Chasing the Moon is a great video podcast that highlights local bay area bands. The performances are filmed in HD and recorded in a professional studio one block away from the best Vietnamese sandwiches in town. I’m serious about the quality of these productions; they make Nirvana: Unplugged In NY look like it was filmed in Super 8. Ok maybe not, but that shit looks good considering their budget of no budget.
In the pagan tradition, the podcast is posted every full moon, which works out to just about every 28 days.
This past Saturday, I was fortunate enough to sit in during their session with the Nice Guy Trio, a very unique jazz group on the Mission’s own Porto Franco Records.
The Nice Guy Trio in action. I had little reason not to believe that they are actually nice.
Producer Brian Berberich and recording engineer Scott McDowell do all of this work out of the goodness of their music-lovin’ hearts. They see is as an opportunity to keep their industry chops up and promote the awesome local music that’s going on.
The atmosphere at the session was really professional and they seemed to have things streamlined well. If they were stressed out, they hid it well. Once things got rolling the whole filming and performance took less than an hour.
Spectators sat in a corner of the studio on comfy cushions from the couch and were asked to stay quiet during recording. Restraining applause until "CUT!" was actually really difficult and awkward.
Chasing the Moon is expanding to do monthly premiere events with live performances at the newly opened Viracocha on 21st and Valencia. Their first was on Jan. 29 and you can expect to see more soon. The Nice Guy Trio premiere will be in 2 or 3 months.
Thanks to Brian, Scott, and the Chasing the Moon team for hosting and chatting with me! More pictures after the jump.
Update: Brian had this to add:
Elijiah Pahati is actually the biggest reason Chasing the Moon is so great. He is the Director, Director of Photography, and Editor, and is why everything looks good. He is also our partner, every bit the owner Scott and I are.
So yeah, props are due to the Directory Elijiah Pahati! Sorry for leaving him out.
From the booth. Engineer Scott McDowell looks just like Michal Cera. I capitalized on this fully in order to punk our own Kat Malinowska who has been wanting to meet him, like, forever.
Volunteer cameramen shoot everything in impressive, often-unflattering HD. Musicians: be sure to get a good night's sleep before the session.
i’m serious about the quality of these vietnamese sandwiches
Ha! When I did some recording at Hyde St. Studios, I actually did duck out for banh mi at Saigon Sandwhich every twentysomething takes.
Oh noes! Why do I keep getting these Michael Cera comparisons?
Great time at Hyde St., Chasing the Moon podcast filming.