The Pier’s Live Acoustic Series
Featuring Tarrus Riley Performing “Love Situation/123 I Love You”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 reggae-rock’s best acts, including the Dirty Heads, The Green and Iration.
Next Up: Tarrus Riley
The Pier is excited to feature reggae star, Tarrus Riley. Riley is the Bronx-born and Jamaica based singer songwriter. Since 2004, Riley has released six albums, including 2014’s Love Situation. Riley’s latest effort peaked at number one on Billboard’s reggae albums. Riley has received international recognition and awards, including the 2011 Excellence in Music and Entertainment for Vocalist of the Year Male and Cultural Artiste of the Year.
The Shoot: “Love Situation/123 I Love You”
The video was shot on location at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver, CO on February 21, 2014. What started out as a relatively “easy” shoot concept became increasingly complex when we learned that Riley and his entire eight piece band, “The Blak Soil Band,” would be performing the song. This was both a unique and complex situation. The Live Acoustic Series is designed for smaller, more intimate settings and our technical designs match this concept. In other words, micing up eight players, including four background singers wasn’t part of the plan! But, with help from the boys from Tatanka, who lent us mic stands, and our killer sound team led by Hill Baker, we pulled it off.
After setting the lights, cameras, mics and stools we asked Riley’s manager to find our front man. In true (reggae) rock star fashion, Riley strolled in with his entourage wearing dark glasses and a long gold chain. The only things missing were smoke machines, a theme song sung by Isaac Hayes and a fur coat. Nonetheless, Riley sat down, the band kicked into the song and the rest is reggae-rock history.
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 Tarrus Riley Performing “Love Situation/123 I Love You”WATCH VIDEO NOW!
The Pier’s “Live Acoustic Series” Credits:
Director/Producer/Video Editor/Videographer: Tage Plantell
Production Manager: Kit Chalberg
Sound Engineer: Hill Baker
Executive Producer: Mike Patti
Filmed On Location: Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom. Denver, CO
www.SilverHalidePictures.com
Zendelicious Studios
Tarrus Riley Links:
Tarrus Riley Website
Tarrus Riley Facebook
Tarrus Riley Twitter
Article & Photos 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 4th Premiere)