**UPDATED 23rd May 2018 - MP3s are up, but there's a catch...**
Up next is the full Mexican radio session that was aired live as it happened on May 22nd 2018. In stark contrast to the radio broadcast, this one doesn't have any intrusive idents ruining the occasion. In keeping with the weird vibe surrounding this event, the official video that was released by Reactor 105.7 had some serious audio sync problems, but I took the liberty of fixing them and reposting it here.
As Tom says during the introduction, this was the last stop before they all headed home for some rest and relaxation after the American tour earlier this year. There was a competition the day before the session to give away tickets for folks to attend the show, which provided them with a nice mixture of the lucky and the biased. Considering this was also a noon showcase, it's good to hear everyone still receptive and encouraging. Enjoy the music ;)
The Video
Violence
Papillon
Magazine
Cold
Munich
Smokers
Papillon
Magazine
Cold
Munich
Smokers
A Ton of Love
No Sound but the Wind
Outro
stream it here
MP3s
"Mistakes are wonderful, especially in acoustic shows!" - The Host just after Tom performs NSBTW
When it came to making some MP3s, as with everything else attached to this radio session, there were problems. I originally sourced them from the video, which doesn't have the idents running through it, but there was an issue. Violence cuts in and because of that, the initial part of that track is missing. So I took the beginning of that song from start of the radio broadcast, probably one of the few areas that didn't have a "Reactor!" ident over it, and spliced it together with the video version to make a complete track. 2 separate sources means two separate sound qualities, unfortunately. Therefore the part where the two tracks join is obvious, but there was no other way around it so apologies for that. I really do feel like this set has a curse on it.
The Radio Broadcast
This could have been awesome. I'm duty bound to warn you that there is a substantial negative point here, and it's something I don't think I've ever heard before. I'm used to radio stations dropping idents in between the songs to deter bootleggers, but at Reactor 105.7 they literally sprinkle them all over the songs as they're being performed. If this was a loud, leather-trousered rock show with pyrotechnics then you might not even notice. But this is acoustic, and those events tend to rely on creating an atmosphere and maintaining it for the duration. As a listener you can't participate fully if you're on your nerve endings waiting for the next "Reactor!" to be bellowed at you. The first one was a surprise, I almost had to check if I'd heard it but by the time we reached Papillon they'd done it 3 times already, and it just gets louder and worse from there.
No Sound but the Wind
Outro
stream it here
MP3s
"Mistakes are wonderful, especially in acoustic shows!" - The Host just after Tom performs NSBTW
When it came to making some MP3s, as with everything else attached to this radio session, there were problems. I originally sourced them from the video, which doesn't have the idents running through it, but there was an issue. Violence cuts in and because of that, the initial part of that track is missing. So I took the beginning of that song from start of the radio broadcast, probably one of the few areas that didn't have a "Reactor!" ident over it, and spliced it together with the video version to make a complete track. 2 separate sources means two separate sound qualities, unfortunately. Therefore the part where the two tracks join is obvious, but there was no other way around it so apologies for that. I really do feel like this set has a curse on it.
Violence - download here
Papillon - download here
Magazine - download here
Cold - download here
Munich - download here
Smokers - download here
Papillon - download here
Magazine - download here
Cold - download here
Munich - download here
Smokers - download here
The Radio Broadcast
This could have been awesome. I'm duty bound to warn you that there is a substantial negative point here, and it's something I don't think I've ever heard before. I'm used to radio stations dropping idents in between the songs to deter bootleggers, but at Reactor 105.7 they literally sprinkle them all over the songs as they're being performed. If this was a loud, leather-trousered rock show with pyrotechnics then you might not even notice. But this is acoustic, and those events tend to rely on creating an atmosphere and maintaining it for the duration. As a listener you can't participate fully if you're on your nerve endings waiting for the next "Reactor!" to be bellowed at you. The first one was a surprise, I almost had to check if I'd heard it but by the time we reached Papillon they'd done it 3 times already, and it just gets louder and worse from there.
I mean, I get it. Nobody wants people recording this stuff and making it available to those who missed it (because wouldn't that be dreadful?), but you still have to respect the artists that took the time to play some music for you. Also, they booked the session and broadcast it so people could check it out, but then deliberately sabotaged it when it hit the airwaves. What's worse is the apparently random nature of it. Some guy with his finger on the "Reactor" button that just pushes it whenever he feels like it. It doesn't ruin things completely, but it lessens the experience considerably.
If that isn't enough to boil your blood, the radio broadcast is also 2 songs short. Luckily, we have the video above to make up for it but even that had problems. Anyway, enough negativity.
If that isn't enough to boil your blood, the radio broadcast is also 2 songs short. Luckily, we have the video above to make up for it but even that had problems. Anyway, enough negativity.
The Setlist
Intro + Interview
Violence
Papillon
Magazine
Cold
Munich
Smokers
stream it here
brought to you with lots and lots of lemming-love :) x
