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 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!
https://www.flickr...otos/technomancer/ “I will accept any rules that you feel necessary to your freedom. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.”
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.
When there is tranquility, you are in the right place. When there are no footprints, you are on the right path. When there are no tire tracks, you are on the right road.
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
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.
Ethics
