flossie suvara

Top notch quality, I agree - good to see the concept of the DFA button exists across the pond (where it's known as an audio placebo) Flossie

I've got a bit of a thing for collecting instruments, so I won't list them all (70+ at the last count, but I do have duplicates) - just the main ones. Mandolin - I would count this as my main instrument - I've been playing for 17 years (self-taught) and currently play a crafter semi-acoustic. I also own an Eko banjo-mandolin, a washburn acoustic, a bastardised half-size guitar currently with 4 strings tuned one step above mandola tuning and am waiting on a floating bridge to complete by guitar to bouzouki conversion. Guitar - been playing (about) for about 17 years as well - mainly chords, but would love to get round to some lead lessons. Have an Antoria archtop, washburn acoutsic, Peavey Horizon II electric, an Alvarez classical guitar I got in a charity shop and a travel guitar I won on the internet. Recorder - been playing since primary school (so that's about 25 years now, gulp) - have soparino, descant, alto and tenor recorders. violin - own two - again, one came from a charity shop (and sounds a whole lot better than the ancient one I spent 9 years getting lessons at school on) - don't rate my fiddle playing very highly. Other highlights of my collection include: 5 string banjo, ukelele, bodhran, autoharp, and I've recently acquired an upright piano (free from the p&j classified ads). Best thing I can play would probably be " The Jack Daniels Reel" on the mandolin. Regards Flossie

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly sure that one of the beliefs (for want of a better word) that originated in the first punk era was that anyone , regardless of musical talent, could form a band and make music (I seem to remember seeing a cover of sniffing glue fanzine which showed three guitar chords, then at the bottom said "now form a band") - a backlash (as mentioned previosly) to the musical excesses of Yes, Genesis, etc. So taking that argument to it's logical conclusion - 70's punk is responsible for Girls Aloud, Will Young, Gareth Gates and Kym Marsh... No wonder old and new school "punks" don't get on....

I've been stung by a wasp whilst playing (busking as a band in Inverness about 10 years ago) - of course, being the consummate professional I am, I continued playing while my wasp-fearing bandmates scattered screaming around me. I've also been stung three times by the same bumble bee, which I found inside my pillowcase - which wasn't the nicest thing to find just as you're going to bed - turned out that we had a bumblebee nest outside the bedroom window. But if I was a bumblebee, I'm sure I'd be doing some stinging if someone my size tried to sleep on me. Flossie

Compared to 10 years ago (when I were a lad...) it is ridiculously easy to get a gig in Aberdeen these days. With the Lorelei, out of our first 5 gigs, 2 were at private parties (the Mill Inn and Oh Henry's of all places), 1 was at the old RGU union (sloe club, which I had frequented regularly for 4 years, so managed to blag us a slot on a charity gig lineup) and 2 were at what is now Estaminet, but which in those days was know as Kit Carsons (before even Smart Alex) - The manager of Smart Alex insisted on hearing a demo tape before agreeing to let us play. Nowadays, it would seem that one could almost start a band with nothing but a name and a loose genre, get a gig and THEN think about getting other members, writing songs and practicing. There is, to me, a fine line between a healthy music scene, with lots going on and heaps of bands playing heaps of venues, and oversaturation, leading to venues not putting on so many bands. I certainly admire Dr Drakes for managing to put on live music 7 nights a week. I've mentioned it in other posts, but playing outside Aberdeen is the way forward - even for those bands whose members are not old enough to drive. There must be lots of small towns between say here and Inverness or Dundee who have one or two bands who would be interested in playing Aberdeen - gig swapping/sharing instruments/providing accomodation on a reciprocal basis would allow these bands to play in Aberdeen, and Aberdeen bands to play elsewhere, without having to worry about transporting amps/drumkits etc. Train/bus would be a viable option. And another plus point - playing in smaller towns outside Aberdeen (such as Keith, Nairn, Forres, Insch, etc) - you usually notice a sizeable drop in the price of a pint... Regards Flossie

Some good and bad points in this discussion (in my opinion) - Once again, my main criticism of Aberdeen bands is that they only tend to play in Aberdeen - being either too young, have a lack of transport (or the cash/licence to obtain) or the sheer gumption to venture further afield. In my opinion and experience anybody who is serious about making music should try and get out of their hometown as soon as possible and do as many gigs in as many other places as possible. However, I do object to the comment "aberdeen is mostly populated with dim-witted intellectually crippled scottish people who don't have the mental capacity to think for themselves, letalone genuinely create. It's a shithole, and the majority of people are too far up their own arses and too busy patting themselves on the back to realise that their cliquey little scene, replete with a troope of the same old sychophantic schoolkids cheering them on, is a fucking joke in the context of the wider world." Stripey, I'd be interested to know which other cities' music scene's you have encountered - not just via recorded music, but actually going to see bands. No matter where you are - be it Aberdeen, Bristol, London or Milton Keynes, the standard of the majority of local bands, of whatever genre, is going to range from poor to mediocre, and there will be the same cliquey feel to the scene that you object to in Aberdeen. However everyone starts out rubbish. Musical talent combined with lots of gig experience will polish the bands who have the will and the ability to make it - those who have neither will eventually split up - possibly forming newer bands, and the process continues again. If your opinion of the Aberdeen music scene is so low, a few questions are raised: 1) When is YOUR next gig - I'm sure the more open-minded members of this board would come along and give you constructive criticism 2) If your opinion of Aberdeen in general is really what I've quoted above, why are you bothering posting on this website, and why are you still living here. Surely you'd be better off in somewhere with a music scene more suited to your tastes. (although, as I've already said, I think you'll find that deep down they are all the same, but cities with more people tend to have more good acts - it's all to do with percentages.) Regards Flossie

I remember Ludwig - a great example of the mad as toast british cartoon. Didn't watch chocky, but did the book (by John Wyndham who also wrote The Day of the Triffids and The Chrysalids) at school. All info on such tv masterpieces at www.tv.cream.org Regards Flossie

Well done to Karloff. On the gigging out of town thing - it is definately the way ahead - The Lorelei played Aberdeen exclusively for the first 2 years, and we noticed a distinct fall off in numbers - the thinking being that "Oh, they're playing next week - I won't bother tonight". Once we started getting gigs out of Aberdeen it improved attendance when we did play at home, as such gigs were much fewer. Perhaps some sort of "out of town gigs" forum or website (maybe on the AUBL website) is an idea. Bands who have played outside Aberdeen could leave details of where they played, what the venue was like, how much they got paid, did they get accomodation, promotors name/contact details, etc. Bands could also use it to co-operate for gigs where a support is required. Regards Flossie

I remember One Up when it was on Rosemount - went in to buy some heavy metal badges aged about 11 (I think I might have got a whtesnake one) - I was absolutely terrified by both the clientele and the staff, and glad my mum and dad were waiting in the car outside. Flossie

I may be able to help out, as I have a spare mandolin (on loan at the moment but I should be able to get it back) - It's an acoustic washburn - I do have a stickon pickup that can be borrowed as well if amplification. When do you need it for? PM me - I'll PM you with my email address too (although I'm online tonight until 9ish, I won't be back online until Thursday am) Flossie

Eko are an Italian company - I have heard good reports about their acoustic guitars before. (I have an Eko Mandolin Banjo, which is not the greatest - it won't stay in tune with 8 strings, but with 4 it's ok). Some info on Eko here: http://www.myrareguitars.com/ekopics.htm and their website here: http://ekoguitars.com/ Hope this helps Regards Flossie

Poor Simon - he's been known as a gay icon for many years now - I just can't understand it - it surely can't be because of the way he looks.... Flossie

Have a look at www.thomann.de German website, but with English language option - very very cheap for just about any music related stuff you could think of - only downside is the shipping cost, but I believe it's a flat fee, regardless of how much you order. Alternatively, the nice chaps at Prosound music on Holburn street would be able to help. www.prosoundmusic co.uk Flossie

Sorry Iain, didn't take a note of the make. Flossie

I seem to remember that if you get signed in to St Andrew's student union, one of the rules is that you're not supposed to use the bar or the games machines!?! The Lorelei played a gig there many years ago - big stage, no atmosphere. Still, it was better than the other gig we did in St Andrews, where the singer discovered the joys of buckfast in the van on the way down, the soundcheck was between noon and 2pm, and we didn't start playing till midnight. - Cue hopelessly drunk singer refusing to leave the stage and singing his last song on his own to the guy sweeping the floor... Flossie

Just saw a DI box in cash converters for 12 - don't know if this is a bargain or not (or indeed if it works), but thought it might be of interest to someone. (The thought did cross my mind that it may have originally come from a local venue, but that would besmirch the well respected name of crime coverters) Flossie

Don't know if there's anything to download, but you might also want to check out Bill Monroe - universally recognised as the "father of Bluegrass" (also one of the few famous mandolin players...) - also Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. I regularly check out www.mandolincafe.com, which you may find useful - there is a bluegrass forum (be warned however, some of the opinions regarding what is and what isn't bluegrass are a tad fundamental) I believe (although I haven't checked and am relying on memory) that the classic bluegrass band lineup is: 5-string banjo, fiddle, double bass, mandolin, and possibly vocals. Surprisingly enough, no drums/percussion - this is because in a bluegrass band, the mandolin takes the part of the snare drum, playing a "chop" cord on the off beat. Regards Flossie

Alison Elvis Costello Boys dont cry The Cure Calling all the heroes It bites Dont you (forget about me) Simple Minds Enter Sandman Metallica Fade to Gray - Visage Gloria Van Morrison/Them Happy Birthday Altered Images Invisible Touch - Genesis Jumpin Jack Flash The Rolling Stones Killing me Softly Roberta Flack Lola The Kinks Mr Tambourine Man Bob Dylan New York New York Frank Sinatra Orinoco Flow - Enya Purple Rain Prince and the Revolution Quando Quando Quando Engelbert Humperdink Rocket Man Elton John Stairway to Heaven Led Zeppelin Take a chance on me - Abba Until the end of the world U2 Vienna - Ultravox We Will Rock You - Queen Xanadu Olivia Newton-John Yesterday The Beatles Zanzibar Billy Joel Flossie

One God Universe were truly a fantastic band - however, they too are scattered to the four winds. Matt is no longer in Aberdeen, but can't remember where he is now James (Jensen) - last I heard he was teaching English in South East Asia Gordon (Smeggy) - saw him in Aberdeen a couple of years ago - don't know if he's still about. Ross - haven't seen/heard of him for a long long time. Ragudave - The lorelei did Wendy Frenzy, and the sheep song was called "Goat" Regards Flossie Suvara

Satan would indeed be skating to work the day the Lorelei reform - even for the levellers - for many reasons which I won't elaborate on, but one which I will is geography. One member of the Lorerei is now in London, and another in Dundee, so logistically it's impossible. The folk scene in Aberdeen is still, as far as I'm aware, very healthy. The last I heard, the folk club met in one of the pubs on the castlegate, but I'm afraid I don't know which one. There are several traditional music sessions to be had however. Tuesday evening - The Globe Wednesday evening - bar at the Prince Regent (so I've heard, never been) Sunday evening - The Prince of Wales Last Friday of every Month - Woodend barn, Banchory I believe there is also a session at the Blue Lamp, on a Monday I think, but again I've never been. The Globe and Prince Regent sessions are frequented by a lot of people from the SCAT classes. http://www.scat2000.co.uk A fantastic resource for anyone interested in traditional scottish/irish/celtic sessions can be found at http://www.thesession.org Regards Flossie Suvara (getting chufties from this thread)

When Suvara are at full strength (ie, if I ever get back to the band from paternity leave) I play the mandolin. I have on occassion (although not in public) played fiddle, bodhran, recorder and banjo (though not at the same time). Flossie

I believe John Cage (or his estate - can't remember if he's dead or not) is suing Mike Batt (who acheived fame as the genius behind the wombles albums), as he wrote a similar piece of silence, ("1 minute's silence") See here if you don't believe me. http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2002/07/0404.cfm Flossie

Afraid I didn't know mackie, or Damage - might recognize the faces if I saw them though. The Last Divide are no more - Sandy is married with kids, Ally is married, Jaff is married with at least one kid, Kev is also married (no kids that I know of), and Chris (who replaced Nick on drums) is a graphic designer. Great band - great songs Flossie