Showing posts with label Northern Soul Venue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Northern Soul Venue. Show all posts

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

Links Galore

Nothing much happening in my Second Life its all kind of on hold due to the brutality of real life; but anyway there's also a lot of Northern Soul stuff going on in the real world. Great Radio 2 documentary plus a major film for next year check the links:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b0186ss5

http://northernsoulthefilm.com/

Also noted from the messages popping up in my e-mail box that Slate is playing almost non stop with lots of impromptu nights happening. hope everyone is having fun and a Merry Christmas to you all.

Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Albion's gone AWOL

 A month on and the blog is even quieter, anyway basically my mum is ill and that's consumed a lot of time, she's been transferred from home to the hospital down here as its the place where they do this kind of treatment. Shit hit the fan and things went from bad to worse, after a lot of heavy stuff things seem to be back on an even keel, bizarre considering the seriousness of her illness because of what had occurred we are all quite upbeat. Anyway, visiting has consumed most of my evenings or I'm just not in the mood to laugh so I've been absent from my local and favourite virtual club. Indeed I have only done this update to let the sods know I've not abandoned my virtual life, I look way too good for that, and am sad to be missing the fun and madness but hopefully should be able to gate crash the club soon. Its unlikely I'll be updating much but do hope to be inworld soon, need my fill of scouser madness, spanish sophistication, cockney bovver, etc etc.

ciao

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Whats going On...........

So its been very quiet on this blog, reasons too many and all to do with reality biting me on the @rse, creating a myriad of obligations that have not left me much time for frivolous frippery. I have been popping along to Soul Mods, helps me chill and get away from stuff; also listening to the cool documentaries as part of the Soul Week, check it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00przy5

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00gkz4w

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01300fj

Hopefully you can listen in, never sure if BBC links can be accessed outside of the UK but I'm sure you clever techy types know how to circumvent such issues. 

Anyway, back to my virtual life - its hit another hiatus whilst things this side of the screen get resolved; there have been a few really fun nights at Soul Mods with various people on deck its still the greatest place for virtual mods on the grid and if you have not been,,,why the feck not!

Pretty bland post this but hope you enjoy the links and hopefully once this immediate issue is resolved things can get back on track virtuality wise, keep the faith!

ciao

Sunday, 10 July 2011

More Virtual Magic

Admittedly it lacks a degree of Albionawesomeness but its my own fault for not getting my @rse into gear, and Seren did kindly give Albion a sequel all to himself.But this is the club I witter on about the most in this blog; and these are the wonderful people who populate our marvelous little mod metaverse with magnificent avatars full of good humour kindness and style. Roll film......


Its great isnt it!

Friday, 3 June 2011

Odd sods, us? Surely not!

Shauna's Birthday

Amazing what a few days away from the screen does, missed Thursday at Soul Mods and a few other trickles of entertainment, but this IT abstinence meant I was in peak condition for Fridays fun fest at Soul Mods. And, it was Shauna's birthday so what a great night to return for. Slate was DJing, there were a good crowd to celebrate the birthday girls aging and the chat and action was nothing but fun. Dugi had a chocolate cake with a dancing pole installed and obviously went balloon insane....he likes balloons y'know. And, its amazing just how many avatars can fit on top of a large slice of cake. You just don't get this kind of present in real life. Shauna got to select pole dancers as befits a birthday girl and danced with lots of sods and seemed delighted with her birthday treat. Another fun fuelled fest at Soul Mods, everyone appreciating the hard work put in by Slate to DJ on these nights, after all he has a real life too, although how he fits it in with his dedication to the virtual life. Second Life stamina, few can match him,,,,party on like it '67.

I had a lot of fun and made it past 11pm for the first time in a while so that was good, great tunes great laughs great people and cool avatars. The future is retro, party til its ninety sixty nine!

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

What have I been up to....

An odd week in Second Life shuffling along trying to find things to do. Logged on and visited Moonletters and had a wander around. Evelyn was there in her sharp looking E-Type she gave me a rather slow ride around the Moonletters streets. Then I rezzed my Porsche and we had possibly the slowest sports car race known to the virtual world. After a couple of laps and the rezzing of a few more cars Shauna arrived and rezzed her London Taxi cab and we took another trip around the wider Penny Lane sim. Not your typical taxi journey as we ended up in a pond, stuck down a ditch, and lost in a marshy jungle type prim mess; luckily for us Shauna was able to pluck us from our midden and plonk us nicely on a better piece of land until we finally found tarmac and completed our journey. A very interesting car journey, then Shauna informed me that there was a soul night at the Hangout with Janis Short as DJ.


So, I said my goodbyes and hopped on a teleport to the Hangout to listen in to some great tunes, there were a few sods present and Janis' usual crowd all enjoying some fantastic tunes. A great night and everyone had fun, some great chat in the chat line as people had a few laughs and jokes. A great night in; however, I retreated upstairs to the lounge bar to escape the particle lights which were a tad too bright for me now. Rather strange conducting a conversation from upstairs with those downstairs.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the Hangout listening to some marvelous tunes. Janis will be DJing less regularly in the virtual world as she has aquired a real life job, that damn real life interfering with our entertainment, how bloomin' dreadful. I dressed in my best Oirish paisley green mod outfit, and grooved away alone upstairs like a sad Billy no-mates. After a while all got a little tiring and I took my leave and logged out after having a great time. Having so many good nights in Second Life of late its almost a crime to get so much great entertainment for so little effort, log on and have a raft of great DJs play me great tunes. However being a greedy geezers and still like to call out for more, lots more soul lots more mod and more mod fashion but I'm a difficult geezer to please! Check out the flyers and attend the events as the DJs relish the support and everyone appreciates being appreciated! Sermon over....

I also jogged over to Soulsville to listen to a few soul tunes at the club on Tuesday. As ever I tended to stay quiet in the corner and just listen in to the great music. Marvelous music in the virtual world, just wish their was a lot more of it, oops I'm off on my rant again.

These virtual days lets hope they never end,,,,,

Friday, 22 April 2011

Bit of Northern Soul Literature

Just discovered this on Radio Four a trio of short stories about Northern Soul at Wigan Casino; I enjoyed listening to them and hope you enjoy it too. Have a listen:

They say the floor at the Casino is amazing - a sprung wood floor! And they can fit 1200 people in the ballroom there. Twelve hundred people dancing!'
David's mate Batty converted him to Northern Soul: lending him obscure records, teaching him dance moves and describing the legendary club. The plan is to hitch-hike to Wigan to experience the Casino for themselves.
Between 1973 and 1981 Wigan Casino was arguably the ultimate venue for Northern Soul music. Young people from all over the UK regularly made the trek to Wigan to dance to the latest Northern Soul artists. Queues to get in were sometimes five or six people deep, and stretched quite a way up the road.
The highlight was the weekly all-nighter, with Russ Winstanley as DJ, which traditionally ended with three songs that became known as the Three Before Eight: "Time Will Pass You By" by Tobi Legend, "Long After Tonight Is Over" by Jimmy Radcliffe and "I'm On My Way" by Dean Parrish.
These three specially-commissioned stories by Laura Barton (herself from Wigan) hark back to a time when the town threw off the image created by George Orwell and the Casino was voted 'Best Disco In the World' by American Billboard Magazine.
Laura Barton was born in Lancashire in 1977. She is a freelance writer of features and music columns, notably 'Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' Roll' for the Guardian. Her first story for radio, The Carpenter, was broadcast in 2009 as part of Sweet Talk's We Are Stardust, We Are Golden series for BBC Radio 4. Twenty-One Locks, her debut novel, was published in 2010. Laura lives in London.
Written by Laura Barton. Read by Bryan Dick.
Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.

Afternoon Reading - Tales from the Casino, 1. Ten Miles High

Rita works in the cloakroom of the Casino, and hasn't been on the ballroom floor since the days when it was called the Wigan Empress. But then Frank starts calling.
Between 1973 and 1981 Wigan Casino was arguably the ultimate venue for Northern Soul music. Young people from all over the UK regularly made the trek to Wigan to dance to the latest Northern Soul artists. Queues to get in were sometimes five or six people deep, and stretched quite a way up the road. The highlight was the weekly all-nighter, with Russ Winstanley as DJ, which traditionally ended with three songs that became known as the Three Before Eight: "Time Will Pass You By" by Tobi Legend, "Long After Tonight Is Over" by Jimmy Radcliffe and "I'm On My Way" by Dean Parrish.
These three specially-commissioned stories by Laura Barton (herself from Wigan) hark back to a time when the town threw off the image created by George Orwell and the Casino was voted 'Best Disco In the World' by American Billboard Magazine.
Laura Barton was born in Lancashire in 1977. She is a freelance writer of features and music columns, notably 'Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' Roll' for the Guardian. Her first story for radio, The Carpenter, was broadcast in 2009 as part of Sweet Talk's We Are Stardust, We Are Golden series for BBC Radio 4. Twenty-One Locks, her debut novel, was published in 2010. Laura lives in London.
Written by Laura Barton. Read by Melanie Kilburn.
Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.

Afternoon Reading - Tales from the Casino, 2. What Shall I Do?

It is all about ritual. Saturday comes and Rob, a seasoned DJ at the Casino, is sorting through and packing his records for the night.
Between 1973 and 1981 Wigan Casino was arguably the ultimate venue for Northern Soul music. Young people from all over the UK regularly made the trek to Wigan to dance to the latest Northern Soul artists. Queues to get in were sometimes five or six people deep, and stretched quite a way up the road. The highlight was the weekly all-nighter, with Russ Winstanley as DJ, which traditionally ended with three songs that became known as the Three Before Eight: "Time Will Pass You By" by Tobi Legend, "Long After Tonight Is Over" by Jimmy Radcliffe and "I'm On My Way" by Dean Parrish.
These three specially-commissioned stories by Laura Barton (herself from Wigan) hark back to a time when the town threw off the image created by George Orwell and the Casino was voted 'Best Disco In the World' by American Billboard Magazine.
Laura Barton was born in Lancashire in 1977. She is a freelance writer of features and music columns, notably 'Hail, Hail, Rock 'n' Roll' for the Guardian. Her first story for radio, The Carpenter, was broadcast in 2009 as part of Sweet Talk's We Are Stardust, We Are Golden series for BBC Radio 4. Twenty-One Locks, her debut novel, was published in 2010. Laura lives in London.
Written by Laura Barton. Read by Daniel Rigby.
Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk Production for BBC Radio 4.

Afternoon Reading - Tales from the Casino, 3. Three Before Eight

Northern Soul life in literature, not sure how much longer these will be available for but have a listen if you can, I enjoyed the stories and think they may trigger a few memories for some of you.

ciaio

The Virtual Bubble

Been very quiet blog wise for quite some time, but its a lazy bank holiday weekend and before I plunge into the hectic maelstrom of real life Easter activity I figured I would blab on here about whats been happening in my virtual bubble.

Obviously most of this revolves around the great club nights at Soul Mods and the crazy wonderful people who bring the pixelated world to life with their music, their chat and their laughter. Lupo and Slate; Eden and Kim and now Shauna all entertain us with their great selection of tunes but those in attendance play their part whether its Josie dressing as a tuna, or Seren rifling back our idiotic sentences, yeah be scared of what you say the stupid within you will be revealed. Everyone in the club plays a role in making it what it is, and I for one appreciate everyone who turns up and contributes to making Soul Mods such a fun place to be. Right that's the simpering gushing praise over with I shall return to my ego ridden, grumpy self.

Before that though, I must comment on last nights set at Soul Mods. Last time out Kim had horrendous software issues that prevented her from delivering her set and we were very lucky that Eden stepped in to fill the gap. Last night was Kim's return to the decks with all such software issues resolved. And what a joy her set was; so many outstanding tracks were played Kim was really applying the pressure to Slate who is DJing tonight [expected the unexpected from him, as we are all too well aware, Ive seen the boxes of Bud so am anticipating a riot of fun and musical mayhem, but I digress]. I had a great time listening in ,the chat lost me a little on the computer game discussion as I am still struggling to come to terms with the demise of old favourites that I did understand. Go on treat yourself you remember these :

Stand out track for me was a sharp French disc that I was utterly unfamiliar with, and that's the marvelous thing about Soul Mods Ive been introduced to so much new music, I am happy in my aged musical orbit and then the DJ will spring something new on me that sends me spiralling off into new sounds, its bloomin' great. Still grooving to this track today although its been replaced by the wonderful Redskins at the moment. Enjoy the tune and thanks to Kim for delivering it, hopefully see you all at the mad house that is a DJ Slate Soul Mods gig!

Monday, 11 April 2011

Charity, its good for the Soul


Logged on to the grid on Saturday and headed off to the Acropolyse for a Race for Life Charity (a UK based cancer charity similar to the Relay for Hope US charity) event, a mammoth eight hour event hosted by three soul DJs, as I arrived I was given a great welcome by Baron and a friendly group of dancers. Joined by Aston and Dugi we settled into a groove to hear some standout tunes. Baron never disappoints on that score, and was soon throwing out the popular, the cool and the rare and entertaining us all, even some who were new to Northern Soul, Baron's set is usually an education as well as entertainment and once again he didn't disappoint.

Unfortunately, I was again a passive presence at a club that had great tunes and some lively chat, I'd expect nothing else if Dugi is present. Even if a club is quiet Mr Rubble soon puts an end to that. I occasionally dipped into chat but for the most part enjoyed the tunes and rested my old peekers, hahaha. But from the glimpses I caught on my HUGE chat text it seemed like everyone was having great fun. And, fantastically after a brief chat with Baron, that Real Life can be a real bugger, I later learnt that the event delivered a whopping 40k plus for the charity. Okay its confessional time. A weakling such as myself failed to last the pace and I logged off around 23.00 UK time, but I feel certain those that stayed had a marvelous time, each one a hero of soul.

ciao.

Saturday, 9 April 2011

Silent Crashing

For the second night in a row I secretly crashed whilst at Soul Mods, this happened a lot during my early virtual days but has not happened for many many months. Basically the musical stream continues and my screen shows the action of everyone dancing only there's no chat as I have been disconnected. In a quiet club this means you think you are still in there, luckily Soul Mods is a rowdy friendly place and so the lack of chat alerted me to the fact I was logged off. Linden arses!

Other than my crashing they were good nights at the club, uber Madrid mod Lupo played a blinding set on Thursday with a few stand out tracks, Wild Thing by Wilson Pickett from the Hey Jude album set my ears on fire and I have had a daily listen since. The usual nutters were in attendance, but something very fishy was in the air, and it wasn't just Josie. How often can you get a fish into your conversation, endlessly it seems, cant say the clubs not got sole!


On Friday, with Slate in Spain enjoy Sun Sea and Sangria [was that him in the back of the van on Benidorm*] Soul Mods played host to Janis Short on decks. Janis plays a mean sixties set and kept the troops entertained in the maniacs absence. I had fun even if I was quiet, the new non-reading regime. Then I crashed, bugger. Well hope the virtual world treats you kindly I might even post some more and stop being an idle git.

ciao

*Benidorm trivia, I know the fat lad who got his hat nicked in last nights episode, and was doing the Benny Hill chase near the end, Benidorm the sit com not the town, lol.

Sunday, 3 April 2011

A Quick Plug

Failed to make it at the Killing Moon on Saturday, but you can catch up with events there here: http://slfix.com/?p=14242 . Have fun y'all.

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

The Silent Dancer

Last night I ventured onto the grid and visited an old club in a new guise. The Soulsville Club unveiled a new construction for PT's rezz day, and from the chat I think its to be a permanent fixture, fingers crossed. Its a great concept, the club is housed just off the platform of a tube station, on the Northern Line. The club itself is minimalistic fitting the stark tube architecture. Old school white tile [as used for the In the City album] with various suitable graphic posters dotted about. Personally I thought it looked great and is a welcome addition to mod architecture since we have lost so many great builds over the recent past. Anyway, enough architectural waffle, lets talk tunes.

The set was a soul inspired set, lots of Motown and Northern Soul, with a diva section from Miss Diana Ross, PT was DJ, for his own rezz day - best option then you get to hear all your favourites. I enjoyed the set was fun listening to some familiar tunes and a few new ones. As ever the early start at the Soulsville means I have real life stuff to attend to so I was my usual silent dancer in the corner listening in and enjoying the tunes, singing along on occasions, the wife loves that! There was a big turnout for the event and the club was buzzing, always nice to see a club full, or even half full, and judging by the chat rifling up my screen everyone seemed to be having a great time. I left as the party was still in full swing, great tunes and a fantastic looking club. I look forward to occupying that corner a few more times, maybe I'll even join in the chat.

Soulsville UK Club

Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Great Nights, Great DJs

A couple of good nights at Soul Mods last week. Huge blow that Kim had some techy issues, as I love her heavy ska laden sets; but, lucky for us Eden stepped in and delivered a great impromptu set. The usual reprobates were there and a good time was had by all. Friday was the usual wacky weekender from Slate, with much craziness, great tunes and bizarre happenings as always.  A Northern Soul heavy set this time out Slate delivered some really fine tunes that kwept us all bouncing in virtuality and in reality, at least I was bouncing, no mean feat at my age, I'm 87 y'know [applause...haha, wonder who really believes that]. Lots of Gene Hunt activity near the end of the set as Slate handed out masks and we dipped our toes in seventies Glam. I had to leave before the end [up at 7am for real life dad stuff Saturday morning] but am certain the madness and laughs continued for a while longer.


Its marvelous that the virtual sixties influenced entertainment carries on into Saturday at the Killing Moon, and Shauna's efforts to set up the event is much appreciated. Indeed Shauna debuted as DJ there this weekend and did a great job. Strong words of encouragement from old hands like Slate and Eden helped I think, and at least there was no swearing, kicking of computers or toilets interludes like one great DJ I could mention......

A great night with some great tunes, generic sixties rather than pure mod but no less entertaining with some fine tunes thrown into the mix. I really enjoyed myself and judging by the comments flowing through chat so did everyone else. Hats off to Shauna for providing a fresh venue and getting on decks herself,,,err Dugi, hahaha. I admire anyone who does this techy DJ malarkey as its so beyond my meagre techy talents they are like ancient metal smiths of the dark ages. Weird clever geezers and geezerettes capable of strange wonderfully magical feats. Good on you all, and thanks for the tunes. Time to rest my weary eyes, ciao.

Saturday, 12 March 2011

Friday night Fun Factory

Friday night, nothing on the telly, no babysitters so how do I fill my evening: only one course of action...Soul Mods! Friday is a fun night Slate plays great tunes, some old some more recent and his set list is lively and very entertaining; however, its the huge sense of fun he imbues into his sets that make it such a please to attend. He takes time out to create daft links, voice overs and other stuff merely to give us a laugh or put a smile on our faces. Absolutely fantastic, marry that with his excellent tune selection and it creates a marvelous atmosphere that all who attend enjoy. I left before the end but it was gone 11pm when I left, Slate is fairly flexible on that score and his gigs don't so much over run as flow on past the 11pm slot.

So, it was another great night although the new fad for gesture quotes leaves me a little confused, especially when there are dozens being fired off simultaneously I lose track of who is saying what. Ah I guess I'm just too slow to keep up. One quick reminder that Saturday now has a viable sixties/mod venue at the Killing Moon, its well worth supporting this event as there are too few venues playing what I like to call our kind of music*. To read more on tonight's event read this

*Bollox, I have morphed into David Jascobs

Friday, 4 March 2011

Royalty.....

Well officially Soul Mods Friday session has ended, but as its Slate on decks time is flexible and he plays until he's had enough and that takes some time! So far its been a great night with some fantastic tunes getting played, few techy issues, wouldn't be a Slate set without those, plus the truly inspired and brilliant jingles/ composition that have become Slate's trademark: Gene Hunt/Bowie mix this time. Quiet night, a lively crowd but not so many tonight and I never did get my post 10 surge, only ridicule...they're a cruel lot at Soul Mods y'know.

Friday also solved one burning question. Who is king of the virtual mods? Is it uber cool Lupo, who dresses to impress and has the tunes to go with it? Or is it my very own Albion sharp as a tack and ego driven. Perhaps its Dugi club lord and all around soul blaster. Nope none of these three its DJ and scooter lord Slate, after all he has his own mod throne!!! Yep its difficult to defeat someone who can build a mod throne and so its now official Slate is the rightful heir to the Mighty Boosh and the lawful king of the mods. Its inevitable really, who could compete with that!

So, once again its been another barmy night at Soul Mods, so much fun its worth coming just for the craic even if your a metal head. But if you like the finer tunes in life, they tumble off the deck as quick as the DJs can load them, and that's pretty damn fast so get your dancing feet over here sharpish.

Thursday was also another great night, less daft than the manic Fridays but no less quality. Eden played a host of storming tracks that kept the room buzzing for a couple of hours where does she pluck these gems from. Definitely a DJ to catch, which is lucky for you all as she is playing an impromptu gig at the Killing Moon pub over at Moonletters,* starting around 1pm SLT so get yourself there and hear some of the best sixties music anywhere on the grid! Once Slate's finished playing I'll be tping to the pub to set up a SURL to make it easy to find, feck me I'm a generous old soul. I have already got my spot booked, after Slate and Maddie nicked my corner on Thursday, scoundrels.


* jobs a good un, nighty nite amigos.

The Killing Moon Pub

Monday, 21 February 2011

Opportunities for virtual DJs

Not sure how many visitors here also read the excellent Moonletters blog edited by the wonderful Shauna but she has been wondering whether to open up the Killing Moon pub to DJs to provided a little entertainment: Killing Moon More than a Hang Out. After much thought Shauna has decided to throw open the doors of the Killing Moon to prospective DJs looking for somewhere to play,  DJs Wanted Impromptu on an ad hoc basis, which keeps me smiling as the more possible mod venues the better.So anyone looking to DJ get involved check Shauna's blog and if you match the criteria I look forward to listening to your set.

Saturday, 19 February 2011

Its been a busy Week...

...full of mayhem and belly laughs, culminating in a bizarre night at Soul Mods, but I'll witter on about that later.

Touch of real life sobriety, as I was wheezing like a geriatric scaling Kilimanjaro early this week I avoid Second Life as I sat slumped in front of the TV occasionally sucking on an inhaler, steroids plus anti-biotics plus gloopy syrupy things appear to have me on the mend and so I returned to the virtual world. Sadly it was a Wednesday and just like real life nothing much happens in Second Life on a Wednesday.

As I was bored I opted to take a trip to Moonletters, as I sat there thinking I wondered if I could race down the high street dodging cars in my Ferrari. Well no point in thinking in the virtual world its all about doing. So, I rezzed a nice shiny red Enzo on the street and revved up the engine. Sitting in the drivers seat i wondered if I should let rip or play it safe, I opted for the latter. Ive let rip in virtual cars before on short tracks and found myself firstly flying through neighbouring Sims in a spinning car, before the car vanishes and I fly onto Sim limbo, so I figured I'd avoid that and go slow,,slow being a relative term of course.

At first I found it quite simple to slip past the trundling traffic, but as the speed increased it got slightly trickier and I began mistiming a few turns and began thumping into the odd car and sent them bouncing along the road. Shamefully I found this more fun than slipping around them and went crashing and smashing up and down the main strip at Moonletters. Eventually, however, temptation got the better of me and I and let rip on the road heading back up to the HQ; brakes were not so hot and I mounted the steps and smashed into the front door, sorry Shauna! I did think of leaving the car there as an exotic art installation but thought better of it and popped it back into my inventory.

So, a fair bit of waffling but absolutely nothing that relates to the virtual mod scene, just me whinging about being ill and smashing up Shauna's Sim. Hey before Soul Mods I lead a varied virtual life.

Thursday saw Lupo DJing at Soul Mods again, and he took us on a global tour of mod tunes. Lupo's knowledge of non-English mod music is so far ahead of the rest of us its a real education to listen to. The tunes are brilliant some original other covers of famous US or UK artists. Again we had a good turn out at the club and all who came seemed to be having fun. The usual mob of waifs and strays were in attendance and so the chat was its usual eclectic mix of mod music, real life whimsy and the bizarre, Kerouac's stream of consciousness has nothing on a typical Soul Mods chat line. One minute its Motown, the next virtual fashion and then dogs eating pork pies and flatulence, we should be on the bleedin' telly. However Thursdays daftness was dwarfed by Fridays events when Soul Mods went mini, no not German big little cars masquerading as British icons, this was more Shagadelic than that my swinging friends, oh deary me indeed.

Friday began as most Friday's do, Slate had a few technical issues then got going and began pumping out fantastic tunes. There was a good crowd in attendance and we were having plenty of fun laughing and joking, surprisingly at Lupo's expense, but its his own fault for rezzing in short with big feet! Then I crashed, first of several strange occurrences I've not crashed in an absolute age. When I relogged Lupo was no longer short, sadly. The evening continued more great tunes and further mad laughs and chat before the bizarreness exploded with the passing around of bebe. Wearing bebe shrunk you to a tiny little mini version of your avatar, soon the room was full of them finally Jelli and Seren got to tower over us all and bully us into submission. A room full of tiny avatars looked very odd, even odder when they opted to have an impromptu scooter rally soon there where dwarfy avatars and scooters everywhere, the tunes were belting out and everyone was in hysterics as the tunes continued to belt out and the banter went into overdrive. Eventually people began to revert back to there original size and shape leaving poor Dugi and Lupo stranded as the only minis left, Maddie and Slate were too but that was by choice rather than by accident. Dugi attempted to resolve the situation by donning a huge condom, and y'know what surprise surprise...it didn't. All he succeeded in doing was encasing lil mini Dugi inside it; meanwhile Lupo suffered in noble silence. Eventually they solved the mini riddle and changed back; not a moment too soon as some people were suffering from laughter fatigue. Then thinking we hadn't had quite enough insanity, Dugi threw on his pink tutu and hat....

What a night, great music; wonderful people, cool DJ, madhouse activities and all for free. As we stumbled off to our beds Slate put us to shame and tp'd off to further parties and further madness. I just don't have the stamina.

Oh I forgot to mention Albion's boxing Josie walloping Albion, Graz's cool robot, the cybermen all of which unleashed Slate's Dr Who fetish. Yeah Soul Mods is so much than a collection of cool people enjoying great music its a whole entertainment system in itself, see you there.

*ps thanks to Aston for the mini boys.snapshot.

Saturday, 12 February 2011

Two Nights at Soul Mods

Headed to Soul Mods on Thursday to listen to Eden deliver another great set, just when you think you're familiar with her track listing Eden goes off on a sounds adventure and hits you with a barrage of new tunes that blow your mind. This Thursday was one of those occasions and whilst some may know all the stuff I for one am willing to hold my hand up and admit to ignorance, but am much happier for having my ears opened to these great tunes. So it was a great night, lots of funny banter and some majestic tunes both old and new had us all stomping, and in my case coughing but a little bit of suffering is worth the price for such enjoyment, and before you ask yeah Albion is a better dancer than me.

Friday had a new face on decks, Janice Short, whilst well known on the DJ circuit this was her first outing as a DJ at Soul Mods and she delivered a thumping sixties set, full of classic Motown and white boy blues beat bands that kept everyone happy for a couple of hours. Another excellent turn out and the club, with over thirty people resident at some points thoroughly engaged by the music and having a laugh, the sole reasons for Soul Mods existence. It is y'know, just ask the man himself, Dugi's often said once its no longer fun that's it, so do your damnest to keep it fun people its one of very few refuges for us virtual mods lets not lose it. As often happens I got dragged off the keyboard to deal with real life stuff, whilst the missus attended to the post OFSTED mayhem that afflicts all teacher households every now again, but I listened in even though I wasn't at my keyboard. Lucky for me I arrived back before the dastardly Josie and Shauna shoved me into a cupboard; those girls you just cannot trust them Lupo said goodnight twice, I think he does it so everyone say goodbye and shows how popular he is,,,unlike me, boo hoo. Sean turned up as did Graz and they had a prowling contest just off the dance floor. Its not a real contest but it fills up another sentence, filling it served me well through University so why not here. Lots of new faces brought in by the appearance of Janice on decks hopefully a few will visit again, and all in all a great night had by everyone. Fun on a lindens budget, cool.

Thursday, 3 February 2011

Virtual versus Real...only ever one winner,,,,

,,,,and so, its time to log out, again

The problem with the virtual life is that its subject to the vagaries of the tandem existence of my real life which so often interferes with it. So there I was at the Soulsville clubhouse listening to a cool Northern Soul set which Marcus was valiantly streaming in, battling against the fragility of failing servers and other techy issues that bewilder me. As I listened to the cool tunes Albion funked his heart out on the dance floor. I enjoy the quiet relaxed atmosphere at Soulsville, I'm probably quite a dull presence as I am generally quietly enjoying the tunes whilst performing some mundane real life task on the web. Could be that the stream is an interactive radio where you and your avatar are part of the show. So there I am having fun when the call comes, real life intervenes and its time to log out and leave the fun filled virtual life for the task driven existence in the real world. Have fun soul seekers, see you all later at Soul Mods.

Soul Mods is the heartbeat of my meagre virtual existence, I have missed a couple of nights and am a failing regular as I am an unreliable member at the moment, the curse of real life affects me here too. Oh well fingers crossed I'll make it this week.

Arrived early and yet still ended up being a late arrival, thankfully Josie was kind of occupied so I didnt end up in a cupboard, aha how sweet. Kim was on deck and her set was very eclectic and very wonderful with some storming tunes that had everyone happily gyrating their pixels in a frantic dance style. A busy crowd tonight, with plenty of new faces and some very familiar ones too. From my corner it looked like everyone was having a blast and after all that's the ethos of Dugi and Aston's club for everyone to have fun with no drama while we chat nonsensically and listen to great tunes. Its still working for me so if you're roaming the grid get yourself over here. In fact there is a good ten minutes left so why not do it now! You know you want too, just watch out for Graz he is hunting for his prim I think some girl ripped it off, ouch! More fun needed in your Second Life, grab a scooter and get over to Soul Mods.

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

The Idle Slacker

So whats my excuse for dropping my regular post a day schedule to this new rather infrequent ad hoc post regime. Well the demise of several mod clubs and the general quietening the scene has rendered me slightly topicless, I cant really keep blurting on about the same half dozen people at the same club day in day out, its not a virtual soap,,hmmmm light bulb moment. Anyway in essence the quiet is due to my far less frequent voyages into the virtual world and the lessening of subjects for me to get my gums into. Say cheese. But here I am basically cobbling together a bit of a piece on the bits of virtual clubbing I have managed to cram in.

As I scribble this piece of tosh Albion is moon stomping his way to delirium at the Soulsville Club listening to a classy ska and rock steady set playing by DJ PT. The music sounds mellow, mixture of original and Two Tone revisions, the people are fun and the chat is lively. Obviously I am absent from the chat, why? Err because I'm typing here, duh. I often call in at the Soulsville but could hardly be called a hard core regular. They play plenty of good music here with a wide selection of DJs, ska is often on the menu as is northern soul and other soul inspired sets along with a few other odd and obscure selections such as their nineteen twenties night! Hey grab a tux and paste on your best Clark Gable tache. The club is run by Marcus Arkin and you're sure of a warm welcome so try it out there is general some kind of entertainment being delivered from 11am SLT onwards, its currently 1pm SLT and the music doesn't look like stopping yet. 

Now, what else virtual have I been up too?

Obviously, I have attended a few nights at the Soul Mods Club, where Slate McLeod has taken up a Friday residency. As always its quality stuff on the stream, and wild diverse chat that roams across topics at will. A warm welcome awaits anyone who stumbles upon this secret mod haven, just leave the biker boots at home, okay wear them if you must. I have missed a few good nights too, Lupo on a Thursday is a sad miss but sometimes real life and kids interfere with my romantic virtual alter ego, Albion's life is so much simpler than mine. What life? Its not real y'know? Isn't it? Nope, bit like this conversation its just you typing out questions you answer yourself. Bipolar anyone, oh feck!

Anyway I think its Eden on decks at Soul Mods this Thursday so get your bum into gear and get over there, should be heading to the AAi shortly but listening to Gangsters before I rush off, see most of you there ciao.