Artist of the Day | STICKS & STONE PERCUSSION
ARTIST OF THE DAY
12.08.2020
STICKS & STONE PERCUSSION
LOCATION
Edmonton, AB
GENRE
Everything! As percussion.
(Pop, rock, jazz, video- game, Disney... our exciting project is the release of an album blending folk music from 15 nations with pop, rock and jazz, Sept 12)
CURRENT MEMBERS
Jayden Beaudoin
Dale Osbaldeston
Stephen Stone
With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?
Our group was in Edmonton, gigging and working, both together and separately. And then of course, every single gig for the foreseeable future was canceled. As the world was adapting, we planned to have our first livestream event at the Polaris Centre in Calgary on March 25th, alongside Calgary percussionist Rob Maciak and a jazz trio he would play with. On March 23rd, as Rob and I (Stephen) were coming off of a hike, we learned that the Polaris Centre where we were going to perform was closing indefinitely. We knew that we had gathered a reasonable online audience, and it would be a shame if we cancelled our show.... Rob and I then drove to Edmonton, where we knew I had enough connections to pull it off somehow. On the 24th on the drive, we confirmed that we could do a livestream at the Starlite Room. It was pulled off at Starlite on March 25th and, to my knowledge, is still the furthest reaching Starlite Session Livestream. It was a bit surreal for all of us, and perhaps moreso when we were not originally sure if we would fit the culture of Starlite when we performed there the first time in November (with "Shake Your Brass"). In some ways, it feels like we have seen some unlikely opportunity and success in the pandemic times.
How has that affected your plans for the coming months? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
Well, the gigs that were no longer exist. So, we've had to be creative. As it has warmed up, we have been pushing a series of small-scale community concerts, on or near people's properties. Maybe their front lawns. https://www.sticksandstonepercussion.com/show Basically, this is the only kind of gig that seems really viable at the moment, though maybe there are a few other ways.
However, in a lot of ways, it has actually been good for our group. We've had to make this transition from "We're playing music" (which we have done in a lot of ways) to "We're playing a show". This is a point we were getting to anyways, but the pandemic has really forced us to accelerate that thought process. Also, this has had an effect on our instrumentation. Where we would often have 2 or 3 people on a marimba, we have decided that perhaps it is not such a good idea with Covid concerns.
And so, we have moved to an instrumentation of one on marimba, one on drumset and one on vibraphone. Jayden, who refuses to own a car, has built a huge bike wagon, which he carries his vibraphone around the city with... I helped him buy the lumber just before our first Community Concert.
We are actually still going forward with our upcoming album-release (September 12th). However, this does take an incredible amount of consideration... Basically, though there is a huge value to livestreaming, it is difficult to take in revenue from it. However, outdoors we can at this time have 200 people gathered... We are intending to be able to do a release that is both live and livestreamed from the Edmonton Rugby Park, keeping in mind these considerations.
Come wintertime, however, it will be interesting... Given the current safety concerns and regulations, it is just a whole lot more challenging to have indoor gigs these days. A performance needs a certain audience, and the indoor regulations make that challenging. It is probably good to have some non- music work, income in these times.
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home?
We've been trying to do as many Physically Distanced Community Concerts as we can. This started with just the front lawns of family and friends and has actually expanded quite a bit (though, perhaps has not kept us quite as busy as I might have hoped). Also, we have been making a reasonable amount of DIY music videos and additionally preparing for our album release on September 12th.
What was the first thing you did/place you went to now the country is starting to slowly re-open?
I've had a few escapes to the mountains... They are rejuvenating and it is good to get away from a lot of the daily anxiety and worry that a lot of people have.
Favourite Starlite Room Moment?
above moment, where we were (**at the Starlite Room**) when everything came to a halt....
It's pretty surreal playing for that big, empty space...
Also, my parents kept calling me right up until the performance, questioning whether it was a good idea to be doing that kind of performance in these times...
After the fact, I really strongly felt that there was no better thing I could have been doing as a musician, at that time.
--- Second favourite moment: Seeing Brasstactics playing from the roof of Starlite to the audience below (I've only seen pictures... but I love the creativity, the determination to go forward).
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
Don't give up. Don't despair. Some doors close. There are new opportunities, however. The world wasn't perfect before... maybe we can find some ways to reinvent ourselves and also reinvent the world in all of this. Whatever else, stay positive. Keep connections with people and also with activities that help you stay positive too. And look out for those who are having a hard time, as much as you reasonably can.
STICKS & STONE PERCUSSION
Live at the Starlite Room
Live stream: March 25th, 2020
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