Purpose Built Venue? It's Madness

I went to see Madness at the Oasis on Monday. You might not be bothered, but I was. I was in the crowd, jiving along with multiple hits, when I noticed a photographer from the Swindon Advertiser. Obviously, I knew a review would appear, but now I knew for certain.

The next morning, I feverishly tore through a copy of the Adver until I found it. I read through it and, to be brutally honest, I was disappointed. It started off as a concert review, but halfway through it shifted focus. From a live review, the story went on to cover the long standing debate about Swindon having it's own purpose-built music venue.

I'm sorry, but if I wanted to know about the debate, I'd read a story covering just the debate, but to bring it up in a music review? How annoying must it have been if you wanted to go to the concert but was unable to, and you opened up the paper to find a review/debate hybrid.

I don't even understand why people are so bothered about it. The Oasis is a damn fine venue that pulls in big names. Lily Allen, Dizzee Rascal, Alice Cooper. All well known, I think you'll agree. Were they bothered about playing in a leisure centre? I don't think so. I mean, what is the point in spending loads of taxpayers money to replace something that's already proving to be successful? Performers are drawn to the Oasis because it's not as big as arenas, but not as small as pubs and clubs, which, they argue, gives it brilliant acoustics.

Moving away from the Oasis, we have smaller, more intimate venues, such as The Furnace and 12 Bar. Granted, it's mostly tribute acts that play, but Zebrahead have played The Furnace many a time. And they keep coming back. A couple of bands that have previously played at 12 Bar in Swindon have said how much they enjoyed it, and how good it was. Snuffs the argument, doesn't it?

I suppose I should look at the other side of the argument. People have said that the Oasis is too cramped, not well ventilated, there is only one way out (which can involve fighting through the boisterous crowd) and it smells. Well surely some of these arguments can be applied to any venue? Depending on the act and where you stand, of course it's going to be cramped: fans want to get close to their favourite band. Along with the multiple bodies packed close together, all bouncing to their favourite tunes, you're going to have the smell of sweat. Gruesome, yes, but a given at any concert.

Still, Madness enjoyed playing the show, and that counts for something, right?

Jeggings = Damn Near Nudity.

I do not consider myself a fashion expert for one minute. I do not know which colours clash, what style of shorts go best with a t-shirt, nor do I know what should be worn when. However, there is one current trend I simply cannot comprehend: Jeggings.

Jeggings are essentially leggings made to look like they’re jeans, hence the clever name. I do not understand the need to go out and buy a pair of denim tights when a pair of skinny jeans will suffice. Okay, so they may be pretty much the same, but at least with proper jeans, the wearer can keep at least some shred of dignity.

The problem we have with Jeggings is that, aside from the fact they look awful and have no practicality whatsoever (why make them look like they have pockets when they clearly don’t?), they seem to be encouraging young girls to walk out the house wearing next to nothing.

Of course, the blame can’t lay entirely on Jeggings, but have you seen any celebrity in the media wearing a skimpy t-shirt with nothing but a pair of black leggings? If the youth of today were truly passively influenced by the pictures of celebrities in glossy gossips, we’d have teens walking around in dresses with no knickers on.

I am somewhat aware that leggings themselves have been around for donkeys, but they were not worn in the way they are today. They were worn in the 80’s through to the mid 90’s with, largely, skirts and short dresses, occaisionally an oversized shirt, but right now, in 2009, girls are outside wearing normal sized, if not ill fitting, t-shirts. Not only is this dangerous (paedophilia, anyone?), people do not want to see this.

I remember the first time I came across someone in this ‘fashion’, and having a mix of feelings. At first I thought “Well, someone forgot to get dressed this morning.” And then being somewhat repulsed. I’m sorry, but if I wanted to see the general shape of a girls bottom, I would simply go out and buy a magazine.

Soon after, I couldn’t walk a mile without seeing a million girls dressed like this. And it seems to be spreading. One of my friends recently attended college looking like this, and I asked them “Why? Why didn’t you just put a skirt on over it?” Her reply? “Well everyone’s doing it.”

I suppose that’s the definition of a trend. Once the style of a minority is adopted by the majority, then it can be considered a trend but just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t make it right. If everyone thought it was cool to wear clothes made of tissue paper, would you conform? I know I bloody wouldn’t.

Ok, so maybe I’m being too extreme. Maybe I’m exaggerating to the point of disbelief, but my point is that people seem to have thrown their dignity in the trash in order to comply with general society. If that’s the kind of world we live in, I bid you farewell.

Young Guns review.

YOUNG GUNS
PLUS: DISCLOSURE, NONE THE LESS
12 BAR, SWINDON
23.07.09

You know what they say: never judge a book by its cover. When Disclosure clambers onto the stage, it would appear they are not your everyday rock band. Dressed in collared t-shirts and with short spiky hair, they look as if they should be behind decks, not drums. Despite this, they try their best to get the crowd moving, which is largely a wasted effort. Having the energy is one thing, but you have to couple it with variety; there was a distinct lack of the latter.
Hailing from Watford and describing their style as ‘metal n roll’, None The Less put on a good show, hammering out tunes that start to warm up the crowd. Mid-way through the second song of the set, the lead vocalist, Ant Giannaccini, leaves the stage and spends the rest of None The Less’ presence in the large space that’s directly in front of the stage. If that’s not trying to get involved with the crowd, I don’t know what is.
By the time High Wycombe quintet Young Guns have donned their instruments and noticeable absence of sleeves, the chasm of space between audience and performer has shrunk. From the off, Young Guns give it their all and smash out brilliant sounds, despite not many people not knowing many, if any, of the words.

As lead singer Gustav Wood is keen to point out, they were expecting no-one to turn up, so to be playing to the sizeable crowd that have attended is excellent. And they love every minute of it. When Gustav announces the next song is ‘Daughter of the Sea’, the band is met with roars and whoops of delight, to which he replies “Sounds like you might know this one. I wanna see you prove it to me.” The crowd responds in abundance, and sing along with every stomping chorus and epic verse.
At the end of the night, I’m surprised no-one is shouting for an encore but even so, this is one night neither the fans nor the band will forget for a long time.