Northern V Scooter Scene

[Guest]

Hi good topic.

For me the common gound was being with mates and drinking alcohol. The music was in the background on the rally scene when i used to go in the early eighties and we used to talk about certain tracks that were played at the allnighters "house of Bamboo" Earl Grant Suspicion etc etc .loads of stuff after the event.

As we were Mods in those days we found there was a life style to be had and so we lived it.

The Rallies involved the scooters with the variety and the rarity. We were not earning alot in those days so taking part just about emptied your pocket of your wages.

Overtime the nighters and the Northern soul music took over ( the northern scene seemed more mature at the time) This seemed like a natural progression a little bit like the original mods moving into the soul music and the Ska scene.

Now having done both and still being an active member of the soul scene and still having the scooters i can enjoy them both . But to be honest i would struggle to cross the country on one of my scooters today without suffering from a bad back and serious cramp in my hands.

If you have experience in both scenes then i guess you can relate to more.More opened minded ????

I don't think so , more knowledgable about both scenes , yes .

The two scenes have always complimented one another IMO.

Long may they both continue

Cheers Frank Norwich Backstreet soul club / Norwich Broadsmen Scooter club

I must admit, I am riding to kelso on my lambretta in 2011 if I don't get to go anywhere else.

i have heard the jocks love their original 60s tunes and like a drink

and there is not a chance of seeing a madness tribute band.

so it sounds appealing

Edited October 7, 2010 by mossy

[Guest]

. The music was in the background on the rally scene .

/quote]

and here lies the problem for people who want more than that

Edited October 8, 2010 by mossy

[ImberBoy]

I think there are a few parallels when comparing the two scenes but there are also some major differences.

Both scenes enjoy being a "little" offbeat, I suppose they used to be underground but this is arguable now as the majority of people are returning after many years of absence.

Returning back to anything brings with it a retrospective, nostalgic look and a real resistance to embrace any changes that have happened in their absence, we see this manifest itself here on Soul Source all the time when people refuse anything new.

The soul scene does have its regular allnighter goers and its fair slice of progressive ears ready and eager to listen to unheard of records or even dare I say Modern? This is only a small minority now days as our scene is flooded with most who crave for a Wigan Casino time machine, nowt wrong with that but it does not lend its self to much in the way of new sounds.

The scooter scene is more of a party scene where the scooter is pivotal and the music being more of an accompaniment rather than the main dish, there will be the odd unknown Northernsoul record played but this will only be done in the safe assurance that the Northernsoul scene has filtered the tune firs.

There is no record broken on the scooter scene first then crossing over to the Northernsoul Scene, you may get the rare dusted off track but nothing originating from the scooterist.

Yup the scooter scene has championed some tracks and even played their part in saving or should I say propping up the scene but to suggest that there is ever going to be fresh vibrant sounds coming from scootering is a na¯ve or a bit of a uniformed fib.

I have been doing both scenes without a break since 1978., not an expert but I like to think I'm experienced in both scenes even though I ride a gay plastic fantastic most of the time!

[Guest soulboy]

I think there are a few parallels when comparing the two scenes but there are also some major differences.

Both scenes enjoy being a "little" offbeat, I suppose they used to be underground but this is arguable now as the majority of people are returning after many years of absence.

Returning back to anything brings with it a retrospective, nostalgic look and a real resistance to embrace any changes that have happened in their absence, we see this manifest itself here on Soul Source all the time when people refuse anything new.

The soul scene does have its regular allnighter goers and its fair slice of progressive ears ready and eager to listen to unheard of records or even dare I say Modern? This is only a small minority now days as our scene is flooded with most who crave for a Wigan Casino time machine, nowt wrong with that but it does not lend its self to much in the way of new sounds.

The scooter scene is more of a party scene where the scooter is pivotal and the music being more of an accompaniment rather than the main dish, there will be the odd unknown Northernsoul record played but this will only be done in the safe assurance that the Northernsoul scene has filtered the tune firs.

There is no record broken on the scooter scene first then crossing over to the Northernsoul Scene, you may get the rare dusted off track but nothing originating from the scooterist.

Yup the scooter scene has championed some tracks and even played their part in saving or should I say propping up the scene but to suggest that there is ever going to be fresh vibrant sounds coming from scootering is a na¯ve or a bit of a uniformed fib.

I have been doing both scenes without a break since 1978., not an expert but I like to think I'm experienced in both scenes even though I ride a gay plastic fantastic most of the time!

I agree ,it just seemed to me at I O W that even the die hard got to be rare soul crowd let there hair down and embrace 'the played to death wigan classics'. Its very much like that at soul in the sun i would say you get a good mix of soul people that go there, nighter people and the handbagers ,just out to have a good time and not slag off our music,I went away from the scene for a short time in the dead 80s and went to keel on my own cos i needed some soul back in my life ,i hardly knew any music that were played but loved it then a few years later behind closed doors came along ,lee manor, when that closed down i found it hard to find anywhere that came close to the manor so i got back on the scooter scene and am loving that ,must say im not mad on the oi side of it but that is just a throw back to the 80's and to be fair you dont get much of that played i think most scooter does around here they want northern ,May be the northern scene is no longer the under ground scene it was nor the scooter scene come to that ,our club as gone from dragging along with 10 /15 members to 60 odd and getting more every month,I think the main thing that struck me at the I O W was the younger people on scooters and loving the music ,

[Boogaloo]

I can't comment for the scooter scene as I'm not a scooterist but I was very pleasantly surprised at the reaction to the tunes I played at Hipshaker on the IOW rally. Probably a bit more left field than my usual set and it all seemed to go down spiffingly well. Really enjoyed it with plenty of people digging rare and classic sounds in equal measure.

This may have more to do with the fact that it was the IOW weekend but I've found that over the 12 years I've been back on the soul scene (and the 9 years I've been running Boogaloosoul) I've noticed loads of scooter guys and girls have definitley maturing in the musical tastes from being just oldies vultures to apprecialting more eclectic sounds.

[Guest rasfoz]

I agree ,it just seemed to me at I O W that even the die hard got to be rare soul crowd let there hair down and embrace 'the played to death wigan classics'.

I can do that at stoke

[ImberBoy]

I can't comment for the scooter scene as I'm not a scooterist but I was very pleasantly surprised at the reaction to the tunes I played at Hipshaker on the IOW rally. Probably a bit more left field than my usual set and it all seemed to go down spiffingly well. Really enjoyed it with plenty of people digging rare and classic sounds in equal measure.

This may have more to do with the fact that it was the IOW weekend but I've found that over the 12 years I've been back on the soul scene (and the 9 years I've been running Boogaloosoul) I've noticed loads of scooter guys and girls have definitley maturing in the musical tastes from being just oldies vultures to apprecialting more eclectic sounds.

Nowt wrong in the "rare soul crowd let their hair down and embrace 'the played to death Wigan classics'."

I love Stoke, missed the last 2 due to family and work commitments.

Stoke is a time machine for me and a total unique experience that gives me tingles just thinking about it, I love walking in and seeing loads of friends and the part atmosphere is infectious.

I don't want to do this every week or month but I am fookin glad it's there so I can enjoy the classics in a brilliant environment.

I think the crowd at The IOW is dancing to the beat, they care little for the musical content as long as they can shake a tail feather, nowt wrong with that and some say "It's only a night out"

I would like to believe that the Northernsoul scene is a bit different; we are far quicker to get into bed with a track, embrace it, study it and allow it to become part of our DNA. Sounds a little over the top/ I can't see many Hipshakers rushing over to the DJ booth to ID a new track in anticipation of tracking the little fooker down and cherishing it, mothering it and adopting it like a lost child adding it to a record collection?

To us (The Northernsoulies), music is far from disposable, we are not snobs but we care about the music, as horrible as it sounds, the scene down south, the European scene and the students and young crowd do not have the same connection to our music as us, some do I grant you but our cultural origins and our investment in time and passion is well different.

I think this is why we end up lampooning The Snake

[Guest Bearsy]

I can't comment for the scooter scene as I'm not a scooterist but I was very pleasantly surprised at the reaction to the tunes I played at Hipshaker on the IOW rally. Probably a bit more left field than my usual set and it all seemed to go down spiffingly well. Really enjoyed it with plenty of people digging rare and classic sounds in equal measure.

This may have more to do with the fact that it was the IOW weekend but I've found that over the 12 years I've been back on the soul scene (and the 9 years I've been running Boogaloosoul) I've noticed loads of scooter guys and girls have definitley maturing in the musical tastes from being just oldies vultures to apprecialting more eclectic sounds.

Thing is Warren you are a great dj and you have the right tunes for the Hipshaker and you were in great dj company too so the vibe and atmosphere would of been top notch i imagine so i am not suprised you had a great reaction, not sure you would go down so well on most scooter rallies though but then again you might be the type of dj the scooter scene is in desperate need of wanna buy a lambretta

[Guest Bearsy]

Nowt wrong in the "rare soul crowd let their hair down and embrace 'the played to death Wigan classics'."

I love Stoke, missed the last 2 due to family and work commitments.

Stoke is a time machine for me and a total unique experience that gives me tingles just thinking about it, I love walking in and seeing loads of friends and the part atmosphere is infectious.

I don't want to do this every week or month but I am fookin glad it's there so I can enjoy the classics in a brilliant environment.

I think the crowd at The IOW is dancing to the beat, they care little for the musical content as long as they can shake a tail feather, nowt wrong with that and some say "It's only a night out"

I would like to believe that the Northernsoul scene is a bit different; we are far quicker to get into bed with a track, embrace it, study it and allow it to become part of our DNA. Sounds a little over the top/ I can't see many Hipshakers rushing over to the DJ booth to ID a new track in anticipation of tracking the little fooker down and cherishing it, mothering it and adopting it like a lost child adding it to a record collection?

To us (The Northernsoulies), music is far from disposable, we are not snobs but we care about the music, as horrible as it sounds, the scene down south, the European scene and the students and young crowd do not have the same connection to our music as us, some do I grant you but our cultural origins and our investment in time and passion is well different.

I think this is why we end up lampooning The Snake

I find that comment not only derogetory and insulting Simon i think you need to appologise to me and the other 9 from down South that have that same connection as the many thousands oop norf

[Guest xraysoulstar]

This thread, though interesting, has made me laugh (but not in a good way)

I think quite a few people on this site might have forgotten what it's like to be a youngster (yes I have gathered that many of you are older than me).

There are a finite number of original vinyls to go around and the attitudes espoused on this thread and the "Northern Soul For The Uninitiated" thread and also the "Couldn't Believe My Eyes" thread on the current news forum are really rather bewildering and looked at together paint really quite a negative picture.

"Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music. Scenes are seized upon so quickly that the revolution that is musical expression is currently largely controlled by the labels - yes the Internet is slowly changing that, but in terms of physical product, air time etc. it's the big labels calling the shots.

To get "established" on this scene and seemingly to earn the respect of certain movers and shakers, you need to be buying rare OVO material often at premium prices. No reissues please. Definitely no new formats.

To be a DJ, unless you're a face you're considered a "no-hopers oops sorry wannabee DJ".

The Northern Soul Scene is promoted on here as the most friendly of scenes, yet in 30 years of working around music, I've never experienced such an attitude. It's really rather incredible.

I honestly believe that this scene has a lot to offer, but it's hard to break into because despite the talk, it's intensely snobby and if you want to buy records, comparatively expensive. As a youth getting started, who is going to commit their hard earned on records to play only to find, it's the wrong label, the wrong issue, the wrong catalogue number, despite sounding identical from the dance floor? If the fans were supporting the artists with the cash they part with, I'd have some semblance of sympathy, but the money goes straight in the pockets of dealers (unlike reissues or CDs which actually create money for the people we purport to love) and as records become increasingly rare the situation will become worse.

Sure, there's a massive thrill when you secure your first £100+ record, but it's elitist value.

The mod/scooterist thing confuses me. If the Northern Soul scene is the most famous underground scene there's ever been, then surely the way that most folk get into it is through more mainstream means (which I reckon both of those scenes provide). Who gives a monkey's if the mods/scooterists have "never broken a record" or they like a smaller pool of standards, or other types of music, the fact is they are potentially bringing new people into the scene. People can't just arrive on the scene, they're expected to "know their stuff", or at least that's how it seems.

Sorry for the extended rambling but at 46 I'm really becoming increasingly uncertain again as to what people want from this scene. If the music is too well known but it attracts people it gets caned, if people don't know it already why bother trying to get them interested, just cane them for not knowing in their 20s what it's taken us 30+ years to begin to get a handle on. If people are bringing old tunes to new people on reissues or boots, cane it. In fact, if it hasn't been vetted and had a seal of approval by certain scensters it seems to me that a caning is inevitable for them.

Sorry if that seems harsh, it isn't meant to and by no means applies to the majority of people on the scene or even on this board. The fact is that for the scene to continue to thrive after we're gone it needs not to be less elitist in its aspirations, but more open in its outlook.

Peace.

[Guest]

This thread, though interesting, has made me laugh (but not in a good way)

I think quite a few people on this site might have forgotten what it's like to be a youngster (yes I have gathered that many of you are older than me).

There are a finite number of original vinyls to go around and the attitudes espoused on this thread and the "Northern Soul For The Uninitiated" thread and also the "Couldn't Believe My Eyes" thread on the current news forum are really rather bewildering and looked at together paint really quite a negative picture.

"Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music. Scenes are seized upon so quickly that the revolution that is musical expression is currently largely controlled by the labels - yes the Internet is slowly changing that, but in terms of physical product, air time etc. it's the big labels calling the shots.

To get "established" on this scene and seemingly to earn the respect of certain movers and shakers, you need to be buying rare OVO material often at premium prices. No reissues please. Definitely no new formats.

To be a DJ, unless you're a face you're considered a "no-hopers oops sorry wannabee DJ".

The Northern Soul Scene is promoted on here as the most friendly of scenes, yet in 30 years of working around music, I've never experienced such an attitude. It's really rather incredible.

I honestly believe that this scene has a lot to offer, but it's hard to break into because despite the talk, it's intensely snobby and if you want to buy records, comparatively expensive. As a youth getting started, who is going to commit their hard earned on records to play only to find, it's the wrong label, the wrong issue, the wrong catalogue number, despite sounding identical from the dance floor? If the fans were supporting the artists with the cash they part with, I'd have some semblance of sympathy, but the money goes straight in the pockets of dealers (unlike reissues or CDs which actually create money for the people we purport to love) and as records become increasingly rare the situation will become worse.

Sure, there's a massive thrill when you secure your first £100+ record, but it's elitist value.

The mod/scooterist thing confuses me. If the Northern Soul scene is the most famous underground scene there's ever been, then surely the way that most folk get into it is through more mainstream means (which I reckon both of those scenes provide). Who gives a monkey's if the mods/scooterists have "never broken a record" or they like a smaller pool of standards, or other types of music, the fact is they are potentially bringing new people into the scene. People can't just arrive on the scene, they're expected to "know their stuff", or at least that's how it seems.

Sorry for the extended rambling but at 46 I'm really becoming increasingly uncertain again as to what people want from this scene. If the music is too well known but it attracts people it gets caned, if people don't know it already why bother trying to get them interested, just cane them for not knowing in their 20s what it's taken us 30+ years to begin to get a handle on. If people are bringing old tunes to new people on reissues or boots, cane it. In fact, if it hasn't been vetted and had a seal of approval by certain scensters it seems to me that a caning is inevitable for them.

Sorry if that seems harsh, it isn't meant to and by no means applies to the majority of people on the scene or even on this board. The fact is that for the scene to continue to thrive after we're gone it needs not to be less elitist in its aspirations, but more open in its outlook.

Peace.

I totally agree,

Lets book The Nearly Dexes Midnight Runners for 500 quid ............put on the not quite the Jam on the same night for 300 quid ............................... book a few

DJs with punk, indie, soul and ska tunes on CDS OR LAPTOPS (they have probably ripped the rare tunes but be wont mention that)

then we will put an adverts in Scootering magazine all year - and call them the national scooter rally s.

Fooking ace idea Rodney - we will make a mint !

There are a few small club rallys done by scooter clubs that don't fall into this stagnant shit pit - camber sands and robin hood at Rhyl being two that I know of.

yes its a weekend party so expect plenty of oldies !!!

All I am saying is that the Nationals could be perfect if the organisers had a bit of savvy !!!!

A perfect soul room with real djs playing real music on original format - RESPECT !

Soul fans would start attending the rallys for the music again.

Like they do at Rhyl in September.

The Soul room in Blackpool VFM rally last spring this year was just unbelievably crap, just came across to be an after thought .

There was no passion - no vinyl - hardly a dance floor. The music was totally false and unimagined and It really showed.

I am sick of this crap,

if the scooter scene is all about booking copy cat bands and playing cds then its not for me

I will ride my scooter around on my own cause I personally don't need all that rubbish on a holiday weekend !!!

As far as music goes, I happen to respect people who care and mean for it.

By all means have your main room with the stone roses , inspiral carpets , kaiser chiefs, artic monkeys, 2 tone etc - and have a fooking party !!

but don't expect me to be happy when I am being fobbed off with a third rate CD jock in the soul room who had no idea about what he is doing.

get the fooking boys back !!!

[Guest]

To be a DJ, unless you're a face you're considered a "no-hopers oops sorry wannabee DJ".

that is total bollocks !

I collect original records every day for the pure love of music and have no time or aspirations to be a DJ

It dosent stop people I have met on this site who are DJs taking the time to talk to me about music with interest

Its all about passion and integrity !

and that is my point !

That is what is missing from the national scooter rallys soul rooms ! IMO

(oh.. and I am a youngster btw)

Edited October 11, 2010 by mossy

[Guest]

Sorry if that seems harsh, it isn't meant to and by no means applies to the majority of people on the scene or even on this board. The fact is that for the scene to continue to thrive after we're gone it needs not to be less elitist in its aspirations, but more open in its outlook.

Peace.

fooking ell mate

I love rocksteady - ska - funky house - 60s rnb - boogaloo - hammond jazz - popcorn - super fury animals - 60s northern soul - trio valore and any other bands

with my mates in them !

There is no one more open minded !

But I get the feeling from your post that you are not an active riding Scooterist for some reason.

Sorry if I am wrong but I am a life long lambretta owner who is just pissed off with the nationals to the point where I don't

even bother booking the time off work for them any more.

simply because the music is so bad

Edited October 11, 2010 by mossy

[Guest]

I think there are a few parallels when comparing the two scenes but there are also some major differences.

Both scenes enjoy being a "little" offbeat, I suppose they used to be underground but this is arguable now as the majority of people are returning after many years of absence.

Returning back to anything brings with it a retrospective, nostalgic look and a real resistance to embrace any changes that have happened in their absence, we see this manifest itself here on Soul Source all the time when people refuse anything new.

The soul scene does have its regular allnighter goers and its fair slice of progressive ears ready and eager to listen to unheard of records or even dare I say Modern? This is only a small minority now days as our scene is flooded with most who crave for a Wigan Casino time machine, nowt wrong with that but it does not lend its self to much in the way of new sounds.

The scooter scene is more of a party scene where the scooter is pivotal and the music being more of an accompaniment rather than the main dish, there will be the odd unknown Northernsoul record played but this will only be done in the safe assurance that the Northernsoul scene has filtered the tune firs.

There is no record broken on the scooter scene first then crossing over to the Northernsoul Scene, you may get the rare dusted off track but nothing originating from the scooterist.

Yup the scooter scene has championed some tracks and even played their part in saving or should I say propping up the scene but to suggest that there is ever going to be fresh vibrant sounds coming from scootering is a naïve or a bit of a uniformed fib.

I have been doing both scenes without a break since 1978., not an expert but I like to think I'm experienced in both scenes even though I ride a gay plastic fantastic most of the time!

 

Unlike the Mod scene where we have had for example recently (5 years) great tunes like - zu zu blues band - zu zu man A&M crossing over to the main room

"Where's my money" and "A little too late" giving the main rooms big trouble.

Mods were always on the ball

Scooterboys were a right pain in the 80s !

A lot were worse to us Mods than the Casuals !

I never put on my pinstripe suite, got on my 150 super and went looking for Scooterboys to twat and spit on in the 80s.

The King Kurt / Meteors spiky haired mob with cut down vespas caused us mods more pain in the 80s than

the home visits from Millwall FC fans

A lot of Scooterists were Knobheads at the time

I was standing by a petrol station having a fag on the route to colwyn bay in 83 or 84 when this car full of king kurt look a likes

asked me for a light .

I walked over with my lighter and all 4 off the spiked haired twats popped out of the cars windows blowing spewtum

all over my face and back as I turned around, shouting "you fooking Mod c*nt"

They razzed off full speed laughing out loud.

It was one of many Mod hating incidents I experienced during the 80s

so don't expect me to have any meteors lps

We may have ridden the same make of machine, but we might as well have been on different planets !

Just a reminder - I have a long memory !

Edited February 7, 2015 by pikeys dog
swearing - work filters

[Guest Bearsy]

This thread, though interesting, has made me laugh (but not in a good way)

I think quite a few people on this site might have forgotten what it's like to be a youngster (yes I have gathered that many of you are older than me).

There are a finite number of original vinyls to go around and the attitudes espoused on this thread and the "Northern Soul For The Uninitiated" thread and also the "Couldn't Believe My Eyes" thread on the current news forum are really rather bewildering and looked at together paint really quite a negative picture.

"Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music. Scenes are seized upon so quickly that the revolution that is musical expression is currently largely controlled by the labels - yes the Internet is slowly changing that, but in terms of physical product, air time etc. it's the big labels calling the shots.

To get "established" on this scene and seemingly to earn the respect of certain movers and shakers, you need to be buying rare OVO material often at premium prices. No reissues please. Definitely no new formats.

To be a DJ, unless you're a face you're considered a "no-hopers oops sorry wannabee DJ".

The Northern Soul Scene is promoted on here as the most friendly of scenes, yet in 30 years of working around music, I've never experienced such an attitude. It's really rather incredible.

I honestly believe that this scene has a lot to offer, but it's hard to break into because despite the talk, it's intensely snobby and if you want to buy records, comparatively expensive. As a youth getting started, who is going to commit their hard earned on records to play only to find, it's the wrong label, the wrong issue, the wrong catalogue number, despite sounding identical from the dance floor? If the fans were supporting the artists with the cash they part with, I'd have some semblance of sympathy, but the money goes straight in the pockets of dealers (unlike reissues or CDs which actually create money for the people we purport to love) and as records become increasingly rare the situation will become worse.

Sure, there's a massive thrill when you secure your first £100+ record, but it's elitist value.

The mod/scooterist thing confuses me. If the Northern Soul scene is the most famous underground scene there's ever been, then surely the way that most folk get into it is through more mainstream means (which I reckon both of those scenes provide). Who gives a monkey's if the mods/scooterists have "never broken a record" or they like a smaller pool of standards, or other types of music, the fact is they are potentially bringing new people into the scene. People can't just arrive on the scene, they're expected to "know their stuff", or at least that's how it seems.

Sorry for the extended rambling but at 46 I'm really becoming increasingly uncertain again as to what people want from this scene. If the music is too well known but it attracts people it gets caned, if people don't know it already why bother trying to get them interested, just cane them for not knowing in their 20s what it's taken us 30+ years to begin to get a handle on. If people are bringing old tunes to new people on reissues or boots, cane it. In fact, if it hasn't been vetted and had a seal of approval by certain scensters it seems to me that a caning is inevitable for them.

Sorry if that seems harsh, it isn't meant to and by no means applies to the majority of people on the scene or even on this board. The fact is that for the scene to continue to thrive after we're gone it needs not to be less elitist in its aspirations, but more open in its outlook.

Peace.

reading your post made me laugh and nearly piss my pants, you just dont get it do you i could answer you post on every point you have made and given you an answer or a different view but to be honest i just cannot be bothered, but if you think that far too many events isnt damagng to the scene and that young peeps playing "big money records" off of CDs etc is ok and then thats fine its your opinion, can the young apsiring djs you care about not dj with tunes that cost as much as their re-issues or CDs they buy, do they have to have the big money garaunteed floor fillers like all the other djs cos if so then whats the point in giving them a chance to dj when there are a 1000 others who can do the same have another read of the whole thread and see if you can see what most are trying to say, we love scottering but are tired of the Northern Rooms cos the music hasnt moved on and has become so tedious that many soulies that used to attend scooter northern Rooms dont anymore, same djs playing the same tunes for the last 10 years and mainly off of boots and CDs which has led to a stale room for many scooterists/soulies cos of lack of imagination, If a youngster is a good dj his/her time will come and to be honest i welcome the idea but if they are gonna play the same tunes as the current crop then what really is the point, anyway take a look at a playlist posted in soul events lookbacks for Camber, not knocking the dj how can you, but i bet he had the floor filled and gave the crowd what they wanted, for me i would of been bored shitless cos ive been hearing them tunes for the last 10 years at every rally, im in the minority i know and just want some fresher tunes at rallies but aint holding me breath,

ok i am moaning cos im bored with the same old same old being played at rallies BUT not moaning anywhere near as much as the peeps who when they hear something they dont know being played do, dont believe me then dj at a rally and dare to go off the tried and tested track

[Guest Bearsy]

Oh btw X-Ray, im younger than you

[Guest xraysoulstar]

that is total bollocks !

I collect original records every day for the pure love of music and have no time or aspirations to be a DJ

It dosent stop people I have met on this site who are DJs taking the time to talk to me about music with interest

Its all about passion and integrity !

and that is my point !

That is what is missing from the national scooter rallys soul rooms ! IMO

(oh.. and I am a youngster btw)

Mossy, I agree it is bollocks, but it has been cut and paste from another thread on this site mate. I may need to reread the thread but I don't see anyone taking it to task.

[Guest xraysoulstar]

reading your post made me laugh and nearly piss my pants, you just dont get it do you i could answer you post on every point you have made and given you an answer or a different view but to be honest i just cannot be bothered, but if you think that far too many events isnt damagng to the scene and that young peeps playing "big money records" off of CDs etc is ok and then thats fine its your opinion, can the young apsiring djs you care about not dj with tunes that cost as much as their re-issues or CDs they buy, do they have to have the big money garaunteed floor fillers like all the other djs cos if so then whats the point in giving them a chance to dj when there are a 1000 others who can do the same have another read of the whole thread and see if you can see what most are trying to say, we love scottering but are tired of the Northern Rooms cos the music hasnt moved on and has become so tedious that many soulies that used to attend scooter northern Rooms dont anymore, same djs playing the same tunes for the last 10 years and mainly off of boots and CDs which has led to a stale room for many scooterists/soulies cos of lack of imagination, If a youngster is a good dj his/her time will come and to be honest i welcome the idea but if they are gonna play the same tunes as the current crop then what really is the point, anyway take a look at a playlist posted in soul events lookbacks for Camber, not knocking the dj how can you, but i bet he had the floor filled and gave the crowd what they wanted, for me i would of been bored shitless cos ive been hearing them tunes for the last 10 years at every rally, im in the minority i know and just want some fresher tunes at rallies but aint holding me breath,

ok i am moaning cos im bored with the same old same old being played at rallies BUT not moaning anywhere near as much as the peeps who when they hear something they dont know being played do, dont believe me then dj at a rally and dare to go off the tried and tested track

I've reread your post. I've reread my post. The conclusion that I've come to is that you haven't properly read my post. As somebody new to this board, I might have expected the courtesy of a less dismissive reply. I have to say, I'm not at all surprised by these replies as it seems the use of certain words (CDs, new formats) in the same proximity as other words (standards and rarities) is likely to set off someones fireworks regardless of context.

[Col Wolfe]

the current day scooter scene is very much like how I remember my first adventures into the northern soul scene (circa'87, via the mod/scooter scene): full of old people.

[Col Wolfe]

fooking ell mate

I love rocksteady - ska - funky house - 60s rnb - boogaloo - hammond jazz - popcorn - super fury animals - 60s northern soul - trio valore and any other bands

with my mates in them !

There is no one more open minded !

But I get the feeling from your post that you are not an active riding Scooterist for some reason.

Sorry if I am wrong but I am a life long lambretta owner who is just pissed off with the nationals to the point where I don't

even bother booking the time off work for them any more.

simply because the music is so bad

are you me? that is pretty much where I am.

the moddier rallies are the only part of that scene that show solid musical worth.

[ImberBoy]

This thread, though interesting, has made me laugh (but not in a good way)

I think quite a few people on this site might have forgotten what it's like to be a youngster (yes I have gathered that many of you are older than me).

There are a finite number of original vinyls to go around and the attitudes espoused on this thread and the "Northern Soul For The Uninitiated" thread and also the "Couldn't Believe My Eyes" thread on the current news forum are really rather bewildering and looked at together paint really quite a negative picture.

"Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music. Scenes are seized upon so quickly that the revolution that is musical expression is currently largely controlled by the labels - yes the Internet is slowly changing that, but in terms of physical product, air time etc. it's the big labels calling the shots.

To get "established" on this scene and seemingly to earn the respect of certain movers and shakers, you need to be buying rare OVO material often at premium prices. No reissues please. Definitely no new formats.

To be a DJ, unless you're a face you're considered a "no-hopers oops sorry wannabee DJ".

The Northern Soul Scene is promoted on here as the most friendly of scenes, yet in 30 years of working around music, I've never experienced such an attitude. It's really rather incredible.

I honestly believe that this scene has a lot to offer, but it's hard to break into because despite the talk, it's intensely snobby and if you want to buy records, comparatively expensive. As a youth getting started, who is going to commit their hard earned on records to play only to find, it's the wrong label, the wrong issue, the wrong catalogue number, despite sounding identical from the dance floor? If the fans were supporting the artists with the cash they part with, I'd have some semblance of sympathy, but the money goes straight in the pockets of dealers (unlike reissues or CDs which actually create money for the people we purport to love) and as records become increasingly rare the situation will become worse.

Sure, there's a massive thrill when you secure your first £100+ record, but it's elitist value.

The mod/scooterist thing confuses me. If the Northern Soul scene is the most famous underground scene there's ever been, then surely the way that most folk get into it is through more mainstream means (which I reckon both of those scenes provide). Who gives a monkey's if the mods/scooterists have "never broken a record" or they like a smaller pool of standards, or other types of music, the fact is they are potentially bringing new people into the scene. People can't just arrive on the scene, they're expected to "know their stuff", or at least that's how it seems.

Sorry for the extended rambling but at 46 I'm really becoming increasingly uncertain again as to what people want from this scene. If the music is too well known but it attracts people it gets caned, if people don't know it already why bother trying to get them interested, just cane them for not knowing in their 20s what it's taken us 30+ years to begin to get a handle on. If people are bringing old tunes to new people on reissues or boots, cane it. In fact, if it hasn't been vetted and had a seal of approval by certain scensters it seems to me that a caning is inevitable for them.

Sorry if that seems harsh, it isn't meant to and by no means applies to the majority of people on the scene or even on this board. The fact is that for the scene to continue to thrive after we're gone it needs not to be less elitist in its aspirations, but more open in its outlook.

Peace.

""Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music."

Nonsense

The "Youth of today" have ALLWAYS been strangled by the labels and the music machine!

The very fact that we are on this forum is a testament of breaking away from the commercial and spoon fed and this was the seventies and early eighties.

Today the kids are exactly in the SAME position and they need to decide if they want to look for music or just receive music, there is as much quality and diversity for them as there has ever been, no, I'd go further than that and say there is more as they have all of ours to choose from as well but the rub is choice, they must make it!

[Johnny Brizzle]

I attend about 5 rallies a year on average and have to say that I'm finding the scooter scene a little bit stale at the moment. Like Spacehopper (I think I bumped into him on the dancefloor if hazy memory serves), did Weston earlier this year and enjoyed the Sole Room in the rugby club more than the main event. Also preferred the northern room to the main room at Woolacombe: SWSC events seem to be so formulaic that you can set your watches by them.

Whilst the scooter scene clearly embraces northern soul, the tunes played either in the main dos or the northern rooms are the same ones that have been aired at every rally for the last 15 years - we all know them: Alfie Davidson, Kim Weston, Al Wilson, Sister Sledge, Nolan Porter etc. There's nothing wrong with it necessarily and I guess it's all a question of choice. To my mind, I would prefer to see/hear DJs taking a few risks and dropping in some rare and unknown numbers.

But maybe that's the way the scene works: the northern scene breaks the records and then the scooter scene picks it up three years later?

[ImberBoy]

I attend about 5 rallies a year on average and have to say that I'm finding the scooter scene a little bit stale at the moment. Like Spacehopper (I think I bumped into him on the dancefloor if hazy memory serves), did Weston earlier this year and enjoyed the Sole Room in the rugby club more than the main event. Also preferred the northern room to the main room at Woolacombe: SWSC events seem to be so formulaic that you can set your watches by them.

Whilst the scooter scene clearly embraces northern soul, the tunes played either in the main dos or the northern rooms are the same ones that have been aired at every rally for the last 15 years - we all know them: Alfie Davidson, Kim Weston, Al Wilson, Sister Sledge, Nolan Porter etc. There's nothing wrong with it necessarily and I guess it's all a question of choice. To my mind, I would prefer to see/hear DJs taking a few risks and dropping in some rare and unknown numbers.

But maybe that's the way the scene works: the northern scene breaks the records and then the scooter scene picks it up three years later?

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Yup couldn't agree more

[Guest Bearsy]

I've reread your post. I've reread my post. The conclusion that I've come to is that you haven't properly read my post. As somebody new to this board, I might have expected the courtesy of a less dismissive reply. I have to say, I'm not at all surprised by these replies as it seems the use of certain words (CDs, new formats) in the same proximity as other words (standards and rarities) is likely to set off someones fireworks regardless of context.

Ive re read your reply and sorry if i misunderstood it but if it aint what you was trying to say then i defo dont understand what you have written, must be me as somebody old to this board i might of expected some courtesy too only joking can you explain it in a more simple easy for Bearsy to read format Xray

[Davekd]

This thread, though interesting, has made me laugh (but not in a good way)

I think quite a few people on this site might have forgotten what it's like to be a youngster (yes I have gathered that many of you are older than me).

There are a finite number of original vinyls to go around and the attitudes espoused on this thread and the "Northern Soul For The Uninitiated" thread and also the "Couldn't Believe My Eyes" thread on the current news forum are really rather bewildering and looked at together paint really quite a negative picture.

"Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music. Scenes are seized upon so quickly that the revolution that is musical expression is currently largely controlled by the labels - yes the Internet is slowly changing that, but in terms of physical product, air time etc. it's the big labels calling the shots.

To get "established" on this scene and seemingly to earn the respect of certain movers and shakers, you need to be buying rare OVO material often at premium prices. No reissues please. Definitely no new formats.

To be a DJ, unless you're a face you're considered a "no-hopers oops sorry wannabee DJ".

The Northern Soul Scene is promoted on here as the most friendly of scenes, yet in 30 years of working around music, I've never experienced such an attitude. It's really rather incredible.

I honestly believe that this scene has a lot to offer, but it's hard to break into because despite the talk, it's intensely snobby and if you want to buy records, comparatively expensive. As a youth getting started, who is going to commit their hard earned on records to play only to find, it's the wrong label, the wrong issue, the wrong catalogue number, despite sounding identical from the dance floor? If the fans were supporting the artists with the cash they part with, I'd have some semblance of sympathy, but the money goes straight in the pockets of dealers (unlike reissues or CDs which actually create money for the people we purport to love) and as records become increasingly rare the situation will become worse.

Sure, there's a massive thrill when you secure your first £100+ record, but it's elitist value.

The mod/scooterist thing confuses me. If the Northern Soul scene is the most famous underground scene there's ever been, then surely the way that most folk get into it is through more mainstream means (which I reckon both of those scenes provide). Who gives a monkey's if the mods/scooterists have "never broken a record" or they like a smaller pool of standards, or other types of music, the fact is they are potentially bringing new people into the scene. People can't just arrive on the scene, they're expected to "know their stuff", or at least that's how it seems.

Sorry for the extended rambling but at 46 I'm really becoming increasingly uncertain again as to what people want from this scene. If the music is too well known but it attracts people it gets caned, if people don't know it already why bother trying to get them interested, just cane them for not knowing in their 20s what it's taken us 30+ years to begin to get a handle on. If people are bringing old tunes to new people on reissues or boots, cane it. In fact, if it hasn't been vetted and had a seal of approval by certain scensters it seems to me that a caning is inevitable for them.

Sorry if that seems harsh, it isn't meant to and by no means applies to the majority of people on the scene or even on this board. The fact is that for the scene to continue to thrive after we're gone it needs not to be less elitist in its aspirations, but more open in its outlook.

Peace.

Blimey mate, you've stuck your head into the lion's Den here!

I think the lads have pretty much covered the differnce in the scooterist and Northern Soul scenes and won't get into debating some of your other points but would like to say only getting involved in Northern Soul myself 5 or 6 years ago, don't be put off by peoples strong views on original vinyl - that is at the heart of this scene and people quite rightly feel very strongly about the issue and there are some pationate people on here ( the ones who can't post about any subject whatsover without mentioning people DJ'ing for thier mates or to get a spot always make me laugh), but when out and about I have found almost everyone I've met, spoken to including promoters, DJ's, rare vinyl collectors, chin strokers etc to be the most friendliest and helpful people you could want to meet. Most are willing to share thier knowledge, passions, feelings about music quite freely and have certainly given me real help in finding my feet and loving the scene.

I have never found that 'movers and shakers' influence the scene in London (which is where I mainly stick to) at all - it's about the music but also, I would guess, being respectful to what's gone before and what's happening now and I suppose also, getting out and about and learning the ropes.

I like to think you get accepted as a DJ by the quality of your sets, do your tunes compliment a venue/crowd etc rather than how expensive they are or who you know. Some venues are solely for the rare/expensive tunes but many others aren't so I wouldnt worry about cost.

Rambled a bit myself but would reiterate that I feel privilaged to be involved in the scene albeit in a small way mostly as a punter attending 2 or 3 nights a month and the majority of people involved are top class.

So stay with it but get involved.

Dave

[Guest soulmaguk]

I am a Eastfield Scooter Club member from Scarboro' and have done some DJ in' for them. Scooterists are not really there for the music i find, i know i'm not, but are there for the scooters themselves. The music helps the ale go down well of which i am partial to a few scoops myself. Give em' what they want i say, here's a tip, "if DJ ing' at a scooter do, gather a concensus of what the majority want to hear and play it". We attended a scooter bash in Brid last month and a fight broke out, someone got glassed over an argument about the DJ playing 80's chart music all night, it was Culture Club that finally tipped him over the edge I think! silly twats.

[Wiggyflat]

are you me? that is pretty much where I am.

the moddier rallies are the only part of that scene that show solid musical worth.

I will top my hat off to Bailey......the psych and freakbeat kids havent stopped still (well maybe clotheswise!!). They are regularly digging up great obscurities.Bit like the early days of northern soul.I wonder when they are going to get midtempo and freakbeat ballads.I feel there is a groundswell of new kids from both the scooter scenes and the mod scenes.Crossfire was packed with young kids dancing to northern soul oldies......but they are new to them and Camber was full of daughters and sons.Mostly stuff they have probably heard on CD.I gave a few flyers out to some mod looking lads at Xfire who looked at it. Next question was is it the top 500? Me......sort of yeah.Their faces lit up and I got a we will be there!!.Theres 500 records in that book..how many of them get regular plays.It seems the kids just wanna dance.....they don't get hung up on how they hear it.These kids won't go to boring doos where midtempo and slowies are played.If a records shit they dont mind complaining either and they dont give a toss about whether it was 50p or 50k.Its only us old fogeys who care about originals...........i'ts a history involving Dave Godin/Black Civil Rights movements/royalties to artists/integrity/discovering new records(and covering them up),northern soul halcyon days (thousands of punters and big money to be made/3 formats (emidisc/tapes/vinyl),Only a few ways to get them......dealers lists in the post and first on the phone.Get your arse over to the US (thank you Freddie laker ), visit the venues and junkshopping.It must be great to be a kid and listen to the Velvettes for the first time and the CD gigs cater for them....the problem is when they start getting sick of the tunes and want to get deeper....the credible ovo gigs better be ready.BTW I'm ovo only and the odd carver for the unreleased stuff.The scooter scene is schizo these days with this darkside mob and their northern soul is wank t shirts.Mod cabaret (if Bruce leaves From The Jam and leaves a shoe on stage will the band go on tour as From The Jam Shoe?),and eighties scooterboys and plastic mods.Regarding the poster re scooterboys.....most of them from where I'm from Teeside area were mods in the first place and some others were even pre mod revival...........yes before 79.Never got any bother but then you wouldnt want to argue with Bonn and Andy Brown from Norton Bulldogs.No it wasn't The Jam or The Chords in London it was good old northern soul and Motown that was their soundtrack. I think some on here should read Time Trouble And Money-Mark Broughs book on the mid seventies scooter scene.Camber was good in the summer but not the last one.We will be travelling more north next year just for a change.How about a soulsource northern gig on the Isle Of Wight? .........................Don't Keep The Faith Spread It (Not on CD though) BTW I'm sure X Ray soul is a London night playing CD'S...........probably packed full of young kids dancing to exciting music or commonly known as same old, same old, wigan baggies top 500 to a lot on here.Young kids dancing to northern on CD and MP3 at unadvertised venues....its the future.

Edited October 11, 2010 by wiggyflat

[Guest soulmaguk]

I will top my hat off to Bailey......the psych and freakbeat kids havent stopped still (well maybe clotheswise!!). They are regularly digging up great obscurities.Bit like the early days of northern soul.I wonder when they are going to get midtempo and freakbeat ballads.I feel there is a groundswell of new kids from both the scooter scenes and the mod scenes.Crossfire was packed with young kids dancing to northern soul oldies......but they are new to them and Camber was full of daughters and sons.Mostly stuff they have probably heard on CD.I gave a few flyers out to some mod looking lads at Xfire who looked at it. Next question was is it the top 500? Me......sort of yeah.Their faces lit up and I got a we will be there!!.Theres 500 records in that book..how many of them get regular plays.It seems the kids just wanna dance.....they don't get hung up on how they hear it.These kids won't go to boring doos where midtempo and slowies are played.If a records shit they dont mind complaining either and they dont give a toss about whether it was 50p or 50k.Its only us old fogeys who care about originals...........i'ts a history involving Dave Godin/Black Civil Rights movements/royalties to artists/integrity/discovering new records(and covering them up),northern soul halcyon days (thousands of punters and big money to be made/3 formats (emidisc/tapes/vinyl),Only a few ways to get them......dealers lists in the post and first on the phone.Get your arse over to the US (thank you Freddie laker ), visit the venues and junkshopping.It must be great to be a kid and listen to the Velvettes for the first time and the CD gigs cater for them....the problem is when they start getting sick of the tunes and want to get deeper....the credible ovo gigs better be ready.BTW I'm ovo only and the odd carver for the unreleased stuff.The scooter scene is schizo these days with this darkside mob and their northern soul is wank t shirts.Mod cabaret (if Bruce leaves From The Jam and leaves a shoe on stage will the band go on tour as From The Jam Shoe?),and eighties scooterboys and plastic mods.Regarding the poster re scooterboys.....most of them from where I'm from Teeside area were mods in the first place and some others were even pre mod revival...........yes before 79.Never got any bother but then you wouldnt want to argue with Bonn and Andy Brown from Norton Bulldogs.No it wasn't The Jam or The Chords in London it was good old northern soul and Motown that was their soundtrack. I think some on here should read Time Trouble And Money-Mark Broughs book on the mid seventies scooter scene.Camber was good in the summer but not the last one.We will be travelling more north next year just for a change.How about a soulsource northern gig on the Isle Of Wight? .........................Don't Keep The Faith Spread It (Not on CD though) BTW I'm sure X Ray soul is a London night playing CD'S...........probably packed full of young kids dancing to exciting music or commonly known as same old, same old, wigan baggies top 500 to a lot on here.Young kids dancing to northern on CD and MP3 at unadvertised venues....its the future.

gotta have... where can i find one?

[Guest Bearsy]

gotta have... where can i find one?

the northern soul fist has a cock in its grasp my mate who is on the dark side has one

[Wiggyflat]

gotta have... where can i find one?

Don't know but it is the northern soul fist turned around a flaccid penis with Northern Soul Is Wank in the outer circle.

[Guest soulmaguk]

Don't know but it is the northern soul fist turned around a flaccid penis with Northern Soul Is Wank in the outer circle.

cheers, will keep a jap's eye out at Brid national.

[Col Wolfe]

the northern soul fist has a cock in its grasp my mate who is on the dark side has one

here you go...

and don't forget the complimenting sticker...

[Guest xraysoulstar]

""Youth" today don't enjoy the same opportunities we had in terms of new music."

Nonsense

The "Youth of today" have ALLWAYS been strangled by the labels and the music machine!

The very fact that we are on this forum is a testament of breaking away from the commercial and spoon fed and this was the seventies and early eighties.

Today the kids are exactly in the SAME position and they need to decide if they want to look for music or just receive music, there is as much quality and diversity for them as there has ever been, no, I'd go further than that and say there is more as they have all of ours to choose from as well but the rub is choice, they must make it!

Evening!

I used to do a lot of work promoting and managing on the indie scene on the back end of my mod days and I don't think you see scenes like that any more. Not like we grew up with. Yes, there's still the Northern scene, but back in the 70s and 80s (and before) as has already been acknowledged on here, you were part of a scene. Later you discovered everything else, but you were part of something. You hung your hat on something and got into it. Skins, mods, punks, soulies, rockers, all distinct. Now it seems that kids grow up nicking a bit of this, a bit of that, eclectic tastes and comparatively few of them have any connection with anything specific.

[Guest xraysoulstar]

Ive re read your reply and sorry if i misunderstood it but if it aint what you was trying to say then i defo dont understand what you have written, must be me as somebody old to this board i might of expected some courtesy too only joking can you explain it in a more simple easy for Bearsy to read format Xray

Firstly, apologies for the prickly response this morning. I just find it a bit poor to tell someone they don't know what they're talking about (like anyone has all the answers) and then say that you can't be bothered to got through it all again. As I said, I made the post based on observations from three threads and rather than post a new thread, or post on all three, I've posted here because all three of the points I've addressed have been raised to some degree on here. I tried to raise issues on points made rather than take anyone to task on their opinons to see if I could get some expansion on those thoughts. I fully respect the fact that some of you have been here for years and done some of those points to death, but it still seemed like the most appropriate place to raise the points I raised.

If you would prefer, I'll rethink, reword and start a thread on the subject and then see how people feel. I know some sites don't like newbies going over old ground, I know it can make life very boring, hence me gathering my thoughts in one place and popping them on here rather than cluttering up the place with new threads.

If it makes you feel any better disposed towards me, I do buy and play vinyl, I like the fact that it's tactile and sounds richer, but at the risk of shooting myself in the foot, I won't walk out of a joint if the music is good, just because the format!

If I was was inclined to use emoticons, I put a smiley here >

[Guest xraysoulstar]

I will top my hat off to Bailey......the psych and freakbeat kids havent stopped still (well maybe clotheswise!!). They are regularly digging up great obscurities.Bit like the early days of northern soul.I wonder when they are going to get midtempo and freakbeat ballads.I feel there is a groundswell of new kids from both the scooter scenes and the mod scenes.Crossfire was packed with young kids dancing to northern soul oldies......but they are new to them and Camber was full of daughters and sons.Mostly stuff they have probably heard on CD.I gave a few flyers out to some mod looking lads at Xfire who looked at it. Next question was is it the top 500? Me......sort of yeah.Their faces lit up and I got a we will be there!!.Theres 500 records in that book..how many of them get regular plays.It seems the kids just wanna dance.....they don't get hung up on how they hear it.These kids won't go to boring doos where midtempo and slowies are played.If a records shit they dont mind complaining either and they dont give a toss about whether it was 50p or 50k.Its only us old fogeys who care about originals...........i'ts a history involving Dave Godin/Black Civil Rights movements/royalties to artists/integrity/discovering new records(and covering them up),northern soul halcyon days (thousands of punters and big money to be made/3 formats (emidisc/tapes/vinyl),Only a few ways to get them......dealers lists in the post and first on the phone.Get your arse over to the US (thank you Freddie laker ), visit the venues and junkshopping.It must be great to be a kid and listen to the Velvettes for the first time and the CD gigs cater for them....the problem is when they start getting sick of the tunes and want to get deeper....the credible ovo gigs better be ready.BTW I'm ovo only and the odd carver for the unreleased stuff.The scooter scene is schizo these days with this darkside mob and their northern soul is wank t shirts.Mod cabaret (if Bruce leaves From The Jam and leaves a shoe on stage will the band go on tour as From The Jam Shoe?),and eighties scooterboys and plastic mods.Regarding the poster re scooterboys.....most of them from where I'm from Teeside area were mods in the first place and some others were even pre mod revival...........yes before 79.Never got any bother but then you wouldnt want to argue with Bonn and Andy Brown from Norton Bulldogs.No it wasn't The Jam or The Chords in London it was good old northern soul and Motown that was their soundtrack. I think some on here should read Time Trouble And Money-Mark Broughs book on the mid seventies scooter scene.Camber was good in the summer but not the last one.We will be travelling more north next year just for a change.How about a soulsource northern gig on the Isle Of Wight? .........................Don't Keep The Faith Spread It (Not on CD though) BTW I'm sure X Ray soul is a London night playing CD'S...........probably packed full of young kids dancing to exciting music or commonly known as same old, same old, wigan baggies top 500 to a lot on here.Young kids dancing to northern on CD and MP3 at unadvertised venues....its the future.

Three things here.

Wiggy's expressed part of what I was saying better than I have. The kids DON'T care about the formats, they're just getting into it. It's nurture not nature. You need nights to get youngsters interested. I'm not suggesting you patronise them, but playing some stuff that they can obtain relatively easily to maintain the interest between the nights is only going to be a good thing in the long term.

With regard the X-Ray thing in Bethnal Green, we did have to use CDs, yes. Their decks were broken - one of the tone arms rotated 45degrees on it's mounting - and we wouldn't play vinyl on them. Despite months of promises to get them fixed it never happend, which is why we're not there anymore. We felt it wasn't doing us any good. I will say though, we didn't play too much "mainstream" northern. We got one request one week to play the Snake and two women got up and did the Lambrini. It cleared the floor. Not sure if I should be telling you that, but it was the most surreal DJing experience I've ever had.

Finally, back on the format tip, we got offered a booking to do a party one night by a lad who'd been dancing in front of the stage. This lad had no idea what the format was until he actually came up to speak to my mate but he'd been dancing like a mad man up to that point. Eventually he cottons on that the decks aren't running and goes mental, retracts the offer and storms out of the venue, yet 5 mins before hand he'd been in soul heaven. We never found his nose on the floor, but I'm sure it's there somewhere.

[Guest soulboy]

I totally agree,

Lets book The Nearly Dexes Midnight Runners for 500 quid ............put on the not quite the Jam on the same night for 300 quid ............................... book a few

DJs with punk, indie, soul and ska tunes on CDS OR LAPTOPS (they have probably ripped the rare tunes but be wont mention that)

then we will put an adverts in Scootering magazine all year - and call them the national scooter rally s.

Fooking ace idea Rodney - we will make a mint !

There are a few small club rallys done by scooter clubs that don't fall into this stagnant shit pit - camber sands and robin hood at Rhyl being two that I know of.

yes its a weekend party so expect plenty of oldies !!!

All I am saying is that the Nationals could be perfect if the organisers had a bit of savvy !!!!

A perfect soul room with real djs playing real music on original format - RESPECT !

Soul fans would start attending the rallys for the music again.

Like they do at Rhyl in September.

The Soul room in Blackpool VFM rally last spring this year was just unbelievably crap, just came across to be an after thought .

There was no passion - no vinyl - hardly a dance floor. The music was totally false and unimagined and It really showed.

I am sick of this crap,

if the scooter scene is all about booking copy cat bands and playing cds then its not for me

I will ride my scooter around on my own cause I personally don't need all that rubbish on a holiday weekend !!!

As far as music goes, I happen to respect people who care and mean for it.

By all means have your main room with the stone roses , inspiral carpets , kaiser chiefs, artic monkeys, 2 tone etc - and have a fooking party !!

but don't expect me to be happy when I am being fobbed off with a third rate CD jock in the soul room who had no idea about what he is doing.

get the fooking boys back !!!

Please correct me if im wrong and i know its a few months ago ,and a few miles , but i went to marton and im sure they were playing records ? I seem to remember a young lad playing records so this must tick all the box's

[Guest Bearsy]

Firstly, apologies for the prickly response this morning. I just find it a bit poor to tell someone they don't know what they're talking about (like anyone has all the answers) and then say that you can't be bothered to got through it all again. As I said, I made the post based on observations from three threads and rather than post a new thread, or post on all three, I've posted here because all three of the points I've addressed have been raised to some degree on here. I tried to raise issues on points made rather than take anyone to task on their opinons to see if I could get some expansion on those thoughts. I fully respect the fact that some of you have been here for years and done some of those points to death, but it still seemed like the most appropriate place to raise the points I raised.

If you would prefer, I'll rethink, reword and start a thread on the subject and then see how people feel. I know some sites don't like newbies going over old ground, I know it can make life very boring, hence me gathering my thoughts in one place and popping them on here rather than cluttering up the place with new threads.

If it makes you feel any better disposed towards me, I do buy and play vinyl, I like the fact that it's tactile and sounds richer, but at the risk of shooting myself in the foot, I won't walk out of a joint if the music is good, just because the format!

If I was was inclined to use emoticons, I put a smiley here >

Hi again no need to appologise you did nothing wrong i didnt say you didnt know what you was talking about, i said, you dont get it, i said i couldnt be bothered to put answers to loads of the points you made purely cos i had to leave for work soon the not getting it bit was about if you think too many events isnt a worthy thread cos i and many believe it will eventualy damage the scene and that not all that long ago there were about a quarter of events on as there are now and if you read many event lookbacks threads you will see many saying that numbers were low which inturn to me means too many events not enough soulies and so that argument continues etc etc Playing off of CDS is a massive No No and will always cause a storm as the scene has always (as far as i know) been about finding and playing Rare Soul on Vinyl and Original Vinyl at that, upcoming djs are just that upcoming and if they are good and get out there they will get noticed and there is no closed shop imho you just need to get known if its djn that is the aim, it is a massively friendly scene (apart from one **** i cant stomach) and ive never been looked down upon or experienced snobbery, lots of passionate people and opinionated people and many not so vocal but more friends than i can shake a stick at i was confused by the post you made and now i see it was a mix up of a few, yeah many threads been done over and over again but dont worry about that i dont anyway not all Northern/Rare Soul on vinyl is expensive and yes i probably wouldnt attend a night on CD or laptop and if i went to a venue that did play on them formats yes i would walk out, it dont make me a snob i just prefer it my way

and welcome to SS and enjoy we dont all agree but we dont all argue all the time either

atb

Bearsy

[Guest Bearsy]

Three things here.

Wiggy's expressed part of what I was saying better than I have. The kids DON'T care about the formats, they're just getting into it. It's nurture not nature. You need nights to get youngsters interested. I'm not suggesting you patronise them, but playing some stuff that they can obtain relatively easily to maintain the interest between the nights is only going to be a good thing in the long term.

Good point and yeah i agree to a degree

With regard the X-Ray thing in Bethnal Green, we did have to use CDs, yes. Their decks were broken - one of the tone arms rotated 45degrees on it's mounting - and we wouldn't play vinyl on them. Despite months of promises to get them fixed it never happend, which is why we're not there anymore. We felt it wasn't doing us any good. I will say though, we didn't play too much "mainstream" northern. We got one request one week to play the Snake and two women got up and did the Lambrini. It cleared the floor. Not sure if I should be telling you that, but it was the most surreal DJing experience I've ever had.

been there seen it done it (for a laugh but dont remind me mate Simon about it )

Finally, back on the format tip, we got offered a booking to do a party one night by a lad who'd been dancing in front of the stage. This lad had no idea what the format was until he actually came up to speak to my mate but he'd been dancing like a mad man up to that point. Eventually he cottons on that the decks aren't running and goes mental, retracts the offer and storms out of the venue, yet 5 mins before hand he'd been in soul heaven. We never found his nose on the floor, but I'm sure it's there somewhere.

no need to go mental bit surely he must of realised if he was dancing most of the night what format was being played, no record boxes no cueing up etc etc

[Guest xraysoulstar]

Hi again no need to appologise you did nothing wrong i didnt say you didnt know what you was talking about, i said, you dont get it, i said i couldnt be bothered to put answers to loads of the points you made purely cos i had to leave for work soon the not getting it bit was about if you think too many events isnt a worthy thread cos i and many believe it will eventualy damage the scene and that not all that long ago there were about a quarter of events on as there are now and if you read many event lookbacks threads you will see many saying that numbers were low which inturn to me means too many events not enough soulies and so that argument continues etc etc Playing off of CDS is a massive No No and will always cause a storm as the scene has always (as far as i know) been about finding and playing Rare Soul on Vinyl and Original Vinyl at that, upcoming djs are just that upcoming and if they are good and get out there they will get noticed and there is no closed shop imho you just need to get known if its djn that is the aim, it is a massively friendly scene (apart from one **** i cant stomach) and ive never been looked down upon or experienced snobbery, lots of passionate people and opinionated people and many not so vocal but more friends than i can shake a stick at i was confused by the post you made and now i see it was a mix up of a few, yeah many threads been done over and over again but dont worry about that i dont anyway not all Northern/Rare Soul on vinyl is expensive and yes i probably wouldnt attend a night on CD or laptop and if i went to a venue that did play on them formats yes i would walk out, it dont make me a snob i just prefer it my way

and welcome to SS and enjoy we dont all agree but we dont all argue all the time either

atb

Bearsy

Thanks, yes, possibly at cross purposes at least in part. I too was off to work after a hectic weekend. So thanks again for a fuller response. And for using up my quota of smilies. I feel less guilty now!

[Guest Bearsy]

Thanks, yes, possibly at cross purposes at least in part. I too was off to work after a hectic weekend. So thanks again for a fuller response. And for using up my quota of smilies. I feel less guilty now!

[Guest xraysoulstar]

Finally, back on the format tip, we got offered a booking to do a party one night by a lad who'd been dancing in front of the stage. This lad had no idea what the format was until he actually came up to speak to my mate but he'd been dancing like a mad man up to that point. Eventually he cottons on that the decks aren't running and goes mental, retracts the offer and storms out of the venue, yet 5 mins before hand he'd been in soul heaven. We never found his nose on the floor, but I'm sure it's there somewhere.

no need to go mental bit surely he must of realised if he was dancing most of the night what format was being played, no record boxes no cueing up etc etc

We had a stage and we used to gather the tables and chairs from the bar onto it, a/ to stop people dancing on it and banging into the decks and b/ to provide a better dancefloor in the main part of the room; all of us had large record bag affairs, so he would have been excused not spotting that, plus playing off CD decks still requires you to cue up, cans on head etc. The fact that the deck were suspended over the turntables would probably have got him out of noticing that one as well. To fair, he actually was quite into it and probably knew enough of what we played not to be watching the decks - he was having a good time! I've mentioned on here once before, I'm a reluctant DJ, possibly less so now after 18 months and I have the bug back (lets be honest, after horn players, DJs are the biggest whores on any music scene), but whenever I go to a night of any sort, I've never been one to watch the DJ, I'm too busy dancing.

[Spacehopper]

ok head above the trenches...it was me who posted the playlist from this years camber..at least i had the bottle ! and all remarks taken on board but let me explain....

in admit my first set was nearly all classics that most ON HERE are bored with perhaps.,had someone come upto me after aking about benny troy as he didnt know it !!..but i was on 11 till 12 while dc fontana were on stage in the main room but still had a full floor...the next night i was on 4 till 5 and was hopeing to have the die hard soulies in there with me to play the many semi known in my box but by the time i came on there was only a couple dozen people left so for the first half i was playing stuff i dont think is played to death on rallies ....backslop,let me be your boy,miss you so,something funnys going on,leave me alone and to finish spoiled child ...also had kindly shepperds,not a scooter classic!(but i only do a couple a year now,unlike the 80s when i did every one)....although i had some up dancin (a couple of which told nicci after theyd never heard the first half of my set before !)others were leaving so i went back to some classic as i didnt wanna be completely on my own !!!.

remember this year the soul room finished at 12 and moved to the main room which maybe why the djs played a bit safer ??...and some of the djs who played would have normally only been i the main room

to be honest this thread could also be about the oldies v newies threads that are always on here...i go to nites all over the sw and the dancefloor is always full to the same old ruby andrews,epitome of sound etc.....can remember a year ago or so hearing des parker playing great new discoveries and me and nicci being the only fuckers on the floor...so the soul scene is not much different....the scootrer scene admits to liking the same old at least....ive sat listening to 'soulies' tell me they like new stuff only to see them walk off and on the floor to tunes they know or dont so....

anyway hopefully i will be back at camber next year ...if you bother hang arond till im on(dean read) and ask for sumfin different and i will play it (the only requests i had were for known oldies)

oh by the way yes i went in a car...my scoots in bits and i had 250 ORIGINALS with me

now i better duck my head from the incoming >>>>

dean:D

Edited October 12, 2010 by spacehopper

[ImberBoy]

ok head above the trenches...it was me who posted the playlist from this years camber..at least i had the bottle ! and all remarks taken on board but let me explain....

in admit my first set was nearly all classics that most ON HERE are bored with perhaps.,had someone come upto me after aking about benny troy as he didnt know it !!..but i was on 11 till 12 while dc fontana were on stage in the main room but still had a full floor...the next night i was on 4 till 5 and was hopeing to have the die hard soulies in there with me to play the many semi known in my box but by the time i came on there was only a couple dozen people left so for the first half i was playing stuff i dont think is played to death on rallies ....backslop,let me be your boy,miss you so,something funnys going on,leave me alone and to finish spoiled child ...also had kindly shepperds,not a scooter classic!(but i only do a couple a year now,unlike the 80s when i did every one)....although i had some up dancin (a couple of which told nicci after theyd never heard the first half of my set before !)others were leaving so i went back to some classic as i didnt wanna be completely on my own !!!.

remember this year the soul room finished at 12 and moved to the main room which maybe why the djs played a bit safer ??...and some of the djs who played would have normally only been i the main room

to be honest this thread could also be about the oldies v newies threads that are always on here...i go to nites all over the sw and the dancefloor is always full to the same old ruby andrews,epitome of sound etc.....can remember a year ago or so hearing des parker playing great new discoveries and me and nicci being the only fuckers on the floor...so the soul scene is not much different....the scootrer scene admits to liking the same old at least....ive sat listening to 'soulies' tell me they like new stuff only to see them walk off and on the floor to tunes they know or dont so....

anyway hopefully i will be back at camber next year ...if you bother hang arond till im on(dean read) and ask for sumfin different and i will play it (the only requests i had were for known oldies)

oh by the way yes i went in a car...my scoots in bits and i had 250 ORIGINALS with me

now i better duck my head from the incoming >>>>

dean:D

You said Semi

[Anoraks Corner]

I respect anyone who is passionate about a subject, be it vinyl, scooters or clothes etc. I also know that the Mod, Northern and Scooter scenes will always evolve around each other....and that is great...but...I'm slightly surprised that no one has raised the fact there was often friction (and the occasional punch up) involving the Army-green wearing Scooterists at the Hinckley Leisure Center nighters back in the mid-8T's...usually alcohol fuelled?

[Guest Bearsy]

ok head above the trenches...it was me who posted the playlist from this years camber..at least i had the bottle ! and all remarks taken on board but let me explain....

in admit my first set was nearly all classics that most ON HERE are bored with perhaps.,had someone come upto me after aking about benny troy as he didnt know it !!..but i was on 11 till 12 while dc fontana were on stage in the main room but still had a full floor...the next night i was on 4 till 5 and was hopeing to have the die hard soulies in there with me to play the many semi known in my box but by the time i came on there was only a couple dozen people left so for the first half i was playing stuff i dont think is played to death on rallies ....backslop,let me be your boy,miss you so,something funnys going on,leave me alone and to finish spoiled child ...also had kindly shepperds,not a scooter classic!(but i only do a couple a year now,unlike the 80s when i did every one)....although i had some up dancin (a couple of which told nicci after theyd never heard the first half of my set before !)others were leaving so i went back to some classic as i didnt wanna be completely on my own !!!.

remember this year the soul room finished at 12 and moved to the main room which maybe why the djs played a bit safer ??...and some of the djs who played would have normally only been i the main room

to be honest this thread could also be about the oldies v newies threads that are always on here...i go to nites all over the sw and the dancefloor is always full to the same old ruby andrews,epitome of sound etc.....can remember a year ago or so hearing des parker playing great new discoveries and me and nicci being the only fuckers on the floor...so the soul scene is not much different....the scootrer scene admits to liking the same old at least....ive sat listening to 'soulies' tell me they like new stuff only to see them walk off and on the floor to tunes they know or dont so....

anyway hopefully i will be back at camber next year ...if you bother hang arond till im on(dean read) and ask for sumfin different and i will play it (the only requests i had were for known oldies)

oh by the way yes i went in a car...my scoots in bits and i had 250 ORIGINALS with me

now i better duck my head from the incoming >>>>

dean:D

Hi Dean, nothing wrong with what you said and nothing wrong with what you played and like i said in a post earlier its what 90% of the peeps want and like you said there would of been no point playing anything other than classics/oldies to an empty room you would of been lynched , thats the point of the thread not a dig at your playlist but the fact that for the last 10+ years that the music on the scene basically hasnt changed, the odd rally you get something other than the same old but the majority is just the same old tunes time and again, next rally im at and if your djn i will defo come and listen but dont play just to a few when the majority want the same ol stuff or there will only be me you and the barman left in the room its tough being a scooter rally dj unless you give them what they want and probably the best time to dj at a rally is 3/4 am onwards but sometimes by then the previous djs have probably sent most "hardcore for a better word" soulies back to their beds,

How come they closed the Northern room early wasnt there many there or was it a licensing thing ??

[Guest gordon russell]

back in the day folk went to scooter do's.....on scooters naturally.........folk who went to nighters......nicked cars.....naturally:lol: .......theres the differance:lol:

[Wiggyflat]

Hi Dean, nothing wrong with what you said and nothing wrong with what you played and like i said in a post earlier its what 90% of the peeps want and like you said there would of been no point playing anything other than classics/oldies to an empty room you would of been lynched , thats the point of the thread not a dig at your playlist but the fact that for the last 10+ years that the music on the scene basically hasnt changed, the odd rally you get something other than the same old but the majority is just the same old tunes time and again, next rally im at and if your djn i will defo come and listen but dont play just to a few when the majority want the same ol stuff or there will only be me you and the barman left in the room its tough being a scooter rally dj unless you give them what they want and probably the best time to dj at a rally is 3/4 am onwards but sometimes by then the previous djs have probably sent most "hardcore for a better word" soulies back to their beds,

How come they closed the Northern room early wasnt there many there or was it a licensing thing ??

You can play classics/oldies and slip in the odd underplayed oldie and they wouldnt blink an eyelid. What you can't do is play the classic oldie then slip in some downtempo or twist r&b and not expect them to walk off the floor.A previous poster said you should have hung around I played some modern, r&b,popcorn etc.....thank god I went to bed.Im blinkered/old fashioned/stuck in my ways but in a northern soul room I want northern soul...........give me the classic uptempo motown derivative fast dance music and some good uptempo seventies I will be there all night. At 2am thats what I want to keep me on the floor.........and awake.Play your Doug Banks/Just Loving You's/Kurt Harris/Ace Spectrums/r&b and popcorn and I'm off to bed...............most of these are wind down end of night records anyway .It's not hard.Go back to 85 and John Buck and Brian Rae's set list from northern allnighters at scooter rallies and you would probably find more northern soul (upfront as well) than what you would hear now.What riles me is that looking around the hall at Camber there were probably people there with better collections than some of the deejays that were on...and we get played bootleg after bootleg and then twist music and r&b along with fxxck off slowies at 2am....

[Wiggyflat]

I respect anyone who is passionate about a subject, be it vinyl, scooters or clothes etc. I also know that the Mod, Northern and Scooter scenes will always evolve around each other....and that is great...but...I'm slightly surprised that no one has raised the fact there was often friction (and the occasional punch up) involving the Army-green wearing Scooterists at the Hinckley Leisure Center nighters back in the mid-8T's...usually alcohol fuelled?

Seen a few punch ups outside some northern niters as well...........I remember one in Newton Aycliffe which was a toe to toe fist fight(northern soulie casual wedgeheads) though.

[Spacehopper]

the soul room closing at 12 was organised pre rally ,nothing to do with support on the weekend...i think it may have been down to keeping cost down with staff etc im not 100% sure not being an organiser...but the dj setlists were pre printed....

as far as boots go i know the two djs b4 me were playing originals...the two before that were playing boots but they are 'scooter rally' only djs so the original arguement (which lets face it a lot of punters on the soul scene dont get,)...would never be understood by most scooterists who spend their hard earned on their scoots and make do with cds....id like a ts1 kit for my lammy but will keep with my stage 4 cos id rather spend on vinyl...but then i only do a couple of rallies a year while im out at soul nites almost every weekend

dean

[TOAD]

i never heard or saw any combat wearers at HINCKLEY ALLNIGHTERS and i went frequently as it was just down the road from me !

theres photos and no sign of greens