Mehdi Haddab, who some of you will know from Ekova and Du'Oud has just signed to Peter
Gabriel's RealWorld label with his band, Speed Caravan and they have released an album called Kalashnik
Love. Here is a set of pics I took at the London launch gig last night, 7 October:
Pardon my curiosity, but what's with the scruffy "I live under a bridge" look?
Come to think of it, I think I've answered my own question, it makes sense in context, I'm all FOR it. He's ALSO got an excellent way to use the oud.
Vince Millett - 10-13-2009 at 07:51 AM
His oud was interesting - a fairly standard electric oud but with a cushion gaffa-taped to the back. I assume this was to make it sit in the position
a traditional round-backed instrument would sit against his body but while in a standiing position.
I thought he looked a bit like Joe Strummer when he came on stage for the gig.....was scruffier in the soundcheck as you'll see from the pictures.
But, hey, it's London - you don't wear a suit to play rock music.fernandraynaud - 10-13-2009 at 07:36 PM
It looks like his oud was treated to many a late night modification session, to fill out the "cutout" with duct tape, then abandoning the idea, then
attaching more knick-knacks, and so on. It's a battle-scarred instrument that goes with the style. I'm very intrigued by what exactly the laptop
player has on his/her screen, a lot of the pulse/sound comes from there. Is it Ableton Live, or some obscure program, or a standard DAW? The Fender
bass looks like the frets have been ripped out and the neck coated, but it's hard to get a close enough look. In any case they sound great, the oud
really stands out, and they could just be the straw that brings the oud into the mainstream. Aymara - 10-15-2009 at 12:00 PM
