All In A Day's Bollocks!

Just added my first Magpie Tale in yonks, and it felt great.  I've had quite a shitty year so far (but thank you for all the wishes anyhow) and not quite feeling totally back on track.

   My youngest son Adam (GingerJesus  - who already has a new nickname from a particular bunch of friends, he upgrades them every two years apparently!) has been diagnosed with costochondritis, which is inflammation of the chest walls and really painful. During New Years night, I sat up in A&E with him until he saw a doctor, which was fairly quick and the place, fairly quiet. I expected to see a few knives stuck between shoulder blades given the time of year but casualty had but a flashing Christmas tree and me, strategically placed to help lull children to sleep, I imagine! Anyhow the doctor sent him away with medicines that were to help heartburn, not muscle pain and such. It was our GP today that prescribed him the correct medicine. It's a bit scary when casualty doctors get it wrong.  Mind you, he did have that misanthropist aura about him. I'm really feeling it for Adam, as he's had to put a stop on his band practice (drums) for now and just watch at his darts tournaments.

And moi?  I have been referred to hospital for a bowel investigation. Pains that I haven't suffered and moaned about much since my hysterectomy in 1996  (I still went to see Bowie just 2 weeks after!) have come back with a vengeance.  The quack reckons that either little tags and adhesions from previous surgeries ( I had endometriosis) have grown and started to wrap around my bowel, twisting and tugging on it. The plan is an investigation via keyhole surgery sometime soon.  Gee, I dunno - get one worry, treatment and the all clear and something else pops up to replace it!  
 
I did, however, have the best time watching Ross's band, Hotel India, headline the most sought after venue in Scotland.  King Tuts in Glasgow has sticky floors, dodgy toilets, horrendous bar prices (artists get it half price) and is underground. The atmosphere is amazing though and the PA system is cracking! The only thing we missed was mingling with the lads before they went on stage. Being the headlining band, the VIP room was open to them and it was requested they stayed there. It was a proud moment watching their entry from side stage.  They all decided to wear awful Christmas jumpers for the banter, too! Fairy won with his present, Xmas pudding and sleepy Z's number.

     To round things off, a music critic from Scotland's best selling newspaper, The Daily Record, was there to see the guys in action. He wrote the below article but I had to re-write it for clarity as my scanner is broken and the snaps didn't turn out too great either. But it's an even bigger boost when you've made it to the nationals. And if health and this dodgy ruddy computer holds out, I may just leave a slightly bigger dent in that swivel chair and regularly join in with the rest of society/mad people......

**************************************************** 
  

Hotel Windia........!

It giveths me great pleasure to announce that my older son's (PrettyBoy)'s band Hotel India have been nominated for a Scottish New Music Award in the Alternate/Indie category.

It was a bit of a shock for the guys at first as there was the mystery as to who actually entered them to begin with.   But their recent EP (sent out to various record companies) delighted the ears of a certain someone in the industry and next thing they knew they were finalists!  It is a public voting system that determines the winners so fingers crossed.  Hotel India are simply delighted to be associated with the competition whatever the outcome.

The strength of the position came after the release of their latest video Black Eyes which has received the highest amount of both recorded and live acclaim.  This comes from a band that more than pays its dues to its residents (fans!) and has bucket-loads more creativity to give.   They now also have accepted the offer from  20 Rocks'  owner and music associate to become their manager.   They kick off this Friday with a gig at the venue!   It should be more than enough to cheer us up from this constant jet stream!  You'd be pushed to dampen a resident's spirits anyhow!
 
 I will start needling you all for votes in a future post but for now, I leave you with a picture of Scott, the band's cheeky-chappie bassist, holding, proudly, the finalist certificate!
********************************************** 

♫ The Joker Is Smiling ♫

The filming of my son's band Hotel India 's new video is complete and this is its first showing.  Yes, I have been given permission to plug it on Blogger for a few  weeks on end days before it is on wider public release.

Filmed in the grounds of a derelict Scottish castle (we've tons of the buggers up here, we have) it has an obsessive stalker theme and plenty of cleverly done shadow play. So, here - from the band that every other band f*****g hates - I give you Black Eyes :



***********************************************

Hotel India - Video Stills

My older son's band Hotel India is in the middle of filming their next video, but I managed to hunt down a few stills from the company.  My sidebar is now bereft of both my sons' videos and tracks  as I'm hoping to run a Blogger website for each band as their popularity in the central belt of Scotland is on the increase. I have left Facebook links above and for No Need For Idols - my younger son's band  here as well as sidebar badge links.  All videos are still on my Bits Down The Side  blog for now.

The director is working hard and with wonders with them as this video has an actress from uni drama, and a stalking storyline so it'll be a little more gritty than their past ones.  Anyhow my lad (PrettyBoy) the handsome drummer  is actually performing here 50 feet high in the rocks and no doubt crapping it!

********************************************************

Just For The (Daily) Record

PrettyBoy came home today announcing that the next venture into his Honours degree is to be the making of a video. Of course, a music video was his choice.  He has decided to use an older release single called Asylum that his band recorded just over a year ago.

The endearing thing about University is that help comes along from all departments - quite literally.  This time Hotel India  will be appearing subliminally  in the shoot and the main focus will be directed on two friends (male and female) from the drama department. The young lass also models and is a bit of a stunner! She also has lots of props including eye contacts and special effects shit which is a bonus. HI's Paul and Ross F (there are 3 called Ross in the band!) have honours in video editing and imaging.  So this time there will be a story and acting in the video.

The module, only 48 hours old, has already a beginning and an end. It's the friendly infusion in the middle, when the camera's ain't rolling that'll stick in PrettyBoy's memory more than this little mini masterpiece ever will.

See........? Students - they're not all cheap travel and traffic cones......

 Right, best be off...I've a Signal to try and fit in a (window) box, now...! 

  *****************************
                             Get To 'F'

This week getting to 'F' comes in the form of faeries. Not your cute ones but your naughty ones. This gal is a magic mushroom maiden. Yup, I did try them once as a teenager and was violently sick as a result but I blamed the grilled  dog-piss coating for that and not the drug......*ahem*

*********************************************

The Death Of Casino............

*Magpie's (kinda) on my other blog for now.......*

The Death Of Casino........

Before the odd one or two get up off their swivel chair in sheer elation, it's not really the end of the band. Just the name. The guys have had to come up with another title. Search engines and general enquiries for the band have often been bypassed as today's gambling mad society automatically presumes that you're some sort of bookie fodder looking to waste away another week's wages in no time at all. Try googling Casino for yourself. It's mince.

The guys just played a recent wonder-gig at Leith Theatre to around 400 top nobs who are quite happy to see them back. Their Saturday gig in 20 Rocks was bloody phemi famonima phemomi  magic! Black Eye played stompingly good and 'new tune' has a fabulous little keys-up accompaniment to it. Gets to your heart, that does. 

So what's the new name of the band.......? The guys have decided on *Hotel India*. Obviously, it'll take time to get used to and a lot of editing on their videos and things but I hope it catches on. Only problem is googling that name. Until the guys are recognised with it, it's gonna give you hotels all over blummin' India. But their boss has a passion/obsession for India and he wants to give it a go but.........well, it's like calling that cuddly teddy you've loved and cherished for years by another name at night. Wrong 'til it feels right, I suppose! But before I go.....here's what happened on Saturday night - I'll change fonts.....*ahem*
**************************************************************************************

Hotel India's sound checking was running a good bit late and the doorman/promo git said to me when I got my ticket out:

"Would you mind going back downstairs  'til the bands are ready, please?"

Ross (PrettyBoy) comes over and says:

"She's ma maw"

Git replied:

"Oh? Just through there then, madam....."

Sweet as! Ah, the perks of the getting-there famous!

*********************************************************************************************************

I'm leaving a rather crappy (recording) of the guys' new song (that I've dubbed 'Inbetween' for now) on my other ABDTS blog. I will add lyrics. Catchy little bugger........!

***********************************************************************************

ps......if anyone is wondering about the new profile pic it's to support the charity Movember........!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^