christine Carson of Joyful Noise Recordings explains what she does on the day to day and how she got her start in the artist management business.
FOH Engineer-turned-Show Production Designer Pete Healey reflects on his journey with country artist Luke Bryan from the early days to stadium shows.
In this second post in our Inside Soundcheck series, Jan Greenfield offers a glimpse into her role as general manager of Nashville’s unique entertainment business ecosystem, from the day-to-day to the holiday.
Ryan Smith interviews three monitor engineers about building trust with their artists, and the role of that trust in the artists’ ability to deliver confident performances.
For wireless microphone systems to work, we need access to clean RF. What is less well known or understood, is which bands – or sections – of spectrum are best suited to the operation of wireless microphone and in-ear monitor systems.
In this article, we cover several solutions to help keep volume down, retain great tone, and save your hearing (possibly even your sanity) in the process.
When this topic came across our desks, I leapt for it immediately. I was right in the middle of CMA Music Fest, and then I capped the week off at Bonnaroo. Having attended summer festivals for over 25 years, I thought it would be helpful to provide some suggestions for staying healthy and informed at […]
Here’s a tip you can put into action today that will immediately improve your audio endeavours across the board: inputs are more important than outputs. Find out why.
Key Chang, FOH engineer for bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent, shares the “reel-life” challenges of shooting a live concert DVD with a cast of thousands.
In this hour-long webinar, we will look at tips, tools, and techniques for maximizing gain-before-feedback, and bust some myths about less helpful approaches.
In order to choose the right microphone, it’s crucial to understand the fundamentals of how a microphone picks up sound. The key to this is directionality.
Shure has a Nashville office that’s more than just an office: it’s a supportive, collaborative community of the best in the entertainment industry.
Chadd Kline of Metro Chicago explains what he does on the day to day and how he got his start in the talent buying business.
Mic directionality can be classified in three distinct types: omnidirectional, unidirectional, and bi-directional. Within these categories, there are a number of different directional patterns known as polar-patterns; the most commonly known types are cardioid and supercardioid. For a large number of common applications, these will get you pretty far – but what if your requirements are a little more specific?
We’ve all been there; you turn up for the show, you set up, you’re ready for sound check, and then it hits you – that sinking feeling after the wireless system cuts out. But there are some simple steps to troubleshoot wireless dropouts.
In the audio world, few debates raise blood pressure levels more than the analogue vs digital question. The world of wireless microphones is no exception.
After years of watching artists and engineers work together, Ryan Smith began collecting their thoughts on the nature of their relationship, beginning with their ideal version of it.
Recently, Ofcom approved plans for white space devices to share radio spectrum with digital TV and wireless microphones. Although we knew it was coming, the decision comes as a considerable blow as we face the prospect of unlicensed wireless devices operating in close proximity to wireless microphone and in-ear monitor systems.
Wireless microphones are essential to the modern production values we’re all accustomed too. And while wireless systems have freed performers from the shackles of cables, they’ve also presented an entirely different set of challenges to the engineer.
High levels of RF noise can play havoc with the operation of wireless mics and in-ear systems; therefore, good antenna placement is critical.
Almost all wireless failures are completely avoidable with the right equipment and training. In this post, we will document the most common reasons for wireless failure so that you can avoid embarrassing drop outs and improve your production values with reliable wireless.
In ear monitors are proving a popular topic among our readers, with more and more musicians realising the benefits of ditching traditional stage wedges. To demonstrate how simple going wireless can be, we caught up with our good friends Fingertrap.
Wireless microphones are still a relatively new technology and have adopted certain terminologies from other areas of the audio industry to describe how they work. Unfortunately, these terminologies do not always translate smoothly. We tackle some of the most common jargon.
When performing on stage, it’s imperative that you can hear what you’re playing. In-ear monitors can let everyone on stage hear clearly. We look at the basics of these systems.
In 1977, a local country music magazine asked me to do a photo shoot with a country star by the name of Dolly Parton. They gave me her hotel information and room number. It was a much calmer time in those days! I showed up at the appointed time and knocked on her door. She […]
It is important to understand a few basics that will aid in your selection and operation of the right mic for your application. The following article will cover what you need to know.
Users of wireless microphone and in-ear monitor systems have faced several disruptive challenges in recent years. These changes continue to have huge implications for wireless microphone users, and subsequently, you need to select your system carefully.
So you’ve decided a digital wireless system is right for you. But which system should you buy? This guide to Shure digital wireless systems will help you choose the right system based on your application and budget.
The issue of safety has come to the forefront for event planners recently, especially those dealing with large-scale, complex touring productions. Luke Bryan’s production manager knows it all too well.
David Levin and Juan Garcia-Spitz share with us the biggest differences between being a FOH engineer with touring acts vs. having residency as an engineer at a venue.
Shure sat down with monitor engineer Jason Spence to discuss some of the details involved in mixing monitors at an awards show.
Understanding the fundamentals of sound reinforcement from the start can make the difference between success and failure on the road. To give you some insight into the life of a touring live sound engineer, we teamed up with Liam Halpin, who has worked with some of the industry’s biggest names.
If you’re not familiar with Wireless Workbench® this post will help you immerse yourself in the ever-changing world of wireless frequency coordination.
Brooke Winners THE FOOD. OMG. Martin Doherty of CHVRCHES’ dance moves! I mean, that dude went crazy. It was like a mix of moshing and the Charleston. Fireworks at Calvin Harris’ headlining show! Smallpools’ story about Googling themselves when they first started the band, and how it always brought up links about how killer whales should […]
It’s a right of passage for almost every 15-year-old girl of Hispanic heritage. A quinceañera is typically a huge fiesta which celebrates a young girl’s transition from childhood to womanhood and presents her to the community as young adult. The celebration highlights God, family, and community, and typically includes plenty of music, food, and a […]
Summer is in full swing and as we all know, it’s crucial to have a summer playlist to be the background to all our adventures. As we prepare for our upcoming Chicago festivals (Pitchfork and Lollapalooza), I’ve been finding myself listening to new music constantly. I must admit, coming from Southern Missouri, summer to me […]
In 1976, I was breaking into the business, but I didn’t know how to get access to shows. One night, I went to the Ivanhoe Theater in Chicago to try to talk my way in. I figured a small place would be easier. I went to the backstage door and started talking to the guy […]
Opinions vary on how wired and wireless guitar setups can affect your tone. We look at what makes a good wired or wireless setup and how to preserve your tone.
Like in real estate, location is what it is all about in photography. Often I am given about two minutes when I walk into a venue or hotel to find a location to shoot a portrait. Sometimes it just comes to me. Walking around on stage during a television taping with Count Basie, I looked […]
Through years of experience, research, and development, Shure has produced a system that guitarists can actually get excited about. Here are 5 reasons GLX-D16 could prove invaluable to your rig.
Shure’s Performance Listening Center (PLC) managed by Dean Giavaras is used internally for a myriad of reasons. Operated by the Product Development Division, Shure associates use it daily to test and evaluate microphones, critical listening, recording, photo shoots, and even band rehearsals. It’s our very own private studio. But from time to time the PLC’s […]
I always have some fun when I am around the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I first met them when they played a small club in Chicago. They were kind of young, and quiet back then. Later, when I was on tour with The Rolling Stones in New York City in 1989, I went to visit […]
I still remember getting a call back in 1997 from Wilbur Rimes, father of an incredible new young singer named LeAnn. Her song “Blue” was exploding on the charts. Naturally, we were very interested in working with her. It was a pretty short conversation because he had basically said to me, “We want the same […]
In 1983, I decided that it would probably be a good idea if I started branching out from just shooting in Chicago. My first destination was the US Festival in Ontario, California, on May 28th, 29th and 30th of 1983. I called a publicist that I knew was working with the festival, which was organized […]
Korn, quite simply, is at the top of their game. With Brian “Head” Welch back in the group and Ray Luzier driving the band on drums, Korn is performing better than ever. Lead singer Jonathan Davis’ voice is stronger, the group is tighter, and the fans are still supporting this band who originally came to […]
Early in 1989, I read an article in Rolling Stone that said that the Stones were going out on tour later in the year. I sent the same letter to Keith’s manager that I had sent the year before, “Heard you guys are going out on the road. Call me if you need a photographer.” […]
A voice with experience. Rhonda has been touring and performing for most of her life. Her schedule every year is so crazy that it’s a wonder she has any time to record. This year, she found time to record a double CD entitled Only Me. One CD with bluegrass songs, the other with country songs. […]
In August of 1988, my next door neighbor, Don McLeese (who was the music critic for the Chicago Sun Times), asked me if I would like to go to New York with him the next day to shoot pictures while he interviewed Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. As Keith was one of my only […]
When I was a kid, I started listening to Blues music and grew to be a big fan. I always wanted to meet the guys making the music, and getting in this business made that come true. In 1977, I went to a concert at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago and photographed Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter. The next […]
In December of 1987, I set up a photo shoot with one of my favorite artists, Alice Cooper. It’s always great to photograph one of his shows. He’s one of the greatest live performers on the planet. His manager asked me to do a photo shoot with him that night, but unlike most artists, he […]
About a mile off the 101 in Oxnard, California sits an industrial park surrounded by mountains off in the distance. Inside one of these buildings sits the Drum Channel video facility where the walls were about to be shaken by shredding guitar riffs. For on Tuesday April 15, legendary Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine came […]
In early July, Rolling Stone called and asked me to go to the Jacksons’ Victory Tour opening in Kansas City. Turns out, they liked the Springsteen and Prince photos, too. I flew down the night before the first show and went to the press conference at the Hyatt in downtown Kansas City. What a circus! […]
Because of my job doing Artist Relations for Shure I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing some pretty amazing shows. I’ve also had the opportunity to catch some pretty bad ones. Not that I’m complaining… It might be that the band has an off night for whatever reason and they don’t sound as good as you […]
Once again, Shure products were in high demand at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Similar to last year’s show, the PSM®1000 was the sole in-ear monitor systems used for all performances. As far as wireless microphones, the UR2/SM58 was again the clear winner among artists and engineers for the show. Shure Artists […]
At this point in time, one thing lead to another and another and another for Paul. People began to take notice of his work behind the lens and they wanted a piece of what Paul was capturing for their artists, too… “When I got back from Minneapolis for Prince’s birthday party, I sent some of […]
You’re either a fan of remixes or you’re not. I get it, I’ve heard pretty bad ones myself. But as a former DJ, I do love a good remix when properly executed. Especially when it’s already a great song people love but it’s presented to you in a different way. Some remixes can barely be […]
From the very first phrase of one of her songs, when you hear her voice, you know it’s Sara. I cannot name another female artist who sounds remotely close to her among our artists or even on the planet! That’s one of the characteristics I’m looking for: someone with a distinctive voice who sings with […]
By now Paul Natkin’s work was speaking for itself. Gone were the days of calling EVERY magazine on the planet to get an assignment. Getting into a local Chicago concert as a photographer for the evening was no longer in doubt. What Paul captured through his lens was in high demand and there were times […]
Think about how many great bands there are and have been with four-part harmonies and multiple lead singers. The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, Little Big Town, Night Ranger, and so many more. It just works so well. You know exactly who it is because of their music, but certain songs just need a different voice […]
Hello, friends. The time has come. The Juno Awards will be celebrated this Sunday, and we are down to our last featured category: Artist of the Year. This prestigious prize is awarded to best individual musician in Canada for the year. Recent winners include: Leonard Cohen, Feist, Neil Young, K’naan, Sam Roberts, Michael Bublé and […]
We are about a week away from the Juno Awards which will be celebrated at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, on Sunday March 30th. So far, I have highlighted the nominees for Pop Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and Single of the Year. We are […]
Just last month, I wrote about Rhonda becoming the 2014 inductee into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America’s Hall of Greats (article here). I just happened to look up this month’s schedule for Music City Roots and Rhonda was headlining the show on March 12. That day, I loaded up the […]
During the MTV Live Aid broadcast, Bob Dylan made a comment. He said, “We need to do this for the American Farmers!” Willie Nelson was watching the show, and he agreed. So he called his friend Jim Thompson, the Governor of Illinois at the time, and also called his friend John Mellencamp and said, “Give […]
Usually before a new album is released, artists and their record labels release what they call the album’s single. Singles are typically the album’s best song or songs, which are chosen to be released prior to the album’s official release for promotional purposes. In this week’s Juno Award Highlight, I am happy to feature the […]
Now while it may be true that you need talent and timing to make it in this business of rock n’ roll, it also helps to have some friends in high places. Today, Paul Natkin has friends of all types of status all over the world… I’ve witnessed greetings from rock stars, management, club owners, […]
…and she certainly has a way with them. Not only in songs, but in interviews as well. A little back story: It was a cold, windy morning on February 26 in Niles, Illinois, as a white passenger van pulled up to the employee entrance at 5800 W. Touhy Ave., otherwise known as Shure Headquarters. Kacey, her […]
Dynamic and condenser tom-tom mics divide opinion among sound engineers. Both have distinct advantages depending on application, but which is right for you?
Learn to capture the weight and attack of a kick drum using the Shure Beta 52A and Shure Beta 91A.
Breaking into anything is not easy. As it should be. It keeps bad guys out of places they shouldn’t be, and it keeps us safe. It’s not as convenient when we lock ourselves out of our own homes, but the benefits of security outweigh any inconvenience. It takes special talent and a very persistent person […]
How much do I (and many others) love the BETA® 181? Let me count the ways: 1. Toms & Overhead My first experience with the BETA 181 came at a Percussive Arts Society Convention (PASIC) in 2011 when Shure Artist Simon Phillips was invited to give a clinic. Simon had been using the KSM137 and […]
When it comes to mic’ing a snare drum the SM57 has pretty much dominated for the best part of 50 years. The SM57 adds just the right amount of low end weight, while also adding presence and ‘crack’ to the drum. For this reason, the 57 is a go-to mic.
Now, I’ll bet money that you’ve seen this image before. Even if you’re not a fan of Ozzy or metal music, you have seen this image before. It has appeared in many sizes on all types of collectible material. The cover art for the Ozzy Osbourne Randy Rhoads Tribute album, posters, t-shirts, even those cheap […]
Hello again, friends! In my post last week, I introduced you to the Juno Award Nominees for Pop Album of the Year. This week, we are going to take a look the nominees for Rock Album of the Year. Again, these are all great albums, and I can’t wait to see which one will be […]
Back in December, I posted about my trip down to Memphis with my son to see Skillet and Shinedown. I posted the Shinedown interview then, now I have the Skillet /John Cooper interview for you. At the current time, they are out on the road with another Shure Artist, TobyMac. I just might be taking another […]
Phantom power…what a strange name!? If you’re new to home recording, this term can be confusing. If this is the case, we can help…
“At this point in his career, Paul Natkin was starting to make a name for himself as a rock photographer… enough experience to shoot with the best out there, but still young and crazy enough to actually tour with these bands as their official camera man…” In the early 1980s, metal bands realized that by […]
We are a little over a month away from the Juno Awards which will be celebrated at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, MB, Canada, on Sunday March 30th. As the AR guy in charge of keeping an eye on artist activity to the north of the U.S., the Juno Awards is a must-watch for me. What […]
The storm line was approaching. We’d been checking the radar on our phones, and anytime between 6 and 9 PM, the rain would hit Nashville. That didn’t seem to bother this energetic crowd, ready to take in some great blues by the legendary Buddy Guy. Thankfully , I grabbed my Shure umbrella so my trip […]
Late last year at the House of Blues in Chicago, Shure took over the venue by having three of its endorsers hit the stage for a sold-out evening. On the bill was Atlas Genius, Family Of The Year and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. We came into the venue a little earlier than the masses lining […]
As my career got started, I started shooting as many bands as I could get access to. I figured out that by going to as many shows, and meeting as many people as I could, I could build up a contact base that would help me in the future. One of the first people I […]
We answer questions form NAMM about the new Shure digital wireless pedal system – GLXD-16.
What kind of sound are you going for on stage? Clean, dirty, wet, muddy, or dry? (No, I’m not talking about doing laundry.) You name it, we’ve heard so many different descriptions of the sounds we want to capture out of guitar cabinet speakers. Take Shure Artist Jonny Lang for instance. Killer guitar tone? ABSOLUTELY! […]
Paul was on the fast track to fame and fortune after that fateful night with Bonnie Raitt… or so he thought. Turns out that a picture may be worth a thousand words, but not necessarily thousands of dollars… “After my photography career started, I had to figure out how to make money at it. One […]
If you want to see what a busy touring schedule looks like, look up Shure Artist Rhonda Vincent on Google and find her tour schedule. Ever since I meet Rhonda back in 2004, I was very impressed by her performances I had seen at the IBMA Bluegrass Awards. Her group, The Rage, was always super […]
As promised, here is the first installment of our new Backstage With Paul series. For those of you paying attention, the Artist Relations team has been a little busy… Grammys, NAMM, local shows. Well, the smoke has cleared and we’ve got things under control… kind of. Anyway, to refresh your memory, Paul is our legendary […]
A couple of weeks ago, and for the first time that I can remember, The NAMM® Show (National Association of Music Merchants) was held at the same time as the GRAMMYs. Everyone knows what the GRAMMYs are all about, but The NAMM Show, held in January each year, is one of the most important trade […]
Fresh off our highly sucessful Grammy Awards trip, I’m scanning over the month of February…plenty to keep me busy! See if you can keep up: Two days ago, I conducted a wonderful interview with country artist and Shure endorser Sara Evans. I’ll be editing that. She’s been a Shure Artist for over 10 years now. […]
Okay, so I know I owe you a couple of blogs since we last spoke. Honestly, it’s been tough to find a quiet moment and the proper location to blog it up for you, the faithful Shure Mic Check Blog audience. The Staples Center is not the most conducive place to conduct any extensive computing […]
For those of you watching from the comfort of your living rooms this coming Sunday evening, the 56th Annual Grammy Awards is a one night only event. I’ve been here since Tuesday, and I can tell you that there’s a lot that goes into making your Sunday evening entertainment… and preparations are still being made […]
Late in 2013, I had scheduled an interview with legendary Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine. The last time I went to a Megadeth show was about 2 years ago in Louisville. After the show that night, I had the pleasure of hanging with Dave for about 90 minutes. We had a lot of great things to […]
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! It’s that time again, clean slate time! The time when it’s OK to forget about all the promises you didn’t keep the year before and re-promise them to yourself with the best intentions. It’s ok, I’m pretty sure the majority of the […]
This is such an awesome headline to be writing. Each year, we take a look at the list, and it never fails to be impressive. Of course, we would like to congratulate ALL of the GRAMMY-nominated artists. I will be jumping on a plane in less than 2 weeks and I am ever thankful that […]
I’ve been doing this gig with Shure for quite a while now, but no one has worked for Shure ‘s Artist Relations Department longer than legendary photographer Paul Natkin. Surely you’ve heard us mention him from time to time in these blog posts, and I know for certain that you’ve seen his work on our […]
In my colleague Mike’s latest post – The Most Wonderful (Musical) Time of the Year – he shared with us some really great, classic Christmas albums to enjoy while you and your loved ones celebrate the Yuletide Season. His list of 5 are quintessential, holiday classics that everyone should have in their collection. It’s hard […]
How many times have you left town to go see a show a few hours away? I’ve seen some pretty cool shows both out of town and out of state. I remember going to see the first Monsters of Rock tour in 1988 with Metallica, Van Halen, Scorpions, Dokken and Kingdom Come at Alpine Valley […]
I was thinking about our tagline on the way home from the American Country Awards in Las Vegas. This topic is wide open for interpretation and discussion, so I hope you join in. In my opinion, I had just witnessed a Legendary Performance when LeAnn Rimes sang a tribute to Patsy Cline, who had passed […]
On June 15th of this year, the indie-pop group Fitz and the Tantrums stopped by Guitar Center Hollywood to give us a taste of their new album “More Than Just A Dream” which dropped May 7th. It’s the second full-length album for the group following their 2010 release “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” which hit the […]
Last week I thanked our good friend Paul Natkin for providing me some awesome pictures for My 5 Favorite Music Venues in Chicago blog post. “Who is he?” you ask? Well, if you’re a fan of music, and a fan of photography, Paul Natkin is a name you must know. Not only has Paul shot […]
Being born and raised in the City of Broad Shoulders, there are many reasons to hold your head up and be proud – from it’s fiery history survived by a limestone tower on it’s magnificent mile, which serves as a symbol of the City’s endurance and grit, its imposing skyscrapers and resplendent downtown architecture that […]
CMT hosted their 4th annual Artists of the Year Awards. I found out about the event about 2 weeks ago via a gigantic billboard in the center of downtown Nashville. Listed on the billboard were 3 names we’ve heard a lot this year: Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line and Hunter Hayes. As one might say […]
We bring you, “What Is That Mic Application?” In this installment of unique encounters from the road, we stumbled upon a homemade, handheld device involving some toggle switches, heavy duty cabling and an SM58 gently wedged in the center. This creation takes center stage every night and is a big part of this endorsers live […]
The year is winding down, and what a year it’s been! 2013 has been filled with many awesome things for Shure, but especially endorsers! There has been so much incredible new music out there and we’re so happy our products could help enhance that. To bring things to a close this year, we thought it’d […]
I’m on vacation in early October and I check my emails (I know, shame on me). There’s one from my brother who forwarded one from a long time family friend: “Wanted to share with you my new favorite band. They are from Ohio – the nicest guys on the planet. Their music will freak you […]
Quick! Press play on the video below and enjoy the song while you read on…< I really appreciate music I can listen to a lot without it getting played out in my head or interfering with my ability to multitask. That balance is why I’ve come to really listen to a lot of our newest […]
When you get a call from a manager that you have a great relationship with, it’s a good idea to investigate when they tell you they have THE next great artist in their stable. This is exactly what happened between Shure and Florida Georgia Line. I’d also heard about them from an engineer who has […]
Ever see that scene in the movie Rock Of Ages where we first meet the character Stacee Jaxx, lying in bed, draped in half naked women somewhere in a room backstage that’s been converted to look like a jungle, complete with a swimming oasis? In the scene, our jukebox hero is summoned by his fast […]
At this point I have our artist roster memorized, our products memorized, everything memorized. It’s hard to watch a TV show or a music video and not notice a Shure product or Shure artist. With that being said, I always find it amusing when I hear a Shure artist covering another Shure artist’s song, which […]
Last week in Nashville, the streets were filled with Country Music fans. Inside the Bridgestone Arena, the hallways seemed to be filled with a host of Shure fans. This became increasingly evident as we watched artist after artist step up to a Shure product to sing. From Little Big Town to Kacey Musgraves, from Hunter […]
It seems crazy to think it’s already been 6 years since we first heard the name Colbie Caillat. The pop singer-songwriter broke out in 2007 with her debut album “Coco” which featured hit singles “Bubbly” and “Realize.” She followed that with her sophomore album titled “Breakthrough” featuring the popular track “Fallin’ For You” and most […]
A look at the SM58/57 as an unconventional studio mic, and the surprising number of records using the SM58 or SM57 as a vocal microphone.
They like us…they really like us! I found some free time to check out some of our artist videos on YouTube this week. I just had to share some of the quotes from Shure Artists. It’s so awesome to hear them talk about how Shure products improve their sound and their music. Check out some […]
Change is such an interesting topic. There are some that are afraid of it and for others, it can happen every minute, so they become used to it. Some people need it to be re-inspired. In the interview below, Sara mentions that she was “craving change.” Change can shake things up and make you look […]
In 2008, our newest endorsers, Cut Copy, reached super stardom with their second album In Ghost Colours, which reached number one on Australia’s Aria Music Charts. The album featured melodic dance-pop hits like “Feel the Love”, “Lights & Music”, and “Hearts On Fire” which kept dance floors busy and them touring. In 2010, They followed […]
Happy Halloween! If you’ve been following us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram you may have seen some Shure Halloween Spirit this week… I can’t believe it’s already Halloween! It seems like the year flew by and we all know this time tomorrow, Santa Claus and Christmas decorations will be everywhere! Oh…the holiday season. Music can make […]
Musicians and fans were quick to eulogize the iconic Lou Reed this week in tweets, posts, and live shows. As they should. Lou’s force was undeniable. To honor him, I wanted to share his song, “Set the Twilight Reeling,” from 1996. The song feels like a audio pastiche of his earlier work, but is from […]
Five minutes! That’s how long it took for 2 shows with Shure Artists’ Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line to sell out in Nashville (that’s approximately 18,500 seats each night, BTW). Luke released his first album 6 years ago, now on his fourth. Florida Georgia Line released their first full studio album just last year! […]
It was 4 am on October 11, 2013 as I brushed my teeth, thinking about how this was all going to go down. In just a few hours I would be in Kansas City filming a day in the life of one of the biggest bands in the world. Less than a week ago, I […]
We’re getting closer and closer to awards season and the People’s Choice Awards just announced their nominee selections. They open it up to the public to vote for 5 of the choices with the top 5 in each category becoming the official nominations. I ran across this yesterday and was scrolling through the various categories […]
The past few weeks have been an absolute blur. Looking back on it now, I wonder if I may have missed anything and did I do it all the right way? When the dust settled, I had been to about eight shows and collected loads of interviews and still images along the way. I added […]
Don’t you just LOVE the sound of that headline? I love it when I hear it from an engineer or artist. In this case, it was most recently from someone who is both! Cliff Goldmacher is and has been a great client of Shure for over 10 years now. When I first met Cliff in Nashville, […]
We all know that feeling…you don’t want to get out of bed, can’t seem to keep your eyes open, feel like you’re sleepwalking…it’s Wednesday. No longer the beginning of the week, but you can’t quite start looking forward to the weekend. It’s the classic hump day. Have you been dragging your feet all morning? Tried […]
This summer as an intern, it was under my job description to find a band or artist I thought was a good fit with Shure and sign them as an endorser. I was super excited for this opportunity leading up to the summer, but as summer came around I found myself in a musical lull. […]
Music in film, television, and advertising is changing the way people connect to these visual images. Music has the power to spark emotions in people that they wouldn’t feel otherwise just looking at the images. Music can make us feel sad, happy, guilty, excited, and just about every other emotion in the book. Nelson showed […]
“Times are changing” “Adapt or die” Familiar phrases…and oh so true, especially when it comes to these subjects. I’ve been fortunate to continue to enjoy a long career in Artist Relations. During the last 18 years in this position, technology has evolved and become more in depth. Wireless systems of the past were single channel […]
October is right around the corner and Fall is upon us. It’s the best time of the year, in my opinion. You’ve got leaves changing color, perfect temperatures, bonfires, and with that comes s’mores (the worlds greatest creation). There’s Halloween and Thanksgiving, fall festivals, apple cider, hay rides, pumpkin […]
In Rock music, there are so many great “co-conspirators” that have come along and made people pay attention: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards Steven Tyler & Joe Perry Robert Plant & Jimmy Page Roger Daltrey & Pete Townshend Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora Chris & Rich Robinson and so […]
Inspiration comes in many ways, shapes, and forms. From happiness that comes from a positive occurrence in your life like meeting the love of your life, to bad breaks ups and everything in between. Even the weather affects your mood and creativity. Like the clouds this morning in Chicago. (I actually enjoy them.) Happenstance is […]
More often than not, we here at team Shure Artist Relations get asked about the favorite part or parts of our job (there are a few, actually). Yes, yes, there’s the creation of spreadsheets and conference room meetings, what could be more fun you ask? Well, one of those moments is heading out to meet […]
Covers songs can be the worst thing to ever happen or one of the most surprising things that makes you see a song in an entirely new way. I have a love-hate relationship with cover songs, which I think is how most people feel. I’ve been on a kick lately though and thought I’d share […]
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the biggest music festivals like CMA Music Fest, Bonnaroo, Stagecoach, and Coachella? I’ve been attending several festivals and award shows for the better part of my career at Shure. Coordinating these productions is a monumental effort requiring accurate communication and tons of advance work, […]
LouFest 2013 came to impress. With a brand new partnership with C3 Presents, the company that organizes Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits to name a few, LouFest showed off it’s shiny lineup last Spring. With The Killers and Wilco headlining and acts like Alabama Shakes, Walk the Moon, Local Natives, and Icona Pop, the festival […]
Many words have been used to describe him. Poet, deep, witty, versatile, prolific, lyrical genius, underrated, unmatched, ambitious, multi-talented, driven, etc… But all those can easily be summed up by the title of his third studio album, “The Gifted”, which has topped the charts all summer and has received critical acclaim. Busting out of Washington, […]
This week in Tennesse was Metal week for me and Shure. What better way to kick it all off than with a road trip to one of the places where Rock & Roll got it’s start…Memphis, TN. The “Carnival of Madness” tour is hosted by Shure Artists Shinedown. Before the groups hit the Mud Island Amphitheater […]
So those of you that tuned in during the epic summer of Brooke Giddens, the fearless Shure Artist Relations Intern, are probably already familiar with her musical and social media crusades. In this look back, we present Brooke’s interview with quite possibly the biggest band of the year, Shure endorsers Imagine Dragons. It was an […]
Pennsylvania rock band Dr. Dog aren’t new to the music scene, releasing their 8th studio album B-Room this coming October. Since 1999 they’ve been creating unique sounds reminiscent of 60’s surf rock. Nic Harcourt of KCRW caught up with them for the Guitar Center podcast to talk about their album Be The Void and the […]
Rock & Roll fuels the musical furnace inside my soul. I grew up on Zeppelin, Rush, AC/DC, Kiss, Quiet Riot, and so many other Rock bands in the 70 & 80’s. I tried to play drums along with songs from Led Zeppelin’s live album “The Song Remains the Same” so many times in my basement. […]
And you thought I had forgotten about this! 🙂 It’s so hard to forget, especially when you come across great videos, like this one from a new group called Willie Sugarcapps: http://www.youtube.com/embed/A7LJCdwxhKgDid you also spot the KSM44A‘s in there as well? Just found this video review: Shure SM7b Microphone Review. The Secret Weapon Mic! There’s […]
Mic’s can become dirty with use. But how can you keep your microphone hygienic? Shure give you some tips.
I was driving to the office this morning and something made me think about the first artist interview I did back when I was in college. So please stay with me a bit as I lead you up to that interview. I attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale as a student of their Music Business […]
August is going great so far! There are so many artists coming to Nashville this month, it will keep me plenty busy. MUTEMATH It’s been about 8 months since I’ve seen MUTEMATH and it was worth the wait. Most of the guys in the band now have families and they were very excited to share […]
Brooke’s Winners and Losers Day 1 – Friday, August 2nd Winners Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons cutting in line in front of me for the Port-O-Let and making small talk The Killers’ version of “Shadowplay” Cora Lorentz’s head banging (she’s a rockstar) Waiting in line for a golf cart ride next to Shaun White Flux […]
Camera ready? Check. Audio? Check. Video? Looks good. I am ready for Wynonna. We greet each other halfway down the hall with a big hug. I escort her to her spot on the couch and she says: “You better have some good questions for me…” I smile and think “I am READY for Wynonna.” […]
Okay, so I’ve been doing this gig for a while now and I’ve enjoyed ALL kinds of music for as long as my memory serves. I’ve been to all kinds of shows in all types of venues, but I have never seen the likes of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and I figured I […]
Our friend, Meghan Brown, wrote this guest blog for Mic Check… Earlier this month I had a chance to play “student” for a day when I stopped by GRAMMY Camp L.A. to hang out with some of the crazy-talented attendees as we were enlightened by some of the biggest names in the music business. Hosted […]
This was a new, cool experience! Christian Rock Artists and newly signed Shure Artists Skillet recently released a new concept album called “Rise.” A week beforehand, the group held 2 VIP events, the first in Nashville and the second in Chicago. Fans had the opportunity to purchase tickets to a listening party/dinner/acoustic concert experience. Over […]
With each new thing I experience here at Shure, it’s getting harder and harder to write these blog posts! It’s like trying to take a picture of the moon when its super big and bright, but then you go to do that and you realize the moon is millions of miles away and it’s tiny […]
Where do I begin to write about my evening last night? I can’t even think, but maybe that’s just still from the ringing in my ears from being in the 6th row from the stage, front and center. For a week or 2 now, I had plans to deliver 2 gold UR2/SM58s to fun. at the […]
How many Shure Mics can you identify in this shot? Just this morning, I received an email from Shure Artist Mike Mangini with a link to a video he made. He talks about the Shure mics he used to capture the tracks for the new yet-to-be-released Dream Theater record. It was a pleasant surprise to […]
I’ve packed up all the mics, sent most of them back to Shure HQ (Thanks Brooke & Richard!) and now it’s time to fill you in on the rest of the week at CMA Music Fest. Rain! It always rains during this awesome week of performances. Does that scare the crowds away? No, but […]
This weekend has been filled with incredible music, people, and experiences. I kicked off my “weekend” on Wednesday with the Chicago Blues Festival Kick Off party at Buddy Guy’s Legends. I met up with my friend Paul, (yes that’s Paul Natkin, yes that’s the super incredible music photographer) and we headed down towards The Loop. […]
If you’re like me I need music on for everything. You know, just in case… You never know when you’re going to have that dramatic cinematic moment during the course of your day, where, whether planned or unplanned, you’re going to do something absolutely breathtaking. And, when that moment arrives, you want the perfect song […]
Right now, as I type this, there is hardly a street corner you can stand on in downtown Nashville where you can’t hear music. The hotels are packed, there are cowboy hats everywhere, and the city is electrified from morning to late at night. It all kicked off with the CMT Music Awards in the […]
Coming into all of this, I knew nothing of microphones. I knew singers and bands used them to create sound, but that was about it. Already I’ve learned a lot about microphones and all the little things that make each Shure microphone unique; however I know there are still many people out there like me […]
We’ve been compiling these engineer videos here at Shure for years now, and at this point we’ve got quite a “who’s who” of these men behind the board. Whether in a studio or live venue, these men have become legend for the sounds they hear and their technical prowess when it comes to making those […]
Ever since the beginning of college, I knew I was going to have an internship. Not only is it required by my university, but also I knew what a great starting point an internship could be when job searching post-graduation. I had heard horror stories of filing papers, running errands, getting coffee for your boss, […]
In our frequent travels as Shure Artist Relations representatives, we often hear from many engineers “You guys should really bring _____ mic back.” If you look back in Shure’s history, there are some amazing designs but also some wonderful sounding mics. Some people want them back because they just look cool and others because they […]
I was taking a look at some photos on my iPhone… Here’s a look into what my brain processed in the course of two weeks: Any questions? Pretty random stuff, another cool part of this AR gig. Rock Out – Cory
The SM57 & SM58 are both icons in their own right. Your selection is a matter of application. We get to the facts.
…the Diabolical Biz Markie doll sent by Biz Markie himself! It resides in my office to this day, and it is the one thing EVERYONE asks me about when they visit; I can see their eyes focusing on it during our conversation. Of course there’s a story behind it, so here goes… The day started […]
After finishing my last post about how I got into Artist Relations, I thought about all of the wonderful moments I’ve been able to be a part of as a result of being in this job. Other associates often remind me to look back at what I have done so far and believe me – […]
I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Chicago to immigrant parents from Mexico who love a good fiesta. Almost all my early memories are filled with those of family parties. Baptisms, birthdays, saint’s days, First Communions, Confirmations, Quinceñeras, weddings, barbecues at random forest preserves and at Lake Michigan after my dad’s baseball […]
Frankly, it doesn’t get much better than this! One of the hottest (if not THE hottest) vocal groups in Bluegrass came through Nashville during their constant touring cycle to perform for an installment of Bluegrass Nights. I was able to make it down for their soundcheck, just in time to hear their amazing harmonies […]
So how many people get a brand new car on their 50th Birthday? I’m betting there’s a good number of people that may have gotten new vehicles as presents. But when you are 50 and you’ve never gotten an NEW vehicle, it’s a big deal. Especially when you are the Queen of Bluegrass music! Rhonda […]
Welcome to the first in a series of AR blogs where we will dig deeper into this Music Industry and sometimes ourselves. Over the next few months, we are going to be covering a lot of interesting topics so please check in every week and join the conversations. In this industry, there are so many […]
Every once in a while, my family accompanies me out to a show. Sunday’s show (July 8) was at a place we’ve never been – The Woods at Fontanel. Fontanel Mansion was originally built for country singer Barbara Mandrell but she sold it in 2002. The Woods is the music venue there and tonight, Shure […]
The big word this year at the CMA Music Fest was WEATHER! I’ve been coming to this fest since I moved down here almost 10 years ago and every year seems hotter than the last…until 2012. Someone has been making deals with Mother Nature because she decided to ease up on the crews that work […]
I know…it’s been a while since my last blog. June is quite a busy month in Nashville with the CMT Music Awards and the CMA Music Fest. Plus, I took some vacation time after that. Thankfully, the rest of our AR team have kicked out a few blogs to keep it rolling. This years’ […]
Anytime someone asks what a typical day is like for us in Artist Relations here at Shure, I can’t help but laugh a little at the word “typical.” Try as we might to carefully plan and stick to our agendas for the day, something random comes our way and the focus quickly shifts. Entire weeks have […]
Sara Bareilles is one of our favorite artists at Shure HQ. She is a great singer and musician. Plus she is super nice. On June 5th at 6:00 p.m. (Pacific) join us on Twitter for some Q and A with Sara B. Tweet your questions to @Shure_Artists with the hashtag #AskSaraB. In the meantime watch A Trace […]
That’s what I heard while stuck in traffic on the way to the Nashville Artist Relations office. This was not normal traffic but the car-on-the-side-of -the-road-5-miles-down kinda traffic. As I was “inching forward”, I had noticed a middle aged lady in a silver Toyota Camry who had a purple phone earpiece attached to her ear. […]
.. and you can see his and many other performances on their website: www.musiccityroots.com. (look for the shows tab and navigate to the May 2 show – Ben’s slot is about 2 hrs 10 minutes in which you can access quickly or just watch the whole show, your choice) Please visit and look for your […]
“It was a daark and stoormy night…” Well, it was! But that didn’t stop the fans at Vanderbilt University from hanging out to see two of the hottest groups on the road. Shure Artist’s Fitz & The Tantrums and MUTEMATH performed in Nashville as part of a 2 day festival called Rites of Spring. All […]
Last week, I received a phone call from an industry associate that a dear friend and Flyleaf FOH engineer Rich Caldwell died in a car accident. I’ve known Rich for more than 5 years and he had one of the most positive personalities I’ve encountered as a touring engineer. He took great pride in his […]
A cold and windy evening in Chicago is always a great reason to take shelter and spend time on an indoor activity. One of our favorite indoor pastimes, as you may already know, is to take in a good show at one of Chicago’s 341 music venues. It’s honestly quite an array of musical genres on […]
Ditch the van and get on your bike! That’s one way to tour in this green-minded world we live in… and it’s the Ben Sollee way. Our friend Ben Sollee came to us via an email message we received about a musician who was on tour, heading to intimate venues with a cello strapped to […]
For the 4th year now, Vince Gill has invited some of Nashville’s finest as well as some artists from out of town to join him on stage for an awesome night of song and support. Jammin’ to Beat the Blues is the title of this event and it’s a virtual sell out every year. The […]
What’s the best way to ask a star on a date to the Prom? With flowers of course, and a nice note. These items were waiting for Sara Bareilles as she took the stage at the Curb Events Center on Sunday, April 15th. Sara decided to have some fun with the note and broke into […]
Some of you may have already seen this…or one of the many other videos from the “At: Guitar Center” podcast, hosted by Nic Harcourt, but here’s the latest one featuring blues rock singer/guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, performing his song “Dustbowl.” According to Jason Powell, Guitar Center “Audio Guy” who recorded this session: “Joe has such a […]
The Academy of Country Music Awards continues to be one of my favorite trips of the year. It’s a great show to see all the crew people as well as get a bit of face time with our artists. Plenty of them were there: Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Sara Evans, Craig Morgan, Brad Paisley, […]
Twenty Minutes! That’s how long it took for 3 Ryman shows with Mumford & Sons to sell out. I decided to wait and catch the last night, March 8. Also on the bill was new Shure Endorsers’ Dawes. This would be my first time seeing either band perform on tour. I arrived just in time […]
I’ve been very fortunate to have attended some wonderful concert events over the years. There have been memorable moments at cool venues and so many great artists. When I heard about Bluegrass Underground here in Tennessee, I was certainly intrigued. It was time to go see this for myself. I set out from my house […]
Country Music has so many great singers and entertainers. Luke Bryan is a force to be reckoned with! He is currently opening for Jason Aldean and really knows how to get a crowd going. I went to see the show on Friday, February 24 in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena and met with Luke’s FOH […]
Bluegrass Artist and Shure Endorser Josh Williams stopped in at the Nashville AR office to pick up a microphone from me. During his visit, he had me look up a video that has gone viral on YouTube. Before we watched the video, he explained to me that the guy who filmed it only captured this […]
The Band Perry have been blazing a trail all over the US and Canada, grabbing Grammy nominations and other awards along the way. When tickets for their show at he historic Ryman Auditorium went on sale, they sold out in 24 MINITUES! This would be a historic event in itself as the group would be […]
There are so many elements that contribute to putting on an awards show like the GRAMMYs. To list every aspect would take too long so we’re going to focus on our side of this trip. As everything usually comes together at the last minute for this show, we sent out a nice compliment of […]
January 10, 2012 Los Angeles, CA There’s nothing quite like trying to make something cool happen – especially at the last minute. Longtime Shure user and recording engineer Cliff Goldmacher called me to see if it was at all possible to get hold of an SM7B he wanted to use the next day to track […]
Joining a band for load-in at a venue on a Saturday morning is not the typical duty associated with this gig in Artist Relations at Shure. Occasionally, you’re asked to go above-and-beyond and help out a band or bands coming to town and in need of a few microphones. In this instance, I arrived equipped […]
Yeah, that’s right! We rocked at this show! January 19-22, 2012 Anaheim, CA – Anaheim Convention Center From our new products, awesome booth and even more awesome Shure staff, we had an amazing 4 days. We even brought in some of the most recognized names in the music industry to sign autographs and perform in our […]
January 12, 2012 Nashville, TN – The Ryman Auditorium There is such a wonderful feeling when you know you are watching something special. Whether it’s a great movie, football games when everyone player giving 150 % (I’m talking Walter Payton 150 %), or a music group that draws you in. Part of my role in Artist Relations […]
January 9, 2012 Here we are, fresh into 2012, and what better way to kick of a new year than with a great new album! Darrin Vincent, one half of Bluegrass super group Dailey & Vincent strolled down the hall with a copy of their new record, The Gospel Side of DAILEY & VINCENT, along […]
December 5, 2011 Las Vegas – MGM Grand Garden Arena This was the second ACA show for Fox Network. Production Mix Engineer Klaus Landsberg invited me to come out on behalf of Shure for this years’ show as they were going to be using primarily Shure wireless. Sound Company ATK Audiotek would be providing the […]
November 10, 2011 Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino – Las Vegas, NV Every year, in the beginning of November, Latin music’s hottest acts converge on Las Vegas to celebrate the Latin GRAMMY’s. This year Latin GRAMMY week was busier than ever with interviews, rehearsals and pre-Latin GRAMMY parties that had city of sin sizzling with […]
November 12, 2011 The Vogue Theater- Indianapolis, IN Who? Mona. Never heard of them eh? Neither had I until a good friend of mine who does monitors for Ronnie Dunn introduced me to them. Mike Addams called me on the phone and said you HAVE TO work with these guys. They are about to explode. […]
November 10-12, 2011 Indianapolis, IN The Percussive Artist Society International Convention (PASIC) is one of those events I look forward to every year. Being a drummer myself, this event is close to my heart. So are a lot of people that attend from many other great companies like Pearl, DW, Zildjian, Remo, Vic Firth, Vater, […]
November 9, 2011 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN Having been down in Nashville for 10 years now, it is always great to be able to attend this awards show. It’s a reunion for both a lot of our Nashville contacts but also some of our East and West Coast based contacts as well. I get […]
Maybe you aren’t familiar with this Los Angeles based four-piece, but I’ve got a feeling you may find them to be quite infectious. With an intriguingly vintage folk rock sound and the musical chops reminiscent of their veteran folk rock predecessors, this group of twenty-somethings is, as told to me several times throughout the evening, […]
October 24, 2011 The Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN OK, I know they just played here in July but I can’t get enough of this group. It is so cool to watch and hear their vibe coming off the stage. If you aren’t moving and grooving to this band, they will CALL YOU OUT! That […]
October 19,2010 The Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA It was time for a road trip….and I knew this one was going to be worth it. Why? Because I’ve watched drummer Mike Mangini for years. He’s been a Shure endorser for over 10 years. This was the type of band that Mike has worked for, practiced for, […]
October 14, 2011 Lincoln Hall – Chicago, IL We recently welcomed Neon Indian to our Artist Endorser Family and although I have been a fan of Alan Palomo since his solo project known as Vega, and even more so after listening to Neon Indian’s Psychic Chasms released in 2009, I never had the pleasure of […]
October 14, 2011 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN The last time these wonderful Christian Artists were in Nashville, I had a prior commitment and was unable to stick around for the show. Tonight, I planned to spend the afternoon and evening with the band and crew. I meet up with Carter Hassebrook who is the […]
The day had finally come! I cleared as much of the calendar as I could to make sure I would be in the building by the time Foster the People hit the stage at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre. Things always seem like they’re gonna go as planned at 9:00 AM, but as I’ve learned and ultimately […]
September 21-24 Nashville, TN Soundland Nashville has taken over the town with great new upcoming bands. I hope you got a chance to go out and hear some new music. I started out my day on Thursday by visiting a panel discussion at the Belcourt Theatre on the success of the band The Civil Wars. […]
September 16, 2011 North Nashville, TN I was invited to come out and check out Luke Bryan’s newly updated touring set. Bigger PA, more lights, and a really cool new mic stand with which to perch his recently chromed UR2/SM58 mic. I had to wait a couple of days to blog about this as he […]
Sept 13, 2011 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN The big rock show!! How many hits can you pack into one night, especially with 3 super groups from the 80’s? I was excited to find out as this is the era I grew up in. Endorsing drummer Mark Schulman has reunited with Foreigner on this tour […]
August 27, 2011 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN I have been eager to see this group come back together again after many solo projects and tours. Each member individually has their own sound but when they are all together, it’s a magic unto its own. Shure has enjoyed a wonderful, longstanding relationship with Alison Krauss […]
August 25, 2011 Chicago Theatre I had not received a copy of the new record yet, nor had I heard a song off of it. Sometimes, that is the best way to see a show – when you don’t know what is coming next. I am familiar with Susan’s and Derek’s work separately so I […]
Our friend, Audrey Sahl, wrote this guest blog for Mic Check: I checked out the first ever East Coast GRAMMY Camp last week, and was happy to see just as much talent represented in the East as out West. Converse Rubber Tracks hosted the evening’s open mic festivities, so I got a glimpse into the newly opened, […]
August 17, 2011 Bridgestone Arena- Nashville, TN I’ve seen them before, and I will see them again – every chance I get! Maroon 5 is such a great band to see/hear live. They are tight, energetic, and well “schooled” in playing so many styles of music. After all, that’s what they are all about and […]
Our friend, Melody Demel, wrote this guest blog for Mic Check: I was in L.A. last week catching up with students at a summer camp put on by The Recording Academy called GRAMMY Camp. It was a pretty cool experience, as it gave me the chance to hang out with high school students who take […]
July5, 2011 Wikipedia: “A tantrum is an emotional outburst, usually associated with children or those in emotional distress. ” Well, if you think a bunch of kids, hot and wild from listening to great music on a steamy Tuesday in Nashville might be a tantrum of sorts, this definition applies. There are so many new […]
June 9-12 – 2011 Nashville, TN 2011 marks not only the 40 year Anniversary of the CMA Music Fest but also the 10th year of the Shure office in Nashville. I have been fortunate to be able to attend this show since Shure opened the Nashville Artist Relations office in 2001. It has been great […]
June 4, 2011 Nashville, TN – The Ryman Auditorium OK, so what do I mean by reunion? About 14 years ago, a good friend and contact at A & M records – Al Marks – called me up and told me I had to come out and meet the new artist he was working with. […]
June 2, 2011 The Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN Brian McKnight has been nominated for many Grammy’s and other awards in the R & B category over the years. His vocal ability and songwriting skills are highly regarded. He has collaborated with some of the best in R & B. Currently on tour, he now […]
June 1 The Factory in Franklin, TN Out of respect to CMT and the request to not shoot photos during the show, I’m only going to give you taste of what you are in store for should you choose to tune in when this show airs. Luke Bryan‘s songs have consistently lived high on the […]
May 21, 2011 Montclair State University – Montclair, NJ This was the first time in about 3-4 years that I’ve been back at the Modern Drummer Fest and back to MSU. It was great to see this campus again and it has been growing and rebuilding ever since. Last year, Shure sent a boatload of […]
With less than 2 weeks away from the Modern Drummer Festival in New Jersey, I thought it would be great to open up a discussion on the various techniques people use to capture their drum sounds using Shure mics. I think this will also help to educate some people as to what choices are available […]
May 4, 2011 Music City Roots – The Civil Wars & more Loveless Cafe, West Nashville, TN My musical roots were planted by my parents. Great music was always playing in our house while we cleaned or worked on projects. The Carpenters, John Denver, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, The Doobie Brothers,Fleetwood Mac and Simon and […]
It goes without saying, but it was still raining in Chicago last night. Nevertheless, I gassed up the trusty Shure mobile and headed out to stop number one of my music filled adventure, soundcheck at Lincoln Hall with The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. Walking into the bar/dining room of the building, the music […]
Shure recently released the KSM313 ribbon mic. Now, this unique microphone is being used on stage with Slash.
April 12, 2011 Schuba’s Tavern – Chicago, IL My parents were married about 3 blocks away from Schuba’s. It’s always great to be able to drive down Belmont Avenue in Chicago and still see the church, and many other sights that I grew up seeing when I lived in Chicago. My Grandmother lived about 2 […]
April 7, 2011 The Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN This evening’s event has been an annual concert for over 13 years and Vince always brings in some wonderful artists to participate. Benefiting the Mental Health Association, Vince and his many guests performed 2 sets of music, lasting over 2 and half hours. FOH Engineer Hugh […]
Sunday April 3, 2011 Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, NV This will be about the 14th time I have had the absolute pleasure of attending the Academy of Country Music Awards. As in the past, Shure has enjoyed the pleasure of being the preferred microphone of choice by both the engineers for the show […]
March 22, 2011 The Belcourt Theatre – Nashville, TN 19-year old Bluegrass artist Sierra Hull is smiling big right now. She is not only attending the Berklee College of Music but she has just released her second CD entitled Daybreak. Tonight she is welcoming a crowd of fans at the Belcourt Theatre. I had seen […]
March 16-19 Austin, TX Red Gorilla Music Fest I love this festival! I love being able to meet new people and hearing what directions artists are going musically. I hear music that is a clear throwback to older music, I hear new music that goes in new directions, and a few bands that mix both. […]
March 13 Nashville, TN OneRepublic has certainly taken hold fast in the music industry. With several successful hits on their latest release and a new album due out this year, they show no signs of slowing down. They gained tons of momentum opening up for the huge U2 stadium tour last year and kicked off […]
February 26, 2011 Brad Paisley @ Bridgestone Arena This was my second time catching Brad in concert. The first time was less 2 years ago when I traveled with a team of Shure folks to Knoxville to do an ad shoot and video interview with him. I had a blast capturing that and editing it. […]
February 16, 2011 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN Two legends of the industry, touring together, made a stop in Nashville to show “Music City” what rock is all about. Slash is an iconic musician whose guitar sound is instantly recognizable and Ozzy’s voice in unmistakable. As I scanned the crowd, I was pleased to see […]
February 13, 2011 Staples Center Los Angeles, CA This year’s show featured a diverse line up of legendary as well as up and coming artists. The same holds true for microphones. As usual, many Shure products were requested and put into action; from top of the show featuring a star-studded line up of 5 tremendous […]
February 4, 2011 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville TN The first time I saw Korn was at the Metro in Chicago supporting their first record. The capacity crowd was energized! The next time I saw them was in Tinley Park, IL at what was then called the World Theater in support of their second release. Multiply […]
We had a flurry of travel and great musicianship immediately following NAMM as our SM58® Give It Voice regional showcases got underway. Ryan Smith started in LA at The Roxy. Cory, Nelson, and I went to The Metro for the Chicago stop. Nelson jetted up to Toronto to hang at the Mod Club. Ryan was […]
We wrapped up this homage to the SM58® in snow ridden Boston, MA on January 27th at the Paradise Rock Club, a legend in its own right as far as rock venues go. The Shure team arrived the day an entire foot of snow fell down on the city, crippling the masses from getting to […]
Monday, January 24 The SM58 Give It Voice Tour departed Chicago and headed northeast to Toronto, Ontario Canada for the Regional Final at the famous Mod Club. It was a cold winter night but @VanessAlegacy and Marc Cowie warmed up the house as they went head to head with 40 minutes sets each. Vaness aLegacy hit […]
January 25, 2011 Now that I hit my stride, I was ready to emcee again at the Wildhorse Saloon for the Nashville Regional Finals. I was pleased to see an enthusiastic crowd show up to support these artists. First up was The Specktators from East Lansing, MI. Quite a drive for them! Taking the middle […]
Shure is right outside Chicago, and so we were out in force for the second showcase of regional finalists in the SM58® Give It Voice Tour. All three bands were from the City of Chicago, each representing a very different genre from each other. Opening the show, St. Bagu was a hip-hop act with two […]
January 19th, 2011 After a very successful NAMM show in Anaheim, I traveled north to hanging out in LA for a few days, awaiting the kick off of the Shure Give It Voice tour. The first show would take place at The Roxy Theatre. I had a blast being the emcee for the evening and […]
December 13, 2010 – Nashville, TN It’s hard to imagine that just 7 months ago, the building that the Shure Nashville Artist Relations office resides in had 3 1/2 feet of water throughout. Soundcheck is a Nashville staple and to be able to host it’s annual Holiday party after such a tragedy is a wonderful […]
Saturday, November 27 – Tennessee Performing Arts Center When the flooding hit Nashville back in May, there were so many people affected by it. Many artists had their gear stored at Soundcheck, where the Shure office is located. I can remember walking through the “graveyard,” seeing various artists’ gear laying out to dry or deteriorate. […]
11/24 Last night I got to see Black Dub perform at Lincoln Hall here in Chi-town in support of their self titled debut album which was released earlier this month. Black Dub is Daniel Lenois’ newest project which includes the masterful Brian Blade on drums, Daryl Johnson on Bass, Daniel on guitar and the soulful Janis Joplinesque voice of Trixie Whitley, […]
November 22, 2010 Public Speaking…….(words that can send shivers down your spine). So, what’s the best way to get over this….do it more!! Heather Sturm at the Art Institutes in Nashville called and asked if I would put together a Live Sound/miking clinic for her 10 Audio students. I said…yyyyes I can. But I wasn’t […]
PASIC 2010 – Indianapolis, IN Nov 10-13 Percussive Arts Society International Convention This was my 15th time attending PASIC. I was joined this year by Shure Associates Rob Klegon and Matt Koschak who both had a hand in the development of the AWESOME new drum microphones we were going to display this year. Shure has […]
11/11/10 Showday!!! Woke up and ironed my suit for the Latin Grammys. I ate some breakfast with one of my co-workers and went to the venue to catch some of the dress rehearsals for a bit before the green carpet opened at 1pm. The doors opened to the general public at 3pm and wow was […]
11/8/ – 11/10 For the second year in a row the 11th annual Latin Grammy Awards were celebrated on Thursday November 11th at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. When it comes to Latin Award Shows this is it. Many of Latin Americas chart topping stars take over Las Vegas for an […]
10-08-2010 Hitting her stride on tour for her new release, Kaleidoscope Heart, Sara is as confident as ever onstage. She has a great band, a great crew, and is having a great time performing GREAT music!! Tonight, she was on a great stage, the historic Ryman Auditorium. She felt so confident that she and her […]
From time to time we have some amazing visitors here at Shure and on Thursday the beautiful Mexican songstress and Shure Endorser Lila Downs paid us a visit a day before her show at Chicago’s Symphony Hall. I picked her up along with her husband Paul Cohen, their adorable newborn baby Benito and their Nanny […]
October 12, 2010 Louisville, KY – Freedom Hall Yeeessssiir, it’s time for another ROAD TRIP!! Since these guys weren’t going to drive down to me and do a show in Nashville (the NERVE!…..just kidding) , I decided to head up I-65 from Nashville to give them a hard time about it. I had met Dave […]
September 30, 2010 Nashville , TN – The Ryman Auditorium It’s so exciting to see the success of this very new Bluegrass group. Dailey and Vincent have exploded onto the Bluegrass circuit with a desire to work hard, sing their hearts out, and win over audiences. Bluegrass groups tour constantly and these guys have had […]
Sept 20, 2010 – Nashville, TN It has been WAAAY to long since I’ve seen either these bands perform. I was due for my fix. Both of these groups consistently put out great new music and perform great live. I arrived at Rocketown mid afternoon with some replacement gear in tow and proceeded to set […]
Yesterday I got a chance to interview Shure Endorser Mike Posner in one of the prayer rooms in the Foundation Room of the House of Blues in Chicago. If you have never been, upon entering the room it feels like your transported somewhere Zen in Asia. The atmosphere is very tranquil and the attention to detail in the decorations […]
Matt & Kim were coming to Chicago again, and this time I had no prior plans or obligations to stand in the way of finally meeting the dynamic duo from Brooklyn and partaking in the madness that is their live show. When I arrived to the Metro via the Shure mobile (of course), the line […]
So, I’m going to come clean and state for the record that I was vaguely familiar with the rock band Pavement when I received a care package from the band’s manager, Peter Arsenault last winter asking if Shure might be interested in supporting a reunion tour slated for 2010. Of course I’d heard the name […]
The waters have departed, hopefully for a very long time ! Mix magazine had planned to hold it’s annual 2 day Mix Nashville event in May when disaster struck and Soundcheck Rehearsals took in 3 1/2 feet of water. It was not a pretty site! We are back !! So is Mix Magazine who held […]
Alright, I’m gonna go for it here. I love this band! It is such a treat to listen to them because that’s why you are there when you go to see The Black Crowes. Yes, it’s great to watch the show, but it’s so much about the good music that this band has been giving […]
Local radio show, the Buzz, puts on this event every year and this year had some great acts like Shinedown, 7 Day Binge, and Sick Puppies. I caught Sick Puppies earlier this year opening for Breaking Benjamin and they put on a great show for just being a 3 piece. I got a chance to […]
Sept 8, 2010 – Chicago It’s always a treat to go back “Home.” I was born in Chicago and Shure HQ’s is there as well. On this particular trip, I was lucky enough to be able to go out and see Slash and his new group open up for Billy Idol at The Riviera downtown. […]
Nickelback has been one of our longtime endorsers and we finally got an opportunity to sit down with them before their show last night at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Ft. Wayne IN. For those who don’t know Ft. Wayne is about 4 hours south-east from Chicago by car. Luckily I was accompanied by our amazing photographer […]
That’s right. Sunday night, August 22, 2010, Herbie Hancock and company came to Nashville and proceeded to delight the audience. I was glad to be among them. Herbie is enough of an artist to perform all by himself but the “and company” part of this equation added to the performance. Playing a good selection of songs from his past […]
After leaving the Charter One Pavilion At Northerly Island (formerly Chicago’s Meigs Field for you history buffs out there), I only had one thought left… I haven’t seen a rock show like that in a LONG time! So, here’s what led to this singular thought as I jockeyed for position in the over-crowded over-sold parking […]
August 10, 2010 Young singers from all over Tennessee and a few surrounding states converged on the Williamson County Fair for a special contest. 32 contestants in 3 different age levels took the stage to sing in front a panel of judges. Oh, by the way, I was one of the judges! I was also able to […]
What? A good R & B group in Nashville ?? NO! A GREAT R & B group – Like Candy Red. Three sisters, drums, bass, and guitar. That’s it…and they are fantastic! Playing a late show at 12th & Porter last night (7/22), this is one of my new favorite groups. They lay it down […]
For the past several years, 13-18 year old Christian Musicians have gathered together at a special camp designed to ignite the creative musical fire inside them. Shure Endorser TobyMac has been involved for a while and was the headlining artist at this years’ camp. I got to spend some time with Heath Mahon, Toby’s monitor […]
We’re almost out of the woods! Just a few more days and we’ll be back into our offices at Soundcheck in Nashville. I caught Pam Tillis’ crew cleaning up their gear. Thanks to Dave Haskell with Sugarland for letting use his pressure washer to clean up a few of my items as well. More pics soon of […]
Los Babasonicos, one of Argentina’s most popular and hardest working rock bands, were in town last night for a special free event at the Ravenswood Event Center in Chicago. I have never attended a show at The Ravenswood Event Center so I was curious to see what this place was all about. I was able […]
I’ve done this job a few years now. There always seemed to be more information than we were able to disseminate. One can only release so much info in the form of press releases, or printed magazines, or by So I loves me some Depeche Mode. They love me, too. They say so every time […]
OK, finally… the temperature is a little more bearable. The star performer tonight was Brad Pailsey and he too ended the show with fireworks. I forgot to mention that a portion of the proceeds from the entire 4 day event will go towards the flood victims of Nashville. Country Music fans are an amazing group […]
Yep….still hot outside. I think I’m going to lose 5 lbs just this weekend. 🙂 I first stopped out at LP Field to see how the ‘ were going for the evening concerts. Rascal Flatt’s drummer Jim Riley has got a nice new kit from Ludwig. It’s monsterous…and full of Shure mics! I then went over […]
HOT….and not just temperature. Some great artists showed up to perform in the blazin’ sun on Friday, June 11 at the CMA Music Fest. Patty Loveless is no stranger to this stage and is always a welcome performance. She has such a great, recognizable voice and is such a big supporter of Nashville. Later on, […]
The weather is cooperating so far! It’s a hot and sunny day and I arrived at the Riverfront just in time to catch the last few songs of The Judd’s performance. What an awesome crowd that showed up at 10 am to see their historic return. Also taking the stage later that day with their […]
…..the really big festival. The stage is up, the sound is getting dialed in, the water bottles are getting chilled, and Nashville is getting ready for thousands of Country Music fans to invade LP field and the Cumberland Riverfront. It was about 5 weeks ago that the river overflowed banks in what was the most […]
Deep in the beautiful rolling hills of Leapers Fork, TN, the students of Hillsboro Elementary and other surrounding schools take part in a 1-2 week summer camp. The camp is called Kids On Stage and it’s ALL about the kids. They learn from some of the masters of various industries (Music, Songwriting, Art, Dance, and […]
Hello Amigos, today we had a very special treat at Shure. We had two-time Juno Award winner and Shure endorser, Alex Cuba, visit our corporate headquarters here in Niles, IL. He is in town today to play a show at Rumba to promote his recently launched third album which is self-titled. Rumba is one of […]
Every year, Nashville’s finest golfers, engineers, and many other music industry people get together for 2 days of golfing fun, all to benefit N.E.R.F. ( no, not the fun play toys) the Nashville Engineer Relief Fund (http://theaudiomasters.org/). Shure sponsored a hole on Day 2, Studio Day. Here’s a few shots on the course. It was […]
The drywall is going back up! Soundcheck is hoping to be back in business by mid-July! Here’s a few shots of the way things looked last week.
Yes folks! We all piled into the vehicle late May and headed towards sunny Indianapolis to catch Nickelback, Breaking Benjamin, and Sick Puppies. Sick Puppies opened up with their intensely popular single “War” and slammed it hard for 20 minutes. Then Shinedown rocked for about 35. Next up were new endorsers Breaking Benjamin. By this time, […]
Here’s a few shots of the demolition at 750 Cowan. This is where my office is. They’ve already got the walls down for the storage lockers and the drywall off in most of the complex. Next is cleaning, then sanitizing. After that, they can begin reconstruction.
Most of the gear that could (or might) be saved in the Soundcheck flood was brought to a dry storage location. Again, I’ll let the pictures tell the stories.
Monday, May 10 – Nashville, TN. Loaded up with plenty of protective gear, my wife and I headed downtown to Soundcheck to begin the process of cleaning up the office. Thankfully, we would be joined by several local friends which made this job so much easier. Before I continue, I would like to mention that the […]
During the weekend of May 1 and 2, 2010, Nashville experience rainfall of epic proportions. The result of this rainfall was an overflow of many rivers, including the Cumberland river that flows through Nashville and surrounding communities. Shure’s Nashville office is located inside Soundcheck, a major rehearsal hall in Nashville. Soundcheck is located on the bank of the […]
The first time I ever heard Ozomatli was in 1998. I was sick in bed with a migraine. My migraines, when I get them, tend to be pretty severe. So painful that I have to literally lock myself in a dark room and shut out all outside noise. For some reason, that day, the TV in […]
To the Shure-Mobile! Today I was off to catch the tremendously talented Adam Young aka Owl City at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. I also had a special guest helper along for the ride… my niece Lizzi Stack was pretty excited about getting to see the immensely popular Owl City, too! This was my first time at the Aragon Ballroom and Lizzi’s […]
Ah yes, driving into the city right at the start of a Cubs game is right at the top of a long list of things I’d rather not do ever, but today was the exception, new Shure endorsers Yeasayer were in town for a sold-out Metro show. I was notified ahead of time that I […]
Coachella Day 3 After a hard night’s sleep I began my last day in the desert with Shure Endorsers Babasonicos from Argentina. They charmed the crowd with their bravado and stage presence. After their set I hung out with them and had some lunch at the catering tent backstage. This was to be my first actual […]
Coachella Day 2 After my usual stop at Starbucks and another traffic filled morning, day two started with Shure Endorsers Zoe from Mexico. This is one of my favorite bands. Their psychedelic alt-rock and spacey lyrics are really appealing to me. I definitely think they are one of Mexico’s best at the moment and from the […]
Where do I begin, on the plane? Nah, too boring… I’m pretty sure you all have been on one before. Let’s start at my arrival at the hotel behind a long line of people from as far north as Toronto, as far south as Brazil and as far east as Japan checking in the night […]
Shure Endorsers Zoé stopped by Chicago last Friday to play a packed house at the historic Congress Theater while on a cross-country 12 city bus tour of the States. The Mexican alt-rockers rocked the packed house with lead singer León Larregui’s spacey vocals, Sergio Acosta’s guitar mastery, Jesus “Chucho” Baez’s haunting keyboards, Angel Mosqueda’s atomic bass […]
Still one of my favorite Shure endorsers to visit when he comes to town is Henry Rollins. Performing with Rollins Band, Black Flag or conducting one of his speaking shows, Henry impacts the crowd while on stage at any venue around the world. On this rainy spring day in Chicago at the Vic Theater, Rollins was […]
As I approached the back stage door of Chicago’s Congress Theater on a bright and sunny Friday afternoon, Passion Pit was well into their sound check as I could already hear the bending synths from their hit “The Reeling” escaping into the alley behind the venue. Once on stage, it was like watching a group of mad […]
When I last spoke with Matt, we were going over the Matt & Kim live gear needs, and at the end of the conversation he mentioned that they were going to start working on the vocals for the next album. He mentioned that the headphones at the studio were okay, but he really likes to […]
Saturday night I witnessed something very refreshing. I witnessed the powerful energy of a female MC by the name of Ana Tijoux of Chile. After being touted as one of SXSW’s darlings, her debut U.S. tour brought her to Chicago to play Martyr’s with her second solo album named 1977. The title represents the year she […]
In our last episode, Brooklyn-based Matt & Kim were hunkered down in a studio in Atlanta to begin work on the follow-up to 2009’s Grand. Looking for a change in the weather and chaos of NYC, Matt & Kim figured Atlanta would be the perfect fit for normalcy and a little winter warm-up… So far, it […]
After seeing her perform with Jeff Beck at this year’s GRAMMYs, Irish rockabilly siren Imelda May has certainly got everyone buzzing… especially us! Imelda and her band came to town on Monday, March 15th to play a set at Martyr’s in Chicago, and according to the chosen few there to see her set, she tore […]
When I was asked if I could cover the Silversun Pickups and Muse show at the United Center in Chicago I jumped at the chance; Not only would I finally get to see Muse Live for the first time, I would get a chance to interview Shure Endorsers, the Silversun Pickups, whose new album, Swoon has […]
I headed out to our beloved All State Arena, home to the Chicago Wolves hockey team and DePaul Blue Demons… and they do mix some concerts in there when the timing is right. On this particular evening, All State played host to R&B superwoman Alicia Keys and Shure endorser Robin Thicke. Down below in the depths […]
On a chilly and windy Saturday afternoon in Nashville, my father and I made our way down the ramp to the Sommet Center to catch a soundcheck with Roger Daltrey who is out opening for 12 Eric Clapton shows. Fresh off a Superbowl performance with The Who, Roger was ready to rock Nashville… and he did not disappoint. Pulling […]
Country Radio Seminar brings a host of program directors and radio station personnel to Nashville for several days of private, sometimes intimate performances. Today’s event was for the Universal Music Group label. Several artists on that label were in town to perform one song each as a thanks to the many radio station folks that play their […]
The Winter Jam concert series made a stop in Nashville this evening and Shure Endorsers Third Day were the final act of the evening. Prior to their taking the stage though, Endorser Toby Mac jumped onstage with the Newsboys for an energetic performance of “Jesus Freak.” The Sommet Center arena was packed. Why not, at just $ […]
New to the Shure roster of endorsers, Matt & Kim were literally on their way to a studio in Atlanta to meet producer Ben Allen and begin work on the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Grand. I spoke to Matt over the telephone as Kim minded her speed, navigating the band van down the interstate […]
I’ve been very lucky to have the opportunity to meet many amazing artists working Artist Relations for Shure, but this weekend I had a very special honor. I got to meet and interview the “Godmother of Punk” herself, the legendary Patti Smith. We met after her soundcheck at the Park West in Chicago where she was […]
Shure was invited to be a part of something special tonight. Students from Fisk University, MTSU, and Tennessee State University make up the 40 piece ensemble that is the Tennessee Mass Choir. (http://www.tennesseemasschoir.com/) Executive director C. Michael Brae came to the Shure office in Nashville to ask us to be the provider of mics to capture […]
Making good on his promise to return to Chicago after a scheduling conflict kept him from getting here in January, Mos Def showed up at the Congress Theater on February 13th, to rock a sold-out crowd. I caught Mos backstage during soundcheck while the masses started a line outside that stretched for blocks and blocks. Before I could even […]
Karen Stackpole provides a rudimentary primer for miking the rhythm section: guitars, bass, piano, and drums.
In the House and on the Road with Paris Lahr He’s the man behind the console at venues ranging from intimate clubs to sports arenas, with an impressive resume that includes pro sound responsibilities for popular venues, major sound companies and globally touring artists. It only made sense that we’d want to tap Paris Lahr […]
A Shure Educational Podcast Part three of a three-part series on wireless microphone technology. In this episode, we help our listeners choose the appropriate antenna and its placement for their wireless system.
A Shure Educational Podcast Part two of a three-part series on wireless microphone technology. In this episode, we help our listeners pick the appropriate frequency for their wireless system.
A Shure Educational Podcast Part one of a three-part series on wireless microphone technology. In this episode, we help our listeners pick the appropriate system for their application.
A Shure Educational Podcast Tim Vear from Shure’s Applications Engineering department can talk wireless with the best of them. In this installment, Tim shares his knowledge of wireless technology and television airwaves…past, present and future.
A Shure Educational Podcast In this episode, we are joined by Senior Applications Engineer Tim Vear to get a little insight on the different types of wireless antennas and the proper way to place them for optimal performance. Tim is Shure’s resident wireless expert and has enough knowledge on this topic to fill hours and […]
Personal Monitor Systems put total freedom within reach of musicians at every level. Here is the information you need, if you are thinking about moving from the wedge to in-ear.
An RF (Radio Frequency) scanner can be extremely useful in any installation employing wireless microphones if your wireless system doesn’t include an onboard scanner. This post explains how they work and how to get the most out of them.
What does it do? Improves wireless sound quality. What is it? A more efficient companding scheme. What is companding? Companding is the process of compressing the audio signal prior to transmission and expanding it after reception. All pro audio wireless needs companding to deliver a wide dynamic range (greater than 100dB). How does it work? […]
