#Cheap Disco Liverpool

[no-disco]

Sounds, 31st January 1981. Photo by Paul Slattery.

Transcription under the cut.

Photo and transcription retrieved from sacreddm.net on the wayback machine

Dispel  from your minds the untenable notion that Futurists are either bored Mummy’s  boys tinkering with expensive gadgets or desperately earnest avant-garde  merchants trying to preach the gospel according to Kafka: the current  resurgence, or (in fact) emergence of electronic-based bands is at a truly  grass-roots level – an increasing number of fresh-faced young men (and  women) are taking to synthesisers and drum machines for their amusement rather  than cheap guitars to create cut-price, instant tunes.

 As  the great Gal Numan himself said: “You can use just one finger and still  produce the most amazing sounds!” Such a sage. After all, the capital outlay  of one or maybe two synths plus a rhythm box compares rather favourably with  paying four or five dodgy musicians when you can get away with less with  reliable hardware. You know it makes sense for a good start in music life!

Some  new futurist boys favour walls of noise, some boys favour experimentalism.  Some boys like electronic pop and others electro-disco.

The  very young, tender and fresh-as-a-mountain-stream Depeche Mode favour our  third category.

Natives  of Basildon, Vince Clarke (synth), Martin Gore (another synth), Andy Fletcher  (yet another (bass) synth) and David Gahan (vocals and electronic percussion)  used to play guitars but gradually shed them in favour of more modern toys.

Six  months ago they ventured into Croc’s Glamour Club Rayleigh to find  themselves resident on the Electronic Saturday Night, followed by brief  showings at the mightiest of oi-some venues, the Bridgehouse.

 Twas  in that dark, unromantic setting that their fairytale rise commences;  synth-svengali Daniel (The Normal) Miller spotted les Modes, took an instant  and profound liking to their brand of melodic electro-pop and decided to whisk  them away to do a single on Mute Records, the result of which is “Dreaming  Of Me / Ice Machine”, which will be out on February 20.

Just  the right time, methinks, to attack our touch-sensitive ears with their brand  of sweet, simple, precise rhythm and lightweight synthetic pop, which, with  the luck of the gods, will launch a full-frontal campaign on the complacent  legions of Orchestral Manoeuvres kiddies who know a good hookline when they  hear one.

But  before this solo effort comes their contribution to the long-awaited Stevo-inspired  compilation of ‘futurist’ bands, ‘Some Bizzare Album’, out at the end  of this month, plus appearances on the accompanying tour of ‘Bizzare  Evenings’. Busy, buzzing boys.

Depeche  Mode are so fragile and new that this was their first press-ganging, which  resulted in a bit of an impasse. Those words which were imparted were precious  few, just innocent observations on their still embryonic state. Without  wishing to sound condescending – out of the mouths of babes comes forth  truth. But it’s great: four young men making simple, commercial music about  which they have absolutely no pretentions. Refreshing as a glass of Andrews.

Perched  nervously round a creperie table, they responded blushingly and politely to my  thrusting questions. I ventured, foolishly, that a fair description of their  music would involve comparing them to Orch Man, but with lashings more melody.

David,  the trendiest, best coiffed Mode, denied any such connection: “We wouldn’t  like to be categorised with them or associated with them at all.”

This  may have something to do with the fact that OMD started life as a nauseously  trendy Liverpool band along with such luminaries as the Bunnymen and only  reached their hit potential later on.

DP reckon to be fairly confident of their instant commercial viability and would be extremely happy to see themselves in the charts and on TOTP tomorrow.

“Yes, please!” they chirped in chorus.

Because of this shameless advocation of hit singles, they also refuted any association with the Sounds-spawned Futurist scene.

David: “I don’t like that scene at all. All the bands involved with it are in one bunch together and they’ll never escape from it. Soft Cell are about the only ones with a good chance. I don’t like to bitch, but Naked Lunch have been going for years… We write pop music, electric pop, so we couldn’t get tagged by appearing on that album. Once people hear the single, they’ll change their minds!”

And that, punters, is hopefully what you’ll think too. It’s the right place, right time for new blood in the charts, a prospect which seemed unlikely mere months ago, but pioneers like the Spands have made it easier for on-coming bands. Popular electronic music so far hasn’t used synthesisers too intelligently (thanks to Numan) or lightheartedly; DP don’t depress, they uplift – something you up there, North of Watford will be able to sample at the start of next month.

Watch out for their four gigs at the most style-conscious clubs in Leeds, Preston, Liverpool and Manchester. But don’t think that just because you don’t sport a fine quiff and startling technicolour threads that you’ll feel like a cat amongst pigeons at a DP show; they attract Blitz-like characters but don’t wish to be cliqueish and welcome all peace-loving gig-goers.

The Modes generally concur that they have just as good an opportunity to achieve their aims on Mute Records as they do signing to any large conglomerate record label you care to mention.

Vince: “We’ve got a better chance on Mute. Daniel’s been good to us and we like the way he operates. We listened to a few other companies seeing what they had to offer but we decided to stick with him. He had a big success with the Silicon Teens, and we’ve got that same sort of lightweight feeling to us. Daniel’s got a good nose for things like that. He’s an underestimated man.”

“Filming and screening / I picture the scene / Filming and dreaming / Dreaming of me” (‘Dreaming Of Me’). A flirtation with romanticism, of seeing yourself up there on the screen. It may happen for DP sooner than they think; the time for diversification is ripe after the Numan plateau and with the likes of Visage and Ultravox surging into the Top 30. It’s early days for Depeche now, but they may come across criticism for using drum machines instead of a real live drummer.

David disagreed: “I don’t think it’ll happen now. The tapes we’ve got now sound like real drums anyway. I know Orchestral Manoeuvres were put down for using a drum machine on stage but the worst thing they ever did was to get a drummer. It was really bad after that. We don’t need one anyway – it’s just another person to pay!” [1]

Seems like eminent business sense to me. The live version of Depeche Mode should prove interesting, due to the total reverse of normal stage practices: one vocalist, plus three others all playing keyboard synthesisers.

The band may remain static, but they believe in entertainment and encouragement of dancing. The gyrating stops at pop, though, as DP are certainly not thinking of branching into funk (the next big thing!). Vince claims they simply don’t understand it!

Apart from the great Stevo tour, Depeche Mode are forging their way into more fashion-conscious realms when they take to the stage of the Rainbow on February 14th for Steve Strange and Rusty Egan’s People’s Palace St Valentine’s Ball (phew!), along with their favourite new burlesque dance troupe Shock and the hitherto untrendy Metro.

For a future that’s bound to be exciting, stylish, fun and constantly changing, Depeche Mode have their place in the scheme of things; the charts may well prove to be their oyster. Ain’t it a shame, for a band who are no strangers to the charms of the tape recorder, to clam up when facing one in a different scenario… Maybe once they see the world outside Basildon they’ll give away their trade secrets.

Until then Depeche Mode are content to remain something of an enigma…

[awesomebrandblog-blog]

[abusinessstuff]

[talesofgrace]

I’m on the flight home from Ibiza to Liverpool and this flight couldn’t be any more opposite to the one going. Everyone is pretty much done in and I must admit I’m no different. I’ve just spend a week in Ibiza the difference for me this this time is that I traveled as a solo traveler, not knowing anyone and with no real plan only thing I wanted to do was see Camelphat at Hii (they didn’t disappoint but we’ll get to that on another post).

I know Ive harped on about this before but as fun as being single is its hard sometimes when you want to do stuff and there’s no-one to do it with, be it gigs, walks or holidays. Ibiza is always somewhere I’ve wanted to go but no-one else has really wanted to go there. over the past few years I’ve muted the idea that I’d go on my own but I checked out and people laughed at me. last year was the first year I’ve been and it didn’t disappoint I was able to go with my sister and cousin and we had a ball. This year we planned to do the same again but one thing or another cropped up, life got in the way and no-one else was able to come. So after years of talking about going on my own I decided just to take the plunge.

This little post is about the general trip and little tips I picked up from people and what’s on offer for solo travellers. Im going to write one about the places we went separately, mainly for my memory so I don’t forget what went on!

Now Ibiza isn’t somewhere i though that people head by themselves unlike places like mainland Europe, Thailand backpacking or Australia but let me tell you I couldn’t of been more wrong. Soooooo very wrong!!! Yes there are huge groups of people on lads lads lads holidays, hen doos, stags doos and little groups of  people with their mates but I found there was equally as many people on their own too. To make sure I was stalked at sorry safe at every step of the way my beautiful little friends added me on find a friend. My mum as sister all ready stalk sorry I mean have me on there (I often forget this and my mum will ring asking how the motorway traffic is and ill be super confused but she’ll inform me that she checked the app before ringing.)

After a little bit of googling I managed to find a Facebook group of people that were heading out on their own and I also joined a few workers groups on Facebook too to see about cheap places to stay and things to do that wasn’t just clubbing (I know, I know what can I say Im cultured too). This started to give me a little bit of confidence that I wasn’t a total loon doing this and it was something people did.

I was torn about where to stay. I couldn’t find any hotel rooms for just 1 person and any that I could were so expensive and I really didn’t have the money for it. I ended up finding a hostel in San Antonio called Amistat. I’ve only ever stayed in a hostel once and that was with 5 other mates so it wasn’t bad but this was a week with 5 other strangers. However after a few reads of reviews and chatting to people on the FB I decided to book it. There are different rooms you can have a 10 bed mixed dorm for £12.65 a night, single sex female dorm with ensuite for £21 a night. They also do private rooms for 2 people that are ensuites for £75 a night. I opted for a female dorm facing the pool with breakfast included (although I only made it out of bed once for breakfast) I though “ah fuck it” (that phrase came up a few times this week). On reflection I wouldn’t get the breakfast again and save myself €6 a day and just use the lovely cafe called Cafe Hunza that’s opposite instead. The only thing I wasn’t sold on was the green pool. The colour was just a little uninviting. They did have a schedule things that the hostel were organising however we didn’t go on any of those and due to the shite weather that was forecast (bloody rain in Ibiza) a lot of stuff was cancelled in advance. 

view from balcony

green pool….

Speaking of weather in Ibiza. One thing I did learn was that never trust the weather report. It changes literally by the second. At one point I was looking at the weather and it was saying it was raining for the next 6 hours however I was outside and I could see the moon. Not a cloud in the sky. But when it rained. It really rained. Thunder lightning and flooding in the streets. But even when it rains on Ibiza it’s still better than a night back home. I’m from up north, weather doesn’t stop us going out. We just adapt. 

So back to the Facebook group. Someone on there had created a WhatsApp group for everyone that was going and I got added to that. I’d never felt as popular in my life my phone was pinging constantly. From that a few people who were there the same dates as me set up another WhatsApp group and started to plan our week about what wanted to see what where. While this was happening I made a friend on the internet (don’t worry she was an actual real person) who was staying in the same hostel and coming out and leaving on the same day! Winner winner chicken dinner. And it turns out she was bloody lovely and such a good laugh too. [Hayley you helped to make a awesome week even more awesome.] we also made another friend off the internet who was over 30 too Andy. And just like that we became the Brit’s abroad. 

Up cropped another WhatsApp group for guest list entries which gave you a heads up as to where you could get in for a little cheaper.  This came in very handy indeed!!

As I was trying to save as much money as possible I used the buses wherever I could or shared a taxi with other people. The buses are actually really good and run all through the night. The bus station was super close to the hostel (10 min walk) and the disco bus took you to pretty much all the places you wanted to go and also took you home. It for a bit crowded at times and it was a bit sweaty but the tunes and atmosphere on it was pretty much the same as this flight – bouncing on the way out and everyone passed out on the way home. 

I think I actually lucked out a bit with the hostel because it was only full on the first day and the last day too. For the rest of it there was only me and Linda in there which was pretty good! 

Depending where you eat over there will depend on how much you spend. Cafe Mambo actually in the day time is quite reasonable for very good portions but if you found little local cafes you could get a coffee for €1.60 and a breakfast for €5. The other thing we were doing to save money was getting food from the supermarket and storing it in the kitchen of the hostel. The only issue with that was it’s not open all the time. The first night on our way home we went in search of a kebab place and took a wrong turn and stumble upon a late night supermarket we ended up getting mini cheddar and a soggy baguette. I didn’t actually eat it I passed out and woke up cradling it with one bite missing from it!!

We pre drank every day and when the drinks are €20 each it’s pretty much the only way. Some places do drinks packages which do work out ok and once or twice we split this between 2 because there was no way we were drinking 6 drinks in on sitting when we had to make sure we got to the next place on the agenda.  

The hostel check out was 11am and my flight home wasn’t until 2040 so I made use of the lockers and went for a wander. I got the bus to Ibiza town and went for an explore and then hopped on a bus to Playa d’en Bossa for another mooch. I found a place that I could store my case and bag in and they also did showers for a freshen up. I was as happy as a pig in shite about that bit cause I was bloody roasting and needed to cool down before heading to the airport. That cost €26 and Linda told me what she did last time was had an early flight and her mates were in Ushuaïa so instead of checking in and heading back she went there dumped the bags had a shower and went out. Turns out this is pretty standard. Again also very ducking handy it’s cheaper and quicker than paying for a taxi back and too. 

So the cost overall was

£65 for flights 

£151 for accommodation 

I used £900 for spends which when you say it sounds a lot however an entry to a club ranges from €20-€60 depending where you go and we went to and we went to 9 different places in total that we had to pay on the door for which is about €300 just for getting into places. 

I can honestly stay I’ve had the best time ever. And this has spurred me on more to do more things on my own. I’m already thinking about where I can go next for a little weekend away. It’ll be the place with the cheapest flight and a few hostels. I’m not letting being on my own stop me from doing anything again. 

I actually have a ticket for The Amsterdam Music Festival in October but due to a lack of funds I highly doubt I’ll be going unfortunately. That will have to wait until next year I think. Unless I come into some money between now and then….Ill just have my own little rave instead

Ibiza solo style I’m on the flight home from Ibiza to Liverpool and this flight couldn’t be any more opposite to the one going.

[rockzone]

Gig Guide: 12 - 18 Dec 2018

Wednesday, December 12, Def Leppard at Manchester Arena. One of the most important bands in rock music with over 65 million albums sold worldwide. Support from Cheap Trick, classic American FM rock band best known for the hit 'I Want You To Want Me'. Wednesday, December 12, Uriah Heep at O2 Ritz, Manchester. Loud and brash progressive heavy metal band. Thursday, December 13, Cast at O2 Ritz, Manchester. Formed in 1992 from the ashes of Liverpool guitar bands The La's and Shack. Friday, December 14, A Tribute To Manchester 2018 at Manchester Academy. The Clone Roses, Stone Roses tribute playing "Waterfall", "Made of Stone", and "I Am The Resurrection", Oasish, Europe's leading tribute to Oasis, The Smiths Ltd, the only Smiths Tribute Band from Manchester, and The Courtbetweeners, playing songs of Courteeners. Friday, December 14, Bury Tomorrow at O2 Ritz, Manchester.  Southcoast Metalcore quintet. Support from 36 Crazyfists, equal parts emo and metal. Saturday, December 15, The World Famous Elvis Show at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham. Chris Connor with his authentic look and voice. Saturday, December 15, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers at Manchester Arena.  American disco and R&B band founded in 1976. Support from MistaJam. Saturday, December 15, Björn Again at Manchester Academy. A rocked-up, light-hearted, satirical ABBA spoof founded in 1988 in Melbourne. Saturday, December 15, Proletariat at Night & Day Cafe, Manchester. Band who who successfully bridge the gap between the swagger of ‘70s punk and contemporary indie. Sunday, December 16, Razorlight at O2 Ritz, Manchester.  One of the key bands of the new millennia, selling 4 million albums, and winners of the 2005 NME New Band Award. Support from Airways, an indie rock band from Peterborough. Sunday, December 16, Lily Allen at Albert Hall, Manchester. London girl who kick-started her career on social networking site myspace. Tuesday, December 18, Wolf Alice at O2 Victoria Warehouse Manchester. North London band, described as ‘the lovechild of folk and grunge’.

* To avoid disappointment, you are advised to check with the venue before travelling to any of the Gigs mentioned above.

* Alan Ovington’s Rock Zone can be heard on Tuesdays at 9pm on 103.6 Tameside Radio and on-line at tamesideradio.com

[betterbouncebouncycastle]

Adult Bouncy Castle Hire

Time to break the myth! Adults can use bouncy castles and here at Better Bounce we are proud to offer adult bouncy castles for hire in Liverpool. The weather is improving now that we are away from ‘ The Beast From The East ‘.

Kids have way to much fun and us adults deserve some joy too. Our adult bouncy castles are sure to be a centrepiece of any sort of party you are hosting.

Party Time Bouncy Castle

This is just your normal bouncy castle, simple can be the best for many people, to hire this bouncy castle you will need at least 15 x 18 space. This castle is sure to create some laughs when big Dave falls over.

Pacha Disco Dome

Now we get more serious. This is called the Pacha Disco Dome and its packed with guaranteed fun! If you’ve ever been to Ibiza we are sure you would’ve heard of Pacha. With Better Bounce you can bring Ibiza to your home.

Inside this dome is where the magic happens, equipped with disco lights and bluetooth speakers so you can play whatever songs you want at any time. And as mentioned earlier we offer cheap bouncy castle hire, you could hire this bouncy castle for only £59.

Inflatable Nightclubs

Yes, that’s right, we have more than one inflatable nightclub so you’re not forced to choose just one. Although we believe you can never be told old for a night out but you might think this, you could bring the night out to your home, without the fuss of bad songs in the club and being surrounded by teens. Sing and dance all night long with this amazing inflatable nightclub!

With this VIP inflatable nightclub, guests can be welcomed by a red carpet, inside this bouncy castle includes:

Bluetooth music speakers

Groovy disco lights

Seating, for when you need to chill out for a minute

Tables also inside

Hire an Adult Bouncy Castle In Liverpool NOW!

All of our bouncy castles are also suitable for children but these are designed specifically for adults who deserve to have fun.

Our adult castles are great fun at great prices and if you’d like to hire a bouncy castle today in Liverpool then give us a phone call today on 0151 329 2111.

[glenngaylord]

GRAHAME CRACKERS - My Review of FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL (2 1/2 Stars)

Couldn’t get enough of MY WEEK WITH MARILYN?  Fear not.  FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, directed by Paul McGuigan (LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN), written by Matt Greenhalgh (CONTROL) based on the memoir by Peter Turner, is the turgid melodrama you’ve been craving!  Starring Annette Bening as Academy Award winner Gloria Grahame and Jamie Bell as Turner, the film traces their unlikely year affair at the end of her life.  

Grahame, whose fame peaked in the 40s and 50s, won an Oscar for her record 9 minutes of screen time in 1952’s THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL in and also appeared in such films as IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, OKLAHOMA!, IN A LONELY PLACE and THE BIG HEAT.  She spoke in a breathy, Monroe-esque voice, conforming to the expected gender norms of the time, but, like Marilyn, she carried great sadness and a healthy dose of smarts.  By the late 70s, film roles were few and far between for her, with occasional roles on TV in RICH MAN, POOR MAN and KOJAK.  It was around this time that Gloria, now cash depleted, moved to London to appear in a play, and lived next to Turner, a working class actor, in a cheap theatrical boarding house.  

Initially friends, the two grew closer and closer, despite their nearly 30 year age difference.  Over the years, Grahame would find herself welcomed by Turner’s parents, played here by Kenneth Cranham and Bell’s BILLY ELLIOT co-star, Julie Walters in their Liverpool home.  Gloria and Peter’s time together would include stays in L.A. and New York City, where they would share love and intense arguments.  Despite their differences,  Grahame, who ignored a cancer diagnosis, returned to Liverpool in her final days to be with the family who meant so much to her.

The film seems to be about so many things.  How play-acting can be both a comfort and a road to ruin. The lies we tell ourselves and others to get through each day.  The way sexism and ageism creeps into relationships and can also crush a career.  How one can choose their true family.  All of this comes through in the film and it’s not without its merits.  First and foremost is the gorgeous look provided by cinematographer Urszula Pontikos (WEEKEND).  The film feels like it takes place in some technicolor fever dream inside Gloria’s mind with its heightened, glowing color schemes and classic, Old Hollywood sensibility.  Shot entirely in England, the beautiful rear projections, especially of L.A. beaches and New York streets, add to the sense of make believe at the core of its story.   Production Designer Eve Stewart (THE KING’S SPEECH) also creates wonderful, vivid spaces for the actors to inhabit.  

That Bening delivers another great turn comes as no surprise.  It feels like she’s been working towards this performance her entire career.  At the screening I attended, she said that Gloria Grahame inspired one her her earliest roles in THE GRIFTERS. It’s easy to understand how Bening could relate to Grahame.  Both delivered sexy, glamorous performances in their younger years and both have had to navigate careers decades later, where Hollywood STILL doesn’t know what to do with women of a certain age.  I hope, hope, hope that Bening wins an Oscar one day, because she’s a national treasure, but after losing twice to Hilary Swank and not even being nominated for her stellar performance in 20TH CENTURY WOMEN last year, it doesn’t look promising that this role will be the one to do it.  Please don’t stop trying, Annette.  You’re loved.  

The real revelation, however, is Bell.  Now 31, he has aged really well and carries so much emotion and gravity in his face.  A disco dancing scene between him and Bening early on shows a dynamism I haven’t seen from him before, and he has a wonderful, sweet chemistry with Bening.  With his palpable sadness, if they ever do a movie version of the musical, BLOOD BROTHERS, Bell would be ideal as the twins.  I also loved some of the music choices, including a lovely, old Elton John instrumental called “Song For Guy” and a fantastic new song called “You Shouldn’t Look At Me That Way” written for the film by Elvis Costello.  If this film gets any Academy love, it could go towards that song.  

Unfortunately, it’s a dull film filled with a plethora of awkward silences and pauses. It’s also a shame that the main characters’ bisexuality gets a passing mention, never to be spoken of again.  As a chronicle of a woman struggling in an industry and in a world where older woman get thrown to the trash heap, I liked its central premise.  It also has a cinematic way of presenting the juggled timelines, and in one sequence, the point of view shifts so show you the heartbreaking choices Gloria made in order to save another soul from a life of regret.  Still, it’s an obvious, soap opera moment, further underlining that this film just isn’t that special.  It’s lovely, wonderfully performed, and has something interesting to say about gender, but in the end, it’s a somewhat listless, three-hankie weepie that we’ve all seen before.  

[betterbouncebouncycastle]

Host Memorable Parties With a Slide on your Bouncy Castle

When hosting a party involving your garden or maybe even a field, you’re objective is to create a party so guests will have hopefully a great time. A bouncy slide on a bouncy castle for kids + adult parties is sure to be a great impression for any visiting guests. The days of just bouncy castles are coming to an end because bouncy castles with a slide are taking over!

Bouncy Slide Castle Hire in Liverpool Choosing the right bouncy castle for your party can take a little bit of time, trying to find out the size you need for your garden with also a design suitable and most importantly safe to use. At Better bounce we love being able to offer a large range of different bouncy castles to hire, a bouncy slide is one of our favourites.

Our castles come with the following:

A large variety of designs you can personally choose from, to ensure you have the appropriate design for your party

Option to have a slide attached

The highest quality bouncy castles in Liverpool combined with the cheapest prices. What’s not to love.

Add a brand new disco slide to really set the party mood.

Hire a cheap bouncy slide from us today!

We want you to have a party to remember, with amazing prices. So you won’t be hosting a party in anger about being ripped off, because at Better Bounce we offer the best prices in Liverpool. Our hire price starts at an amazing £40. Check out our bouncy castles with slides to hire now! Feel free to call a member of our team at 0151 329 2111.