Job Discussion Forums

[ultraman111]

Hi, just wondering if anyone has ever seen people playing live music, western style.....Electric guitar, bass, drums even?

I was planning to take my Acoustic guitar on the plane.....plan to live on a compound.


Maybe I could get a gig every month in Bahrain or Dubai?

[Imdramayu]

Hey,

Is it a Western compound where many of the folks are from the West? If it is a compound dominated by Pakistanis or Arabs, then be quiet with your guitar. I knew a big guitar player who played in his apartment in Riyadh and he was never harassed by anyone. He played gigs here and there from time to time. But he left KSA to head other places.

Im

[ultraman111]

Aramco compound.....neighbours could be any nationality, but so what....If I hear anything from them at 5am, Ill be complaining! If they hear me practicing at 7pm, bring it on!

[veiledsentiments]

Have you been in the Middle East before? Five AM would be a very common time to get up... probably to the call to prayer. Things start early in this part of the world as is common in extremely hot climates. I had university level jobs where classes began at 7:00 am and ended at 2:00.

VS

[ultraman111]

Hi VS,

No I have never been to that part of the world.

That was exactly my point.....I would complain to the person responsible for housing if I was placed next to people who woke up and made noise at 5am...whatever their nationality.....I assume us westerners will be grouped together....going on the grade code at Aramco......I will be grade 11 which will be with the western family area...in the compound. Grade 10 and lower are at the ends of the camps. (Segregated)

So playing guitar and singing at 7pm should be no issue at all. If it is I might just come home after 3 months and play music here while drinking cold beer.

[veiledsentiments]

[2buckets]

At a compound I lived on in Jeddah there were regular parties on the weekends with "Battle of the Bands. Often two or more bands playing, (not at the same time), beer, wine and Sid flowing freely, dancing and general carousing. Often a good punch up too. No shortage of the fairer sex as women (nurses and flight attendants), were bused in from the "girl ghetto".

A good time was had by all!

By all means, bring your ax. It will contribute to your mental health. Just don't play for the matawah. They believe that if you listen to music, when you die, the devil, (Shatan) will pour molten lead in your ears

Don't forget that Mohammed Abdu, a Saudi Oud player and singer is a super star in the middle east.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Abdu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgtuzYagA7M

[ultraman111]

Wow dunno if I can get into that style!

Nice Rythmns, sounds Indian.


Creedence Cleerwater revival sound for me......

or

Neil Young

[2buckets]

I'm not suggesting that you play that style of music, merely that music is popular among many in the ME.