Cloud

I got a brilliant haircut today for three pounds, in a hairdresser located underneath my flat. The hairdresser took 25 minutes, and did a great job with a smile.

Can't argue

I'm also happy that this country appears to be considerably happier than the UK - many kids look considerably less stressed, and I still haven't seen any drunken teenagers.

I did however see a guy with a sign asking for beer...so I gave him money

Good shit. Anyone know if this was actually on Eurosport? Couldn't find it on the schedule last night yet the Guardian text commentary seems to indicate they were watching it on Eurosport.

Was here, though that's probably no use to you

Seeing as there's a rant thread, why not a thread for good things that's been happening? Much better than all this bitter nonsense going on here

I've just moved to Poland on a gap year from uni, to teach Business English to people learning the language. Easy money, good beer and good environment...so I'm happy

I'm only three hours from Berlin/Warsaw/Gdansk/Wrocław too, so...couldn't be happier

Labour still won't vote for it I'm afraid. If they did it would put enormous pressure on the Labour Government as Westminster for one thing.

There's a possibility that Salmond will goad them into abstaining, particularly if the Labour MSP's realise that voting it down will cause them to look even more unpopular than they are in the face of Labour collapse in 2010.

Nothing is certain in this parliament, whoever would've thought that the SNP would get the Tories to help them pass a budget two years ago?

aparantly i was at feughfest... i remember nothing from yesterday at all so if anyone saw me and can help fill in lost time, would be much appreciated :up:

Funnily enough, nowhere in this post does he suggest that he was wasted, despite the assumptions of others.

Cover Your Mouth/Deenfest, what's the difference? The gigs are catering to the same old underagers, in the same old venues, using the same old bands...really, there's no difference at all, they're still promoting to people that like their music and fashion to mix.

(Having said this, they used to do a great job of getting people through the door)

How similar is their language? Do they not both speak Serbo-Croat?

No such language nowadays, and arguably never existed outwith of Yugoslavia.

speak to deenfest.

they book "17 year old lads with a few mates on a stage and some crappy instruments" all the time.

I might be missing something here, but haven't you played for them before?

Unless of course, you're referring to yourself

Since when has Polish been a race?

Race is as much nationality as colour - could you seriously imagine suggesting to the Croats and Serbs that they were the same race, for instance? They have similar language, but they're clearly a different race.

bands who love playing, and not just some idiots who play music to make money.

Certainly, because putting twice as much effort in for the same amount of money is something that all music lovers do, when offered the opportunity.

Would artists at the very top of the tree even be capable of doubling their performances without a reduction of quality? Doubt it...

Personally, I'd rather pay twice the price and see a performer at his very finest than watch a tired out performance from a band who are having to play twice as much to make the same amount of money.

Personally I would like there to be more gigs, people to attend more gigs and the prices to be lower to encourage this. If live music is in fashion, this is good for bands of all styles.

It's good? How? Think about how much goes into a performance by a huge act - and you want them to double the amount of performances for the same pay? Come on...who's going to sign up for twice the work for the same pay?

Kingston because it's not too far from London, and it's nice, not too big either.

But then you'd end up in Del's infamous shed! Actually...seeing as that shed has clearly seen more than your average music venue, it wouldn't be a bad thing

(you must know what I'm talking about if you know about Kingston....)

I moved out of Aberdeen to Chelmsford for uni (nice town, nice pubs, close to London...not much more I could ask for). And I'm moving to Poland next summer, to either Wroclaw or Poznan. Both nice cities, summers are long and warm, winters aren't anything out of the ordinary for Aberdonians. Can't really go wrong, really.

It always amazes me how many Scots don't move out of the country, actually...despite Scots having a reputation for ending up all over the world.

It's not just me that despairs at people calling themselves students who can't actually spell, right?

P.S theres no laws on drunk cycling is there? =P

Criminal Solicitors UK - your online network of expert criminal law solicitors might be of use, though it's under English and not Scots law.

Even more incredible is how Cloud has never had it. He's looking good for next year already though...

I could never attract the same amount of hatred that Jamesy/Ben/Bob could

It's not hard at all, but those were pretty bad examples, given that they're full-time bands with a lot of managerial and promotional weight behind them. It's not like bands have to go on tour anyway.

Did they have the backing in the beginning, though? It was my impression (though I'm willing to be corrected, I'm relying on google and a friend's knowledge for this) that those two were picked up by managers once they'd started to make a name for themselves, rather than doing what The Hedrons did and be backed/manufactured from the start.

As for scene gigs, I can sort of see where you're coming from, but does that make a Tesco-album-of-the-month concert at the Music Hall a scene gig too? It's also not a band's fault if they attract 'hangers-on' either.

It's a tough one, but I think the definition is where a band attracts people by virtue of being friends with people, rather than for the music. It's particularly noticable when you see people with no interest in the music in question turning up at gigs because they have friends there - and it's when a band can really suffer if they have that perception.

However, I will say that this thread has inspired me to have a shot at creating music. The results will be...interesting, I think.

Surely there's a rise in the perception of everyone that the UK is becoming a dangerous place? The papers are doing a good job of seeing to that.

Without a doubt. Some of the rubbish coming out of the tabloid (and even the broadsheets can be blamed, the Times in particular) is getting ridiculous, especially where every incident involving a knife is somehow sexed up to be 'proof' that things are getting more violent.

I don't think the UK is generally any worse than it ever was - in fact, the only perception I have is that race crimes have got worse, but I suspect that might be because they're actually being encouraged to report them, rather than being dissuaded in times gone by.

I can safely say though, that I've never felt scared walking through Aberdeen at night.

Appears the man was a Polish national, though it probably didn't have anything to do with the incident.

BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | North East/N Isles | Arrest over city centre stabbing

I really, really hope you're right about his race not having anything to do with the incident. There's been a definite rise in the perception of Poles that the UK is becoming a dangerous place - my girlfriend is Polish, and she's shown me a few forums where attacks have been reported.

Combined with the rise in resentment by ill-educated morons about Polish immigration to the UK, it's not a good situation at all at the minute, and I fear that things might get worse in this respect.

Thankfully, in Poland, the most trouble I have is with trying to speak the language. I just hope anti-Poland sentiment in the UK doesn't end up being anti-English sentiment in Poland

I still own that poncho, more's the pity :/

Cloud, could you please post something interesting for a change?

What's not interesting about it? It's my opinion that WSBB were and are nothing but a complete joke.

I was at their first gig, and I remeber the hordes of 15 year olds that would see them. I've followed them 'grow up' into a band that did absolutely nothing, and who are finishing their life off playing in a function room of a pub frequented by dodgy old blokes. I've seen them enough times to know that they took themselves far too seriously for their own good, and that to be brutally honest, they've done absolutely nothing noteworthy.

1. Enter Shakiri and Blood Red Shoes have loads of money behind them to tour constantly. It's their job.

It's not that hard to save up money and go tour. Plenty of bands manage it' date=' so what's their excuse? Oh wait...it's because they existed for personal gratification and not because

2. What the shitting hell is a scene gig? Should they just be playing open mics or something?

Simple. A scene gig is one that attracts hangers-on. Also known as 'sheep'.

3. Sure, being in a band isn't working down a coal mine, but it's still a lot of work and effort to get money together for equipment, write songs to the best of your ability, hone your craft, etc. You can work hard at something without shoving it down people's throats, just because a band plays the East Neuk instead of The Music Hall, it doesn't make it any less worthy.

It's a valid point, but when a band has been going for years and is still playing the East Neuk, something is clearly wrong with their band. You would think, at least in their home city, that they would want to bow out on a high note, not a bum note.

The amusing thing? The sheep in question have felt the need to all jump on the negative reputation bandwagon. Perhaps that's why you're all stuck musically as being absolutely worthless

So you feel you can just trivialise a hard working bands efforts to play music they enjoy?

Hard working?

What's hard working about WSBB? They took months off, played scene gigs and generally did next to nothing in terms of hard work. Did they tour constantly like Enter Shakiri did or like Blood Red Shoes are doing, or did they sit until late at night promoting the band and writing music on a full on basis?

No.

Did they release music on a prolific basis, getting new releases out frequently and making a name for themselves despite not touring? That's hard working too - but they didn't do that either.

To be honest, the demise of yet another band that took themselves far too seriously is for the best, really, it is.

edit : As for belitting bands that have achieved more than me musically - that makes absolutely no sense. Are people not allowed to criticise bands that have done more than them, then? Does this make Bob Geldof exempt from criticism from all but individuals like Elton John?

Come on....

Cloud in "another fantastic post" shocker.

Why, thank you for the compliment.

why? i thought you guys had just got a new singer and were getting going again?

A lifetime of practice room gigs with the occasional support slot at the East Neuk does wonders for a band's confidence....

Debate with me there please rather than here. Thanks

Why, so you can moderate any posts that don't agree with you?

Ahh Waz, great bloke