Del Mar College’s Live Sound class to run board, manage stage for House of Rock’s Outside Stage during Oct. 4 Music Walk
Students to rotate through various roles for free outdoor event that features headliners, including The Bright Light Social Hour and three local support acts
Article by Richard Guerrero Jr.
When the long-running Austin psychedelic rock band The Bright Light Social Hour hits the outdoor stage at Music Walk Friday night, Oct. 4, the band’s densely atmospheric sound will be managed by the capable students of Del Mar College’s (DMC) Live Sound (MUSC 1405) class. They’re taught by Alejandro Hernandez, a graduate of the College’s Sound Recording Technology (SRT) program and a professional engineer who tours with local country singer-songwriter Roger Creager.
With five studio albums to their credit, The Bright Light Social Hour has toured consistently over the years, providing support for headliners like the incredibly prolific California garage-psych act Osees as well as high-profile, no-introduction-needed acts like The Flaming Lips and Aerosmith. The Bright Light Social Hour has also performed at huge-stage events like Lollapalooza and the Austin City Limits Festival, which reportedly draws nearly half a million music fans annually.
The band has a history of drawing near-capacity crowds at the House of Rock during previous appearances. During Music Walk, The Bright Light Social Hour’s set on the Live Sound stage on Starr Street just outside the House of Rock is sure to draw a sizable audience looking to enjoy a sublime performance anchored in a richly nuanced concert sound.
No pressure, right?
Pressure is precisely the point according to Dr. Paul Bissell, DMC Professor of Sound Recording Technology and Program Coordinator. He says that mixing live music in an unpredictable environment filled with many variables is challenging to say the least, and while technical knowledge and stage management best practices are well-suited to classroom delivery, experience is mandatory.
All music venues need specialists to run sound who understand how an artist needs to load in, how to keep the stage moving on time, how to foresee problems that develop and so we start them here.
MUSC 1405 student Richard Landeros says he has experienced some of these challenges firsthand. As a freelance audio engineer, Landeros has served as a sound designer and engineer for several marching bands as well as Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps, which is based in Austin.
Landeros says that running the Music Walk stage is a great opportunity for the students in the Live Sound class to gain real experience running sound for a large event.
“Being put into real-life challenges and pressure of a live gig isn’t something that can be replicated in the classroom,” Landeros notes.
Casey Lain, House of Rock co-owner, adds that running live sound is one of the most challenging jobs at a live event because everyone from the performer to the fan in the crowd is counting on a sound engineer to provide a concert-level sound that is equal parts sonic clarity and effective yet controlled volume.
“Great sound is expected at every event and will leave a lasting impression,” Lain says. “The Live Sound class at Del Mar is a great way to get into the business. This class helps teach the science behind audio engineering and preps students on the basics of running sound.”
These future audio engineers bring to the table basic knowledge of the technology, how to wrap cables, the language spoken on stage and a good understanding of expectations.
Bissell adds that certain concepts tend to resonate more deeply in an experiential setting.
“Students can understand the notion that groups are going to be different, but it doesn’t feel tangible,” he says. “Sometimes, it’s knowing when and where the battles are that you need to fight and which ones you’re going to have to push down the road because it’s not going to happen the way you thought. A lot of times in live music, you are responsible but not really in charge.”
At Music Walk, the nine Live Sound students will rotate through various assignments during the evening. The entertainment lineup includes locals Funk Rock Stereo, Emma James and Animal Mood, along with the headliner. Each student will take turns running the mixing console as well as manage stage times, assist with equipment change-outs and trouble-shoot on-stage issues.
Bissell notes that while the Oct. 4 event is the second year that Live Sound students have run a stage at Music Walk, the history of the Live Sound class’s involvement with downtown events dates back to 2000 when his students ran sound for a stage during the Day of the Dead event. In recent years, Live Sound students have run the board in-house at the House of Rock.
For Music Walk’s inaugural kickoff last year, Bissell offered to have Live Sound students run a stage.
“We had everything from rock bands to a singer and keyboardist duo to a full mariachi group – it was all over the place,” Bissell says. “This year, it’s mostly rock bands, so focusing on a single style will make it easier for our students.”
For his part, Landeros says the SRT program has provided networking opportunities that have helped him move forward in the industry.
“I think that along with my work and drive, it is certain to help make my goals happen in the near future,” says Landeros.
Lain says that he’s grateful when he hires the College’s Live Sound students whenever the opportunity arises. “I can’t be more thankful for what DMC is doing with the Live Sound class – we have a partnership that has lasted well over a decade,” he says, noting that the venue’s current engineer is a former student of the class and that all the Live Sound students hired by the House of Rock have brought solid technical knowledge to the table.
He adds, “Nothing will replace on-the-job training, but the Live Sound class preps students in a way that prepares them for the challenges they will face behind the console.”
Bissell says SRT graduates often find work as live sound engineers in other area venues like the Exchange as well as churches. Other graduates own live sound companies like Melon Sound or operate a recording studio like Harbor City Sound Lab. Additional opportunities also exist in the radio and television broadcast industries as well as city government offices. For additional information about the SRT program at Del Mar College, visit https://www.delmar.edu/offices/srt/index.html
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.
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