FD9 might be the first time the lineup didn’t change from the time it was announced until the event took place. In the past, there was usually some unexpected thing that forced a far-traveling band to have to cancel their plans, but not in 2024! It was also the first time we had so many bands from a single country represented.
You could call FD9 “Italian Dissent,” because four of eight bands came from The Boot. È stato bellissimo! One of the bands (The Loyal Cheaters) even brought me a gift, a bottle of wine from their region in Italy. Grazie!
FD9 also featured a larger banner for behind the stage, new cameras and technology for recording the sets (‘cause of course, Blaine is gonna Blaine!), and the first time an American band (Michael Cera Palin from Atlanta) drove to the show just to lend gear to a band (Buds.). Thank you, MCP!
We also had the pleasure of getting reintroduced to former FD performers, this time in new bands: Poti, who performed with Lemmiwinks at FD3 in 2016, returned as part of the Panamanian duo AlphaWhores, and Enri, who performed with Menagramo at FD7 in 2022, returned as part of the Italian quartet Scheletri. We also got a rare repeat performance from Chile’s Talking Props, who previously appeared at FD7.
2025 is gonna be a big year for FD, the 10th installment, our “tin” anniversary as tradition suggests. How will we celebrate such a massive milestone? Stay tuned!
Over the past 5 years, since FD5 in 2018, we’ve gotten great full set footage of each show. The quality of those videos has steadily improved year over year. There’s a story here, so we sat down with Blaine (aka The Bike Helmet Camera Guy) for an interview to dig into how he has done it over the years. What is fascinating is not only the tech he’s used but how he approaches problems, overcomes some, fails at others, but iterates each time in a way where every year there’s something new and more awesome than the last.
Blaine filming Menagramo (Italy) at Foreign Dissent 7 in 2022 (photo by Jim Leatherman)
Ok, let’s sort of start at the beginning. It’s Foreign Dissent 5 and you convince FD to let you shoot the show. How did you approach it?
My first problem was, how do I even shoot an indoor punk rock show? I had no idea, if I’m being honest. I just knew I had some equipment, some basic knowledge about shooting and editing, mostly gleaned from helping my wife at a music company I worked at many years ago. I had a Canon Rebel Ti3 that I’d use to shoot family vacation pictures, a decent telephoto lens, an iPhone 7 Pro that I used day-to-day, and an older iPhone 6. Since my wife used to be a video editor, I’ve also got a license to Final Cut Pro and a decent Mac at home. So I’ve got this tech I’ve scraped together from around the house and, after some Internet research, a plan that I think will work.
When you’re shooting a live event, you just have to make it work or you’ve got nothing. You’ve only got one shot at getting it right because the bands aren’t going to start over for a retake. That’s the thrill and the peril of shooting live events. When you look back at what you’ve done, you’re euphoric when it works and deeply sad when it doesn’t. I’ve experienced both shooting for Foreign Dissent. I mean it sincerely when I say, I love every freakin’ second of it.
Flash-forward to 2024, what are you shooting Foreign Dissent 9 with?
This year is going to be just huge. I’m going big. I’ve acquired some used iPhones and will run a 4-camera setup. It’s amazing what tech you can find at thrift stores and online sellers if you just do a little research. I’m also going to introduce a new angle this year. I’ve got a 85” tripod with a gooseneck that I’m putting in the back of stage-left to get a nice wide shot of the back of the band with the crowd. I really want the viewer to see just how awesome this show is and how much love is in that room. The audience at Foreign Dissent is very much a part of the show and I’m excited to really capture that this year; or should I say, try. It is new after all and might be a miserable failure.
Beyond the hardware, I’m also going to be using Final Cut Pro for iPad this year and running Final Cut Camera on the individual iPhones. The goal is to do live multi-cam capture so I can ensure all cameras are at the correct angle and getting what I want before each set. In the past, I would put a camera against a wall, start recording, then take the phone down and watch the video to make sure it looked right. Then I’d have to do my best to put the camera back in exactly the same spot and hope I didn’t mess it up, which I’ve done in previous years. With remote control, I won’t have that problem! It’s going to be awesome.
As I’ve done every year, I’m pushing the envelope of what can be done with consumer level used equipment, some of which is even borrowed, so I hope I don’t break it!
Speaking of hardware, you’ve been called “the bike helmet guy” by people at the show. Tell me about how that came to be?
Blaine with helmet on and camera gimbal stabilizer in hand
Yeah, the bike helmet was a fun one. As I mentioned before, all the equipment I have is used and, in some cases, borrowed. A few years ago, my wife found a used GoPro Hero 3 at a thrift store. She figured we’d let the kids use it and since it was used and reasonably cheap, who cares if they break it? Naturally, when she brought it home, I immediately knew I was going to work it into the show. For FD7 (2022), I bought a DJI Mimo gimble to mount my iPhone 11 Pro and that was great, but I was struggling to figure out how I could run two cameras at the same time. What I figured out is the software for the GoPro on iOS lets you live-view the camera while it’s recording by setting up its own wireless access point between the phone and the GoPro. A friend had busted the screen on an old iPhone 6 and gave it to me; it looked heinous, but it was functional. I had my wife 3D print a mount for me that would attach to my monopod and essentially let me mount two phones to one monopod.
The next question was, how do I use the GoPro now that I can run the main camera and watch the other. Well, my wife happens to be a cyclist, and I was looking at her helmet with all the holes in the top and just thought, “I bet I can rig it to that somehow.” Sure enough, I found a cheap velcro mount online, slid the straps right through the holes and attached it on the inside. For the record, I do know how ridiculous I look; it’s about finding a way with what you got. I’m not there for a fashion show, although I do think haute couture could take some inspiration from this.
Have you always been a videographer? Are you trained in this?
No, actually. I’m not a videographer. I have no training in it. Best I had was being the IT guy for a music company back in the day. I worked around music, not in it. What I do have is a touch of ADHD mixed with a deep love of music and a passion to figure out complex problems and make things work. I’m also a little dumb sometimes, or naïve (whichever), when it comes to what I think will work versus what actually works. If anything, I’m good at making a plan, messing it up, and iterating on it until I get it right.
You mentioned things have failed or gone wrong while you were shooting. What are some of the biggest failures you can recall?
Blaine in action at Foreign Dissent 7 (photo by Jim Leatherman)
Oh goodness, failures were and are numerous. Everything from an entire set being lost on a camera to the sound coming from the stage just being so freakin’ intense that I couldn’t get the camera to stop shaking for the entire set. In fact, that camera shake problem persisted from FD5 through 7 before the root cause finally occurred to me while I was driving my car. “The iPhone screen is flat!” I yelled in my car to my very confused spouse and kids. I went back to using a DSLR in the rear of the venue because the lens was curved and, sure enough, no more shake! Turns out that flat screens absorb more sonic energy! And if “Sonic Energy” isn’t a punk band name by now, you heard it here first.
Another one of my “favorite” problems was the time I forgot to check the amperage of my iPhone charger and was under powering the stage right camera. It slowly drained its battery and died right at the end of a set. The Rock Gods were smiling on me and I literally only lost the last 60 or seconds of the set and, with the final edit, you never knew I was down a camera in the wrap-up.
I think this is one of the things that I just love so much about shooting this show. There’s a list a mile long of things that can go wrong and, frankly, I amaze myself that I don’t mess up more. laughs
So there’s got to be some big wins too, right? What are some of the biggest successes?
Oh, 100%. The fact that this show, with all of these bands from all over the world, comes together like it does and just absolutely rocks Will’s Pub is a miracle unto itself. I’m just lucky to be able to capture it for posterity. I think my favorite technical win, though, is absolutely the helmet cam. I think about this show all year and what I can do to improve for next year. The helmet cam was another late night bolt of inspiration that just worked out so well. That helmet footage really fills in the gap when I screw up the main camera shot. Much love to Final Cut for making it so easy to pull in different angles to fix my numerous mistakes. If you only knew how amateur I really am! That post edit is just magic.
One of four bands hailing from Italy appearing at Foreign Dissent this year, Cocks come to us from Genova/Genoa. The trio plays anthemic punk rock that will soothe the hearts, ears, and eyes of many a punk rocker. This is the band’s first time coming to the United States, so go learn those lyrics to the album they just released in April 2024 and scream your heart out when you see ‘em live.
Featuring Juan Carlos (who performed at FD3 in 2016 with Lemmiwinks), this duo is a fresh sound for Foreign Dissent, bringing a sonic assault that sounds way bigger than two musicians. AlphaWhores calls Panama City home, and their debut album just dropped in January 2024. FD9 will be their first ever show in the US. They bring a driving, raw, grinding, deliberate sound that is accomplished by switching between low end guitars and bass split signals and drums while melding their vocals and harmonies. Come see them live as they form into one single powerful force that will melt your face off.
As we continue our tour of Italy, we arrive in Cagliari, where the 5-piece metalcore/hardcore band Regrowth resides. Formed in 2016, the band is visiting the United States for the first time, bringing their self-described “fast music for sad people.” They combine screaming and sung vocals with a backbone of melodic hardcore, frequent tempo changes, soaring guitars, and rapid-fire drums.
This is some seriously passionate and infectious punk rock coming to you from Hampshire in the south east of England. The four-piece writes catchy, hook-filled, raise your fist to the sky jams that will have you singing along before you even realize it. Like most of the bands playing Foreign Dissent 9, this will be Buds. first time playing in the United States.
Ciao, Scheletri, have we met before? Kind of! Featuring Enri from Menagramo (who played FD7), this is an entirely different band that delivers weaving guitars, fast tempos, and heaps of punk rock sincerity. Visiting the US for the first time by way of Torino/Turin, the four-piece is ready to get your skeletons jumping and singing along.
Blowing minds with their melodic hardcore punk sound since 2007, this Chilean four-piece is blessing the United States with live shows for the first time. Their sound blends swirling guitar parts with rapid drum lines and passionate vocals built on a backbone of rich melodies and creative tempo changes. Their 2023 release, Arrebol, is a top-to-bottom work of musical art, taking the listener on a 10-track sonic journey.
Our fourth and final Italian band appearing at FD9 is The Loyal Cheaters, a 4-piece hailing from Romagna. Formed in 2020, this self-described “marriage between evil forces & Rock’n’Roll” is ready to bring a high-octane live set to the United States for the first time, with FD being their first show ever in America. Mixing rock nostalgia with punk attitudes, their sound appeals to a wide audience. They just dropped a full-length in April, And All Hell Broke Loose, and it’s a 12-track tour de force.
Back to blow your minds one more time is Talking Props from Santiago. Orlando first got to see their intense brand of punk rock live in 2022 at FD7, and now they are ready to give y’all even more than before. The four-piece will be bringing a bunch of new songs for you to hear, including their latest “Cobra,” which just came out at the end of May.
It’s the moment y’all have been waiting for, the band announcements for Foreign Dissent 9 (and the full poster drop – scroll down to see!). Please join me in welcoming 8 bands from 4 different countries! Italia is definitely coming in hot with half the bands representing La Penisole. Thanks again to Christian Moquin for the awesome art. Ticket announcement coming soon, so get it in your calendar now, Foreign Dissent 9, October 21, Will’s Pub!
I can’t announce a lineup today (April 15) as planned, because every band playing FD9 won’t be announced until June 1st, when THE FEST announces their next round of bands. So this is a SAVE THE DATE reminder and a chance to show off the incredible art from Christian Moquin to get you extra hyped.
I’ve got a lot of rad bands from several different countries already confirmed and you’ll finally get to hear about them in less than two months! Foreign Dissent 9 is October 21 at Will’s Pub in Orlando. Spread the word!
Did you miss Foreign Dissent 8 or want to re-live the awesomeness of it? Well, you’re in luck! All seven full live sets are now available on YouTube. You can also see full set videos from FD7, FD6, and FD5 right here on the Foreign Dissent website.
Major props to official FD videographer Blaine Helmick who not only handles filming every set across multiple cameras, but also handles the sound mixing and editing. This is no small task and I am beyond grateful that Blaine voluntarily does this each year (since FD5).
This year, Blaine deployed four cameras to capture the action, one handheld, one fixed to a bike helmet, one behind the stage, and one at the back of the room. We were also able to capture sound directly from the board for most of the sets (there were some technical issues). In some cases, Blaine actually blended the phone audio with the board audio because it created a more rich sound.
What will next year’s video set up look like? Well, we’ve already talked about adding a second camera behind the stage that does better to capture the crowd, and we’re hoping to lock in some of the challenges we’ve had with getting the board audio. Blaine is always advancing things, so expect things to get better each year. You can see him live in action again at Foreign Dissent 9 on October 21, 2024!
Is it too soon to start talking about the next Foreign Dissent? Sure, it has barely been a week since Foreign Dissent 8 took place, and yeah I was at THE FEST in Gainesville for several days after that, but I start thinking about the next one as soon as the current one is over.
First of all, Foreign Dissent 8 was amazing. The turnout was awesome, the bands put on epic performances, and much fun was had by all. Photos are forthcoming and sometime, hopefully, soon, we’ll have videos of each band’s full set on our YouTube channel.
But, that’s in the past now. Get it in your calendar, Foreign Dissent 9 will be October 21, 2024. This means you have plenty of time to plan accordingly so you don’t miss out on the next epic edition of the event.
As y’all know, all the bands that play Foreign Dissent are in Florida for THE FEST. So, if there’s a band you really think should play FD9, have them start working all the angles to get added to THE FEST 22 (yeah, it has happened that many times!). And have them hit me up on Instagram. Or tag the band in this post.
See you next year!
Sunliner live at Foreign Dissent 8 (photo by Jim Leatherman)
Thanks to the Foreign Dissent Ticket Angel, we have six free tickets available for people who really want to go to Foreign Dissent 8, but are strapped for cash. We know times are tight and are grateful to be able to sponsor some folks with this kind gesture.
You can learn more about this at our Instagram post. If you or someone you know really wants to go to FD8 and simply can’t squeeze it in your budget, message us on Instagram.
The identity of our Ticket Angel is not being disclosed, at their request, but they’re a big fan of the festival and wanted to help out. Huge thanks to them for the generosity.
We’ll see y’all at Will’s Pub on October 23 for Foreign Dissent 8, featuring 7 bands from 5 different countries. If you can afford it, grab a ticket before they’re gone!
We’re sending our condolences to The Traders, their friends, and family after the passing of their guitarist, Clément. As a result, both them and Quitters have, understandably, decided to cancel their tour. Hug your friends and family!
But, this opened up an opportunity for Eat Defeat (England), who have, very last minute, agreed to join the lineup and we’re all thrilled.
Do you like pop punk? Yeah, I know you do. And Eat Defeat is here to satisfy your needs. The 5-piece has been blasting sick melodies for over a decade and they’re ready to entertain your ears and eyes at Foreign Dissent 8 on October 23 at Will’s Pub in Orlando.
You could call FD9 “Italian Dissent,” because four of eight bands came from The Boot. È stato bellissimo! One of the bands (The Loyal Cheaters) even brought me a gift, a bottle of wine from their region in Italy. Grazie!
