19th May 2012: Fireflies And Something Something, at The Bee, Publika. Two emcees and Faiz Rosli (far right), from the original bunch of people who ran Fireflies And Something Something back at Jamasia.

The ever individualistic So I’m Jenn.

Silent Scenery, post-rock.

Ryota Katayama, with a unique melancholic voice.

Free Deserters rock out.

Sheryl Goh, most often known as the female vocalist for An Honest Mistake.

The Metaphor brings on instrumental rock.

Charis Ow, YouTube superstar and blogger.

Lightcraft! I haven’t seen this British indie rock band in ages.

There was a long intermission and a change of crowd. Seen on the stage then was a beautiful violin bass!

It was Samurai! They brought a massive crowd of Japanese fans.

The dude on the right is Hiroaki’s father – and boy can he shred! (Hiroaki was from Throne Away, Tokyo Blue and a few other bands I don’t remember in Malaysia.)

Reza Salleh was next. First time I’d ever see just him and Melina on bass – but what an interesting sound that was, to hear just guitar and bass.

He also sang Utada Hikaru – First Love.

Later in the night I ended up at Mezze.

It was the Az Samad Trio!

There was a lot of jazz going on that night. Here’s Kevin!

Zalila Lee.

The place had very cool directional light. All shots up to this point on the Sony Alpha NEX-5, with the LA-EA1 adapter, and the Opteka 85mm F1.4.

On the 21st of May 2013 I was at The Bee again, this time for The Songwriter’s Showcase #3, organized by Very Imaginative People Enterprise.

Jasemaine of VIP Enterprise is also a photographer.

I didn’t catch any of their names this time.

I think she was singing when I suddenly heard accompaniment.

Ian Chow on harmonica!

The Two Chinese Who Barely Made It. Cool band name!

I didn’t know what they were saying in Mandarin – I only understand very little spoken Cantonese and cannot read Chinese.

This band…

…stretches over two pictures.

Shots from this night with the Sony Alpha 77 and the Opteka 85mm F1.4.

18th May 2012: Art Rock’s Night – A Pink Floyd Trip. Note the logos on the white wall.

This was my first time at DoPPel Kafe, at Central Market Annexe! This place used to be many things, including the famous Liquid Bar.

I came late, but managed to catch Offroads doing Time.

Temjin did Learning To Fly, but they also did their own rock and roll stuff. To which the venerable Rafique Rashid rose and said, “HEY! this was to be a Pink Floyd tribute gig!”

He was not pleased. Neither was I. Yes, we like rock and roll, but when you do a tribute, you ideally stick to covering the band, or playing songs that sound like the band or have a similiar mood. (The least they could do to quantify this was to sound more like Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.)

Yes, rock and roll.

Phlox did Echoes.

All shots with the Sony Alpha NEX-5, with the E-mount 16mm F2.8 pancake for the wide shots, and the Opteka 85mm F1.4 in A-mount (with the Sony LA-EA1 adapter) for the telephoto shots. Still, it was pretty dark, and I had to use ISO3200 and flash sometimes!

Rafil Elyas of Panda Head Curry, who did not play.

Pitahati soundchecked with Money, then starting with Arnold Layne, Another Brick In The Wall, and two of their own Pink Floyd-ish Malay songs. I remember noting their Big Muff and Korg sound. Also note the stage color, but this could be shuffled around!

Bonus blast from the past: 10th February 2010, when this place was Oh Malaya Cafe, a retro-themed place.

The outdoor lounge.

Moonshine: A Homemade Music Show, at The Bee, Publika! This was on the 17th of May 2012.

First act of the night was the hard-rocking FreeLoaders Inc..

All shots with the Sony Alpha 900 and Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA.

Reza Salleh, organizer and emcee.

Zalila Lee has got the funky soul.

There is an undeniable technicality despite all this catchiness.

Ending the night was Once Upon A Time There Was A Sausage Named Bob!

Their music was a lot more emo than I remember them last.

A white SG with triple humbuckers! The look is so cool it’s like it could transform any moment.

Tough call between that and Jared’s Heritage Cherry Gibson SG.

I’ve just always had a thing for the Gibson SG so I took pictures of the band’s guitars and basses to be collated this way.

Wei Chen looking less emo.

Esty Richard and her powerful vocals.

She invited the guitarist from FreeLoaders Inc. to sing a song with her but first, number exchange. No, kidding – quick lyrics check.

Uh oh, treble from behind.

13th May 2012: Come Together: A Fundraising Event In Support Of Our Local Musician Alda Tan, At Publika, Solaris Dutamas. Here’s the menu for an Alda-themed food stall.

The stall mentioned above.

Shots with the Sony Alpha 77, Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM and Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA.

Ming of Skyward.

Charis Ow of Skyward.

Mahani!

So I’m Jenn sings that she is not a metalhead. What more proof than to play it with a ukulele?

Douglas Lim, emcee for the outdoor stage.

Silent Scenery, now no more.

Emcee Slyde for the Black Box stage.

I can’t remember who he was playing for.

Free Loaders Inc. brings 90’s hard rock.

Ibrahim, who did a Bob Marley cover, among other things.

Outdoors a dance crew brought hip hop.

The Metaphor, post-rock.

Soundcheck at The Bee, Publika.

Ray Cheong, funky fingerstyle maestro.

Zack Yusof of Free Deserters.

Joneil is one heck of a beatboxer.

Lionel Goh is a photobomber.

Sheryl is not a photobomber. She is an enthusiastic vocalist for An Honest Mistake.

Danny, former band member, joins in for a little rap.

Then Joneil joins in.

Darren shows us guitar yoga.

Prema Yin got soul!

Joe Loy, on bass.

Nick Davis of Rosevelt.

Roshan and Izal, brothers in maggi mee hair!

Jin Hackman, who ran Raising The Bar with Alda.

Here’s another emcee.

Rozz (left) and Poova Plachciak.

Dragon Red‘s newer members – Camaro on bass and Brandon on guitar.

Adam, screamer, and his little buddy.

K-Town Clan brings Kajang crunk!

They featured Amil, Slyde and Adam of Dragon Red.

Janet, back at The Bee.

Fuad of the famous Kyoto Protocol.

Jamie Wilson, for Jason Lo.

Jason’s kids.

Jason Lo himself. He played his radio classics, which had everybody singing along!

Estranged, looking a bit different…

…but not as different as now-bald frontman Richael, also playing a guitar. An emotional point came when he admitted that the band never really found a permanent bassist ever since Alda left.

Izal, former bassist of One Buck Short, is now with supergroup Azenders.

Also featuring Sam of Bunkface.

One of the more fun drummers to watch – Ainol of Deja Voodoo Spells!

The RE10 of Rithan.

The custom-made amp sold by Rithan.

The hat-flying mind-blowing speed-breaking shredding of Rithan.

The cool shirt.

Standard pose of Meng, of hardcore band Love Me Butch.

Syahrul loves a crowd and the crowd loves him.

Cassandra, last band of the night and possibly the heaviest.

Deejay set.

More here:
Moonshine: A Fundraiser for Alda Tan
Rockafellas Come Together
Earth Hour 2012, Pray For Alda
What Do These Bands Have In Common?

10th May 2012: Super Friends, live at Rum Jungle!

CK, a good old buddy, invited me to shoot them.

Fretless bass!

She can sing!

As with all pub bands they did pub band repertoire, with the hits of the day – back then it was Adele. Today it would’ve been Ed Sheeran.

All shots with the A900 and Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8.

This is the high-vibrancy, low-saturation look.

From upstairs.

3rd May 2012: Rawr!!! The Gig Goes To The Bee. But first, I got sidetracked by some capoeira going on outside.

Inside, opening was I Lost The Plot.

Denise Chan the emcee.

Yellow Submarine.

They hail from Thailand!

All shots with the Sony Alpha 77 and Opteka 85mm F1.4. (Except the capoeira shot, too wide for the 85mm on APS-C – it was with the Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM.)

Darren Ashley, electropop explosion in the ears.

Joneil hops on for some beatboxing, with a cool dubstep breakdown. Very solid beatboxer!

Darren Teh, frontman of An Honest Mistake.

Sheryl Goh, frontwoman of An Honest Mistake.

I still haven’t managed to get the guitarists and bassist in sync doing their riffage.

Darren Ashley pops on stage.

Joneil also pops on stage. Darren goes wild with his double-locking strap.

TUAN.

These guys also hail from Thailand.

They’re so hardcore they look to Red Bull for inspiration. Okay so this was shot with the NEX-5 with Carl Zeiss 24mm F2.0.

Hello Is This The Band ended the show.

1st May 2012: Feedback Open Mic at The Bee, Publika. Here’s Raksasa.

Reza Salleh, organizer, decides to see what happens when he does not publicize the event, but instead relies on the knowledge that this happens every Tuesday, alternating between The Bee, Publika and The Bee, Jaya One.

Doctor, blogger, model, baker, cook and singer-songwriter.

The words above were just to describe Kelly Siew! I have no idea what the rest of her band does.

All shots through the Sony Alpha 77, NEX-5 and Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D). Strange combination for the night. I don’t even remember how this came about.

I don’t remember this band’s name…

…but I think they played some hard rock. Or at least that’s what I think they’re doing.

I don’t know who I missed, but I only shot 4 performers. Conclusion? Publicity was necessary and that people don’t remember scheduled events well.

19th April 2012: Moonshine: A Fundraiser for Alda Tan at The Bee, Publika. Here’s Joe Loy!

Rashdan Harith…

…of the Rashdan Harith Band.

Gig organizer Reza Salleh.

Izzy.

Ling joins her on stage.

Rendra Zawawi with haunting tunes.

Azmyl Yunor, ever entertaining blues/folk rocker.

The explosive Oh Chentaku.

This was before the guitars started flying everywhere.

Paolo Delfino. Yes, I am immensely drawn to his very shiny Floyd Rose.

U-Djinn on bass.

Froya, like frozen yogurt and just as delectable.

Michelle on keys.

Az Samad with fingerstyle guitar.

Joachim Sebastian goes electric…

…for the personable Halfway Kings.

Diplomats Of Drum.

They bring the bhangra to town…

…and get the crowd bhangra-ing together!

Mordo Blasters, good ol’ rock.

Sound engineer’s guide to the galaxy.

Emma from Paid In Fiction…

…singing along with alternative rockers Auburn.

All shots with the Sony Alpha 77, Sony Alpha 900, Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 and Samyang 35mm F1.4 UMC. The perspective alone should give a indication which was shot with what.

More here:
Rockafellas Come Together
Earth Hour 2012, Pray For Alda
What Do These Bands Have In Common?