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Singapore Indoor Stadium Gripe

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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Mon, 12 Mar 2012 6:53 pm

I had thought it was something to do with preventing them from getting drunk.

It could just be an urban myth though, or a form of 'protection' as you say, that the artists don't quite understand the need/intention of.

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BigSis
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Post by BigSis » Mon, 12 Mar 2012 7:42 pm

I saw Pearl Jam at the SIS in 94/95 and we all had to sit on red plastic 'school' chairs. The moment the band came on - bam - everyone was up on their feet and some people were passing chairs over the crowd to the periphery. The cops stopped the show certainly twice, and we were told to return the chairs and sit down or the plug would be pulled on the night, all relayed to us in a 'I can barely bring myself to say this' voice via lead-man Eddie Vedder.
Wow, this was before my time here - I always knew Singers was strict but maybe not so strict and so recently too.

Maybe this is why Kasabian seemed so surprised at the great reception they got here - they must have heard some of these stories of bands who've played here in the past.

I went to see Yes play here quite a while ago - must have been 2003 or 04 and it was a 'dry' concert - not a drink to be had not even water. It was at Suntec in one of the convention halls and just to rub salt in the wound it was sponsored by Carlsberg :(

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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Mon, 12 Mar 2012 8:12 pm

BigSis wrote: Wow, this was before my time here - I always knew Singers was strict but maybe not so strict and so recently too.

Oh that was during my first stint in-country, I subsequently got to leave, return and leave again. Stint#3 is in around a year I reckon :)

But you know it wasn't that much earlier that men would get given a haircut at the border if it was more than collar length. Just ask SMS.... oh no, perhaps he's not the best one to ask :P

A lot has changed in this time though. There used to be a tangible climate of fear that pervaded daily life, and that has certainly reduced. Some say the government have relaxed as if they have done so through choice. I don't believe it, with the internet they had no choice... despite having effective control over that back in the mid 90s too. Anyway, I digress :)


Maybe this is why Kasabian seemed so surprised at the great reception they got here - they must have heard some of these stories of bands who've played here in the past.

Quite. And also I think it depends on the audience, Asian audiences tend to be very passive and quiet compared to 'western' ones. Sometimes I think that must come as a hell of a 'Er, what are we doing wrong!?' shock to bands...


I went to see Yes play here quite a while ago - must have been 2003 or 04 and it was a 'dry' concert - not a drink to be had not even water. It was at Suntec in one of the convention halls and just to rub salt in the wound it was sponsored by Carlsberg :(

OMG! That's an irony! :)

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Post by ecureilx » Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:15 am

JR8 wrote:
But you know it wasn't that much earlier that men would get given a haircut at the border if it was more than collar length. Just ask SMS.... oh no, perhaps he's not the best one to ask :P
Before I arrived, my then Maldivian boss, who was operating out of Singapore told me that either it was to cut the hair short, or pony tail it ..

For some reason, the Old Chief was not happy about men with hair flying all over ..

Ponytail was OK !!!!

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Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 13 Mar 2012 2:00 pm

When I arrived here back in '82, the post offices still had posters on the walls with a side view drawing of a guy with hair over his shirt collar (not even below the collar, just over the top of it). Under the image was the notice that "men with hair over the collar will be served LAST" I wanted a copy of that poster so bad but was never able to talk the postmaster in Seletar Camp out of the poster after it was finally removed.

And yeah, I remember many instances of people being forceably removed from concert venues for not remaining seated. :o

Things have loosened up considerably. In fact, my son broke his elbow in a mosh pit a couple of years ago, body surfing during a rock concert. They dropped him! :oops!: :shit:

In fact, the crowds are pretty wild in some of the outdoor venues like the annual BayBeats concerts at the Esplanade.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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ecureilx
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Post by ecureilx » Tue, 13 Mar 2012 2:18 pm

sundaymorningstaple wrote:When I arrived here back in '82, the post offices still had posters on the walls with a side view drawing of a guy with hair over his shirt collar (not even below the collar, just over the top of it). Under the image was the notice that "men with hair over the collar will be served LAST" I wanted a copy of that poster so bad but was never able to talk the postmaster in Seletar Camp out of the poster after it was finally removed.
And until recently, the Civil Defense HQ, at Bendemeer, did have a big notice board stating that "people with Long Hair, wearing singlets, and shorts, are not welcome here" :)

Before they demolished the place .. it was big, and bright ..

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Post by Mi Amigo » Tue, 13 Mar 2012 3:18 pm

BigSis wrote:I went to see Yes play here quite a while ago - must have been 2003 or 04 and it was a 'dry' concert - not a drink to be had not even water. It was at Suntec in one of the convention halls and just to rub salt in the wound it was sponsored by Carlsberg :(
Oh boy, Suntec. What a truly dreadful place to hold a concert (with or without a drink, although I guess a beer might make it margnially more tolerable). We saw Norah Jones play at Suntec a few years ago and it was just so utterly, obviously the wrong venue for her that the tour organisers should have been fired on the spot. A flat, cavernous, soul-less space with horrible acoustics and less ambience than an anti-ambience person from NoAmbienceLand. Never again.

The Esplanade Concert Hall is, by contrast, truly world class (even the bar setup is better than other places). We're off to See Vicente Amigo tonight - should be good...

http://www.esplanade.com/whats_on/progr ... /index.jsp
Be careful what you wish for

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Post by BigSis » Tue, 13 Mar 2012 7:39 pm

Fortunately "Yes" sounded really good at Suntec. Although we were spitting feathers by the end and had to go over to Paulaner for some liquid refreshment.

I'm off to see Elbow on Sunday at the Esplanade Concert Hall - I reckon they'll sound excellent in there. It's a bit of a posh venue but they're not really a 'get up and dance' kind of band so it should be OK

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