Monthly Archives: April 2014

Politiko: 2nd Ed and Sabah & Sarawak Expansion Launch Party


26th April 2014: Politiko: 2nd Ed and Sabah & Sarawak Expansion Launch Party!


Note the super-sized Sabah & Sarawak cards!


Stephanie was all like, “are you on the list yo?” and I was like:


Tunjuk NRIC! (Thanks Azira, fellow Poligeeko and ardent gamemistress, for this picture.)


Politiko: 2nd Edition! I bought 7 initially, and sold one to Syafiq who came later. This is how I present the remaining six in a picture while also showing all sides of the deck.


Sabah & Sarawak Expansion! Same idea.


A quick look at the new cards. Also, a shot of tuak in the top.

The original first edition had wider cards, making it hard to find transparent sleeves for them. The second edition is narrower so it’s not a problem anymore, and it also has rounded corners.

Me? I just like the weathered look, so I don’t care for sleeves. It makes them easier to deal, too!

As for game mechanics – I’ll leave that commentary to the POLITIKO (The Official Community) Facebook group. I’ve not played enough rounds of the second edition and expansion to comment on the differences.


Some of the new Sabah & Sarawak cards.


Chi Too, usually seen in a sarong, was not in sarong today, because a whole bunch of hipsters in sarongs were travelling in town on the trains, and he did not wish to be associated with them. “Look at them! They wear pants underneath!”

I too, understand his predicament. I initially took the monorail, but it broke down, so I had to take the Metrobus. Keretapi Sarong? I was getting on the bus.


The sales counter, under the stairs, and Malaysiakini’s well-prepared photojournalist Koh Jun Lin.

You could also get the T-shirts, for RM40 each. Some might say steep, but I paid the hipster tax.


Upstairs, before the performances.


Mun Kao, creator of Politiko, in the middle of everything.


Kaz introduces the game and its creators.


Left: Zedeck Siew, who wrote the text, and right: Mun Kao, who did the illustrations. Game designed and produced by Centre for Artful and Useful Recreation (CENTAUR).


Brian Gomez, first act, with catchy parodies and cheeky lyrics about Malaysia. He even had a song about the Sulu Invasion!


Sattama. Very refreshing sound.


His bassist.


Andrew T. Crum chilling out with cool shades. We later had a discussion about underground hipster places and upperground hipster places. (They are self-explanatory.)


Ronnie Khoo, noise maker.


Yes, the back casing was removed, so he could get straight into some circuitry to make bleeps.


Faiq & The Manja Mob.


One cajon…


Second ukulele…


…and two guitarists sharing their love of one microphone.


Catchy, quirky music! They did an East Malaysian classic tune cover as well – Jimmy Palikat – Anak Kampung to be exact.


Although I brought the original version with me, I did not take any comparison shots until I got home. The second edition is a bit thicker, but the cards are narrower.


Size comparison of Politiko: Second Edition with the Sabah & Sarawak Expansion.


Interestingly, when put together, they form a square base.


Finally, the big picture. The cards in the left half are from the original – you’ll see I have gotten the autographs of Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan, YB Nurul Izzah, Saudara Arutchelvan, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, but I have quite a few people in mind for some of my other cards. It’s not complete yet. You’ll also see that the original 10 parties were reduced to 9 (the right half is from the second edition, plus the 3 parties from the Sabah & Sarawak Expansion.)

I bought 3 more sets after, due to the popularity, and people booking it over comments in Instagram.

I have altogether 11 tuak cards (1 is in my personal deck, not shown) – I got 2 from just entering – but 9 sets, of which most have been booked already.

Politiko: 2nd Edition: RM38
Sabah & Sarawak Expansion: RM19

I am selling them together for RM50 with the limited edition Tuak Card. This is the same price you’d pay if you got it at the launch event. This is limited to stock that I bought at the event, though. Perhaps I might buy two more sets just so I can pack the 2 extra tuak cards with them, but they’d be at RM57 (still better value, because of the powerful tuak… I mean, tuak card!)

Edited: I am no longer selling the extra sets, as all of the sets with tuak cards have either been sold or reserved.

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Publika ft The Metaphor & Gabriel Lynch / April 2014 Edition


22nd April 2014: Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Publika ft The Metaphor & Gabriel Lynch / April 2014 Edition. Here’s Reza Salleh, emcee and organizer!


Andy (like Otam, but with his gruff voice crunked up to 11!)


Rizal Mokhtar.


Fikri Azam.


Markiza & Peter Brown. Markiza was wearing a Save Penang Hill T-shirt, from the 80’s!


Sedsuna, awesome progressive instrumental movie-soundtrackish rock, this time with a djembe.


Raja Farouque Band. Ash’s pose is hilarious in this picture!


Farouque shredded to Steve Child Of Vai… I mean, Guns & Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine cover, done Steve Vai style.


Zaim Zaidee on bass.


Lor Phaik Sim on keyboard.


Instead of sweep picking, have some sweep fretting!


He reminds me too much of Steve Vai – that he didn’t go when Steve came down to Malaysia, was an absolute shame.


Gabriel Lynch, first featured act.


One bassist…


…and a synth bassist!


Drums, of course.


The Metaphor, second featured act.


Sometimes their music makes me feel like this.


Tomas (middle) also plays in a pop punk band called An Honest Mistake.


Shiru.


Shane Tan.


Also featuring Zaim, who filled in for the spaces that Shane left while playing guitar lightly.


Strange combination, but it worked.


Ash again.


Shane does Bill Withers – Ain’t No Sunshine, because he’s an old soul like that.


This would be in fact the first time I’d see Shane play guitar and sing.


Nazrin.


Syamee Shamsul.


Remote, hard-rocking boys.


Shiru won the prize for the night, for the theme of movie soundtracks.

Transformers: Masterpieces!


Here’s the last of my Transformers series, for now. Hasbro Masterpiece Thundercracker! (Yes, the stand has a typo, saying Thunder Cracker.)


Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-17 Prowl.


Next to Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-12 Sideswipe.


From back: Hasbro Masterpiece Soundwave, Hasbro Masterpiece Thundercracker on Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime, Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-12 Sideswipe.


Prowl’s sexy back.


Optimus Prime, mid-transformation. Note the light blue eyes, the way it should be, cartoon-style.


Getting his Matrix fix in his battle station.


This explains where the trailer goes when he transforms – Roller drives out of the trailer, and tows the trailer away to a safe place.


Based on Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-10 Optimus Prime, he has a magnificent cartoon-based sculpt.


Clockwise from front right: Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-12 Sideswipe, Reveal The Shield Special Ops Jazz, Generations Wheeljack, Generations Springer, Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime.


I love Sideswipe’s paint job. Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!


Sexy back, too. He’s a lot easier to transform than Prowl.


Here he is with Alternators Sideswipe, who had lousy leg articulation.


Perspective makes Alternators Sideswipe look smaller, although he is a 1:24 scale car. I don’t know what scale Masterpiece Sideswipe is.

Transformers, Deluxe

And now, for a smaller run – my Transformers Prime collection, and other deluxe figures!


Left: Generations Sergeant Kup, right: Prime Sergeant Kup.


I obviously like the Generations mould better.


“Damn kids! Get off my lawn!”


Left to right: Generations Sergeant Kup, Prime Sergeant Kup, Prime Cliffjumper First Edition.


Left: Prime Wheeljack on United Scrapheap, right: Prime Cliffjumper First Edition on Takara Tomy United Wreck-Gar.


That they can ride each other is very cool! Here’s United Scrapheap on Takara Tomy United Wreck-Gar…


…and Takara Tomy United Wreck-Gar on United Scrapheap!


Prime Cliffjumper First Edition, a very handsome muscle car.


It even has a slightly painted rear.


Awesome shadow, too.


Prime Starscream First Edition.


Quite a bit of kibble for the back, but otherwise slender profile.


Generations Autobot Springer. Not a triple-changer, and a bit clunky.


He does have an awesome helicopter mode, though.


Reveal The Shield Special Ops Jazz. My favorite version of Jazz, even beating Alternators Meister (Jazz) because it doesn’t have loose shoulders.


The face is spot on!


Prime Wheeljack.


Also a sexy back.


Not the engineer we knew.


Yes, I love Wheeljack too. Left to right: Unrelated Prime Vehicon, Prime Wheeljack, Generations Wheeljack, Cybertron Downshift, Energon Powerlink Downshift. Due to licensing issues, Transformers often get renamed, to get their proper names back later (in the case of Wheeljack.)


Slightly off topic, but here’s IDW Orion Pax.


First official mould of Orion Pax, and a good one.


Unrelated Takara Tomy Animated Bulkhead.


Left to right: Prime Starscream First Edition, Prime Vehicon, Prime Cliffjumper First Edition, Prime Wheeljack.


Fall Of Cybertron Shockwave.


The cold guardian.


Left to right: Prime Vehicon, Prime Vehicon First Edition. One of the rare cases where the First Edition is weaker in design.


In vehicle mode however the First Edition (on the right) is beefier.


First Edition. With clunky shoulder transformation.


Not first edition. Like a cockroach-inspired drone.

Transformers: Triple-Changers And Dinosaurs!


First up, my darling theropods. From left: Energon Grimlock, Beast Wars Transmetal 2 Dinobot, Classics Grimlock. Dinobot is the odd one out, being a velociraptor instead of a tyrannosaurus rex.


Clockwise from front-right: Classics Grimlock, Energon Grimlock, Energon Swoop, Beast Wars Transmetal 2 Dinobot.


Energon Grimlock and Energon Swoop combine to form Energon Mega-Dinobot, a rare and clunky two-figure combiner. Here he is in scale to Hasbro Masterpiece Soundwave and Hasbro Fall Of Cybertron Bruticus Generation 2 in the background.


I’d forgotten to put this in the previous blog entry about combiners. This is Reveal The Shield Deluxe Optimus Prime with Make Toys Battle Tanker add-on. Not mine – belongs to Amir, a colleague of mine.


This, too. Star Wars Transformers Millenium Falcon (who becomes a Space Balls-like Han Solo and Chewbacca) on the right, and Takara Tomy Reissue Unicron (Amir’s) on the left, without the plates that make him a spherical planet.


Another one I forgot – headshots of the Robots In Disguise Build Team peeking out.


Another – TFC Hercules, in his vehicle form, minus TFC Exgraver not-Scavenger. Amir’s as well.


Knock-off Fansproject City Commander…


…an add-on for Classics Optimus Prime.


Yeah, I quite miss the old office. Left to right: Chuck, the yellow Angry Bird, best of the original; Energon Powerlink Tow-Line, Energon Powerlink Prowl, Energon Powerlink Rodimus, Energon Powerlink Inferno, Energon Powerlink Energon Hot Shot, Energon Powerlink Downshift, Generations Wheeljack, Prime Wheeljack, Cybertron Downshift, Robots In Disguise Grimlock, Robots In Disguise Hightower, Robots In Disguise Heavy Load, Robots In Disguise Wedge, Takara Tomy United Wreck-Gar, Alternators Ravage, Alternators Mirage, Alternators Decepticon Rumble, Alternators Grimlock, Alternators Hound. Whew!


Now that all that is out of the way, here come some triple-changers! Clockwise from front-right: Classics Bumblebee, Classics Astrotrain, Classics Tankor (Octane), Fansproject Warcry. Bumblebee is not a triple-changer. Warcry technically is a quadruple-changer since he can become an arm or leg… but he doesn’t have the parts.


Either triple-changers or quadruple-changers here. From front-right: Generations Springer, Fall Of Cybertron Onslaught, Fall Of Cybertron Swindle, Fall Of Cybertron Brawl, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #17 Blitzwing, Animated Blitzwing, Generations Blitzwing, Fall Of Cybertron Soundwave. Soundwave can take an unofficial form as a boombox, just like in the game!


I break the above rule for these aerial fighters.

From left to right, front row: Fall Of Cybertron Vortex, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #17 Blitzwing, Takara Tomy Prime Arms Micron Vehicon General, Fall Of Cybertron Blast Off.

From left to right, middle row: Generations Springer, Generations Blitzwing, Animated Blitzwing.

From left to right, back row: Transformers Star Wars Millenium Falcon (Hans Solo and Chewbacca), Hasbro Masterpiece Thundercracker.


Generations Blitzwing has a very customizable form, once you get past the weak shoulders and hard-to-flip face-swap mechanism, both of which can be fixed with a bit of hacking – look it up on YouTube.


The standard jet form, from the back.


A War For Cybertron-styled custom transformation.


His default face is the best-looking.


He was born to spar with Generations Springer, who has the best frame I’ve ever seen in a Transformer.


His athletic look has prompted many a colleague, who’d just pass by and ignore the Transformers, to genuinely ask: How much is this one?


He also has a custom fourth form – gerwalk mode!


His lesser-liked helicopter mode.


Still, I have the most Blitzwings. In fact, I have all triple-changing Blitzwings there ever were! Left to right: Animated Blitzwing, Generations Blitzwing, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #17 Blitzwing.


The face-swap gimmick I spoke of first showed up in Animated Blitzwing, himself an awesome figure with great articulation. You’d roll a dial on the back of his head to turn his face around inside its helmet.


All the triple-changers I can remember, in road-worthy form. From front-right: Generations Springer, Fansproject Warbot, Transmetal Airazor, Transmetal Tarantulas (as a motorbike, not obvious), Classics Tankor, Classics Astrotrain, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #11 Astrotrain, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #17 Blitzwing, Animated Blitzwing, Generations Blitzwing.


Same as above, just in aerial form, except Transmetal Tarantulas, who has become a tarantula.


Again, as robots.

Transformers Combine!


I also have a thing for Transformers that combine and merge into what is unofficially known as a gestalt – a larger robot made of smaller robots who transform themselves. This is Fall Of Cybertron Bruticus Generation 2!


A key thing about combiner teams is that the members must be able to transform between two modes as well, and a third mode which is as a part of the combiner. There are some combiners that have drones that are only in vehicle mode and don’t transform into robots. I don’t consider those worth collecting.


Another plus point is when they have a fourth mode – usually only applying to figures that are usually arms but can become legs, or legs that can become arms. The center torso guy doesn’t have a fourth mode.


There are also third-party combiner figures. This is Fansproject Warcry. I didn’t do my research before buying – this did not come with the extra parts needed to merge with Energon Bruticus!


He is supposed to be an Energon Bruticus-compatible version of Swindle. Here’s Generation 2 Swindle on the left.


Here are a whole lot of white space shuttles. Clockwise from top-right: Fansproject Flameblast, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #11 Astrotrain, Generation 2 Blast Off, Classics Astrotrain. Although I have Energon Powerlink Jetfire, I’ve omitted him from this picture.


From left: Generation 2 Blast Off, Fansproject Flameblast, Takara Tranformers Collection Re-Issue #11 Astrotrain, Classics Astrotrain.

Astrotrain is a triple-changer, but I’ll leave the triple-changing collection to be blogged later.

Flameblast is supposed to be an Energon Bruticus-compatible version of Blast Off, also regrettably missing the extra parts. What I really should have got was the Fansproject Munitioner and Explorer two-pack.


Clockwise from front-right: Energon Sledge, Fansproject Flameblast, Fansproject Warcry, Energon Duststorm, Energon Kickback, Energon Barricade, Energon Stormcloud. I initially collected these Decepticon combiners (before the Fansproject guys) to form a Decepticon gestalt; they were from the Energon Constructicon Maximus and Energon Bruticus Maximus sets. The Energon combiners got lazy – there are only 3 unique molds for 5 characters, with two pairs of twins in different colors, and one unique torso figure. I didn’t buy double, but I skipped Energon Steamhammer, the torso figure for Energon Constructicon Maximus, thus making 5 figures exactly.

I did however buy the full set of Energon Superion Maximus, all in separate boxes. Nope, I don’t keep any Transformers MISB (Mint In Sealed Box).


One such combination! I could reuse Kickback’s foot for Fansproject Warcry.


This time, with Energon Sky Shadow as the left leg and Energon Windrazor as the left arm. You can also spot TFC Madblender not-Mixmaster in the back, and Robots In Disguise Landfill (as the Build Team).


TFC Hercules not-Devastator and THS-02 Hybrid Style Convoy (Optimus Prime). Both are not mine, but Amir’s, a colleague of mine.


This has got to be one of the handsomest of the third-party Devastators to storm the market.


Size comparison from left to right: Fansproject Protector not-Rodimus Prime-add-on’s not-Offshoot, Reveal The Shield Deluxe Optimus Prime with Make Toys Battle Tanker add-on, War Machine, Energon Powerlink Downshift on Energon Powerlink Rodimus, Classics Hot Rod with Fansproject Protector add-on, Robots In Disguise Landfill, and part of TFC Hercules. Mine? The Powerlink pair and Landfill; the rest belong to Amir.


Powerlink pairs are interesting; they have four forms – robot, vehicle, upper body, and lower body. Please pardon my laziness to omit the medicine and notes from the picture.

Clockwise from front-right: Energon Powerlink Inferno, Energon Powerlink Downshift (who should be named Wheeljack), Energon Powerlink Prowl (who should be named Mirage), Energon Powerlink Tow-Line, Energon Powerlink Energon Hot Shot (The extra Energon in its name implies that it is the silver recolor – sad that I could not find the first version, as each other figure is the first version.)


Classics Hot Rod with Fansproject Protector add-on. Pardon the lack of foresight on the shallow depth of field.


Robots In Disguise Landfill is amazing. He’s made out of just four parts; three of which can cycle between being both arms, the left leg, and the right leg. The chest plate and head is made from Wedge, the center guy. Everything else clips on. Ugly, but quite innovative for its time.


A knock-off Fansproject City Commander add-on for Classics Optimus Prime, and THS-02 Hybrid Style Convoy (Optimus Prime) riding on his shoulders.


Classics Hot Rod with Fansproject Protector add-on in the back, and Takara United Optimus Prime in front.


A regrettably blurry shot. From left: Fansproject Flameblast, Prime Wheeljack riding Takara Tomy United Wreck-Gar, Deluxe Barricade with Frenzy (from the first Michael Bay movie), Robots In Disguise Landfill, and yet another Energon combiner with Aerialbots for arms and Decepticons from different combiner teams for legs.


And now, on to the latest darling of the third-party series – Fansproject M3 not-Menasor!


Amazing articulation and component reuse!


His sword stows away on his back. The rails on the back are optional, to give him a skyscraper-ish form.


Fully articulated fingers and arms let him reach for his sword.


The torso is Diesel not-Motormaster. Love his head sculpt!


He can load up on all his extra bits, usually used to form the gestalt, like this. Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime is in the background (the one based on Takara Tomy MP-10).


Here the not-Stunticon team is, in scale to Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime, and Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-12 Sideswipe and Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-17 Prowl. Diesel cannot turn corners while Optimus has the articulation to.


Not-Stunticon team. From left to right:
– CA-10 T-Bone not-Wildrider
– CA-09 Car-Crash not-Breakdown
– CA-13 Diesel not-Motormaster
– CA-11 Down Force not-Drag Strip
– CA-12 Last Chance not-Dead End


Some sacrifices had to be made to allow for full articulation. The legs go on calf braces that connect to feet (as opposed to being formed entirely from the leg figure.) Same goes for the arms. The ultimate goal would be to not use any extra parts, like Fall Of Cybertron Bruticus!


Those are, at the moment, two goals that nobody has achieved just yet. Either you get a handsome combined mode at the expense of extra parts, or a frigid combined mode with no extra parts.

Also note that the arms and legs have been swapped. When a combiner can do this, it is said to have Scramble Power.

These pictures aren’t my full collection – I’ve got Generation 2 Aerialbots that I won’t take out, since Slingshot’s head broke (as is with all gold-colored plastic) and his head functions as the connector. I’ve also got Beast Wars Magnaboss, a three-figure combiner, that I’d have to dig up, too.

Soundwave And Friends!


After posting all the gigs I was to post, I went next through the Transformers pictures I had, all from various times over the years. I found it easier to separate them by category.

It so happens I have a thing for Soundwave and his ejecting minions (unofficially termed Cassetticons) – be it discs, guitars, missile packs or cassettes, like the original. My criteria was that the Soundwave toy must have at least one minion in order for me to buy him.


Left: Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-13 Soundwave (not mine); right: Cybertron Soundwave.


Left: Hasbro Masterpiece Soundwave; right: Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime. Notice how sleek and similar both their backs are!


Hasbro Masterpiece Soundwave has yellow eyes like the toy, but we all know that Decepticons have red eyes, so I used a Sharpie to color them in, so they would look glorious and red, like the Takara Tomy version.


He has a way of attaching Rumble and Frenzy’s kibble, as well as a snap-on grid.


One of the coolest poses you can get with him, is that he can press his own eject button, just like in the cartoon. Here you can see I had not painted his eyes in yet.


All his cassettes! The Hasbro version comes with all 5 – Ravage, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Rumble, and Frenzy. Megatron, obviously, is not a cassette.


Those with red highlights rode together. Following the Generation 1 cartoon naming, Ravage is being ridden by Laserbeak in front, with Frenzy holding Megatron.


Takara Tomy Animated Soundwave, with Laserbeak, who is perched on Soundwave. Another rolling thing is that Laserbeak usually has a way to attach to Soundwave firmly.


Laserbeak transforms into a Dean-Razorback-V-styled electric guitar!


Even in vehicle mode, Soundwave implies a music box. Next to him is Takara Tomy Animated Bulkhead; they came together in a double pack.


Flying V, indeed!


Then there’s Hasbro Fall Of Cybertron Soundwave.


He ejects circular discs that are spring-loaded; when the discs are ejected, the impact from landing triggers their spring-loaded transformation. However you still need to adjust it just a bit to make it not look like it was dropped. Poor Ravage.


Frenzy’s feet need to be pulled out, and his arms need to flip down, before it can look right.


But hey, this is one classy guy, with awesome light piping.


He, too, can press his own eject button. Unfortunately, Laserbeak does not peg on his arm like the other Soundwave/Laserbeak versions do.


But enough of Soundwave! Let’s look at other versions of his minions. Here’s a gathering of birds of prey – clockwise from bottom-left: Takara Tomy Masterpiece Laserbeak, Hasbro Fall Of Cybertron Laserbeak, Cybertron Laserbeak, and the rare Energon Swoop, an Autobot.


I recently bought this pack of Takara Tomy Henkei Autobot Specialist figures – from left: Mirage, Ironhide, Hound and the odd Decepticon, Ravage.


Alternate mode. Sadly missing a part of Mirage! Ravage, as a cassette, can hook onto Hound’s back, just like in the cartoon, when it wanted to infiltrate the Autobot base.


Amazingly, it is about the same size as Masterpiece Ravage – which is the same size as the Generation 1 Ravage. This probably allows it to fit in Generation 1 Soundwave – it fit in my Masterpiece Soundwave!


Transformed, both look awesome.


Transformers Device Label Jaguar (Ravage) on the left, versus Alternators Ravage, who transforms into a Jaguar XK car.


Prime Rumble.


It can simulate the pummelling motion of the original Generation 1 character.


Next to the very handsome Reveal The Shield Special Ops Jazz. The Prime series is shorter, smaller, and hollower, sadly.


There was also a Alternators Decepticon Rumble, with spring-loaded piledrivers.


For scale, a bunch of Masterpiece figures – Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime with trailer, and Takara Tomy Masterpiece MP-12 Sideswipe inside. On the left is Hasbro Masterpiece Soundwave, with Hasbro Masterpiece Thundercracker standing behind.


Lastly, a big gathering of pairs:
– TFC Hercules not-Devastator with Hasbro Fall Of Cybertron: Generation 2 Bruticus
– Fansproject Warbot Defender (one in robot mode, the other in armored vehicle mode)
– Alternators Jazz with Reveal The Shield Special Ops Jazz
– Classics Optimus Prime with THS-02 Hybrid Style Convoy (Optimus Prime)
– Cybertron Soundwave with Fall Of Cybertron Soundwave
– Prime Vehicon with Prime Vehicon First Edition

Spot the Classics Kup behind, and a giant 11x11x11 Rubik’s Cube, behind the 5x5x5 V-Cube and 3x3x3 Rubik’s Cube if you will!

There will be more after this.

Dotters’ Division And Douche Manouche


12th April 2014: Dotters’ Division, at Phat Barrels, Publika!


Yup, this is not the usual lineup.


I’d have to look at the back row!


Here’s Linet, band leader and keyboardist.


Here’s Rebecca, holding the beat.


Sachie Amira, the first import singer, as Melissa was performing with her other band, Crinkle Cut, the same night.


Kevin Wong, on guitar, also filling in for guitar slinger Melissa.


Kevin Theseira, with the lovely glow from his new Asus Padfone 2, filling in on bass for Jie Er, who was playing in another state!


Whatchu looking at?


Linet also sings, sometimes.

Of all the stuff they sang, I enjoyed the most, the slow-fast cover of The Pointer Sisters – Fire (well it sounded like their cover of Bruce Springsteen’s song to me.)


Maybe he does, too.


Kevin gets bombed photographically.


Now I really can’t decide…


…if I like this or the previous one better.


Meanwhile, over at The Bee, Publika, The Lindy KL Swing Dance group swung over after a Swing Out! session at The Square, just outside. I actually went here first, then ran to Phat Barrels on the other end of Publika, and back to this when Dotters’ Division finished, but the sequence of pictures will not indicate this.


It was Douche Manouche!


They play gypsy jazz.


I was expecting to see Raja Farouque on double bass, but I guess not. (He had quit the band.)


Been a while since I’ve seen a slide-in acoustic guitar pickup.


The crowd was dancing all the way up to the stage.


This allowed for very tight closeups, since it would not be so obvious that I was blocking the audience.


Jonathan Khor, who I’ve seen play awesome violin solos with effects pedals!


More dancing!


Thank you bows.


Happy Birthday jam, with many versions.


Later outside, I spotted a new band.


3 ex-housemates and one odd one out.

This marks an unprecendented occurence – I have posted all my gig pictures! There is no gig backlog! I do have a backlog for geeking out, toys, street photography, heritage and activism… but for now, I will savor this minor accomplishment.

7 Buskers In 1 Day


12th April 2014: #BuskStop!


This was the Berjaya Times Square Busk Stop, on the first floor, to the left when you enter from the front. Note the “Photo by Albert Ng” on four of the pictures! It’s been a while since my pictures have been on display anywhere.


Bihzhu was the act of the day. Cool signboard!


Hameer Zawawi, curator of this Busk Stop, talking to the band.


Bihzhu, with a different lineup! Raja Farouque on guitar, and Ryan Gomes on djembe.


The crowd stops by to record. Interesting that the guy is holding a bag from a lingerie store with his fully-covered wife.


Bihzhu has upbeat, uplifting music!


The crowd grew.


I then scurried over to catch Anna Chong, over at the Pavilion Busk Stop, curated by Moonshine Productions.


A big crowd for Anna Chong, who has haunting, emotional, raw music.


Like so.


I then ran over to Fahrenheit 88, for another Busk Stop curated by The Wknd, with Yatai.


I walked towards Lot 10, and passed by these buskers, too!


I took the shuttle bus to KL Sentral (the KL Monorail was closed for the weekend for maintenance, I think) and saw the legendary Meor.

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft Amrita Soon & Paolo Delfino / April 2014 Edition


8th April 2014: Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft Amrita Soon & Paolo Delfino / April 2014 Edition!


Fariz Salleh.


Fariz’s cool pedal, taking some design motifs from Back To The Future!


Basil Foo.


Chelsia Ng spotted assembling a Lego Star Wars Millenium Falcon.


Narmi.


He too has a shiny new toy – a harmonizer!


William & Muhaimin.


Flying Pan.


With Jyo on keyboard – soon to be an ever-rotating slot.


The crowd.


Jyo then performed an acoustic cover of System Of A Down – Aerials, with Raja Farouque on guitar.


Raja Farouque performed next, with his Celtic composition, very technical and acoustic shredder, with a decent bulk of keyboard work, covered by Lor Phaik Sim.


Grace Cho took the keyboard then, to sing Karen O & Ezra Koenig – The Moon Song with Raja Farouque.


He took a more sedentary position.


Amrita Soon, first featured act.


Paolo Delfino, second featured act. Ian Tai is seen here soloing on kazoo.


Fuzzy. Love his voice, and his old soul.


Aiman & Eugene.


They did a cover of Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum well.

Sometimes I don’t know if to mention who did what cover since I don’t know all these modern songs that people cover, since I don’t listen to radio.


Clara Cheong beckons me to take her picture yet again!


Adam.


Maisara.


Cool Johor flag!


Her friends came to bootleg her.


As for that bluish tint? It was this portable light, at a cooler temperature than the tungsten lights that shone from above.


More Clara, this time with Narmi.


Ashley Chan with Raja Farouque and Ryan Gomes (not pictured).


Swag!


Reza Salleh.


Reza then plays with Fariz’s ornate guitar.


In case you haven’t figured it out, they are brothers, and people tend to mistake one for the other. This can be exploited to comedic effect.


Jessica, guitar bearer.