For a while I’ve been thinking of bringing my cello down to a dry storm drain, or an empty building with a ton of reverb just for fun.

Wondering if anyone has done something like this before, and how it went?

How different does it feel compared to practicing normally?

I don't have a copy of it, but somewhere out there is a video of me singing "Sto Lat" in an abandoned RR tunnel.

I know an explorer who was trying to put together a cave band among her local urbex community. I'd have joined if I didn't live a day's drive away.

I once brought a traditional Korean opera singer to a storm drain with great acoustics, but she was too afraid to sing.

Posted by Steed I once brought a traditional Korean opera singer to a storm drain with great acoustics, but she was too afraid to sing.

Ah man. Bummer.

I used to bring my guitar to an old island cabin all the time. I want to try the storm drain thing, though. It'd be cool to bring power and an amplifier there.

I play the drums, so I'd need help lugging my kit. I've been to a bunch of punk shows in squats, does that count?

I have recorded pretty extensively in drains, mostly strings, percussion and synths. i field record in them frequently, and get impulse responses for reverb plugins in dry drains if they are quiet enough. nothin else quite like RCP reverb!

It's funny this thread should pop up right now. Did some drain exploring with a buddy last week who happens to be an amateur musician and he mentioned that it would be interesting to play in one of the drains we were exploring.

Aside from the acoustic novelty of caves & drains, I've often felt that some of the views offered by various bando perches would be improved by a little banjo. Would love to drag my band to a grimy drain for a shoot.

I've also considered using said banjo as a credibility prop for some locations. Sorry mr landowner/security guard/etc., we were just looking for neat places for an album cover!

Not me, but I've had the pleasure of exploring with him a couple of times.

One great recording that did not make it in to that video, unfortunately, is when he recorded himself playing the flute in a Toronto factory *during demolition*. The sounds of concrete an metal being pulled apart by machinery was....awesome.

Brought my clarinet to a mine once. The acoustic inside was pretty dead, and the dust didn't do me any favors (or my instrument). The canyon outside, however, was a fantastic natural amphitheater.

Love the acoustics in the subterranean world. Years ago they completely renovated the bike room we have in my apartment building. It's located two levels underground and they emptied the room of bikes. The room was literally a demolished cathedral of amazing reverb with concrete chunks and construction equipment everywhere. Always loved the acoustics in that bike cave but with the construction it was even better. So one night I snuck inside with my Devinci bicycle, a flash light and a Tascam Dr-44 digital recorder. I created a song using samples I made only with my bicycle in that room. I blew into the seat post, let air out of the tires, cranked the free wheel, rang the bell, plucked the spokes and tapped the frame. The only other sound is of a man singing in the garage while I was recording. I was influenced to create this after seeing a video of Frank Zappa playing a bicycle on The Steve Allen Show March 4, 1963.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqL9MlZCjhw

Pulse System Yield - Electrosonic Bicycle
https://soundcloud...y-aka-raygun-pulse

I've also played my flute while exploring the old train tunnel that was under the Chateau Laurier back in the 1980's but never recorded anything. I really enjoyed Jamie Thomson's Urban Flute Project ... haunting and beautiful.