Look Out Fuel TV, Here Comes Havoc
Everclear played Brixton on Nov. 16, and were streamed live in HD and 3D. Photo by Brent Broza
Havoc TV is an innovative, top-rated Video On Demand (VOD) television network specializing in Indie music and action sports programming. In fact, they’re the leading Indie music and action sports On Demand content provider, filling over 30 million homes nationwide, currently ranked No. 1 for sports VOD, and No. 2 for music VOD – surpassing over 96 percent of all VOD channels in the nation. They’re pioneers of VOD as having been one of the very first of very few free VOD channels, as well as one of the first to offer interactive television. And they’re from the South Bay.
Video On Demand (VOD) is essentially a chunk of channels offered on digital cable that allow you to choose what you want to watch on television when you want to watch it. Each VOD channel is categorized into a general genre in terms of content, and therein you select what you would like to watch from the available options – no waiting for 10 o’clock to roll around to view or record your desired program. Interactive television allows viewers to interact with the programming. Couch potatoes and remote control wielding vegemites can pull out their cell phones and text message their votes for what they would like to see next on the program, and even engage text and twitter chats that actually appear on the television screen. Move over Total Recall and hold on tight Marty McFly, the future is here; and Havoc TV aims to be in the thick of it.
Televisionaries
Havoc TV founders Matt Muir (of the bands Slackstring and Musket), Jeff Cutler, Jim Lindberg (of the bands Pennywise and Black Pacific), and Ryan Kresser, are all Mira Costa graduates. Additional cofounder Terry Davis is a Manhattan Beach resident who hails from Detroit. The boys humbly began their television dream seven years ago. Their vision was to provide the best Indie music and action sports programming found anywhere on TV, for free. Having become more popular that most daytime VOD channels, they’ve since evolved into one of the leading providers for just that, bringing their mission to millions of homes with content that can’t be found anywhere else on television.
Matt Muir expounds: “Havoc is a truly multi-platform television network. Our mission is to provide the best, most authentic, credible Indie music, boutique major label music, and core action sports programming via any media outlet possible. Our genres consist of Punk, Electronic, Metal, Alternative, Reggae, Hip Hop, Skate, Surf, Snow, Moto and BMX. So far our outlets include free Video On Demand TV, our real-time website havoc.tv, and a variety of original interactive television shows we produce for networks such as DirecTV, G4 and AT&T.”
Along the path of progress, these local boys have kept it real.
“We are one of the only truly independent VOD providers left,” says Muir. “Yet, we still outperform most of the big VOD channels tied to major, corporate television entities. Go figure, eh?”
Perhaps their primary hook and popularity is tied to providing what Muir calls “short format ADD content.”
The concept is to show a variety of short clips which holds a viewer’s short attention span. One second a skate clip, the next minute a series of surf clips, a Bad Religion video, some moto shots with heavy metal accompaniment, some Warped Tour coverage, a snowboard clip, Mighty Diamond video, a pro BMXer lifestyle showcase… and before you know it an hour-long program of diverse content has swept across your retinas with a sweet soundtrack to boot.
Between absorbing footage from myriad content partners (including company giants like Quiksilver, Volcom, and Gibson) and generating their own original content, Havoc has successfully been able to supply viewers with a continually fresh store of music and sports clips.
Additional ingredients to Havoc’s recipe for success may include their hunger to stay up to date with today’s most advanced technology as well as their thirst to be one step ahead of the curve. Already, their interactive programming allows viewers to text, Twitter, and post chat messages on the television screen in live real-time while watching a veritable jukebox of programming.
“We also allow our viewers to vote via text and Twitter to decide which videos air next,” explains Muir. “We literally do not know what our [interactive] programming will be everyday; the viewers decide the playlists and lineups. It’s what you want when you want it.”
The Cutting-Edge
Havoc TV considers interactivity and 3D the next frontier in television, and they’re doing something about it.
“We pride ourselves for being on the cutting-edge of media,” concedes Muir. “We were one of the first to do free Video On Demand, and arguably the first to do truly interactive TV. We always keep our website cutting edge… the next natural evolution and direction was covering events in high quality HD and 3D with professional audio sound.”
Hence, Havoc Live was born.
“The concept behind Havoc Live is simple,” continues Muir. “Bring big artists, bands, or athletes into intimate settings – small venues like Brixton South Bay, or private, elite skate parks – and shoot them with extremely high quality video and professional multi-track audio. Let the viewers be a fly on the wall.”
Havoc TV’s live operation indeed organizes and covers such events, streaming real-time live feeds over the web. These webcasts bring small shows and events with big names from little beach towns like our own to millions of homes across the nation and world – live.
“So far so good,” says Muir. “Surprisingly, many extraordinary bands have expressed their interest in performing on Havoc Live… we’re very honored. To date, we’ve shot NOFX, the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Rebelution, Authority Zero… and now Everclear!”
They’re smart to film in HD, as demand trends would have it, but they’re innovative to film in 3D. 3D television technology has barely hit the market, and Havoc foresees their viewers experiencing live music performances and action sports events in 3D from the comfort of their butts on the couch.
Muir explains, “Like HD before, there is a sudden demand for native 3D content… the next phase of premium home entertainment… people are buying flatscreen TVs that come with 3D glasses and stimulate the theater 3D experience. Our recent Havoc Live Everclear concert was a perfect fit!”
Havoc TV Brings Everclear To South Bay
“It’s been a long time, I wanna thank people for not forgetting who we are… We’ve been gone a long time – but we’re back! And it feels good,” said Art Alexakis, guitarist and lead singer of famed ‘90s band Everclear, during their live performance at Brixton Nov. 16.
This unexpected Everclear show was brought to the South Bay by Havoc TV as the latest installment of their Havoc Live effort; which was covered in a 12-camera HD and 3D shoot.
“Can you say the F-word on the internet?” Alexakis asked out loud as he abruptly halted the band in the middle of a song during Havoc’s filming for live webcast.
“I fucked up! Hey, act like it’s the first time you heard this song,” he addressed the crowd with a genuinely light-hearted smile. “It takes a real man to admit something like that.”
The crowd enjoyed the incidental moment of hilarity, which brought about a spark of intimate human connectivity shared between the rock gods on their pedestal and the hungry worshipers kneeling below. Everclear still rocked, and they had the audience wrapped around their finger, obeying their every command. They were met with eager attendance by (re)invigorated diehard fans and nostalgia seekers alike. The audience was blasted by some over the top rock energy, wooed by a few classic rock covers, and satiated by original hits like “Santa Monica”, “Volvo Driving Soccer Mom”, and “I Will Buy You A New Life”.
When asked how it felt to perform in such an intimate environment like Brixton in sleepy Redondo Beach, Alexakis replied, “I have family ancestry here… lived in Redondo when I was five and six years old… sister went to Costa… I should’ve grown up in Redondo… always have had an affinity with the South Bay. I loved playing this club, and doing it with Havoc TV – it was really an honor.”
Havoc TV clearly shared similar sentiments regarding the venue.
“Brixton is possibly the most incredible partner we’ve ever had,” shared Muir. “They trusted us to take over the entire club and bring in a big rock band… the sound and stage and staff are amazing… we’re beyond stoked to be here!”
It will be interesting and perhaps exciting to see what Havoc TV Live has in store for us. It’s a few local guys, aiming to bring the people what they want in the best of Indie music and action sports – not a bad concept.
All Tomorrow’s Parties
So what’s next? Havoc TV is excited to announce that in 2011 they’ll be launching their own 24-7 HD television channel on AT&T U-verse. Their VOD channel will still broadcast same as usual. ER
http://www.havoc.tv/live-everclear