yeah. the first place my band ever played to people who weren't friends etc already. i'm still amazed they let us play, we were very shit. anyway, it's sad for all those bands who are just starting- it's not like they're gonna get much better without any chances to play.

It's a total bummer that the temple has to close up shop- they had seemingly endless support for local music, and like 'big_stu' says "giving anyone a go". The couple of times I have been there with Vocoder we had such awesome, funny times- especially with the very cool bar staff there. And, yes, funnily enough, one of those times was also when 'mister lemon' was playing too.

I've known people who live near town and venue areas that accept that there is going to be noise, whether on the street or from a venue, and you accept that cos that's part of the culture that you've moved into. It's like people want the vibrancy, convience and atmosphere that comes from being close to town but they want it on a schedule.

Developers too have their part to play in this argument cos, yes, they should be thinking ahead and practically instead of with their wallets. Especially those who deliberately try to cut costs by not putting in adequate sound proofing. Sound-proofing that makes sense, even if there weren't venues nearby, because of the noise that is created by people who live in the apartments themselves, all packed in like sardines.. blah blah..

As far as the smoking in bars issue goes, yeah, sometimes I do agree that it would be a totally good idea to ban it from bars- especially when you don't smoke and you come home stinking of it- but, that would make me a hypocrite, I have been partial to the odd cigarette myself in my time. Then I think it should be the people who make money of people's addictions that should be prosecuted- the people themselves, yes they have the choice not to partake, but, often once you're hooked it's a lot harder to quit doing it. Even with the prospect of having to leave a warm, happy venue for the cold harsh outside to just have that toke of a ciggie. That is, you end up punishing certain people for something that is more complex than stopping people smoking in bars.
That said, you have to go outside to go to the loo in the temple anyway so maybe you just cope with your wee selves ( that was not mean't to be a pun!)

this she says while drinking coffee that was probably created by child labour in a third world country..
it's a complicated world.

it suxs that the temple is going!
:P

dont belive the lies about closing down the temple because of the smokefree law. she was planning on doing it ages before that was in parliament. she's just using the opportunity to make a political statement.