Wytches' Debate

After chatting for a while in the Elsinore, we headed over to the Spa to meet the band and witness the soundcheck. Once all the gear had been carried in from the van, and a quick outline plan of action agreed with the event engineers, the instruments were connected up one by one and initial tests and checks carried out.

Meanwhile Candia, assisted by some dodgy bloke from Sheffield, collected the necessary rations from the bar. Thirsty work this band lark!

Mission Control

Dean and Tony tuning up

Candia at the bar

Booze!

One of the WGW spiders considers
making a nice meal out of
Lady Merchandise and Princess Linzi...

Candia checks over a new mic.

Adam, tuning up his bass.

Tony doing initial checks.

"This is really sounding rather good!"

Candia, caught in an introspective moment.

The venue awaits.
Note the huge spider on the ceiling!

Tony's new guitar.

Candia's new mic.

Tony McKormack
Lead Guitar

Adam Henderson
Bass

The sound engineer.

The Desk.

Another WGW legend in the flesh, Alien (right).

Who, me?

The main mixing desk, and (overhead) a supervisor you don't argue with!

Candia, voice of the Siren...

During the soundcheck, Candia sang all of "Leveller", unacompanied. It was an incredible performance, seemingly she does this at every soundcheck to test the mic levels. Someone really should record it, it was an utterly spellbinding few moments...

Dean, who briefly joined the band on percussion, Bodhran and second guitar during the recording of "The Beast With Two Backs" album.

The full band in action as a four-piece, doing "Jagermeister".

Tony

After Candia had proven the mic system, the whole band ran through a couple of tracks together, including the storming "Jagermeister", to fully test that all the equipment was operating correctly and to let the engineers properly balance and mix the sound sources. This is the most important part of a soundcheck, as getting the mix wrong can utterly ruin a band's sound. The WGW always hires the best engineers they can, people who understand Goth and know what a scene band should sound like. Sadly, that's not always the case elsewhere!

Candia

Adam

Candia + Adam

Tony

The classic line-up

As well as checking the sound itself, the soundcheck also allows the lighting engineers to test their equipment. An idea of the intensity of the colour the light rig was capable of is shown by its effect on the bandmembers, even with the full hall main lighting on.

After the soundcheck is completed, Alien discusses the running order with the band. At this stage it became aparent that Faith and The Muse were running late, and various options were proposed to deal with a variety of possible scenarios.

Meanwhile, another of those hungry WGW spiders menaces Tony in the background.

Master of mayhem Adam, trying not to look as
if he's planning a one-man demolition spree.

Candia, pondering what is to come.

Calm and collected amongst the chaos...

Checking the merchandise.

And so to the hotel.
Home James, and don't spare the horses!

Inner Sanctum.
The serene and refined atmosphere aboard the tourbus.
Not!