Our kit

Some people - not all people - but some people ask what kit Dan T's Inferno bring with them.

It's a good question.

Particularly as it goes to explain why setting up is important, and how two hours of playing means about 12 hours of properly hard work. And why I currently have a bad back.

We only use top quality equipment. That goes for everything.

There was an exception which proves the rule: In an economy-driven fit of madness I once bought some XLR (microphone) cables which didn't meet our standards. You would have thought, from their reception, that they were the Devil's own bum-hairs and fit only for hanging me with.

I simply did not hear the end of it until new, better ones arrived. It really is that important.

So, for those of a techie bent, please see our kit list:

Public Address System:

Mackie CFX16 MKII mixing desk

2x Mackie 450 v2 speakers

Mackie 350 v2 speaker

Any number of stands

Laney CXP-112 and CXM-112 monitor speakers

Wharfedale Titan subwoofer

6x Sure SM58 microphones (mix of alpha and beta)

2x Sure SM57 A instrument microphones

Behringer Feedback Destroyer Pro

Any number of leads, gaffa tape, cables and extensions

Instruments (not all guitars used in any one gig, to be fair):

2x Fender Stratocaster guitar

Fender Jazz Bass

2x Fender Telecaster guitar

Bill Nash Esquire guitar

Epiphone Casino guitar

Epiphone Sheraton guitar

Gibson SG guitar

Paul Smith Les Paul Junior guitar

Composite drum kit, but Ludwig snare

Any number of tuning, distortion, fuzz, delay, wah, phase, compression, vocoder and booster pedals.

2x stage pedal boards

Fender Blues Junior amp

Fender Blues De Ville amp

Fender Twin Reverb amp

Marshall bass amp head plus 2x stack speakers (sub and 4x speaker)

Any number of cables, stands, slides, capos and picks

Tambourine

Lights:

4x LED par cans

American DJ Revo III 'moonflower' type floor light

Martin 'Mania' psychedelic oil-lamp effect

2 x T-bars

Any number of cables, kettle leads and safety wires

Halloween gig at The Blue Lagoon

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Halloween gig at The Blue Lagoon on Gloucester Road in Bristol.

As you can see from the photos, the dancefloor was packed, and we felt like the Devil's own rock 'n' roll party band, with the energy of the crowd firing us up even more. Congratulations also to the winners of the Best Dancer and Best Costume awards on the night.

However, despite our best efforts to give it away as a prize, the menacing Skull Of Secrets (almost identical to the kind you get for £1 at Maplins, except a bit more full of secrets) managed to stay in our possession for another year.

Behold - the Skull Of Secrets









To see more shots from the night, click here.

10 quick questions for... Daniel Thomas

10 quick questions for...

Daniel Thomas

Vocals, bass, guitar

1] First album: Michael Jackson – Bad

2] Favourite album: Revolver – The Beatles

3] Favourite song: Tomorrow Never Knows – The Beatles

4] Favourite gear: My heavily personalised Epiphone Sheraton II, with one Gibson P–94 pickup, one Gibson Burstbucker #3 pickup, amber Schaller M6 tuning pegs, Bigsby whammy bar, orange drop capacitors and CTS pots - and gold buttons.

5] All–time favourite musician: Paul McCartney. I know, I know... he can be a bit soft, glib and smug. But he was the most creative in The Beatles and is the most successful songwriter in the history of the world. It may seem an odd thing to say, but I think the guy is underrated simply because he's still alive.

6] Favourite gig: Jimmy Cliff at Glastonbury 2003. I thought I'd only heard the guy's name before seeing him. Then I discovered I'd loved his music all my life.

7] Favourite Inferno gig/moment so far (and why): Looking down on the crowd at the Pork & Cider Festival at the Royal Oak and seeing about 400 people all dancing to Land Of 1,000 Dances by Wilson Pickett.

8] Favourite Dan T’s Inferno song: I Got A Woman - re-written for the band

9] If you’re buying: A double Laphroaig with ice, since you’re being so kind

10] Describe Dan T’s Inferno in five words: Bringing guitar music back home

10 quick questions for... Sarah McKenna

10 quick questions for...

Sarah McKenna

Vocals, percussion

1] First album: Culture Club – Colour By Numbers

2] Favourite album: Radiohead – The Bends

3] Favourite song: Cheryl Lynn – Got To Be Real

4] Favourite gear: Fifth

5] Favourite artist: KT Tunstall

6] Favourite gig: Wick Barn in Bath

7] Favourite Inferno gig/moment so far (and why): The Bath Music Festival gig in May this year – seeing the crowd really enjoying themselves

8] Favourite Dan T’s Inferno song: Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song

9] If you’re buying: Cranberry and lemonade

10] Describe Dan T’s Inferno in five words: Four Suits, Girl In Dress

10 quick questions for... Alex Taylor

10 quick questions for...

Alex Taylor

Vocals, drums, guitar

1] First album:
I think it was something like The Fine Young Cannibals’ debut album of the same name

2] Favourite album:
Er, this is tricky… Errr, erm… Okay… Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid

... Look, I’m not happy with just one favourite album, can I have a Top 5?

The Seldom Seen Kid – Elbow
The Invisible – The Invisible
Innervisions – Stevie Wonder
The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses
Remain in Light – Talking Heads

Off The Wall – Michael Jackson
Headhunters – Herbie Hancock
Maveric A Strike – Finley Quaye
Philadelphonic – G. Love & Special Sauce
Discovery – Daft Punk

Abbey Road – The Beatles
The Soft Parade – The Doors
Bleach – Nirvana
Vs – Pearl Jam
Led Zepp II – Led Zeppelin

Sweet Baby James – James Taylor
Grace – Jeff Buckley
The La's – The La's
For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
Around The Well [Disc 2] – Iron & Wine

Super Fly – Curtis Mayfield
Music For Large & Small Ensembles – Kenny Wheeler
Kind Of Blue – Miles Davis
Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
Quiet is the New Loud – Kings Of Convenience

... How many is that? 25??? Okay, five Top 5s. Yep, I’ll stop now. Sorry!

3] Favourite song:
Snowden by Doves

4] Favourite gear:
My Boss RC–50 Loop Station. As well as drumming and singing in The Inferno, I play a lot of solo gigs where I sing, play guitar and loop my voice – all ‘organic’, nothing pre–recorded! This bit of kit has become a huge part of my creative process as a singer/songwriter, and an essential tool for me as a ‘one–man band’

5] Favourite artist:
Oh this is tough, I grew up with so much music around me, and I like so many different genres of music. I’ve been listening to Total Life Forever the new album by Foals a lot recently, but I wouldn't say that they are my favourite band/artist. I would have to say that the people who have influenced me most in music would be my parents – John Taylor and Norma Winstone

6] Favourite gig:
I played The Brixton Academy, supporting Kosheen, it must have been about seven or eight years ago. We did the whole UK leg of their tour, but that one in particular will always stick with me. 4,000-strong crowd, my old stomping ground and my best mates right at the front. It was crazy!

7] Favourite Inferno gig/moment so far (and why):
Playing festivals this year, especially headlining the one that we put together on Gloucester Road in Bristol with the guys at The Royal Oak. A lot of work went into it, and I really felt a sense of achievement, as it turned out to be a big success, WE ROCKED! They had built us a stage at the bottom of the beer garden, the garden itself is massive and it was absolutely jam–packed full of people jumping up and down to our set, fuelled by pork, cider and great party music. Our final encore I Got A Woman by Ray Charles was a real highlight

8] Favourite Dan T’s Inferno song:
There are so many to choose from, but I think Monkey Man by The Stones really sums up the sound of the collective instruments in our band. It was one of the first songs we played together, and we don’t always get to play it at every gig, so it’s a real treat when we do get to air that one out.

Ain’t Got No (I Got Life) by Nina Simone is also up there in my, ever changing, Top 5! I love adding the little subtle harmonies to Sarah's voice on that tune, and it is really upbeat, but even played fast it still retains that danceable groove. It’s also amazing playing that one with the horn section… Babba Dubba Baa Dabba Dup Baaahhh!

9] If you’re buying:
A case of Corona (?) Oh, and another Line 6 DL–4 delay pedal, someone spilt a case of Corona on this one

10] Describe Dan T’s Inferno in five words:

Punchy. Exciting. Emphatic. Talented. Tight

10 quick questions for... Ollie Thomas

10 quick questions for...

Ollie Thomas

Vocals, bass, guitar

1] First album: The Michael Jackson Mix. A decisive compilation medley of Jackson 5 songs mixed together the way only 1980s DJs could. Mixed altogether more thoroughly when I foolishly left the vinyl on the fireplace and it went all Dali-clock

2] Favourite album: At the moment, Orphans, Brawlers, Bawlers And Bastards by Mr Tom Waits but one that I could listen to over and over, perhaps OK Computer

3] Favourite song: At the moment, Great Expectations by Elbow. Arguably a little soppy

4] Favourite gear: I’m rather keen on my discontinued BOSS RV-3 Delay Reverb Pedal, if I wasn’t I wouldn’t have re-bought it three times after loss and thefts. Apparently it’s generally quite popular

5] All-time favourite artist: I know it’s a little common but I suppose it still has to be Jimi. Or Bruce Lee (martial artist)

6] Favourite gig: The Polyphonic Spree – Koko Club

7] Favourite Inferno gig/moment and why: My favourite Inferno gig was the Pork & Cider Festival at The Royal Oak and that’s word. Blow me if even the bar staff weren’t up dancing on the bar and everyone on the tables. My favourite Inferno moment: Waiting, waiting and anticipating a whole gig for all two seconds of Owen’s Vocoder debut; all the music stopping and it being in completely the wrong key

8] Favourite Dan T’s Inferno song: Use Me

9] If you’re asking (favourite drink): I’ll have a lovely yummy Laphroaig on ice please, mmm

10] Describe Dan T’s Inferno in five words: Same answer as ‘favourite album’

10 quick questions for... Owen Bailey

10 quick questions for...

Owen Bailey

Vocals, bass, guitar

1] First album: The first one I bought was Adam And The Ants – Prince Charming, because my mum wouldn’t let me buy Centerfold by The J Geils Band

2] Favourite album: Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo. Or The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses. Or The Three EPs by The Beta Band. Or Solid Air by John Martyn. Or…

3] Favourite song: May You Never – John Martyn

4] Favourite gear: The Fender Japan 1962 Reissue Telecaster with Bigsby I use for our second set. A sultry temptress

5] All–time favourite musician: Stevie Ray Vaughan

6] Favourite gig: The Beta Band at Glastonbury 2000

7] Favourite Inferno gig/moment (and why): Any time we play The Blue Lagoon on Gloucester Road in Bristol. It’s where we played our first gig – imagine The Cavern Club, but with better burgers

8] Favourite Dan T’s Inferno song: Either Beggin’ by Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons or Chuck Berry’s Rock ’N’ Roll Music

9] If you’re buying: A pint of Guinness, thanks

10] Describe Dan T’s Inferno in five words: End-of-wedding buffet guardians