ABOUT
Born of a decade-long writing collaboration between a poet and a producer, Rain City Sirens began as a series of dark narratives reflecting the love, fear, anger, and doubts of a society we find ourselves both bound to, and at war with.
Poetry and production will take you so far, but things really started to move when the Performer joined bringing a fresh vision, a new set of skills, and most importantly...a voice. Joined by the Technician, and the Virtuoso - the table was now complete. Each, with fire in their bellies, set a collision course for the abyss - all the while, questioning.. always questioning: themselves.. and, at times, even the art they create.
In the dark streets of cities within cities that line the walls of our hearts, Sirens surrender only to the music that feeds us, keeps us alive.
THE PERFORMER
CHRISTINE LOCKHART
A self confessed polymath, could she not just be satisfied with having a wonderfully, at times, demonic or angelic voice?
No... she had to dance didn’t she.
And when she sat down for a minute, she told other people how to dance. (It’s not rude or bullying... it’s called choreography).
She was born in Brooklyn (it has an amazing bridge). That’s cooler than any of the rest of the band can claim.
Kit: Sure SM58, TC Helicon VoiceLive 3, Lungs
THE POET
DARRYLL MCCONNELL
He has scars. Loads of them.
It’s a dark life that he walks around in, and he keeps bumping into things and, as with most things in life, you find ‘things’ have sharp edges. Sharp things being inspiration for the eternal poet.
But, it has to be said that in all that darkness he can still function, pick up a guitar once in a while, and knock something out in E minor. And for added effect he can still do a double Windsor knot in his tie (with his eyes closed), as he continues to dress as an eternal school boy that hasn’t realised it’s like... two decades since the last school bell rang.
He claims his “Lipstick years” are over, but no... not with the schedule they have for film footage to go with the songs.
Kit: Fender Telecaster (white), Les Paul Standard (blue), Ibanez Iceman (black), Takamine G9 acoustic, Yamaha Pacifica (natural), DOD G6 pedal, Zoom 606 pedal, Peavey Bandit 112 Transtube
THE PRODUCER
DAVE GREAVES
It’s a little known fact (though a few have observed it under laboratory conditions) that when Dave sneezes he shouts “Pro Tools”.
We know – it’s hard to believe... you should have been there the first time they heard it as he was sleeping on a dusty studio floor after like... 39 gruelling hours of recording.
This producer is usually pretty 'on it’ - give him a chord sequence and a rough melody and he'll deliver you back a symphony. But it can be a bit weird when they’re recording something and he pauses and says, “Flight Tango 388 is requesting clearance for landing OVER...”
Who are we to judge? Do whatever you want when you have some spare time...
Kit: MusicMan Stingray 4 (natural with rosewood fretboard), G&L L2000 (blueburst with maple fretboard), G&L Tribute L2500 (tobaccoburst, rosewood fretboard), Fender Standard Jaguar Bass (black, rosewood fretboard), Rickenbacker 4001 (fireglow), Stentor Student II Upright bass with Innovation Silver Slap strings, Stagg EDB with Innovation Silver Slap stings, Boss ME50B, Gallien Kruger MB150s Mini-Amp
THE TECHNICIAN
STANISLAW ZALENSKI
Stanisław nauczył się robić na drutach od swojej ukochanej babci. W wieku ośmiu lat zaczął brać udział w szkolnych zawodach dziergania i wkrótce stał się najsławniejszym i najszybszym w Polsce trykociarzem wśród młodzieży poniżej 16-ego roku życia.
Jednak w 1997 roku, podczas Włóczkowych Półfinałów Dziergaczy, w Wełnowicach Śląskich, wydarzyła się tragedia. Jeden z drutów Stanisława złamał się podczas szczególnie złożonego, odwróconego ściegu pończoszniczego, i zranił zarówno samego Stana, jak i burmistrza Wełnowic...
Z biegiem czasu blizny fizyczne zagoiły się, jednak wciąż pozostał uraz psychiczny.... Nie mogąc spojrzeć na włóczkę w ten sam jak niegdyś sposób, Stan wyemigrował do Anglii, by tym samym odciąć się od polskich gangów-druciarzy, którzy wciąż chcieli go w swych szeregach. Odrzucając swoją przeszłość, jedynym pocieszeniem które znalazł było trzymanie w ręku pałeczek (jego zastępczych drutów). I tak zaczęło się bębnienie.
Stan pogodził się ze swoją popętelkowaną przeszłością, a nawet zaczął znowu dziergać (tylko małe rzeczy - jak skarpetki). Schematy i ściegi perkusyjne utworów z albumu "Rain City Siren" Stanisław udostępnia jako Drum Tab, Midi, Ścieg Francuski i Ścieg Ażurowy.
Kit: DW Collectors: 10" x 8" Tom, 12" x 9" Tom, 14" x 12" Floor tom, 16" x 14" Floor tom, 22" x 18" Kick drum. Cymbals: Zildjian series K - Hi hat "14”, Crash "16"17"18”, China "16”. Zildjian series A - Splash "10”. Istambul series Mehmet: Ride "20”. Sabian series HHX evolution. Zero-zone-crash "16”. Hardware DW9000. Microphones: Shure SM 57, Shure Beta 52.
THE VIRTUOSO
MARK ANTHONY ADAMS
Ask Mark Anthony Adams a question. They dare you... go on. It might not be the answer that you want – but it’ll be a good answer. The better ones will probably come if you ask him anything to do with the history of the Holy Roman Empire, or sci-fi TV shows in England from the 70’s and 80’s.
He’ll be able to tell you all about minor characters from Blake’s 7 and Doctor Who until the proverbial bovine animals make their way back to their current fixed abode. Get in his car – it’s not scary (as he doesn’t drive mentally fast), and he’ll take you o’er hill and dale to places you’ve never heard of where they filmed scenes decades ago in the likes of shows such as the aforementioned Doctor Who and Gerry Anderson’s live action show UFO.
Oh – and he knows an awful lot about guitars; he’s had to memorise (and embellish) many of the classic rock guitar solos that you may have enjoyed over the years. Rock and Roll is about 60 years old now, and Mark has had to learn it all a lot quicker than that.
Kit: 1977 Fender Stratocaster (customised by Jerry Playle), Ibanez SZ-520 (early issue), 1989 "Fenix" Les Paul Custom c/w Seymour Duncan Reverse Zebra SH-1 '59 pickups. (Customised phasing and/or series/parallel switching by Edge Bros. Guitars of Ealing.), EKO Acoustic Twelve-String (c/w with Brandoni pre-amp) (original run), 1989 Höfner President 1275 Semi-Acoustic, Brandoni/ Duncan "ACT" Stratocaster custom built BY Stuart Monks, Ibanez Tube King, DOD, Boss, MXR, Colorsound, Digitech early nineties multi FX c/w Valve , Electro-Harmonix, T-Rex Denmark, 1970s Laney VA-50 Combo c/w McKenzie Speakers, Laney VH-100 Head and Cab (Celestion Lead 80 speakers), Peavey Sheffield 112 Combo (transistor)