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Originally posted by stuartmaxwell:
i think its bad news for aberdeen, other venues will suffer, the garage are out to make a quik buck, and thye comprimise their playlist+drinks policy to reel punters in, it will definetly affect places like exodus, moshulu i reckon will be fine

in some ways it'd be good for aberdeen, i reckon. however, if an 800 capacity venue gets built with CPL behind it, that can only be a bad thing for moshulu, and their hopes to attract "big" bands, which regularly play places like the garage down south.

it'd be awesome to have a venue like the garage up here though.

hasn't this rumour already done the rounds?, wasn't it the old oscars on union street which was to be turned into a large venue, instead we got stuck with chicago rock cafe and jumpin jacks, neither of which i've been to, or have any desire so to do.

[soundian]

Originally posted by alex.:
wasn't it the old oscars on union street which was to be turned into a large venue,

The 'old oscars' as you call it, was the capitol, which was a large venue. Proper venue.

You don't get venues like that anymore, accountants rule the live scene and health and safety guys are the little demons making everyone elses life stupidly difficult. Cunts!

[Flash@TMB]

The more places to go, the bigger the scene gets, the more people become involved in it, and the better it's chances of survival.

Rock survived in Glasgow through the dismal 90s because they had a thriving scene in the 80s. They had a thriving scene because there were places to go.

Here in Aberdeen there was only 1 dedicated rock venue - The Venue, and 2 dedicated rock bars Satelites and Moorings. Outside of that there was a scattering of single nights, not usually on weekends. It was shite.

Competition is always a good thing, expecially for the punter. Venues needn't worry either because if your place has something to offer then people will go there. If it has everything to offer then everyone will queue to go there. You just have to try harder.

CPL is a chain. Chains have some advantages like large captial injection, very low purchase prices on stock, big advertising bugget, and they represent a known quality to those unfamiliar with the local scene.

They also have some disadvantages like slow reaction to change and slow to mobilise. They are restricted in what they can offer, and sometimes lack soul.

Personally I hope they open in the Vaults or Poo Na Nas... heh heh.

Everytime a new bar or venue has opened The Moorings Bar has gotten busier. This happened with Drakes, Drummonds, Moshulu, HJBs, and it will happen with this CPL thing. Hopefully the same goes for the other venues too.

I'm in this because I love the scene, and I'm trying to help build a stable scene for the first time. A new big venue opening is exactly what we all need...

And no matter what, The Moorings Bar will always have a better tasting alcohol and a better sounding rig than ANYWHERE! What else is important? Heh heh.


Flash

[Afro Droid]

I wouldn't be surprised if CPL aim to capture the student market first and foremost, with a couple of alt nights here and there.

[Cloud]

Educate me, where was The Venue?

[Flash@TMB]

It was between where Drakes and The Drift Inn are now, underneath the Douglas Hotel. It's still there but disused. It would be good it the CPL place opened there but there are long odds on that option...

The Venue closed in err 1989.

I may be wearing rose tinted specs but it still ranks as the best venue we ever had in my opinion.


Flash

If they pitch as a big band venue with a scale somewhere between the Music Hall and the Lemon Tree, then it's a good thing.

If it turns into a club oriented student haunt (ie. a bigger version of Kef), it's not a good thing.

And I fear it could be the latter.

[Jimsin]

Originally posted by Flash@TMB:
It was between where Drakes and The Drift Inn are now, underneath the Douglas Hotel. It's still there but disused. It would be good it the CPL place opened there but there are long odds on that option...

The Venue closed in err 1989.

I may be wearing rose tinted specs but it still ranks as the best venue we ever had in my opinion.


Flash

I couldn't agree with you more. I love Moshulu & Elizium - I miss The Palace .. but The Venue has a special place in my heart. That place was magical! I remember back then, some of the older people used to talk fondly of 'Valhallas' - but I doubt if anybody on this board would remember that. I'm 37 and it was before my time even.

I went to some function where The Venue used to be, back around 95 ... it was sooo horrible inside - they'd done it all up with wedding parties in mind, and it was just heartbreaking. It still cuts deep to know that it was bought over and shut down, practically destroying the scene in Aberdeen for years ... and all to create some underused function suite at the back of a hotel. Grrrrr!!

[Cloud]

what was the music scene like in Aberdeen a few years back? not in the 80's, but the early 90's?

[Flash@TMB]

There was The Satelite Bar where Siberia is now but much smaller. They used to have a resident live covers band or jam session on a Sunday afternoon.

The Moorings Bar would have a rock disco on Friday Nights and a covers band on Saturday nights.

The Malt Mill had predominantly covers bands playing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The Blue Lamp would have the odd blues or soul band.

Cesars Palace hosted a rock disco on Fridays and a 'Death Metal' afternoon on Saturdays. They usually had a live band on Saturday Nights but mostly covers. They also had a rock disco on Tuesday Nights.

The Ritzy/Palace hosted a goth disco on Monday nights and a rock disco on Thursday nights. Very occasionally... well once that I can remember they had a live band on during the week. It was Faith No More. I shit you not.

The Sloe Club (RGIT Union downstairs where the shop is) had a rock disco on Fridays and live bands on Saturdays.

There were very few non-covers bands. Tour De Force is one that springs to mind, after that I'm struggling, and Tour De Force were really more 80s than 90s. There was a sort of glam band called Fox. There was a band called Kill The Doctor - they were quite popular and pulled big crowds. There was also a very good band called Men Lie, they are back on the scene again but called Atrium now and they are still very good, we had them playing a few weeks back. Aside from those all I remember is the odd teenage death band here and there but very few of them ever got a gig outside their own bedrooms, the bars just weren't interested.

The best thing that ever happened to live music in Aberdeen in uinquestionably Dr Drakes.


Flash