Time to Kiel

suss · In the Long Grass

Time to Kiel

noelindublin · Loudmouth

A German art gallery is in the German language a Kunstmuseum and sometimes they can be suddenly inundated with boozly British tourists thinking the are in the local RLD.

The Nederlands is really great for speaking English, but Germany and France much less so, in my experience.

Rats in Butlins? Hopefully in the spring and summer they can line up some more credible vunue's as on the surface it sounds a bit sad and I'm not sure if a lot of fans would turn up at such a venue to see a once great band reduced to this. Maybe this is controversal but surely they have a bit more credibility and someone needs to say this.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Rats in Butlins? Hopefully in the spring and summer they can line up some more credible vunue's as on the surface it sounds a bit sad and I'm not sure if a lot of fans would turn up at such a venue to see a once great band reduced to this. Maybe this is controversal but surely they have a bit more credibility and someone needs to say this.

I don't think it is controversial.

When the new Rats started they played the 100 Club and the Empress Ballroom and my hope was that they would build an audience from festival appearances and maybe one day play larger venues again. Now it's the Bognor 70s weekend.

However, in order to keep playing they probably have to take these less than credible gigs, and who knows they may get bigger audiences because of it.

The Rats seem to be falling between the two stools of a reunion and a tribute band. IMHO they are the former rather than the latter, but are increasingly becoming associated with the tribute bands. Sans Geldof, that is probably how most people see them.

Right now, I'm glad there is a band called The Boomtown Rats playing gigs around the UK, and losing a bit of credibility (if they have any in some people's eyes) doesn't seem too high a price to pay for that. I'll still go and see them. Though maybe not at Butlins.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

noelindublin wrote:
A German art gallery is in the German language a Kunstmuseum and sometimes they can be suddenly inundated with boozly British tourists thinking the are in the local RLD.
The Nederlands is really great for speaking English, but Germany and France much less so, in my experience.
Rats in Butlins? Hopefully in the spring and summer they can line up some more credible vunue's as on the surface it sounds a bit sad and I'm not sure if a lot of fans would turn up at such a venue to see a once great band reduced to this. Maybe this is controversal but surely they have a bit more credibility and someone needs to say this.

Rats in Butlins? Just as well there wasn't a band called the ****roaches playing too - environmental health services would have been kept busy!

biggrin

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Lisa wrote:
Rats in Butlins? Just as well there wasn't a band called the ****roaches playing too - environmental health services would have been kept busy!

Maybe I should have put kochroaches to keep the German flavour. Hate it when it bleeps stuff out!

BTW cheese is kase, no is kein or keine and one way ticket is, wait for it, einfache Fahrkarte!! Best to say that when you've not had too many biers unless you want to get punched

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
noelindublin wrote:
Rats in Butlins? Hopefully in the spring and summer they can line up some more credible vunue's as on the surface it sounds a bit sad and I'm not sure if a lot of fans would turn up at such a venue to see a once great band reduced to this. Maybe this is controversal but surely they have a bit more credibility and someone needs to say this.
I don't think it is controversial.
When the new Rats started they played the 100 Club and the Empress Ballroom and my hope was that they would build an audience from festival appearances and maybe one day play larger venues again. Now it's the Bognor 70s weekend.
However, in order to keep playing they probably have to take these less than credible gigs, and who knows they may get bigger audiences because of it.
The Rats seem to be falling between the two stools of a reunion and a tribute band. IMHO they are the former rather than the latter, but are increasingly becoming associated with the tribute bands. Sans Geldof, that is probably how most people see them.
Right now, I'm glad there is a band called The Boomtown Rats playing gigs around the UK, and losing a bit of credibility (if they have any in some people's eyes) doesn't seem too high a price to pay for that. I'll still go and see them. Though maybe not at Butlins.

A lot of the festivals the played during the summer were quite good so I've no real problem of that score. I'd imagine most of the audience at Butlins were going for a fancy dress seventies night and were not too particular about who they saw. Equally any proper music fan might expect a bit more and would most likely stay away and be put off going to see them when they play a more 'normal ' venue where people actually respect the band rather than going for a boozy laugh and a bit of dressing up.

The Swindon date in January seems more of the same. Ex members of T Rex doing the time warp again.

My main point is that there can be credible, well though out 'punk' nostalgia nights, but things like good proper rock venues, and interesting, worthy billing help to make the whole thing something that a music fan might want to go to see, rather than a jokey night out at a holiday camp for people that know little about music.

But I suppose in the end its all about the money, as the song goes.

-- Edited by noelindublin on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 03:18:58 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
My main point is that there can be credible, well though out 'punk' nostalgia nights, but things like good proper rock venues, and interesting, worthy billing help to make the whole thing something that a music fan might want to go to see, rather than a jokey night out at a holiday camp for people that know little about music.

Rebellion in Blackpool fits that bill staged at the Empress Ballroom. The Damned headlined a Rebellion night before Christmas 2008 at the Kentish Town Forum.

I reckon a new wave festival/night would be easy to sell tickets for. In the last month or so Simple Minds and Paul Weller have annouced dates at the Roundhouse and sold out.

Given The Blockheads, Eddie & The Hot Rods and The Rats are in the RAM stable along with From The Jam, RAM nights at decent venues around the country should sell well and give extra exposure to each of the acts. I'll leave that to Pete Barton smile . Shades of falling asunder.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 04:52:33 PM

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Nobody wants the Rats to turn into a parody that would play anywhere and on any line up, but the gig Suss described in Belgium seemed to be headlined by some heavy rock, leader trousered Flemish act that he wrote about with wry amusement.

Even Eddie and the Hot Rods are known for being a bit of a novelty band with one hit. Maybe Geldof has moved ahead in the credibility stakes, actually writing new songs and releasing an album and playing largely music he is doing now, or in the last ten years and not in holiday camps!

Don't get me wrong. I realise that the new Rats have to make money, so does everyone, and I don't mean to be too critical. Most of the time they get it right so maybe the odd lapse if forgivable, and none of my business!

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Lisa wrote:
Lisa wrote:
Rats in Butlins? Just as well there wasn't a band called the ****roaches playing too - environmental health services would have been kept busy!
Maybe I should have put kochroaches to keep the German flavour. Hate it when it bleeps stuff out!
BTW cheese is kase, no is kein or keine and one way ticket is, wait for it, einfache Fahrkarte!! Best to say that when you've not had too many biers unless you want to get punched

Years ago I started learning Dutch just as a hobby, and now I have a reasobably grasp of the language. Dutch is a lot like German, but I do not know any German but can sort of make out what is being said when I compare it to Dutch. I am far from fluent, but I enjoy learning Dutch words and phrases.

Kaas is the Dutch word for cheese. Lots of Dutch words are similar to English.

Spanish and Italian and French seem easier than German and Dutch. There are so many words borrowed from different languages, that the more languages you know the easier it gets to learn a new one.

It is amusing when one word is one language has a naughy meaning in another like the German word for art, kunst. Are Einfacht Fahrkararte in the Champions League this year?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Maybe Geldof has moved ahead in the credibility stakes, actually writing new songs and releasing an album and playing largely music he is doing now, or in the last ten years and not in holiday camps!
Don't get me wrong. I realise that the new Rats have to make money, so does everyone, and I don't mean to be too critical. Most of the time they get it right so maybe the odd lapse is forgivable, and none of my business!

I think that Geldof has restored some credibility in recent months by getting some positive reviews and not cancelling gigs (Scandanavia excepted). Making new records helps and his current set list sensibly draws on the better songs off the last two albums along with some Rats classics.

With The Rats it is very different. I don't suppose they are affluent enough to bankroll a tour, I'm pretty sure Geldof doesn't make money with music, and are dependant on who books them.

Sadly the fanbase of both isn't really big enough for them to be too picky. I don't suppose Geldof ever thought he'd end up playing at the Whitley Bay Playhouse.

suss · In the Long Grass

ArrGee wrote:
noelindublin wrote:
My main point is that there can be credible, well though out 'punk' nostalgia nights, but things like good proper rock venues, and interesting, worthy billing help to make the whole thing something that a music fan might want to go to see, rather than a jokey night out at a holiday camp for people that know little about music.
Rebellion in Blackpool fits that bill staged at the Empress Ballroom. The Damned headlined a Rebellion night before Christmas 2008 at the Kentish Town Forum.
I reckon a new wave festival/night would be easy to sell tickets for. In the last month or so Simple Minds and Paul Weller have annouced dates at the Roundhouse and sold out.
Given The Blockheads, Eddie & The Hot Rods and The Rats are in the RAM stable along with From The Jam, RAM nights at decent venues around the country should sell well and give extra exposure to each of the acts. I'll leave that to Pete Barton . Shades of falling asunder.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Wednesday 7th of December 2011 04:52:33 PM

Tend to agree with Noel that there's a stigma about playing the likes of Butlin's, but surely that's just us being a bit prejudiced or snobby in perception of "cool" venues. My recent experiences of Brean and Bognor have largely overturned my thoughts along similar lines, and the sound in both (maybe coincidentally) was excellent.

The downside for me is that a small percentage of crowd if any are there because Rats are billed, but I'd sooner have 700 pleasanty surprised and spreading the word than 70 die hards in an uber cool venue with big gaps on the floor.

I'm pretty sure the festivals are where the band make more money.

As for RAM stable selling in one place, it's sort of already organised for next April - http://www.bigweekends.com/your-break/81826

The band are in Porth (near Cardiff) the night before their slot, so a ready made opportunity to compare cool venue with holiday camp and reach your own conclusions.

So, anyone up for a weekend in Butlins, Minehead??? biggrin

If there's enough of us I'll gladly look into a minibus for a night pass out to Porth on the Saturday.

suss · In the Long Grass

Alternatively, for anyone a bit further north and a week later

http://www.bigstooshie.com/line-up.html

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
The downside for me is that a small percentage of crowd if any are there because Rats are billed, but I'd sooner have 700 pleasanty surprised and spreading the word than 70 die hards in an uber cool venue with big gaps on the floor.
I'm pretty sure the festivals are where the band make more money.
As for RAM stable selling in one place, it's sort of already organised for next April - http://www.bigweekends.com/your-break/81826
So, anyone up for a weekend in Butlins, Minehead???

70 die hards? I reckon there are only 7 smile . Yes, festivals are the best way to make money and reach an audience. I'm sure The Horrors sales went up after supporting Pulp @ Wireless.

I like the idea of a weekend (Wilko Johnson! The Damned! wow!) but it's going to be a difficult sell. If it was somewhere like Bath or Cambridge then it'd be easy, but Minehead or Fife, mmm.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Time was the enemy, we had to Kiel it dead (groan)

BTR · Tonight

Lots of big names play at Minehead etc. The capacity is 5,000.

http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/peter-andre.aspx

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

BTR wrote:
Lots of big names play at Minehead etc. The capacity is 5,000.

http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/peter-andre.aspx

Peter Andre disbelief I pity the fools.

BTR · Tonight

ArrGee wrote:
BTR wrote:
Lots of big names play at Minehead etc. The capacity is 5,000.

http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/peter-andre.aspx

Peter Andre I pity the fools.

Sure, but 5,000 tickets at £119 = £595,000

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

BTR wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
BTR wrote:
Lots of big names play at Minehead etc. The capacity is 5,000.

http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/peter-andre.aspx

Peter Andre I pity the fools.
Sure, but 5,000 tickets at £119 = £595,000

Not sure he gets that much, the £120 is for the accommodation etc. Also assumes that 5,000 fools do exist.

BTR · Tonight

ArrGee wrote:
BTR wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
BTR wrote:
Lots of big names play at Minehead etc. The capacity is 5,000.

http://www.bigweekends.com/splash-pages/peter-andre.aspx

Peter Andre I pity the fools.
Sure, but 5,000 tickets at £119 = £595,000
Not sure he gets that much, the £120 is for the accommodation etc. Also assumes that 5,000 fools do exist.

No he won't get 595k, but PA has been selling thousands of tickets per gig at £30 per ticket.

The holiday camps are becoming very popular for gigs in the winter. People stay for the night or weekend and don't have to worry about getting home on the night of the gig.

The ATP events have a cool image:

http://www.atpfestival.com/events/nightmare2011/lineup.php

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

BTR wrote:
No he won't get 595k, but PA has been selling thousands of tickets per gig at £30 per ticket.
The holiday camps are becoming very popular for gigs in the winter. People stay for the night or weekend and don't have to worry about getting home on the night of the gig.
The ATP events have a cool image:
http://www.atpfestival.com/events/nightmare2011/lineup.php

The Alternate Festival has a very good line up, but I just can't see how I could convince my other half to go (or even let me go!)