The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series
Featuring Passafire & Ballyhoo! Performing “Easy” (Cover)WATCH VIDEO NOW
The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series: From Conception to Creation
The vision of the Pier’s “Live Acoustic Series” is to provide reggae-rock fans with an intimate, stripped down acoustic experience featuring the genre’s most recognizable bands, along with some new faces. The concept is simple. First, get the genre’s best talent to play an acoustic version of a new or unreleased song. Second, create a production concept that is visually appealing and recognizable. Third, record the band’s performing the song. While the concept is simple, the execution is much more difficult. The Series required the coming together of a video director, crew, sound, venue, equipment, The Pier’s network, and, the bands—all with a common vision. Ultimately, this concept aims to produce quality music videos that are unmatched by any other outlet dedicated to covering reggae-rock. The series debuted on Nov. 12, 2012 with Cas Haley performing “Crazy Good Woman.” Since then the Series has featured some of rock-reggae’s premiere acts, including the Dirty Heads, The Green, Tarrus Riley and Iration.
Next Up: Passafire & Ballyhoo!
The Pier is excited to feature rock-reggae bands, Passafire and Ballyhoo!. Passafire is the progressive-alt-rock-reggae quartet from Savannah, GA and is the genre’s most innovative and progressive band. Ballyhoo! is the genre’s road warriors, playing over 200 shows per year. The east coast rockers are known for their high-energy show and accessible tunes. When the two are combined you get a pretty badass super group, which is exactly what happened as the bands came together to cover “Easy,” by the legendary Commodores.
The Shoot: “Easy” The idea for a collaboration song was posed by The Pier’s editor, Mike Patti, and Passafire and Ballyhoo! were kind enough to accommodate. We figured fans of both bands would love the idea, so we pursued it! The idea is simple: ask a couple of the genre’s strongest bands to play a recognizable song with acoustic instruments. “Easy” is the first collaboration song in the history of the Live Acoustic Series. The song was written by Lionel Richie and made famous by the Commodores in 1977.
The video was shot on location at Jackson’s in Denver, CO in early 2014. The Pier caught-up with Passafire and Ballyhoo! during their co-headlining “Winter Brewhaha” tour. The bands rolled into Jackson’s for the Sunday morning shoot (hence the song they chose), as we were setting-up lights, sound and the cameras.
As a small group of diehard fans looked on, Passafire played an original song, and then Ballyhoo! did the same – and yes, we will be premiering those videos as well! On “Easy,” Ballyhoo! front-man Howi Spangler took the lead on vocals, while Passafire’s Ted Bowne and Will Kubley provided harmonies, lead guitar and bass. Nick Kubley played drums, while Scott Vandrey played keys and Passafire’s Mike DeGuzman rocked the melodica.
A huge thank you goes out to Jacksons for providing the space and Cheba Hut for providing the food!
Director and Producer: Tage Plantell
The creative force behind the Live Acoustic Series is Denver-based Director/Producer/ Video Editor and musician Tage (pronounced Taw-Guh) Plantell. A graduate of the University of Colorado in Film Production, Plantell has been involved with film and music most of his life. He started as an eight-year-old, filming adventure movies with his brother and has since worked on everything from feature films, to commercials & 
corporate videos. In addition to working as a independent filmmaker, Plantell is an accomplished musician and songwriter. Prior to leading his current band Dusty Radio, Plantell was a member of “On Second Thought” and toured the country with bands like Vertical Horizon, Guster, Bob Schneider, The Samples and many others.
Plantell’s unique background as a director/producer and musician, bring together experiences that allow him to create professional music videos by seamlessly blending the two arts. “I’ve been a musician most of my life as well as a film-making enthusiast, so making music videos is a logical mix of my two loves in life,” says Plantell.
As a musician, Plantell has a unique perspective and understanding of music that most video directors don’t have. “Understanding things like song structure and music theory, from a musician’s point of view, really helps me shoot other musicians. I am able to predict their next moves during a shoot and gives me an acute sense of rhythm when editing in post-production,” says Plantell. Plantell’s experience on the stage, in the studio and behind the lens is sure to provide fans, and musicians alike, with a visual experience that is both unique and fitting for the Pier’s Live Acoustic Series.
The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series
Featuring Passafire & Ballyhoo! Performing “Easy” (Cover)WATCH VIDEO NOW!
The Pier’s “Live Acoustic Series” Credits:
Director/Producer/Video Editor/Videographer: Tage Plantell
Production Manager: Kit Chalberg
Sound Engineer: Kyle Zender
Executive Producer: Mike Patti
Filmed On Location: Jackson’s. Denver, CO
www.SilverHalidePictures.com
Zendelicious Studios
Related Links:
Passafire Website
Passafire Facebook
Ballyhoo! Website
Ballyhoo! Facebook
Article By: Kit Chalberg
Video: Cas Haley – “Crazy Good Woman” (The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series Debut)
Video: The Dirty Heads – “Cabin By The Sea” (The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series 2nd Video Premiere)
Video: The Green – “Good One” (The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series 3rd Video Premiere)
Video: Iration – “One Way Track” (The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series)
Video: Tarrus Riley – “Love Situation/123 I Love You” (The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series)