Ska-ed for Virtual Life

Dropped in at the Wheel for openers and listened in to some excellent revivalist 2Tone tunes, the club had a healthy crowd and grooves who all seemed to be moonstomping to some cool eighties ska from the names of the period: The Beat, The Specials, Madness etc. I dont often get on the grid early enough to get to hear this session so it was cool to make it and hear some of the stomping ska that informed much of my early youth before I delved a little deeper. Seemed the room had a few mod stylists in too, even if they were kind of on the short side. Musically the DJs at the Wheel are still capable of delivering some cool sets and although I wasnt there for very long I greatly enjoyed the half a dozen or so tracks I heard, took me back a few years and got me into the groove for an evening of virtual clubbing.

I had to leave the Wheel early to catch Kimberley Sixpence's set at the AAi, a regular Tuesday night gig for the Soul Mods crew. As I arrived Kim was playing some original skaand the contrast between this original Caribean styled ska and the revivalist eighties stuff I had just been listening too was very interesting. A small crowd present at first but as the evening progressed we had more and more punters arrive, I have noticed this trend over the past few weeks that clubbers are arriving that little bit later maybe the sumer sunshine is encouraging them away from their keyboards. Anyway the mod stalwarts were in attendance and Josie had brought her cat, cue lots of Mrs Slocombe jokes I'm guilty too, it didnt look too mod though, atabby cat when surely it should have been 2Tone black and white?

Kim was playing some awesome tunes, and the dance floor was filling as we continued half way thru the set and the floor was full, the AAi might be a small venue but its still quite an achievement in these low turnout times. Kim's set was well into its strife now with plenty of stand out tracks, she resisted the urge to play Graz's mod classic, Graz it seems has bigger issues - something to do with cat food? Sean made an appearance in chat as we envied his real life social life, that didnt last long as some cruel people yelled their jockney gestures, I cant imagine where they came from. The music was stomping, the chat was rolling and we were having a fine time ... then real life dragged me off with 30 minutes to go, so while Albion kept stomping I was out in the cold dealing with stuff. I hate stuff, it comes in many forms and most of them are a pain in the @rse!. Stuff has left me scarred for life.

Roll on Thursday and another cool night at Soul Mods, just need to find something to chill me on Wednesday if I can make it onto the grid.

Monday Magic!

Its been some time since I have logged into the grid on a Monday and so I was wondering where to find some cool entertainment in the virtual world. Fortune smiled on me as I recieved a flyer from the OSR HQ giving me a heads up the Boonie was about to start his regular Monday night soul and funk sussion, so jumping on the teleport I swapped Doc boots, cut off jeans, brace and a Fred Perry for a more WSB style of jeans, cool Tacchini track top and chilled adidas trainers and took to the floor.

The OSR crew were in attendance on on fine form, the banter was good and the gestures were zipping off the keyboards. Superstar mod creator Slate McLeod was sporting his latest T-Shirt creation ... when will this geezer open a clothing store! And, also reminiscing over his mankini outing to the amusement of all, fortunately for all he seems to have retired this item, joy spread across the grid. Boone was playing some awesome tunes helping to mellow out the crowd and I was having a fine time, even if I was keeping quiet.while the fun rolled around me.

The OSR HQ plays some of the mellowest contemporary soul on the grid and its one of the coolest places to hang out on the virtual soul scene. Join the group and get the regukar flyers events are run most days, with either Boone, Divine, Josemari or several other members of the OSR DJ stable. Look out for there gigs across the grid, I'll be there as will the rest of this crazy cool crew ... I just lurve that alliteration!

A suit is NOT just a suit...

...take note of this biblical suit instruction

sorry about the advert, guess its a German thing.

Modernist Musings

Anyone able to translate the Japanese comments I keep getting I wonder if they are good or bad, who knows - not me! Trains, early alarm calls, Wembley, football and victory ... real life can be highly entertaining. I'm currently freaking myself out watching Dr Who on the I-Player, spooky Vampires, I need a cushion to hide behind. Anyway enough of this reality rubbish, whats happening in the virtual world of mod?

Thursday saw the welcome return of Edensky Cortes to the decks at Soul Mods, much missed on the scene so it was fantastic to have her back spinning some wonderful tunes. I gave away some of my coolest mod fashion landmarks and was suddenly out modded by some great stylists. The Wheel seems to be jumping location hoops at the minute but is still putting on good nights, unfortunately I missed Slate DJing Saturday night, which is a downer as I am fairly certain a great night was had by all, if past events are anything to go by. Kim has been playing the AAi over the last few weeks, most of which sadly I have missed, real life has really put the boot into my virtual life of late.

I discovered that you can watch YouTube videos inworld, sat in Shauna's cool house at Penny Lane I watched some great comedy and magnificent tunes, ahh the wonders of virtual technology astound me, so now I sit in a comfy chair watching myself watching videos I'm watching myself ... confused yet? I wonder what other virtual wonders there are, I mean watching TV I'm flabbergasted! 

Oh and I also got to appear on a retro TV, how cool is that ... well actually I wore it like you would a hat but its the principle of the thing. I think I look good on TV but then I would its a narcissistic thing so I'm told, personally I think its a gorgeousity thing but hey I'm no GeoPhysicist ... are you? Time for a brew I think; adieu

An Evening in with the Soul Mod girls

I went to a barbeque at the weekend: lots of booze, too much food, laughing friends and tunes to suit 60+ to 15yrs. Now, although several people have I-Pods I'm the only one daft enough to load music on, actually thats not strictly correct as I am also the only one who has a music collection if we discount a pile of cds given away with the Sunday papers. So, I was designated tunesmeister and had to create a playlist that would keep people happy and allow me to indulge my preference for munching and slurping at  barbeques rather than have to satisfy an infinite music demand from the big O to Lazy Town ... Lazy who? Wait til you have kids. So by now you're wondering what has any of this bollox to do with Second Life? Simples [yes I watch TV adverts too], it lead my to wonder if we underappreciate our DJs in second life who toil away with software I dont understand compiling brilliant playlists on a regular basis sometimes a couple of times a week to keep us entertained, so hats off to all the DJs who entetain us on our virtual nights out, it wouldnt be the same without all the effort you put in!

Ooooh cool deejay segway .... Thursday night at Soul Mods with Eden up on decks. Eden's has been absent for a while techy issues I think and its only when something is gone you realise how much its missed. So it was great to get EWdens sets blasting out of the speakers again. To be frank, I think she should stay away more often as her return set was sublime: it had it all rarities, classics, stompers, chillers truly anm awesome set and undoubtedly one of the best thats been heard at the club, no mean accolade as some amazing sets are delivered by fantastic DJs at the club.

A good crowd of people were in attendance all beautifully dressed. but obviously I expected to shine when Gemma arrived looking the full suedehead business and putting me distinctly in the shade.  A great suedehead/modernist look give that girl a scooter she outfaced the faces tonight and gets my special weekly prize of the "spot that face" logo blog roll. I invented it today and will forget it by tomorrow but rejoice in your award Gemma, great to see mods looking like mods . Now I must discover where you got your uber cool jeans from, its hard work being a fashion icon y'kbnow its just the cross I have to bare* Not only did I have to compete with Gemma's great look, but Eden had one of her own designs on [i reckon I could pull off looking cool in a dress] but super cool mod Lupo arrived too relegating me to fourth place in the modernist fashion league. Oh woe is me!

Thursday was definitely a girls night as Soul Mods regular Josie was celebrating her birthday, uber host Dugi gave her a wonderful bottle of red and he said it tasted delicious, other gifts including gestures and balloons and butterflies, while Josie sipped straight JD in her attic** I sense a B Movie momemt on the horizon. Blimey I'm back at Uni I keep putting footnotes in my blog anal academic alert!!! Anyway Josie seemed to be having whacky fun in the virtual party atmosphere, the tunes were brilliant even if Eden failed to play that monster mod classic "Pass the Dutchie", hey I guess she just lacks Graz's mod credentials ... how fortunate. Party hats and hooters all round, and as a treat Josie shipped her clothes and danced the tango, or did I just read that in Dugi's diary.

So another fantastic night and Soul Mods leading lady Aston's hearing survived another playing of Bernaddete as Dugi sets out to discover how much bass foundations can handle. Thanks to all who turn up and give me something to waffle about and thanks to Eden for producing such a fine set of tunes. Logging out to embark on my mammoth train journey to Wembley, ciao!

*huge dollops of irony here in case you missed it
**further portions of irony, keep up chaps

Modernist Fashion in SL

In my NeoMod style collective I often mention suedeheads and skinheads, and group them into my expanded modernist fashion directory. If you are to adopt this look you can survive in smart loafers for a while but at some point you must display your rolled up jeans and your boots, without doubt its impossible to make any claims at suede or skin fashion without possessing at least one pair of outstanding boots. Left-Right, here we have some great MK Dr Martin style boots with scripted laces, each boot is a single prim ideal for wearing with prim cuffed roll up jeans. Sadly the male version of this boot only comes in black or brown, girls have more choice including a great cherry red pair. Next up are the ROT Test boots, these rugged combat styled boots are also scripted to achieve various colous or degree of wear and tear. They come in a two prim mode, for the foot and ankle; this means you have to realign your prim cuffs to a different location which is kind od tricky. Generally for posing this is not an issue but everyday virtual activities, can look a tad strange. As for the boots themselves, they are beautifully textured and wonderfully sculpting a fine addition to anyones wardrobe. Below them, are the GDC Polished Combat Boots, not a particularly retro skin/suede style of boot but nevertheless a welcome addition to my boot drawer. Well crafted they are a more contemporary styling, higher up the calf than the other styles and burnished intensely to get a real gleam. Again these are two prim boots, similar to the ROT, and suffer the same difficulties. But they are a fine pair of boots, well made and very stylish. The final pair are my most recent aquisition from GOS, and they are outstanding.

These boots come in a wide range of colours in both male and female sizes, they are scripted for sizingand colours, uniquely you can purchase tin of polish and add that to your boots scripting. Therefore you can add more colours to your standard boots, you can also alter the lacing colour in a similar way, so my cherry reds are also scripted for yellow laces, black colouring and Union Jack toe caps, through an addition purchase. Very imaginative. The boots look marvelous as close to the real thing as I have witnessed in Second Life, they are the most expensive by far but also they most resemble Dr Martin boots. Texturing and sculpting is exquiste the scripting affords variabilty and as a single prim for each boot they also allow easy use of prim cuffs with your rolled up jeans. Expensive but worth it.

Any of the four boots are worth purchasing* and cover a range of pricing and styles. If you are hoping to cultivate your skinhead or suedehead look a pair of boots is essential, several even better. And if I had to opt for a single pair and cost was not a factor then I would opt for:

*scoured my inventory for Landmarks for ROT and GDC and cant find them, irritated somewhat by this, tried search that was worse than bloody useless. Will continue trying and will update with a landmark as and if I find them, if you stumble upon it add to to comments and I will use it with much gratitude.

GOS

Modernist Fashion in SL

Nice short sleeved shirt FREE with the MHOH3 from KHUSH, the addition of the ASS white braces transforms a nonedescript look into an acceptable mod, suedehead, skinhead styling. The logo on the back detracts somewhat from the modernist vibe but its certainly not going to alter the look significantly enough to deny a mod credential. The braces come in a variety of lengths and also colours, I chose to purchase the white, and its the addition of braces that transform a generalist shirt into a shirt that has a modernist feel. Simple trick but very effective.

KHUSH

A cheap coat thats elevated to modernist cool by the simple addition of a wonderful little scarf from Adjunct another cool MHOH3 gift. The scarf is scripted and can change colour as well as increase or decease in size. The short length of the scarf is classic NeoMod styling and is often seen in real life by many who would class themselves as modernists. Accessorizing the coat correctly is what creates the NeoMod style, if the scarf looks wrong the whole modernist style is compromised. Arty Farty, indeed it is, but if your looking to live the virtual mod fantasy then the look is in the detail. With some sharp jeans or pants the coat/scarf combination is very NeoMod and definitely worth a punt if its made available post-treasure hunt.

Adjunct