but I just don't think of the band as a singular entity.

But I guess I would never say 'The herd are moving' so it's just bad form.

2) Women have the monopoly I think. They're welcome to it, too.

1) The band ARE playing
2) Women

since you could be referring to the band as either a singular collective or a reference to everyone in the band.
Its in the mind of the sayer really.

Labour pains

2) probably females, but spare a thought for male->female transvestites who will never again experience either of those things. Truly the worst pain ever?

1) Are (Is is just being American for no reason)
2) Women (Melon out of a tennis ball, and all that)

'Is playing' just sounds wrong to me.

2) I once saw a kid at my school have a football toe-punted into his balls, and he didn't get up again for the entirety of lunch break. After you've been kicked in the balls you can feel the pain in your whole abdomen as well, it's not just localised to the spuds.

Plus at least women get a baby out of the experience, men just increase the risk of being infertile.

i don't have a problem with Americans saying "is".

2. Labour pains can last for 72hrs sometimes - at least a kick in the nuts is over in a short space of time

2) I don't know. Probably labour pains, but you have to factor in women's tendency to make a fuss.

1) Is. Band = collective noun. no?

I still say 'are' in conversation though, because I prefer the way it sounds.

2) Ask that dude that gave birth in America.

2. Women.

from the pain :(

2. I read something not long ago where someone had done a proper survey strongly suggesting women have a lower pain threshold than men, contrary to the standard folk wisdom. I chuckled to myself.

2) i may not ever know what it's like to be on the receiving end of a good hard kick in the nuts, but perhaps you could try passing a marble through your urinary meatus some time to compare pain levels in order to ascertain the answer to your second question.

when my nuts got smacked up, eh.. that would be rad.