Evening all. Actually, it’s about 2am on a Monday morning, and I’ve just got back from the Dublin Castle show and a weekend of general fun, chaos and total kebabery!! More of that in a minute…
First, I thought an update on how my “Internetaphobia” (I’m sure there’s actual word for that but I’m lazy. Answers on a postcard kids!!), therapy is going now I’ve joined the wonderful, comfortable world of laptop users.
So what’s new? Well, tragically, I seem to have become somewhat addicted to Facebook. The capacity to gibber complete nonsense to various people well into the wee small hours is immense. Anyone who read my last blog will attest this is obviously a passion of mine – talking bollocks at length.
Everyone has to have a hobby.
I’ve delved deeper into the wonderful world of You-Tube, although couldn’t claim to have done much more than watch hundreds of music videos, wrestling matches, and Kimbo Slice kicking the piss out of people… for those who follow MMA, how much of a letdown was the Shamrock fight-that-never-was? …Knocked out by a skinny, white “Substitute” with Pink hair in 14 seconds. Kimbo, Kimbo, Kimbo?? What went wrong???
Oh God. Tangent-ing again. I’ll try and keep it in check
I had my eyes opened and my brain frazzled by the mind-bending Zeitgeist movies on Google Videos. These films should be compulsory viewing for everyone, everywhere by the way.
And… well, that’s about it really. But hey, fuck it! That’s impressive for me!!
Have I started downloading stuff though? Nope. I’m still a Dinosaur… and fucking proud of it!! So I guess if I venture into any further new uncharted territories (and indeed find the inspiration to stay up beyond any kind of reasonable hour typing complete bollocks) you’ll hear it here first. The anticipation is obviously palpable…
Anyway, let’s travel back a few days to last Friday.
Before I start, I must stress that some of the names, places, substances and locations have been changed to protect the guilty (me) and the innocent (pretty much everyone else).
In other words, you probably can’t trust an inch of this, but what’s new?
We played a not-too-shabby show at the Peel in Kingston upon Thames on Friday. It’s reasonable to say it was a little sparsely attended.
Who am I kidding?? It was nothing short of a metaphorical Bomb Scare. But in a pleasing turn of events, the Few and the Proud that were there seemed to dig our oddball Thrashy thing, and there were any number of old and new friends to drink and giggle incoherently with throughout the evening. A special mention must go out to the… errrrrm, Exotic Dancers working at the Peel that evening. God bless ‘em!! Despite clearly not fielding what anyone could describe as the Peels “A-Team” that particular day, none the less they did provide a welcome distraction in the dead time after soundcheck and, well let’s not fuck about – during Skorges set. Nuff said.
On a slight tangent, I couldn’t help but piss myself with merriment at the way we appeared to scare the living b’Jesus out of Skorge’s teenage girly fanbase!! 8 or 9 little teeny-bopper girlies, all clearly friends of the band, all lined up right in front of the stage, screaming and whooping on cue. Hey - Credit to them for breaching the invisible wall of the dreaded Bermuda Semi-Circle, but when there’s 9 of you lined up in front of the stage and not a single soul in the 30 or so feet behind you (aside from ¾ of the curmudgeonly old bastards in Dragnerve, shaking their heads in disbelief. The other ¼ was in the Strip Bar, espying the dubious Poontang), it comes across as a little forced. But fuck it, we were all kids once. And this lot were kids
.
Suffice to say, us old, hairy, desperately unfashionable metal heads take the stage, start doing our thing and lo and behold the Teeny-Bopper crowd evacuate their bowls and run off screaming off into the cold Kingstonian night.
Fuckin’ genius.
Anyway, suffice to say we had a rip roaring evening and much fun and beer was had by all in a fairly major way. It was a pleasure meeting the boys from Colt 45 for a start.
Somehow, I ended up with half the Peel (minus the strippers) back at my (not exactly spacious) flat afterwards until god knows when in the morning. I do know I finally got to bed some time after 6am.
It was a epic night.
Saturday - needless to say - began in a very hazy, painful and unpleasantly tasting way, far enough into the afternoon to have missed lunch completely and be well on the home straight towards Dinnertime. A shower, a very light bite to eat and the slow painful passage of time convinced me that, yes – it would in fact be an awesome idea to head out to D&D @ Sin (nothing at all to do with fantasy role playing games, I assure you. If you’re in to Metal [if not, why are you here??] and at a loose end in the West End of a Saturday night, I can’t recommend the place enough! Good tunes, great people, masses of craziness. Wonderful stuff), and party till 6am all over again.
…in my defence, I never did claim to be a fast learner in the first place.
I was going to be good though, honest yer’onnah. I’d just had an uncommonly massive Friday night after all (believe me when I say I’ve glossed over a lot of the details), shredded my throat a little bit (30% singing, 70% smoking copious fags), and was still a little groggy and knackered. We had another show to get through on Sunday for Gods sake! And just because of the location I knew from the get go it would be another “tomorrow morning” job, saving a fuggin’ fortune on Cabs by getting the first train home. But I wasn’t going to drink that much. I was going to be restrained and well behaved all round. Maybe hand out some flyers, try to drum up some last minute business for Sundays gig? Nice, chilled evening with faces and friends. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Nope, not a thing. All good there. Except all of that went completely to shit inside of about 17 minutes. It turned into debauched chaos with alarming alacrity!! Again, in order to protect the guilty (still me) and the innocent (reduced to merely a handful of certain others by now) I will gloss over the details. It’s enough to say I caught up with some old friends, met a whole mess of new ones, and had the unparalleled pleasure of meeting the most gorgeous and wonderful lady, who will no doubt complicate my life dreadfully in a variety of interesting ways in the weeks and months to come… I really can’t wait!!!
But I digress. Somehow, despite leaving the club at 6am, I didn’t get to Waterloo to catch a train until about 8.30am and was still, thoroughly, rocked of my bollocks.
Actually, I know exactly where those 2 ½ hours went, I’m just not telling!! =) Don’t all freak out at once, it involved coffee and a sausage McMuffin.
I finally got home and to bed about an hour or so later, and managed to grab a couple of the most un-refreshing, pointless, and freakily dream-filled hours of sleep I’ve ever had. So when my alarm goes off at 2 on Sunday afternoon to signal “Time to get Ready for the Gig, Chuckles”, you can imagine my general disposition.
I’m aware I have to drive and lug equipment around, which will automatically prevent me from being tempted to get trashed again (this was a good thing), but fuck me, I could count at least 208 ways I would rather have been spending my time, and nearly all of them involved lying down. Despite being told we have to be at the venue at 5pm for soundcheck Lee and I get there at about half 4 (what a couple of fuckin’ mugs!!) - the sound engineer finally rocks up a gnat’s cock away from 7pm. Oh, and the 4 band bill has become 5, as one of the bands pulled out at the 11th hour, and the promoter managed to find a replacement.
Only problem was, nobody told the band that apparently pulled out, that they’d pulled out. So of course they turn up.
Doors are meant to be at 7.30, there’s 5 bands to soundcheck and I, frankly, am in absolute fucking pieces.
Fucking. Clown. Shoes.
This is turning into an unmitigated disaster. My throat is raw as arses – I have this strange Barry White quality going on in the dark recesses of my tortured larynx, my brain is trying to make it way out of the front of my face, everything aches and this gig is beginning to test the limits of my (currently) extremely fucking limited patience.
Oh, and Skorge are on this bill as well.
Was I a rapist in a previous life or something?? With everything else that was clamouring for the title of “Most Annoying/Painful thing Happening to me Right Now” this was a cross too heavy to bear. So we wandered away from this nightmarish cluster-fuck for the relative sanctuary of the Worlds End in Camden.
I am, quite literally, just waiting to die at this point. I’m so hoarse I can barely speak, I’m surrounded by friends and well wishers, several of whom I’d only just met who must have been thinking “What a miserable bastard this wanker is”. I was not a happy boy.
We traipse back up to the Dublin Castle shortly after 9 and at this stage, I’m secretly hoping there’s been yet another fuck up, and maybe we accidentally missed our set??!!?!? But not so. We get back just in time to catch the last couple of tracks from Skorge.
It’s just a fucking laugh factory in my head at this point.
I’m in the little “Backstage” bit (which is actually no where near the stage) trying to do my best to psyche myself up for this, and its just not working. I’m shitting myself. I have NO confidence in either my singing or roaring because my throat is so shot to shit. There isn’t a muscle in my body that isn’t screaming for me to lie down. I’m pretty sure I was mildly hallucinating from sleep deprivation, and it appeared there were about 6 people in the venue room to watch us.
I’m beginning to think maybe going out last night and hitting it as hard as I did, might not have been the best idea I’ve ever had.
Fuckery.
Show’s on. Game Face time. Lee breaks a string before we even start. I go and sit down. Fuck fuck fuck. I do not want to do this. NO disrespect to the few people who were in there to see us, but this was not how I wanted to spend my Sunday evening. We’ve finally got our shit together, a quick flash of eye contact all round signifies the Abortion is ready to commence. We bust into “Random Acts”. I suddenly notice, all the pain, fatigue, frustration and general all round nastiness is fluttering away on the breeze. People start PILING into the room. All of a sudden – butter my arse – We’ve got a fucking crowd!! This feels… good. No, Great!! OK, my throat isn’t holding up quite as well as I’d have liked, but it's a THOUSAND times better than I’d imagined. Heads were bobbing, feet were moving. The first song finishes and the sounds of people clapping, shouting and squeeling fill my ears. This… is officially awesome. Just… Awesome. =)
Once again, Andy is a happy boy. It's turned into another Epic Night.
...it's all coming up Milhouse.
I’ll spare you the rest of the evening, mainly because not a lot happened, other than the fantastic, weird and proggy Crack Silence. I really did feel fine after the show, which is saying something!! I must have a Muse or something out there, looking out for me in times of desperate musical need. God bless her wherever she is!!
The moral of the story?
When you’ve got something important to do the next day, go out and get as Arseholed as you want, coz the Universe will generally look after itself and sort it all out for you.
See? Not a fast learner.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Friday, 26 September 2008
Errrrrmmmm..... Stuff.
Evenin’
It’s Friday night, about 11.15pm and I’m on the bloody internet. How extremely fucking Rock n Roll, eh? Life in the slow lane. Alright.
Anyway, hello. Welcome to the first blog I’ve ever written and posted on this mass of whatever it is that answers to the name: “The Internet”.
Tragic really - the whole internet thing and, by virtue, the whole “Blogging” thing have sort of passed me by. And that’s really not all;
Myspace? Nope. Forums?? Not me. iTunes??? i’Ll pass. Chat-rooms???? Cheque please.
Barring a handful of websites I’ve visited regularly for many years (on a variety of subjects, farrrrrr too illuminating on my true [yet cunningly disguised and top-top secret] Uber-Geekery nature than I’m prepared to divulge here…. allow me to retain a modicum of mystique, please! After all, I am with the Band, you understand of course).
Heh-hem. Anyway - tangent. Sorry, I’m back.
Where was I?
Ah!
…… blah blah blah visited regularly for many years, my limited surfing range has changed very little – more of a brief wade in the shallow end, than surfing. Apart from Wikipedia (to which I was introduced a couple of years ago […and which *** K.I.C.K.S A.S.S. *** by the way, just so we’re clear. I love Wikipedia! Heap your scorn upon me - I care not!!!!]), I’ve never strayed far from the Metaphorical Beach.
And despite an evolving and constant love affair with music, dating back for as long as my enfeebled brain can handle nowadays, I’ve never been one for downloading it. Or films. Or games. Or anything really. Believe me - it’s not for fear of the criminality of it, which – let’s face it – is Bollocks.
In no way am I against the concept of downloading or file sharing; fuck, we’re HAPPILY giving our stuff away with a smile for free right now, if it gets people listening to it! Go nuts!! Fill yer boots!! Send it to your friends and family, spread the word… please!! =) But despite my absence from it over the years, in all seriousness - has there ever been a cheaper, easier, wider reaching or more effective promotional tool for a band than the Internet?? It should be any musicians wet-dream, surely?? Or is that just me? Is that naive? I’m sure there are numerous counter arguments but fuck it – it’s my blog.
Arrrgh….. tangent.
Sorry.
Anyway, it’s never been a conscious avoidance of the internet or anything like that; I really think it’s been a matter of convenience. Or more accurately; inconvenience.
When I look back on it, everywhere I’ve lived over the past 10 or so years has either had; no internet and/or wireless access, a seriously shitty computer (what a fucking pain when technology doesn’t do what it’s supposed to!!) or, more frequently, the computer is plonked in a really inconvenient location.
Stuck in a spare room, for example? The one that the heating is always knackered in? The general dumping ground for all the stuff you never use (or indeed remember you own) but can’t bear to be parted with when it comes to actually raking through the piles and chucking it all out; amidst the washing, the spare bed and bedding (…which I suppose has got to be under there somewhere…), the chaotic exploding bookshelves….
Invariably, somewhere within the cold, cluttered shadows of the surrounding Monoliths of “Stuff” (a.k.a. Crap) that you can’t bear to part with, sits the Computer itself. ALWAYS fucking housed in some faux “Office Environment”, replete with desk, shelves of files, every surface peppered with meaningless, long forgotten post-it notes and – of course - the mandatory, beyond uncomfortable (and if it’s not already it soon will be…) broken office-y type chair.
And here, in this environment (and more often than not – with *this* equipment), I am supposed to be able to sit down, relax and say… catch up with Series 4 of Lost, or something?? I want to kick back *here*, and listen to my latest batch of tunes?? Oh my God - and the speakers!?! Did I mention the speakers on my last PC?
Try and imagine the sound of six ants fighting in a disposable plastic cup.
Got it?
Yeah. Just like that.
Oh alright, that was probably a bit over dramatic, but hopefully you get the picture. The other thing that still puts me off downloading music in particular is – and maybe I’m a fucking Dinosaur here but – I really like CDs and I really like to own them.
Lots of them.
Personally, if I’m into a band, I want to see the whole product, the packaging, the works. I want to scrutinise all the artwork and the lyrics and The Everything that encapsulates and protects and compliments and embellishes this phenomenal Work of Aural Art by… who ever.
I suppose I’ve already owned up (…well, kind of owned up – Don’t take anything you read too seriously because I do have an image to maintain and cannot be trusted, D’ohn ch’yew know??)
**micro-tangent** Apologies. Onwards:
…. to being a bit of a Geek so with that being said, it probably can’t do too much further damage to step forward after all these years and finally admit:
“My name is Andy, and I always read all of the liner notes”
….Feels good to get that out there.
Yes, it’s now official. I am a fossil. Obsolete. I still want buy CDs. I’m lead to believe that’s how things are going now anyway, that the CD market is already heading towards The Bright Light, and the whole DRM/Stroppy Record Label thing, is the industry’s way of trying to talk itself awake and lucid until the ambulance gets to the hospital.
What the fuck am I talking about?
Regardless, I got myself a sexy new laptop a few weeks ago (hence this current, rather epic, Blogventure). So I can now relax wherever I like (sofa!!!), whenever I like (occasionally!!!) and everything’s coming up Milhouse, techno-wise. Maybe I should just take the plunge before it’s too late, before I get left behind forever by technology and a fear of the unfamiliar?
But fuck it – I’m still in love with CDs. It’s the … physicalness (…wtf?) of a CD. A connection is established, through physical sensation and physical interaction.
Oooooooooh…
Deep.
But OK - of course hurrah/well done/congratulations/you may now sleep at night – you bought a CD and that money’s going to go to the band. So you’re helping, right?! I mean, The “Pirates” (**sorry, mini-tangent** …Pirates? Pirates?? Pirates. Who started calling them Pirates? Does anyone else think of… you know, “Pirates” [Arrrrr! Avast!! and so on…] when they hear the word “Pirates”?
Just me?
Anyway…)
….The “Pirates”, they don’t do that! They don’t pay! They don’t contribute!! They just steal!
Yeah OK. But I’d be willing to bet that a majority of people will buy the CD once they’ve heard it (assuming they like it) for the physical connection. I would. Others that don’t, may go to gigs, pay for tickets, perhaps buy some merch? The band makes (more) money that way.
I’m pretty certain that the guy that doesn’t buy the CD, or the T-shirts, or go to the shows – whatever – I’m sure that guy, had downloading not been a possibility, would NEVER have gone out and shelled out money for the CD anyway. So what is that? Is it really lost revenue? OK, the guy gets a digital copy of the tracks but what about the artwork, DVD extras, lyrics etc. Surely that has a value too? This guy doesn’t get any of that. He wouldn’t buy it, even if he couldn’t get it for free. What’s really lost??
Fuck it. I have no idea. I give up. I’m sitting here rambling now about things I have not even the tiniest clue about now. That was a random little journey.
It’s a curious thing, this Blogging. Millions of people, all over the world just… waffling. I can see its appeal. Cathartic.
Not to end on a downer, but this week has been a personal Word Beater, an absolute fucking record breaker of a shitty, shitty week. Thank God it’s….well, Saturday morning now, but still sort of Friday. It’s My Blog. =)
I came on here with the intention of venting about something else entirely…. I appear to have forgotten about it completely and gone on to get thoroughly lost in my own head.
Should you have made it this far Gentle Viewer (bonus points for spotting that one), quite genuinely – very well done. You got further than I would have done if I’d have been you, and I Salute You.
Half a page, me. Max.
Hmmmmm, that was fun.
You may hear from me again.
Possibly.
a.
It’s Friday night, about 11.15pm and I’m on the bloody internet. How extremely fucking Rock n Roll, eh? Life in the slow lane. Alright.
Anyway, hello. Welcome to the first blog I’ve ever written and posted on this mass of whatever it is that answers to the name: “The Internet”.
Tragic really - the whole internet thing and, by virtue, the whole “Blogging” thing have sort of passed me by. And that’s really not all;
Myspace? Nope. Forums?? Not me. iTunes??? i’Ll pass. Chat-rooms???? Cheque please.
Barring a handful of websites I’ve visited regularly for many years (on a variety of subjects, farrrrrr too illuminating on my true [yet cunningly disguised and top-top secret] Uber-Geekery nature than I’m prepared to divulge here…. allow me to retain a modicum of mystique, please! After all, I am with the Band, you understand of course).
Heh-hem. Anyway - tangent. Sorry, I’m back.
Where was I?
Ah!
…… blah blah blah visited regularly for many years, my limited surfing range has changed very little – more of a brief wade in the shallow end, than surfing. Apart from Wikipedia (to which I was introduced a couple of years ago […and which *** K.I.C.K.S A.S.S. *** by the way, just so we’re clear. I love Wikipedia! Heap your scorn upon me - I care not!!!!]), I’ve never strayed far from the Metaphorical Beach.
And despite an evolving and constant love affair with music, dating back for as long as my enfeebled brain can handle nowadays, I’ve never been one for downloading it. Or films. Or games. Or anything really. Believe me - it’s not for fear of the criminality of it, which – let’s face it – is Bollocks.
In no way am I against the concept of downloading or file sharing; fuck, we’re HAPPILY giving our stuff away with a smile for free right now, if it gets people listening to it! Go nuts!! Fill yer boots!! Send it to your friends and family, spread the word… please!! =) But despite my absence from it over the years, in all seriousness - has there ever been a cheaper, easier, wider reaching or more effective promotional tool for a band than the Internet?? It should be any musicians wet-dream, surely?? Or is that just me? Is that naive? I’m sure there are numerous counter arguments but fuck it – it’s my blog.
Arrrgh….. tangent.
Sorry.
Anyway, it’s never been a conscious avoidance of the internet or anything like that; I really think it’s been a matter of convenience. Or more accurately; inconvenience.
When I look back on it, everywhere I’ve lived over the past 10 or so years has either had; no internet and/or wireless access, a seriously shitty computer (what a fucking pain when technology doesn’t do what it’s supposed to!!) or, more frequently, the computer is plonked in a really inconvenient location.
Stuck in a spare room, for example? The one that the heating is always knackered in? The general dumping ground for all the stuff you never use (or indeed remember you own) but can’t bear to be parted with when it comes to actually raking through the piles and chucking it all out; amidst the washing, the spare bed and bedding (…which I suppose has got to be under there somewhere…), the chaotic exploding bookshelves….
Invariably, somewhere within the cold, cluttered shadows of the surrounding Monoliths of “Stuff” (a.k.a. Crap) that you can’t bear to part with, sits the Computer itself. ALWAYS fucking housed in some faux “Office Environment”, replete with desk, shelves of files, every surface peppered with meaningless, long forgotten post-it notes and – of course - the mandatory, beyond uncomfortable (and if it’s not already it soon will be…) broken office-y type chair.
And here, in this environment (and more often than not – with *this* equipment), I am supposed to be able to sit down, relax and say… catch up with Series 4 of Lost, or something?? I want to kick back *here*, and listen to my latest batch of tunes?? Oh my God - and the speakers!?! Did I mention the speakers on my last PC?
Try and imagine the sound of six ants fighting in a disposable plastic cup.
Got it?
Yeah. Just like that.
Oh alright, that was probably a bit over dramatic, but hopefully you get the picture. The other thing that still puts me off downloading music in particular is – and maybe I’m a fucking Dinosaur here but – I really like CDs and I really like to own them.
Lots of them.
Personally, if I’m into a band, I want to see the whole product, the packaging, the works. I want to scrutinise all the artwork and the lyrics and The Everything that encapsulates and protects and compliments and embellishes this phenomenal Work of Aural Art by… who ever.
I suppose I’ve already owned up (…well, kind of owned up – Don’t take anything you read too seriously because I do have an image to maintain and cannot be trusted, D’ohn ch’yew know??)
**micro-tangent** Apologies. Onwards:
…. to being a bit of a Geek so with that being said, it probably can’t do too much further damage to step forward after all these years and finally admit:
“My name is Andy, and I always read all of the liner notes”
….Feels good to get that out there.
Yes, it’s now official. I am a fossil. Obsolete. I still want buy CDs. I’m lead to believe that’s how things are going now anyway, that the CD market is already heading towards The Bright Light, and the whole DRM/Stroppy Record Label thing, is the industry’s way of trying to talk itself awake and lucid until the ambulance gets to the hospital.
What the fuck am I talking about?
Regardless, I got myself a sexy new laptop a few weeks ago (hence this current, rather epic, Blogventure). So I can now relax wherever I like (sofa!!!), whenever I like (occasionally!!!) and everything’s coming up Milhouse, techno-wise. Maybe I should just take the plunge before it’s too late, before I get left behind forever by technology and a fear of the unfamiliar?
But fuck it – I’m still in love with CDs. It’s the … physicalness (…wtf?) of a CD. A connection is established, through physical sensation and physical interaction.
Oooooooooh…
Deep.
But OK - of course hurrah/well done/congratulations/you may now sleep at night – you bought a CD and that money’s going to go to the band. So you’re helping, right?! I mean, The “Pirates” (**sorry, mini-tangent** …Pirates? Pirates?? Pirates. Who started calling them Pirates? Does anyone else think of… you know, “Pirates” [Arrrrr! Avast!! and so on…] when they hear the word “Pirates”?
Just me?
Anyway…)
….The “Pirates”,
Yeah OK. But I’d be willing to bet that a majority of people will buy the CD once they’ve heard it (assuming they like it) for the physical connection. I would. Others that don’t, may go to gigs, pay for tickets, perhaps buy some merch? The band makes (more) money that way.
I’m pretty certain that the guy that doesn’t buy the CD, or the T-shirts, or go to the shows – whatever – I’m sure that guy, had downloading not been a possibility, would NEVER have gone out and shelled out money for the CD anyway. So what is that? Is it really lost revenue? OK, the guy gets a digital copy of the tracks but what about the artwork, DVD extras, lyrics etc. Surely that has a value too? This guy doesn’t get any of that. He wouldn’t buy it, even if he couldn’t get it for free. What’s really lost??
Fuck it. I have no idea. I give up. I’m sitting here rambling now about things I have not even the tiniest clue about now. That was a random little journey.
It’s a curious thing, this Blogging. Millions of people, all over the world just… waffling. I can see its appeal. Cathartic.
Not to end on a downer, but this week has been a personal Word Beater, an absolute fucking record breaker of a shitty, shitty week. Thank God it’s….well, Saturday morning now, but still sort of Friday. It’s My Blog. =)
I came on here with the intention of venting about something else entirely…. I appear to have forgotten about it completely and gone on to get thoroughly lost in my own head.
Should you have made it this far Gentle Viewer (bonus points for spotting that one), quite genuinely – very well done. You got further than I would have done if I’d have been you, and I Salute You.
Half a page, me. Max.
Hmmmmm, that was fun.
You may hear from me again.
Possibly.
a.
Friday, 16 May 2008
Emergenza competition: good or bad?
To be honest we weren't really expecting to get this far but we made it to the Emergenza Semi finals which we played on Wednesday (14th May 2008).
The experience has left us with very mixed emotions to say the least!
The organiser/s are completely shoddy and shouldn't be trusted as far as you can throw them... and believe me we wanted to throw them a LONG way!!!!!! They didn't listen/ were incapable of listening or worse, didn't want to listen to the basic requirements of bands. The tech meetings were a waste of time especially if you had to travel a couple of hours to get to them only to be told basic information that could have been emailed/ phoned. We were messed around quite a few times: The date changed for one tech meeting and clashed with a recording session. We let the 'promoter' know we couldn't do it, which he was fine about, then proceeded to phone us in the studio asking why we hadn't turned up!!! Then, at the last gig the same 'promoter' AGAIN asked why we hadn't shown up!!!! This beggars belief!! Check the countless emails and calls you fuckwit!!!! The worst one was when we turned up and the 'promoter' (and I use that in the loosest possible sense of the word!) had failed to show without even the common courtesy to call to say the meeting had been cancelled! Like I said SHODDY!!!!! This is the same man that said to us as we were about to soundcheck, literally had our feet on stage, and he calls another band on stage because he couldn't find us!?!?!! WE WERE ON STAGE ALREADY!!!!! His reply ' if I cant see you I cant hear you!' WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!
Even at gigs the 'promoter' would have digs at the bands he didn't like and would encourage the audience to vote for his 'favourites'. His words not mine!
I know this probably sounds like a huge case of sour grapes, but as I said we didn't expect to go through to even the semi finals. However some of the bands I did expect to get through didn't! Having checked the Emergenza website for the results, I found out that they had failed to get the required votes.
Hmmmm, something smells a bit fishy here and I don't mean the contents of the 'promoter's' pants!! This is where the Emergenza gigs fail. Each band is rated on the number of votes ( hands in the air) at the end of their performance. The hands are then counted by the Emergenza 'promoter'.... this is basically a popularity contest NOT one based on talent... and is open to what I can only describe as vote rigging. Having voted for MOST bands, I naturally had a look round the venue to see who else had voted. For a few bands, yep, there weren't a lot of hands, but having checked the official result page after gig I was extremely surprised to find bands that I knew had a large number of votes were listed with an exceptionally LOW number!!!! I personally feel that those bands and fans that had paid money to see their band, had been royally ripped off. How else can you explain it?!
We had to leave before the last band had finished and they were playing to around 5 people, that was all that were left in the club, but according to the results page they had 29 votes??? EH?!?!? Some bands had large followings but still didn't get through?!?!?! Very, very odd!
And don't get me started on the amount of money the fans had to pay for a ticket! At every opportunity we were reminded that 'in the real world' we would have to promote the gigs ourselves. Yes, fair point, but in this 'real world' we would get to keep the bloody money from the ticket sales NOT make £1 after 45 tickets were sold!!!!!! Also, £12 per ticket is a huge rip off for unsigned bands. This price goes up too after getting to another stage of the competition!!! It's pretty close to the price you pay to see established acts!!! I seriously think they need to re think their ' in the real world' attitude!
In one way yes, I am saddened that we didn't get through to the finals, but on the other hand we don't have to deal with that 'promoter' EVER again (hopefully!) LOL!
Now, I have dealt with the negative aspect of this competition but what about the pros?
Well, to be fair there are some. Even though each member of Dragnerve have a lot of gig experience between us all, we are essentially a new band. As such, we need exposure and MORE gig experience as a band. This competition have given us an opportunity to play some great venues, meet some excellent bands whom we are going to hook up and play with again and more importantly gained some new fans. Personally speaking I have had a lot of fun (apart from said 'promoter'!) and made loads of new friends! The other Emergenza promoter Kim who we had organised our Purple Turtle gig was excellent, really friendly, no ego and really knew her job.. it was pleasure working with her!
Is the Emergenza competition good or bad?
Well both really. If the organisers work out the kinks, (can I suggest getting rid of the dead wood of a certain 'promoter'), change their ticketing policy, get better sponsors (the equipment really sucked! That's not just my opinion either!) then I think it would be a kick ass comp. But sadly I don't think any of these thing will happen anytime soon if ever.
So, if you want exposure, there are plenty more unsigned comps out there that DON'T shamelessly exploit the bands they say they are 'promoting'.
Grizz.
The experience has left us with very mixed emotions to say the least!
The organiser/s are completely shoddy and shouldn't be trusted as far as you can throw them... and believe me we wanted to throw them a LONG way!!!!!! They didn't listen/ were incapable of listening or worse, didn't want to listen to the basic requirements of bands. The tech meetings were a waste of time especially if you had to travel a couple of hours to get to them only to be told basic information that could have been emailed/ phoned. We were messed around quite a few times: The date changed for one tech meeting and clashed with a recording session. We let the 'promoter' know we couldn't do it, which he was fine about, then proceeded to phone us in the studio asking why we hadn't turned up!!! Then, at the last gig the same 'promoter' AGAIN asked why we hadn't shown up!!!! This beggars belief!! Check the countless emails and calls you fuckwit!!!! The worst one was when we turned up and the 'promoter' (and I use that in the loosest possible sense of the word!) had failed to show without even the common courtesy to call to say the meeting had been cancelled! Like I said SHODDY!!!!! This is the same man that said to us as we were about to soundcheck, literally had our feet on stage, and he calls another band on stage because he couldn't find us!?!?!! WE WERE ON STAGE ALREADY!!!!! His reply ' if I cant see you I cant hear you!' WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!
Even at gigs the 'promoter' would have digs at the bands he didn't like and would encourage the audience to vote for his 'favourites'. His words not mine!
I know this probably sounds like a huge case of sour grapes, but as I said we didn't expect to go through to even the semi finals. However some of the bands I did expect to get through didn't! Having checked the Emergenza website for the results, I found out that they had failed to get the required votes.
Hmmmm, something smells a bit fishy here and I don't mean the contents of the 'promoter's' pants!! This is where the Emergenza gigs fail. Each band is rated on the number of votes ( hands in the air) at the end of their performance. The hands are then counted by the Emergenza 'promoter'.... this is basically a popularity contest NOT one based on talent... and is open to what I can only describe as vote rigging. Having voted for MOST bands, I naturally had a look round the venue to see who else had voted. For a few bands, yep, there weren't a lot of hands, but having checked the official result page after gig I was extremely surprised to find bands that I knew had a large number of votes were listed with an exceptionally LOW number!!!! I personally feel that those bands and fans that had paid money to see their band, had been royally ripped off. How else can you explain it?!
We had to leave before the last band had finished and they were playing to around 5 people, that was all that were left in the club, but according to the results page they had 29 votes??? EH?!?!? Some bands had large followings but still didn't get through?!?!?! Very, very odd!
And don't get me started on the amount of money the fans had to pay for a ticket! At every opportunity we were reminded that 'in the real world' we would have to promote the gigs ourselves. Yes, fair point, but in this 'real world' we would get to keep the bloody money from the ticket sales NOT make £1 after 45 tickets were sold!!!!!! Also, £12 per ticket is a huge rip off for unsigned bands. This price goes up too after getting to another stage of the competition!!! It's pretty close to the price you pay to see established acts!!! I seriously think they need to re think their ' in the real world' attitude!
In one way yes, I am saddened that we didn't get through to the finals, but on the other hand we don't have to deal with that 'promoter' EVER again (hopefully!) LOL!
Now, I have dealt with the negative aspect of this competition but what about the pros?
Well, to be fair there are some. Even though each member of Dragnerve have a lot of gig experience between us all, we are essentially a new band. As such, we need exposure and MORE gig experience as a band. This competition have given us an opportunity to play some great venues, meet some excellent bands whom we are going to hook up and play with again and more importantly gained some new fans. Personally speaking I have had a lot of fun (apart from said 'promoter'!) and made loads of new friends! The other Emergenza promoter Kim who we had organised our Purple Turtle gig was excellent, really friendly, no ego and really knew her job.. it was pleasure working with her!
Is the Emergenza competition good or bad?
Well both really. If the organisers work out the kinks, (can I suggest getting rid of the dead wood of a certain 'promoter'), change their ticketing policy, get better sponsors (the equipment really sucked! That's not just my opinion either!) then I think it would be a kick ass comp. But sadly I don't think any of these thing will happen anytime soon if ever.
So, if you want exposure, there are plenty more unsigned comps out there that DON'T shamelessly exploit the bands they say they are 'promoting'.
Grizz.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
F**KING STUDENTS!
Alright, alright, don't get yer noggin' in a tizzy if you are a student, but once you leave whichever fine establishment of further education which you are at, belieive me, you will see where I am coming from. I was a student once, and jeez, someone shoulda slapped me if I was on par with the total idiocy we bore witness to at the weekend at the Bristol Uni Roc Soc BOTB event. I mean, I used to do all kinds of crazy shit as student, but I pray I wasn't as retarded as this. And if really was, apologies to those I f**ked with. Better late than never.
Ok, firstly, everything seemed slightly 'laid back' arrangement wise, but I put it down to 'f**king students' as come on, we all know that students do little else but drink and smoke, especially if they are to do with any kind of Rock Society.
SO anyway...I eventually find out that there is some kind of glitch with arrangement for the kit share, but am guaranteed that we will have the necessary equipment we need to perform. So off we set to Bristol...and just getting out of London I realise that I have indeed forgotten my snare drum, so rather than fucking about I get on the phone and find a drum shop on the way which does hire outs, stop by and hire a snare drum. Job done, Bob's your uncle. The way shit should be.
We get to Bristol bang on time. In fact we beat the PA there - which sucked as they were so late in setting up meaning we didn't even get a sound check - again, I dread to think what kind of dumb-ass organising lead to that...
Waiting out the back of the Bristol Uni SU, Conan the organiser bowls up, I extend my hand and say 'You must be Conan, nice to meet you, Paul,' to which he promptly replies,'Err, and you must be...oh I 've forgotten your name..'
YOU F**KING WOT??!!! is the look shot to me by Lee. I had just introduced myself and the guy was on cloud f**king nine and couldn't even remeber my name for all of like half a second...oh shit...we were destined for some fuckery...
Nevertheless, we walk in to a massive hall with a massive stage...things seemd to be looking alright...nice dressing room...
We go back to the car and realise some c**t has keyed the side - a big long scratch all the way down one side. Shit starts to sink from there on in.
Suddenly some crazy poisonous midget she-dwarf appears and starts rambling about some shit, clearly taking herself far far far too seriously. I clocked her guzzling a bottle of wine (as only you students can) later - no wonder she didn't know the difference between her arsehole and elbow. Once the soundman had finally cranked the PA for the first time (which to me was a sure sign of progress) she had the gall to shout at the top of her voice 'Can you turn that fuckin down cos I'm trying to talk'..COME ON...the guy was doing his job, and he was already half a day behind schedule for the event she was supposed to be organising. Turn it down. Well, she's gonna get nothing but turned down, believe me.
Then came the glory for the kit share - to which it transpired we didn't have what we needed even though I had specified what it would be. They said the main band had decided not to share anything 4 days ago...4 DAYS!!! But apparently 4 days isn't long enough to sort out hiring replacement equipment, nor is it adequate time to tell the bands what they will need - I did it in a matter of minutes for my snare drum...All I can say is...F**KING STUDENTS!
So, what did this experience teach me...that there ARE still a few fit female Uni rock fans out there...that there are still some really kind people who lend their equipment to people left in the lurch...that Uni beer is not that cheap...that Uni's teach you to be a retard in the real world...but most of all, that students couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery if they f**king tried. Students - enjoy that feeling of how the world is all yours while you can, cos believe me, before long you too WILL be uttering those very same words:
"F**KING STUDENTS"
UncleP
Ok, firstly, everything seemed slightly 'laid back' arrangement wise, but I put it down to 'f**king students' as come on, we all know that students do little else but drink and smoke, especially if they are to do with any kind of Rock Society.
SO anyway...I eventually find out that there is some kind of glitch with arrangement for the kit share, but am guaranteed that we will have the necessary equipment we need to perform. So off we set to Bristol...and just getting out of London I realise that I have indeed forgotten my snare drum, so rather than fucking about I get on the phone and find a drum shop on the way which does hire outs, stop by and hire a snare drum. Job done, Bob's your uncle. The way shit should be.
We get to Bristol bang on time. In fact we beat the PA there - which sucked as they were so late in setting up meaning we didn't even get a sound check - again, I dread to think what kind of dumb-ass organising lead to that...
Waiting out the back of the Bristol Uni SU, Conan the organiser bowls up, I extend my hand and say 'You must be Conan, nice to meet you, Paul,' to which he promptly replies,'Err, and you must be...oh I 've forgotten your name..'
YOU F**KING WOT??!!! is the look shot to me by Lee. I had just introduced myself and the guy was on cloud f**king nine and couldn't even remeber my name for all of like half a second...oh shit...we were destined for some fuckery...
Nevertheless, we walk in to a massive hall with a massive stage...things seemd to be looking alright...nice dressing room...
We go back to the car and realise some c**t has keyed the side - a big long scratch all the way down one side. Shit starts to sink from there on in.
Suddenly some crazy poisonous midget she-dwarf appears and starts rambling about some shit, clearly taking herself far far far too seriously. I clocked her guzzling a bottle of wine (as only you students can) later - no wonder she didn't know the difference between her arsehole and elbow. Once the soundman had finally cranked the PA for the first time (which to me was a sure sign of progress) she had the gall to shout at the top of her voice 'Can you turn that fuckin down cos I'm trying to talk'..COME ON...the guy was doing his job, and he was already half a day behind schedule for the event she was supposed to be organising. Turn it down. Well, she's gonna get nothing but turned down, believe me.
Then came the glory for the kit share - to which it transpired we didn't have what we needed even though I had specified what it would be. They said the main band had decided not to share anything 4 days ago...4 DAYS!!! But apparently 4 days isn't long enough to sort out hiring replacement equipment, nor is it adequate time to tell the bands what they will need - I did it in a matter of minutes for my snare drum...All I can say is...F**KING STUDENTS!
So, what did this experience teach me...that there ARE still a few fit female Uni rock fans out there...that there are still some really kind people who lend their equipment to people left in the lurch...that Uni beer is not that cheap...that Uni's teach you to be a retard in the real world...but most of all, that students couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery if they f**king tried. Students - enjoy that feeling of how the world is all yours while you can, cos believe me, before long you too WILL be uttering those very same words:
"F**KING STUDENTS"
UncleP
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Respects to Sophie Lancaster...
I just wanted to pay my deepest repects to Robert Maltby and the family of Sophie Lancaster who was mindlessly kicked to death in Bacup a few months ago. Her killers have been served justice. The whole escapade made me feel sick, and enraged me at the small mindedness of of the young men that carried out such a sick attack. Young men barley hitting their prime have squandered their life to one behind bars. Damn they must be proud of themselves. Rather than say, 'F**k these chavy c**ts up,' like I would love to, and ensue on some crusade against tracksuit wearing wannabe's in order to defend those who dare to be 'different', we gotta pull back and look at the bigger picture. If choose that path you are merely getting lost down the exact same small minded road the killers were on. We need to learn and teach about laying prejudices aside, and accepting everyone for who they are, goths and urban heads alike. So next time you want to judge someone cos of how they look, think of Sophie and her family, and what Robert painfully endured, and think again. Segregation is NOT the key. We need to embrace the many cultures and creeds we come across in everday life and treat everyone with the same respect which we would like to be treated with ourselves. There is no room for small mindedness. If Sophie's death can make us all remeber that, then it will not have been in vain. RIP Sophie. Where ever you are, I hope you're still rocking hard! UncleP
Friday, 18 April 2008
Welcome to our rants 'n' raves
I just wanted to kick off our blog with a little intro...us Dragnerve boys (sorry, ahem, men) will be venting our spleen on here from time to time with all sorts of rantings to do with music or not. So get ready to have your head filled with various ups, down n side to sides from our little lives...
...so...
...umm...yes...well...
...there it is.
Next.
UncleP
...so...
...umm...yes...well...
...there it is.
Next.
UncleP
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