ON THE ROAD: Snoop Dogg
EVERY DOGG HAS ITS DAY
AN ABUNDANCE OF BLING AND BOOMING BEATS CAN BE EXPECTED AS STANDARD WHENEVER SNOOP DOGG TAKES TO THE STAGE. TPi’S ZOE MUTTER DISCOVERED THE HEAVYWEIGHT OF HIP HOP’S DOGGUMENTARY TOUR WAS NO EXCEPTION.
Kicking off four dates in the UK as part of his world tour Doggumentary, iconic rap star Snoop Dogg brought his chilled-out charm and melodic rap to Liverpool’s Echo Arena. The Californian cool character last performed in the city in May, when he entertained fans at the more intimate O2 Academy. But this time around, Snoop Dogg was playing a larger venue, requiring the crew to take a different approach to the show’s production. And even before the King of Bling, who was
touring in support of his new album, also called Doggumentary, came onstage at the Echo, the crowd had been stirred into a frenzy by more than three hours of performances from support acts such as DJ MistaJam and rapper Chipmunk. Just before Snoop’s set, video screens either side of the stage were used to heighten the atmosphere further by displaying a montage of footage of the Dogg himself mixed with clips from the classic gangster film Scarface, set to
54 • TPi SEPTEMBER 2011
the dramatic backing track of classical piece Carmina Burana. When the Doggfather swaggered into the
spotlight wearing shades and loose clothing - befitting his trademark laidback style - the audience erupted into rapturous applause. But despite the star attraction’s casual demeanor, an upbeat and energetic vibe continued throughout the show; as the West Coast rapper delighted the diverse crowd with his signature blend of R ‘n’ B, hip-hop and gangsta rap. For Production Manager, Steve Sunderland,
who was overseeing arena production on Doggumentary’s UK dates alongside Production Manager Tony Selinger, it was the sixth Snoop Dogg tour he had worked. Said Sunderland: “I’m familiar with artist’s production preferences and it’s been useful to have worked with the outfit before because they operate in a different way to other mainstream artists. It’s very laid back, but we all have timed deadlines, so it’s a question of making sure everything happens.”
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES Providing audio for Motörhead for more than 30 years and working with artists such as The Pogues and Pete Doherty has given Sunderland - from the two-pronged audio and production company Audiolease - a wealth of experience in different areas of the industry. Back in 2005, he was approached to put together a bid for Snoop Dogg’s upcoming UK tour, which went down so well he was asked to do the same for the European, American and Canadian tours. “Each one has been slightly different - it’s a new album and a new vibe this time around. There are less people involved in this tour too, which makes life easier in many ways,” commented Sunderland. The band’s tight schedule, travelling from
one city to the next in quick succession, prohibited any pre-production for the crew in the Liverpool venue. Due to Snoop Dogg performing in Marseilles, France, the day before the show at the Echo Arena, all liaisons between
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