Gig Geek

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20th April 2005

The Xfresh Hotlink Sky Surfer launches in Souled Out, Hartamas. Then again, it wasn’t launched like some rocket; it uh… hovered off the ground the way helicopters do. No, this is not the helicopter, but this picture was way cooler donchathink?

21st May 2005
I went for the Rawg Dawg Music Fest Finale. ASTRO was there to film their sequel to hitz.tv’s Blast Off; the After Shock. Never have I seen Paul’s Place so brightly lit, plus the “fireflies” (lighting technicians) were a godsend.


SDC gets the green white light.


To prevent cameramen and enthusiastic rockers from falling down stairways to early deaths, Paul upgraded his place and added a proper railing.


Lurks had the drummer lurking around his rhythm machine, adding the backbeat to electronica-tinged melancholic rock.


Lurks, I swear, must’ve been lurking. I got their CD in 2003 and never got to see them.


Warve was interesting. How often do you see an albino as a guitarist? He has partial vision, according to sources. This made his funktified rock escapades with plenty of scales seem even more amazing. Of course, the guitar geek will spot the Line 6 Variax 700, a guitar that has a knob to change between 25 simulated guitars! Sadly, he did not show off its true capabilities by going from southern country twang to heavy metal and then to India with a sitar.


Moodbox. First free CD of the day, and it landed at my feet. Or rather, the band was tossing out CDs, and it slid to my feet. A puzzler was what guitar the vocalist was using; it had a PRS headstock on an ESP LTD body!


Stonebay, with the vocalist sporting such a flashy Les Paul, had me itching for Guns ‘N Roses or some hard rock. Alas, he played softer Incubus – Morning View era songs, but I had to hand it to him for the vocal capability of Brandon Boyd.


By the way, the emcee was really cute. Irene, go tell your sister that.


11th Hour had the vocalist sporting a delicious silver Epiphone SG. He also sported the best funk-blues voice. He got soul, baby.


Their guitarist was a cool, more skilled shredder. Ask me for videos!


So it was Infiltrated that brought the hot groupies. Why is it that here, nu-metal bands get the most groupies?


Inverted Coma, a band from the past (last time I saw them was at Fete De La Musique 2003).

Me: Hey where are their groupies? Didn’t they use to have loads of groupies at the KL Plaza show?
Eu Gene: Eh, we were the groupies lah. (Points at himself and friend.)
Friend standing next to Eugene: Yeah! I’ve seen you there!
Me: Oh you know Syefri.

Apparently the band’s lineup changed drastically, (plus they didn’t sound as nice as before) but I still recognized Jason, guitarist hero, complete with a Peavey EVH Wolfgang Flame Top TR guitar! That was the first time I saw a D-Tuna in real life (since I was born a decade too late to see it commonplace). However he did not jiggle the floating bridge much or use the D-Tuna. 🙁


Beat The System pumped up the agression… and spoiled the suspense of the next day’s gig. “I’d like to thank Slyde, Joon Kiat (I couldn’t remember the name), Amil, Adam, Manshaan, Naz…”

Dammit, I knew the name of the new Dragon Red bassist.


Ben’s Beeetches were on, with a different lineup; Azmyl was on guitar for once, and they got another drummer. CK the bassist told stories about bribing cops and flying tampons. The lineup meant guitar solos from Ben, and Azmyl singing Cigarette. The one I looked forward to was Hang Hero, and they did it in full ferocity.


Furion Escalada brought a proper moshpit on. Metalcore, roar.


Love In Arson from Terengganu ended the set with emo punk, retaining the moshpit.

22nd May 2005

The Huru Hara gig was also given coverage from ASTRO; for once, Melina of Tempered Mental smiled at the crowd. Or maybe there was an inside joke.


Lied was next. You gotta dig what the band calls ‘angry rock’. Cool space effects and angsty solos.


Estranged and Adam of Dragon Red! As usual (as it was in 2003) Adam would sing Velocity with them. Ironically, both bands are connected by a certain bassist who is no longer in either band.


Furniture was next. Space rock or post rock at its existing-in-Malaysia best. Ronnie had an E-bow! (I didn’t know E-bows had a Ah Beng blue light.) The other guitarist had a effect that was controlled by the distance of his hand to it.


Dragon Red finished, and the audience found out who the new bassist was. A hot chick! Natalie Tan had straight up the menacing-and-yet-hot look. (Much more aggressive than the previous bassist who underwent image change). At this point, I even forgot their former bassist’s name. 😛 She played well, but not necessarily into the groove of the song as Amil the guitarist was. Or maybe she wasn’t showing it. Ooh and it’s also a 5-string Warwick. A bit too familiar. Hmmm, maybe even the surname.

Meanwhile, Saiful of Y2K went loco in the moshpit. It was the first time we’d ever see him in one, and we thank our lucky stars we haven’t been in one with him. He swung his arms and helicopter-kicked in the air! Imagine a capoeira dancer attacking, repeatedly.

27th May 2005

I called Kevin to ask if he wanted to see Tracy perform with the Young KL Singers at The Actors Studio. “Dude! I’m at the DiGi Band Era at Berjaya Times Square!” And so I headed over there instead. Coincidentally, Syefri and Fazri were there too, so we hung out there instead and geeked at Transformers and Hot Wheels. 🙂


Rainforest Breakfast & Bed. So this is what happened to No Black Tie, where the first gig I ever went to was!

And now, fast forward to:
3rd June 2005

I went to Shelley’s Jazz Odyssey gig. No, Shelley just looks like she’s singing like a diva. Behind, Az appears to have found enlightenment in his guitar, while Kevin (Loon) plays bass unobstrusively. It was a first seeing Kevin do high-octave tapping bass solos.


Let’s not forget Zal the drummer. Alright, who threw the frog there?


Camomile tea or mosquito larvae breeding ground?


Serena C of hitz.fm and hitz.tv hops on stage, happy to proclaim her love for Shelley. I don’t know who held her beer for her when she went on.


Pete Teo and Shelley do a duet! A first.


Ean of hitz.fm and hitz.tv insists to his cousin that he will not sing. Adam (the cousin) played in a style reminiscent to John Mayer, hips swaying, crooning voice… except that he’s better looking to begin with. Awww come on admit it girls, John Mayer only looks good when he’s singing.

June 2005 Acoustic Break

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A quick update:

What: Shelley Leong, Az Samad
Who: Shelley Leong, featuring Az Samad, Nisha Tham, Zalila Lee (‘Zal’), Kevin Theseira (‘Loon’)
When: 10pm on Friday 3 June and Thursday 4 June 2005
Where: Alexis Great Eastern Mall, Jalan Ampang
How: To get a table (I had to stand!) call them at 0342602288. No cover charge.

What: Troubadours II singer/songwriter and Doppelganger open mike
Who: Singer/songwriters Leow Mei Chern, Reza Sallehudin, SaerZe and Prozac Nation
When: 6-11pm Sunday, 5 June 2005
Where: La Bodega KL 31, Tengkat Tong Shin, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
How: Free entrance; reservations: 0321426368

What: Starbucks Music Series June 2005 Edition
Who, When And Where:
Fergus Ong, Reza Sallehudin, Azmyl Yunor:
17 June 9-11pm: Starbucks Coffee Hartamas Shopping Center
18 June 9-11pm: Starbucks Coffee Bangsar Telawi 3
19 June 8-10pm: Starbucks Coffee Taipan USJ
The Sofa Sessions, Lucy In The Loo, Telebury:
24 June 9-11pm: Starbucks Coffee Uptown Damansara Utama
25 June 9-11pm: Starbucks Coffee The Curve
26 June 8-10pm: Starbucks Coffee Damansara Town Center

Notice how June’s gigs are all acoustic while May’s were much more electric? (Yes I went for all those I said I would, I just have not got to blog about them. 🙁 )

I’m going on Friday to Shelley’s gig, Saturday to my bedroom, and Sunday to Troubadours II. Lex and Jenifer: Don’t say I didn’t tell you!

Dude, Sweet!

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A Lot Like Love is a romantic comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet… except that things are not thrown in your face (except the many smooching scenes.)

Anyone would notice that on the plane, the lights on the two stars are brighter. Fewer would notice Ashton being the only guy dressed in light blue (when he gets the call) while everyone else in the office is drab dark grey.

Even more interesting is how the scenes and years cut to each other. You are suddenly thrown into a scene where a SUV is being towed next to a sea. Did they drive it into the sea? A dialogue later explains what happened. You think they merely kissed in the airplane toilet? Later dialogue makes you think otherwise.

Bloody heck, I think they ripped off the narration sequencing from my blog.

Notice how I go, “So I lost at pool. I paid for Joseph’s dinner.” instead of the usual, “Joseph and I went to play pool. I lost. I paid for his dinner.” (This is the simplest example; I unintentionally reverse the order.)

Yes, it was cool to have a movie not tell you everything and yet not be the Matrix Trilogy.

Jeanne, Pull!

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I was chilling out with two nice guys from Victoria Institution. For those not familiar with Kuala Lumpur, Victoria Institution is one of the more famous boys schools near the Bukit Bintang area.

Nice Guy A: Ever since Bukit Bintang Girls School moved out, the boys have had to hang out in shopping malls there more often. I miss those BBGS girls; they had some sophistication about them. Some educatedness.

Nice Guy B: Well they’ve relocated and become Seri Bintang Utara. And they have boys now.

Nice Guy A: Yeah, but they’re like really backwater guys from villages. (If you are such an educated male from the school formerly known as BBGS, please correct us!)

Me: Oh My God! So that must be God’s way of balancing the universe.

Nice Guy B: Yeah, an ironic way of maintaining variety in the gene pool.

After dinner the conversation turned to Nice Guy A’s luck with chicks. How was it that an English-educated chick who was so meant for him was now with a Chinese-educated dude that we both know? (No offense to either but ideologies and cultures will clash.) He wasn’t exactly great-looking or rich, you know. But he was a lucky dog. Somehow it came to this conclusion:

We’re educated intelligent men. No wonder we haven’t been getting the action. It’s God’s way of balancing the gene pool.

Nice Guy A: Haha, f*** you. (Of course, being nice guys we do not take profanities in this context to lead to tables flipping.)

Like Real Train Seat

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I was getting on the STAR LRT at Masjid Jamek when I heard a voice:

“Excuse me, er… ini tren ke Ampang ke?” (Translation: Is this train going to Ampang?)

I turned to the electronic signboard, saw that it was indeed going Ampang, so I turned around and said yes.

It was a Chinese chick!

Even weirder was that she then went to sit on the benches of the station instead of getting on the train.

Now I was not insulted despite my fairness that she thought I was Malay, or that I looked like a Chinese who could not speak Chinese. I’d prefer that Chinese people assume I can’t. (I can’t anyway.)

Dammit, why couldn’t it be like this case?

Another Swipe

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Oh my goodness more pictures!


Maybe I should get the Nissan Fairlady Z next.


Or the Honda NSX-R.


However, I cannot resist the Dodge Viper SRT-10. The Americans have a winner! It was nice for once, to have the wind blow my hair up and back. Don’t know why the windscreen couldn’t be taller though. Plus you might wanna wear a cap in the blistering sun, but that will be blown away!


Alright, so I am that predictable. It’s from the cheaper Transformer Alternator series, and it’s second-hand (a display unit) so I got it cheaper still. (It’s nearly impossible to find this Alternator-series Sideswipe.)

Hide Then Charge

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I just got my salary!


Happy mother’s day I say. I got her an SUV.


Of course, the flashy Mugen Honda S2000 is my new favorite. I’ve only seen one S2000 in Malaysia, plus Mazda RX-8s are too common.


Okay so it’s a two-seater and it’s a convertible, not exactly practical in Malaysia.


So I itched and made my RX-8 a convertible too.


Meet Decepticharge, a new release from the Transformers Alternators series. He’d jab you if only his fists weren’t swapped!


Well, nothing a positive head with a positive-head Philips screwdriver can’t fix.


He is a skinny-legged top-heavy warrior. You gotta dig how he folds the bonnet to his back, instead of him lugging his car shell with him.


Left to right: Tracks, Decepticharge, Meister (who starred in Fazri’s Guessing Game)
Now, if you don’t have a Honda S2000, which one should you get? The spanking new dirty yellow Decepticharge, or the classic Autobot red Windcharger? Windcharger, I say; Decepticharge’s color tones are uneven from painted roof to door to floor. The sporty decals are fictitious and don’t look as appealing as Smokescreen’s. The bonnet (engine cover) is painted black, a retro scheme. I should have followed my instincts (humans have them, use it!) and bought a red Windcharger instead of the spanking new Decepticharge in the shop. Immediately you can see that the door and roof seams are nowhere as nice as Windcharger’s (maybe the color hides it). I couldn’t get it to align properly.


Transformers Energon Powerlinking Ironhide however was a pleasant surprise.


His legs can be extended to match the height of a gestalt (combiner).


Powerlink Optimus (Energon Hotshot below): Hey I think you got on backwards.
Yes it’s true; big Powerlink dudes can Powerlink with small Powerlink dudes. Though big guys shouldn’t be on top or you get Optimus Primal’s big-armed syndrome.


That’s more like it. Small arms but it looks much more massive.

Added 6 hours later: Ironhide’s turret head can be removed, so he looks like a proper SUV! Rejoice, YK!


The big family: Left to right: Tracks, my hybrid combiner, Ironhide, Powerlink Downshift (with Rodimus underneath).

I am not done. 😉

Gone Fishing

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“There are many more fish in the sea.”

Why do they call it fishing? As in, the act of a guy getting a girl? They make fishing sound like an active activity rather than a passive activity. (Passive activity, what an oxymoron!) You sit, you throw your rod, and you wait. What skill is there required to hold it? You’re not actively catching fish. Unless of course you bring a net or a bomb.

Making Music With Substance

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*names and identities have been hidden to hinder narcs

So I was hanging out at my friend’s friend’s house. Barney the purple abomination was playing on TV to his two toddlers (will kids remember this or the Teletubbies 10 years from now the same way we revere Sesame Street?) Nearby, a hot chick (who was not old enough to look like a mother) was fashioning something out of a mineral water bottle, presumably a contraption to feed babies with. Awww how motherly, I thought.

The father’s bandmate was showing off his latest Cakewalk 10/8 (or whatever odd timing) progressive-like industrial rock composition. We geeked out at his crunchy guitar tone.

They adjourned to the balcony. “Do you wanna join us and smoke up?” My answer can be found here.

I thought my friend and I were there solely for the purpose of babysitting the kids, but one of them followed her mother to the balcony.

They returned, red-eyed. Oh, so the bottle was a do-it-yourself bong similiar to that of a shisha. Ingenious. The kid walked into my friend. My friend went “ow“. The kid hobbled on, happy.

At least they did it in the balcony, so I didn’t have to come home smelling suspicious.

The father unveiled an electric guitar, and his friend broke his A string. Yes kids the thick hard 5th string. So we continued geeking out, me asking about something. He answered something totally different (but still related to music.) I asked something else. Again, he gave a somewhat coherent, but totally unrelated answer. Yes kids, woking smeed brucks your fain.

Perfourmance

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So I’m stuck between 4 possible plans for this Saturday 21st. So you’ve got no plans and finished your exams. So I’m being helpful by doing a community service announcement.

Event 1:
What: Rawg Dawg Music Fest Finale
Where: Paul’s New Place, Old Klang Road
When: 5pm 21st May 2005
How much: RM10 with free drink
Who: Lurks, Warve, Auburn, Moodbox, Stonebay, 11th Hour, Infiltrated, Inverted Coma, Beat The System, Roots In Boots, Ben’s B***hes, Furion Escalada, Love In Arson (from Terengganu)
Why: I have not seen Ben’s B***hes as a full band; their stage antics are hilarious

Event 2:
What: Tragic Lullaby II
Where: JamAsia, Crystalville Plaza, Desa Sri Hartamas
When: 5pm 21st May 2005
How much: Not sure but gigs never go past RM20
Who: Love Me Butch, John’s Mistress (unable to play due to unforseen circumstances) as far as I know
Why: JamAsia is convenient… for me.

Event 3:
What: Actorlympics: Stars War! Revenge of the colonic menaces
Where: The Actors Studio Bangsar
When: 8:30pm 21st May 2005
How much: RM40/45 (RM25 for students 15 years and above) – this is according to their official site but the flyer says RM47/42/32 (RM27 for students and senior citizens)
Who: Afdlin Shauki, Harith Iskander, Jason Lo, Gavin Yap, Ida Nerina, Nell Ng, Reza Zainal Abidin, Jit Murad, hosted by Patrick Teoh
Why: HILARIOUS. The Malaysian version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, unrehearsed comedy. Considering they don’t have a regular show like Drew Carey’s it’s a wonder they can pull off so many live jokes. Yes, I’ve seen it, it’s that good. DJCS goes whenever it shows.

Event 4:
What: Marty Friedman guitar clinic
Where: Orange Club, Jalan Kia Peng, KL
When: 6:30pm 21st May 2005
Who: Marty Friedman is the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth
Why: I love thrash metal

I promised Irene I’d go for Event 1 (plus I knew about it 3 months go) so yeah. Event 2? I can’t get Love Me Butch’s new stuff. Event 3? They’re also play-ing on Wednesday 18th May, 8:30pm and Sunday 22nd May, 3pm, of which I’m going on Wednesday. Event 4 well I found out a bit late and I’m not that familiar with Dave Mustaine and gang.

Oh, and on Sunday there’s also Huru Hara, a gig at Paul’s Place again, RM10 with free drink, 2pm, with Lied (angry alternative rock), Tempered Mental (progressive alternative rock), Y2K (funny punk covers), Furniture (spacey post-rock), Dragon Red (nu-metal) and Estranged (funky nu-metal). I’m going to forgo my Sunday sleep for that.

So you go, “Oh so that’s why you’re not online so often.”