:: A Malaysian on Music, Gigs, Concerts. ::

For the longest time I have been raving on and on about Zee Avi @ Kokokaina. She finally had her homecoming gig in Malaysia since getting signed. About time!

50 minute set. Short but sweet. Well she doesn’t have that many songs. Zee started the night off with Poppy. Good way to get the crowd going. And it was a pretty decent crowd. About 3 thousand people made the night merry. Zee continued with Slow Hands, The Childhood. She followed that up with Honey Bee, Bitter Heart, You and Me and finally Kantoi! Her final song (yeah that was fast), The First Of The Gang, which incidentally was not written by her came up the block pretty fast.

Then came some dramatics. She thanked the crowd the organisers, brought her dad up there, Gold certification was awarded (probably Malaysia or Taiwan certification). Then it was done. The crowd (some of them) started leaving but I knew there was no way I was leaving till I heard my favourite, Monte. After some feeble attempts to calm the demanding crowd down, Adam the MC saved his head when Zee stepped out and performed, wait for it….Monte

That just wrapped up the night for me. Check out some pictures that the organiser Red Tix shared with me.

Some old Zee Avi postings of mine

http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=254
http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=241
http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=215
http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=211
http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=199
http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=181
http://www.yumchar.net/otb/?p=57

Sorry folks, this is a bit outdated :).

I’ve never been a fan of KL Live because it was never meant to be a gig arena. First, it’s where Warp used to be. Secondly, it was where Ruums was and I’ve attended Akon there before. But, since it’s probably the only other intimate arena that KL has, let’s not be too demanding yeah?

I got there pretty early. Around 7pm for some dinner and drinks and was greeted by a tremendously LONG line. So, no way I was going to wait in line, I’ll just wait till later. The crowd was generally youngish and all look all prepped for some RAWKING.

When I decided to stroll into the arena, managed to cut a very long queue thanks to some mates of mine in the organising team. Parked myself upstairs but before long I went downstairs. It’s absolutely not conducive to be upstairs as it’s a stand concert and everyone’s at the same level.

As the band came out and Brian Molko started belting away Placebo tunes, it was evident that this was going to be a good night. However, they played most of their newer stuff. Not the end of the world but the crowd lapped it up anyway. Placebo started the night off with clearly the best song of their new album, Battle For The Sun.

The night progressed on and a couple of cult classics, Special K and Every You Every Me came on but that was it. No Pure Morning, no Nancy Boy, c’mon! When the crowd cheered louder for Bright Lights instead of their classics, it was pretty clear - Placebo were formed in 1994, perhaps some of this crowd weren’t even into music in Placebo’s early days.

Overall a good night but no alcoholic beverages.

Since Paramore were not coming to Malaysia, I had to watch them in Singapore. Another day, another roadtrip. Not too long ago, I was on the Florence & The Machine + The Xx roadtrip, so it has become a natural thing to do.

As I got to the stadium, what a crowd. A very young crowd who I predict are Twilight fans as well. Paramore’s debut and sophomore album catered more for the young ones. Brand New Eyes is a bit more matured in sound.

The night festivities kicked off at about 8pm, with an opening band, which I didn’t catch their name. They were pretty awful, the sound setup was poor and the lead vocalist can’t rawk out.

When Paramore came on, the lights went off - the crowd went MENTAL. They kicked the night off with Ignorance, then slayed Crushcrushcrush. What a way to start their gig. To tone the night down a little bit if it’s possible, Paramore queued up That’s What You Get and Looking Up. Careful and Let the Flames Begin before the infamous “This song is about Love, gone terribly wrong” line was screamed out by Hayley and everyone knew Never Let This Go was next.

Paramore then went back to a couple of songs from their first album, which were Pressure and For A Pessimist….

Then, all of a sudden, Decode came on and it was good night. But we all knew there was an encore. There always is and they hadn’t played the song that got them on the radar.

Hayley and her boys returned to belt out Misery Business and end the night for real this time with Brick By Boring Brick. Throughout the night Hayley engaged the crowd and everyone lapped it all up. It was an image of wholesome bringing the house down with some serious rock tunes. They partied like a rockstar. It was undeniably one of best gigs I have been too throughout my gigging life. I haven’t been to THAT many concerts, but I think I’m in the region of just under 100. So it was that good.

On another note, I have other reviews to post, mainly Florence & The Machine but I have not felt inspired of late to do anything about it. Tough.

The Killers got cancelled, which was a disappointment. So a bunch of us drowned our sorrows in The Killers in spirit and went for a roadtrip anyway. Turns out they’re still playing Australia. So, I wonder what the problem is. Hiatus? Breakup? Just play the damn Asian tour.

Next up, Florence and The Machine, plus The xx on February 7th. I’m looking forward to watching these two buzz bands. If you haven’t heard of either of them, Florence and The Machine are similar to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The xx are the new age nugazers. Yep new aged shoegazer bands.

Next up, March 7 - PARAMORE live in Singapore. I’ve been waiting for their Asian gigs for a couple of years now. So they are finally coming. I can’t wait to hear Hayley belt out my favs: Decode, My Heart, Ignorance, Hallelujah, etc.

In March as well, we’ve got Placebo (who I will miss the singapore gig for the Malaysian one) and Kings of Convenience. It is definitely a good start to the year of 2010.

Check it out if you can.

Date: 7 August 2009
Time: 8-10pm
Venue: 4th Floor Auditorium, Wisma Bentley Music, Mutiara Damansara

Featuring:

Love Me Butch, Dejavoodoospells, Pure Vibracion, The Otherside Orchestra, Jin Hackman, Melissa Indot, Happy Nightmare, Transient Vortex, Ferhad

MJ Tribute @ Homegrown

On the 25th of July, I decided to give Hennessy Artistry a visit at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club. Since last year’s gig, which Flo Rida performed and he was pretty good, I expected roughly the same for this year, even with a lineup of Dominique Tsai, Fatman Scoop, Lil John, Ying Yang Twins, Homies (WTF?) DJ Camino, etc. Yep, what a bunch of 2nd rate artistes. I had some eagerness for Fatman Scoop and DJ Camino.

I reached the gig around 11pm or so and Dominique Tsai was wrapping up her set. She was kinda hot, and could kinda sing and dance, but that was about it. Then The Homies, some chinese rap trio came on and they were unmentionably poor. Next up, DJ Camino who whipped the crowd into a frenzy with some old school beats mixing and scratching but his set was a bit too rapid. Too many changeovers. Then Fatman Scoop came on, he was entertaining at first but soon after, he became the ego rapper that most of them are. He stopped rapping and played music he liked. Dude, you ain’t Kanye West. I absolutely hate this as people went there to see you perform your own songs. What’s with this wannabe DJ crap? Then the Yin Yang twins came on. I left after 10 minutes.

Despite the free booze, free entry, music etc, I left. I went for some nuggets, which goes to show what a pathetic little show the boys at Hennessy put up. Get your act together guys/girls.

Sharizan, the voice, the crooner. You’ve heard him on Litefm’s Sunday night Swing Time. I sorta remember him representing Malaysia on Asia Bagus back in 1993, but it’s his bubbly and fun personality that has gotten radio listeners, TV viewers to remember him more. With a voice suited for classic swing numbers and bop jazz tunes, Sharizan entertained for two days in Alexis Ampang over the last weekend (25 - 26 July).

I had the opportunity to check out his set on Friday night, whilst entertaining my tummy with Alexis’ wonderful food. It was a good way to end a tough week, and how else but with good music, entertainment, food and WINE. He split his set up into two different sets, performing classic swing tunes like Fly Me To The Moon, You Don’t Know Me, etc and turning it more pop culture with famous pop classics. Throughout his performance, he engaged the crowd with his wit and charm, breaking out into song wherever he could. He also dropped some clues onto his voice talent and the company he owns by demonstrating his impersonations, voice-over talent, etc.

As with most setups in Alexis, it was simple and precise, letting the musicians do their thing. His session musicians were great musicians. Their sound crisp. Most bands in Malaysia should take a note from Jazz musicians, improve your music playing or you will blend into the background.

Overall, it was a brilliant night. Thank you Sharizan.

Aimee is coming to town. Well not exactly. She’s coming to Singapore. The veteren pop-rocker first entered my airwaves back in 1995 in the days where piracy wasn’t so rampant and mp3s were a novelty. The series’ that we have been watching on terrestial TV was Beverly Hills and supposedly Melrose Place (which got banned after a few episodes). Luckily we had the OSTs to live on. On the wicked crazy Melrose Place OST, there were a number of tracks, which I remembered such as Urge Overkill, Paul Westerberg, Dinosaur Jr, Frente!, The Divinyls (With such a sexy track), Letters to Cleo and so many more. But one track, which I remember till today and still have the song is That’s Just What You Are by Aimee Mann. Such a simple, pop tune that just stays retched in my memory. This track is also off Aimee’s second album I’m With Stupid released in 1995.

Later on, I get acquainted with her debut album Whatever where I heard Stupid Thing and I’m hooked. Then came Red Vines (remember that animated video), You Do and of course Save Me - all off Aimee’s 2000 release Bachelor No. 2. Save Me also featured on 1999’s Magnolia soundtrack and got Aimee a Grammy.

Aimee’s follow up album Lost in Space in 2002 only had a couple of songs I really loved, Pavlov’s Bell and This Is How It Goes. Then came Beautiful and I Can’t Help You Anymore from The Forgotten Arm released in 2005.

I must admit I haven’t quite absorbed her 2008 album @#%&*! Smilers.

I’m hoping I can make it for a concert. Plenty of time to plan.

Date: Saturday, 29 Aug 2009
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
Tickets: S$118, S$98 and S$68 (excluding SISTIC fee)

Info from:
Junk Magazine

More Zee Avi. Are you bored yet? I certainly am not. Go get her CD! Plus she did a cover of Interpol’s Slow Hands.

C’mon Zee, you gotta do a show in Malaysia again!

Her US Gigs
June 13 Manchester TN Bonnaroo
June 15 Chapel Hill NC Night Light
June 16 Kill Devil Hills NC The Pit
June 17 Columbia, SC Hunter Gatherer
June 19 Opelika AL Eight & Rail
June 20 Birmingham AL City Stages
July 11 Redmond WA No Depression Festival

Opening for, wait for it, Pete Yorn (yep, none other)
July 13 Austin TX La Zona Rosa
July 14 Houston TX The Meridian
July 16 Nashville TN Cannery Ballroom
July 17 Atlanta GA CW Center Stage
July 20 Washington DC 9:30 Club
July 21 Baltimore MD Rams Head Live
July 25 Camden NJ Wiggins Waterfront Park
July 26 Boston MA House of Blues - Boston
July 28 New York NY Webster Hall
July 29 New York NY Webster Hall
Aug 02 Pontiac MI Clutch Cargos
Aug 03 Chicago IL Park West
Aug 04 Chicago IL Park West
Aug 07 N. Kansas City MO Harrah’s - Voodoo Lounge
Aug 08 Council Bluffs IA Whiskey Roadhouse at Horseshoe Casino
Aug 09 Saint Louis MO The Pageant
Aug 12 Minneapolis MN Fine Line Music Cafe
Aug 13 Minneapolis MN Fine Line Music Cafe
Aug 15 Denver CO Ogden Theatre
Aug 16 Salt Lake City UT Murray Theater
Aug 17 Boise ID Knitting Factory Concert House
Aug 21 Vancouver BC Venue
Aug 22 Portland OR Roseland Theater
Aug 27 Los Angeles CA Henry Fonda Theatre
Aug 28 San Francisco, CA Outside Lands Festival
Aug 29 San Diego, CA Street Scene

Info from Zee Avi’s Official Website

Truly an allstar lineup. Although I won’t be catching this one but all of you should. I’m actually curious to watch Mia Palencia out from her Double Take outfit. Reza is Malaysia’s very own beloved singer songwriter who sings from his soul.

Check it

A lot of people have been asking me where is this Wisma Bentley. Just find Court’s Mammoth, which is nearby Tesco, Ikano and Curve. Park inside the the car park compound and you won’t miss the words Bentley Music. Go up to the 3rd floor for the expression corner (I’ve decided to give this little corner it’s own name cause it’s not all about music, it can be spoken word, poem reading, standup comedy, music). The Auditorium is on the 4th floor, where the magic happens.

Disclaimer: Some people are actually asking me whether I work for HG, and no I don’t. I’m just a professional appreciator of music that is supporting this noble cause. Why? Because I think it’s about time we had something like this. It’s reminiscent of those Troubadour days in La Bodega Tongshin except this has a more permanent feel to it.