I've made a lot of mistakes in my life.
I keep making mistakes (when will I learn?) and I have plenty of regrets, but I'm in two minds, I've I'd have done it all differently, would I feel any happier? Would I have accomplished more? Would I be any different?
Well, here's a little list of the big decisions, it's a little of my insides for you to look at.
Birmingham - I love and hate this city. It's horrible, but I've some of the greatest people I could ever hope to meet here. I want to leave, but I don't want to leave those friends, and I definately don't want to leave the bands! It's a horrible city where everyone is horrible, there's no grass, and no comunity. Worst of all, there's fuck all music scene. But I love my house... and I love anarchy... I just don't know what to do!
University - Why did I ever go to Aston? Because it was what I was supposed to do, if only I'd listened to my brother, and just told my parents that I wasn't sure about uni. Perhaps I'd have done a gap year and how my life would've been different...
Music - You know what, I really don't know if I could've done much more here! I joined every band that wanted me, I play with anyone that asks me, and I fucking go for it. I'm scared it's now too late, the 18-21 gap is gone. I just hope thats not the end of my chances.
Girls - I want to experience (yes, I mean sleep with) all of the pretty girls that I went to school with, all of the pretty girls I've met over the years. It just seems like a wasted oppurtunity... So much fun could've been had.
Everyone - every cool person I met and never got to know. Where are you all now?
In the end, I've missed out on a lot, but I've also done my fair share. My mission in life is to make an impact, to be rememebered for something more than just being alive. To have truely existed, and not be forgotten. Or at least to experience everything I can.
There's millions of things I haven't done, people I haven't met, places I haven't been, and I want to do as much as I can before I blink out of here.
So, changing subject somewhat. If you can offer me an experience (I will consider almost anything) Whether it's going to see a new town, playing a new game, even just going to a new pub, I am up for it.
Please, just invite me along, and be friendly!
Hell, I'll do the Fight Club thing if I can!
24/03/2009
16/03/2009
blogs, twitter, facebook and more
Yeah,
I just watched a rather facinating video on twitter, involved Andrew Dubber and Steve Lawson (New Music Strategies Steve Lawson) about twitter and how it can be used essentially as a great marketing tool. Which in many ways supports my theory on how everything is marketing.
But, in a world of millions of people, thousands of musicians, hundreds of communities, does the impersonal twitter really make much difference. Now Steve and Andrew are both very much supporters of Twitter, and while I'm a user, I really find it rather dull (with the exception of the excellent Sockington). I don't follow anyone that twitters unnesesarily, so I don't get the really shit posts, but I still don't give enough of a shit about anyone else to really want to know what they're doing all the time!
My point is, with so many posts, no-one reads them all, and so, just like myspace the quality is drowned in a flood of crap.
Blogs are great, if you want to spend your life reading. Like newspaper columbs for people that can't get printed. Again, there's some amazing stuff out there, but again, a lot of it is shit, totall wastefull shit. I guess in many ways, mine isn't worth reading either :( but my point remains.
Sure, you'd be crazy not to be on every site in the world, it's a great way to spread your name about, but it doesn't sell records, it doesn't make you friends. It opens doors, and lets be honest, there's more than enough open doors for you already.
I've found that one of the best ways to sell tickets to my gigs is to flirt with girls on myspace. It's shameless and rather banal at times, but it comes down to basic one-on-one human interation. These people don't come to see us just on a few flirty messages, I usually have to msn them, maybe meet them at another gig.
Basically, it comes down to real face to face charm! Until you've really got some momentum, your best bet at making real fans, is by making real friends. Admittable these friends should be people that will like your band, but still. Strangers don't meet strangers much, although i expect this is less the case with older generations.
So, now I've totally lsot track of what I was saying...
Yes! Use every avaialble resource to plug you, your band, your product, but if you want true support, make new friends! Friends that love what you do, and will support that, not because they're obligated, but because they want to. These people will get you off the floor. Unfortunately, not much further, but it's a start ;)
So, use what you want, but in the end - make time for real people, you need them!
I just watched a rather facinating video on twitter, involved Andrew Dubber and Steve Lawson (New Music Strategies Steve Lawson) about twitter and how it can be used essentially as a great marketing tool. Which in many ways supports my theory on how everything is marketing.
But, in a world of millions of people, thousands of musicians, hundreds of communities, does the impersonal twitter really make much difference. Now Steve and Andrew are both very much supporters of Twitter, and while I'm a user, I really find it rather dull (with the exception of the excellent Sockington). I don't follow anyone that twitters unnesesarily, so I don't get the really shit posts, but I still don't give enough of a shit about anyone else to really want to know what they're doing all the time!
My point is, with so many posts, no-one reads them all, and so, just like myspace the quality is drowned in a flood of crap.
Blogs are great, if you want to spend your life reading. Like newspaper columbs for people that can't get printed. Again, there's some amazing stuff out there, but again, a lot of it is shit, totall wastefull shit. I guess in many ways, mine isn't worth reading either :( but my point remains.
Sure, you'd be crazy not to be on every site in the world, it's a great way to spread your name about, but it doesn't sell records, it doesn't make you friends. It opens doors, and lets be honest, there's more than enough open doors for you already.
I've found that one of the best ways to sell tickets to my gigs is to flirt with girls on myspace. It's shameless and rather banal at times, but it comes down to basic one-on-one human interation. These people don't come to see us just on a few flirty messages, I usually have to msn them, maybe meet them at another gig.
Basically, it comes down to real face to face charm! Until you've really got some momentum, your best bet at making real fans, is by making real friends. Admittable these friends should be people that will like your band, but still. Strangers don't meet strangers much, although i expect this is less the case with older generations.
So, now I've totally lsot track of what I was saying...
Yes! Use every avaialble resource to plug you, your band, your product, but if you want true support, make new friends! Friends that love what you do, and will support that, not because they're obligated, but because they want to. These people will get you off the floor. Unfortunately, not much further, but it's a start ;)
So, use what you want, but in the end - make time for real people, you need them!
26/02/2009
Me, in brief!
I just wrote this on facebook, but it sums me up well so I'm reposting it.
"I (if you hadn't guessed) play bass guitar, that's most of my life. I just wish I could quit uni and play bass all day. I study Music Tech at BCU. I'm straight edge so I don't drink any vodka leomonade. I live in erdington. I go to subway city, but only once a fortnight for anarchy. I love the Gosta Green, my friends are always there so I feel like someone from friends when I walk in. Some people say I'm scene as fuck, but I think scene is bullshit (as I say so lots) I do wnat to meet you, but that makes you more priviledge, not less. I don't know how tall I am, but I like my body. I love music, sex and snowboarding. I play with bands, there should be links on my profile somewhere, but I don't think facebook likes them. I'm playing Barfly on monday. I want you to come.
I want to see every pretty girl I meet naked. Does that make me a pervert, or just honest?
My three favourite things are music, sex and snowboarding - in that order.
There's a slightly worrying insight into who I am!"
What should I write about next people?
"I (if you hadn't guessed) play bass guitar, that's most of my life. I just wish I could quit uni and play bass all day. I study Music Tech at BCU. I'm straight edge so I don't drink any vodka leomonade. I live in erdington. I go to subway city, but only once a fortnight for anarchy. I love the Gosta Green, my friends are always there so I feel like someone from friends when I walk in. Some people say I'm scene as fuck, but I think scene is bullshit (as I say so lots) I do wnat to meet you, but that makes you more priviledge, not less. I don't know how tall I am, but I like my body. I love music, sex and snowboarding. I play with bands, there should be links on my profile somewhere, but I don't think facebook likes them. I'm playing Barfly on monday. I want you to come.
I want to see every pretty girl I meet naked. Does that make me a pervert, or just honest?
My three favourite things are music, sex and snowboarding - in that order.
There's a slightly worrying insight into who I am!"
What should I write about next people?
23/02/2009
SEX
so, I thought I've done enough about music for now and it's time to cover the 2nd most important thing ever. (first is music, third is snowboarding - money doesn't count, it's just an enabler)
Inspired by the amazingling stunted article in Spaghetti Junction, BCUs uni mag (almost as bad as the Aston Times) who I just applied to write for... Hi if you're reading this!
The question:
1 Is Romance dead?
2 What constitutes as dating?
3 How does a relationship really work?
in short:
1 Yes
2 Sex with talking in between
3 Badly, with too much of the talking and not enough of the sex
but that's just from my perspective - I think that this is not the way for most people! So, in long:
1
Romance is a concept that is touched upon, a single gesture or an entire evening can be romantic, unfortunately romantic is often a synonym for cliche. If a guy takes a girl for a meal, candle lit, single rose on the table, then on to a nice bar (and I mean an actual bar, not just the nearest place that does cheap booze) for a drink and a dance, then walks her home. Well then he's probably loaded. But if you're imaginitive you can still be romantic. If you like your partner, all it takes is a little effort to say I Love You in a nice way. We're all too lazy these days, but make the effort, surprise that special someone, and you'll both be happier for it.
2
Dating is a bit of an enigma. No longer do we meet the oposite sex in pubs/bars we're all too scared to take the plunge unless we're drunk and in a club! Which ruins the dynamic completely, you can't go from full snogging to dating, and you really shouldn't go from a one night stand to dating. It sets the whole thing up in the wrong way (although this is exactly how I like to do it!)
Either that, or we're getting with our mates, no this works great, you know you get on and everything goes great till you break up. All of a sudden everything gets really fucking awkward for you, him/her and all your other mates. So my advice is, unless you're sure about it, don't fuck your mates!
So, the classic way is to get her number while your out, the go for coffee, if that's good, then a meal, then a goodnight kiss, the another meal, and 'back to mine for coffee' - these days it's a pull and a number, then 'wanna come over and watch a dvd' yeah, we all know what that means, I sure hope so, because I'm texting that to a girl sometime soon (how long do you leave it? 3 days minimum, what's the max!)
But this doesn't lead to a healthy relationship, it leads to sex and intimacy issues, so if that's what you're after then go you, but if you want a real relationship that random you pulled the other night is not the one. My advice is to MEET PEOPLE! it's all you can do, your friends will have friends you don't know, so go with them sometime, meet your mates mates, becomes mates with them, then meet their mates. This increases your circle and number of possible partners hugely, and without ever having to do it the real man way and actually talk to a stranger. So that's for the wusses, and for the guys with balls, go to a pub and introduce yourself to a table of people, most of the time they'll be lovely people and you'll have a great time talking to them, and you never know who you might meet!
Keep an open mind, have confidence in yourself and you'll find someone soon (I don't know where this went from dating dynamics to dating advice, but hell, it can't hurt can it! (oh and I don't think I'm an expert, I'm just bad at staying on topic!))
3 - Finally!
Relationships are hard, I should know, I've been in 3 in the last 8 months! So of mine start with the sex. With no intention to go further, but the sex leads to more sex which leads to a relationship, fine. Once in the relationship, we spend a fair amount of time together, maybe 3/4 nights a week. This time is spent playing games or watching films, and occasional nights out. Perhaps this is too much time together not doing much, which is why the relationships don't last more than a few months. So, my friends relationships... Living apart from each other means they only see each other one weekend in two, usually with both nights spent out, once to a club, once just the pub. And perhaps this is the way it should be, they've been together a long time and seem to have no problems. Other friends are living with their partners, but when they're both working full time, this seems like a good arangement, evenings are spent relaxing together, and weekends are for fun things.
You know what, just do whatever works! I don't know what the secret is, but there's been times when I wish I could just snap my fingers and make it work.
Right now - I'm happily single, so if that's your thing let me know ;)
Inspired by the amazingling stunted article in Spaghetti Junction, BCUs uni mag (almost as bad as the Aston Times) who I just applied to write for... Hi if you're reading this!
The question:
1 Is Romance dead?
2 What constitutes as dating?
3 How does a relationship really work?
in short:
1 Yes
2 Sex with talking in between
3 Badly, with too much of the talking and not enough of the sex
but that's just from my perspective - I think that this is not the way for most people! So, in long:
1
Romance is a concept that is touched upon, a single gesture or an entire evening can be romantic, unfortunately romantic is often a synonym for cliche. If a guy takes a girl for a meal, candle lit, single rose on the table, then on to a nice bar (and I mean an actual bar, not just the nearest place that does cheap booze) for a drink and a dance, then walks her home. Well then he's probably loaded. But if you're imaginitive you can still be romantic. If you like your partner, all it takes is a little effort to say I Love You in a nice way. We're all too lazy these days, but make the effort, surprise that special someone, and you'll both be happier for it.
2
Dating is a bit of an enigma. No longer do we meet the oposite sex in pubs/bars we're all too scared to take the plunge unless we're drunk and in a club! Which ruins the dynamic completely, you can't go from full snogging to dating, and you really shouldn't go from a one night stand to dating. It sets the whole thing up in the wrong way (although this is exactly how I like to do it!)
Either that, or we're getting with our mates, no this works great, you know you get on and everything goes great till you break up. All of a sudden everything gets really fucking awkward for you, him/her and all your other mates. So my advice is, unless you're sure about it, don't fuck your mates!
So, the classic way is to get her number while your out, the go for coffee, if that's good, then a meal, then a goodnight kiss, the another meal, and 'back to mine for coffee' - these days it's a pull and a number, then 'wanna come over and watch a dvd' yeah, we all know what that means, I sure hope so, because I'm texting that to a girl sometime soon (how long do you leave it? 3 days minimum, what's the max!)
But this doesn't lead to a healthy relationship, it leads to sex and intimacy issues, so if that's what you're after then go you, but if you want a real relationship that random you pulled the other night is not the one. My advice is to MEET PEOPLE! it's all you can do, your friends will have friends you don't know, so go with them sometime, meet your mates mates, becomes mates with them, then meet their mates. This increases your circle and number of possible partners hugely, and without ever having to do it the real man way and actually talk to a stranger. So that's for the wusses, and for the guys with balls, go to a pub and introduce yourself to a table of people, most of the time they'll be lovely people and you'll have a great time talking to them, and you never know who you might meet!
Keep an open mind, have confidence in yourself and you'll find someone soon (I don't know where this went from dating dynamics to dating advice, but hell, it can't hurt can it! (oh and I don't think I'm an expert, I'm just bad at staying on topic!))
3 - Finally!
Relationships are hard, I should know, I've been in 3 in the last 8 months! So of mine start with the sex. With no intention to go further, but the sex leads to more sex which leads to a relationship, fine. Once in the relationship, we spend a fair amount of time together, maybe 3/4 nights a week. This time is spent playing games or watching films, and occasional nights out. Perhaps this is too much time together not doing much, which is why the relationships don't last more than a few months. So, my friends relationships... Living apart from each other means they only see each other one weekend in two, usually with both nights spent out, once to a club, once just the pub. And perhaps this is the way it should be, they've been together a long time and seem to have no problems. Other friends are living with their partners, but when they're both working full time, this seems like a good arangement, evenings are spent relaxing together, and weekends are for fun things.
You know what, just do whatever works! I don't know what the secret is, but there's been times when I wish I could just snap my fingers and make it work.
Right now - I'm happily single, so if that's your thing let me know ;)
15/02/2009
rhythm section for hire
Myself and a very good friend are now whoring ourselves out as a rhythm section.
He plays awesome drums, and I play awesome bass. You can hear examples of what we play on the right of this post :) We'll hopefully have some new stuff soon as well.
While we love punk hardcore emo ska metal and alternative mostly, we're happy to play anything, if the price is right :)
so if you need a profssional rhythm section for anything, give me an email and we'll sort something out. We learn fast and play with our all.
He plays awesome drums, and I play awesome bass. You can hear examples of what we play on the right of this post :) We'll hopefully have some new stuff soon as well.
While we love punk hardcore emo ska metal and alternative mostly, we're happy to play anything, if the price is right :)
so if you need a profssional rhythm section for anything, give me an email and we'll sort something out. We learn fast and play with our all.
This is fucking my chances for a job with the IFPI
THIS IS FUCKING RETARDED!
I really like the band that posted this image on their myspace but if they honestly think that supporting the frankly idiotic music industry is a good thing then they as bad as fatcats that have ass raped good music for the last 20 years. Only a music industry based around such greed could ever lead to a pop-culture based around pop-idol. I am ashamed to live in a country where two of the greatest selling artists of the previous year are contestants on a show where talent is made a laughing stock.
DO NOT BUY MUSIC. YOU'RE ONLY ENCOURAGING THEM.
as NOFX put
"It's my job to keep Punk-Rock elite
this music ain't your fucking industry"
Support bands by going to see them, I don't know a band that would rather you bought their album than saw them live. Hell, if you like 'em enough, buy the album FROM THEM! The big record labels have bastardised our society enough already. Support underground bands, support Indie labels. DESTROY THE INDUSTRY!
27/01/2009
I HAVE TICKETS!
There's a lot of you I love out there, but I only really love the ones that come to my gigs :P
GIG TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
HEADLINE SHOW @ Bar Academy 13th Feb - £4
Supporting FEI COMODO @ Barfly 2nd March - £6
FREE EP when you buy ANY ticket from us!
FREE EARLY DEMOs + SIGNED CD when you buy BOTH tickets ;)
Message us via here, or terra@allucinere.com, or 07871174581
GIG TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
HEADLINE SHOW @ Bar Academy 13th Feb - £4
Supporting FEI COMODO @ Barfly 2nd March - £6
FREE EP when you buy ANY ticket from us!
FREE EARLY DEMOs + SIGNED CD when you buy BOTH tickets ;)
Message us via here, or terra@allucinere.com, or 07871174581
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