Beldon Haigh and MOAB – the only band in the world playing live in the masks of Landon Meier.
Falkirk based Beldon Haigh started working on his album three years ago when world events rapidly started to figure strongly in his songwriting. First the refugee crisis, then Brexit, Trump, Russian interference, Kim Jong-un, the list goes on…
When released later this year, Beldon’s album will provide a poignant chronicle of one of the most chaotic political times of our lives.
As part of this creative journey Beldon developed an unusual alliance of top musicians, producers, video makers and with globally renowned American sculptor and mask maker Landon Meier.
Beldon Haigh said : “For our single Fools Rules we wanted a visual look which drew attention to the fact that Trump, Putin and Kim Jong -un all use the same kinds of tactics to persuade, distract and ultimately control people. We hit on the idea that in some way they are all in the same band with the rhythm section being Trump on Bass and Putin on Drums. From here we discovered and tracked down Landon Meier who very kindly helped us make that video which was half filmed in Denver and half in Edinburgh and blended together through the magic of video technology. The video went viral and we then decided to commission Landon to make us the masks. They take several months to make with every aspect of them (every individual hair etc) made personally by Landon. We then had to master playing live in them, which is incredibly difficult as it is difficult to see and breathe in the masks. The band are very accomplished musicians, so they can play eyes closed, which is just as well”
The band played a live set live on the BBC Radio Jon Holmes show earlier this year and made a video of them playing that session live in the masks. For the Liquid Room show,Beldon will also be adding a horn section.
Beldon added : “The Fringe show will be a mix of original material and a selection of carefully chosen pop, rock and funk covers some with the lyrics changed to satirise political leaders. We plan to entertain people with humour, with theatre, with great music from great musicians and of course with these extremely rare masks – the only collection of these masks in Europe and the only band in the world that plays in them.”
Beldon Haigh and the Mother Of All Bands are appearing at the Liquid Room on the 11thof August.
The new single Airwaves from Beldon Haigh and the MOAB is out now on the Covfefe Records label and available through all the usual outlets.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
