Category Archives: Music

Rock The World 2023

16th December 2023: Rock The World 2023 at KL Base.

Parking, facing the Sungai Besi expressway, and the Setiawangsa-Pantai expressway layered above.

This was the very first Kuala Lumpur International Airport! In sequence, KLIA was 3 different locations:
1952-1965: this location in Sungai Besi, later known as the Royal Malaysian Air Force Kuala Lumpur Air Base
1965-1998: the second location in Subang, later known as Subang International Airport, then Subang Skypark or Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
1998-current: the third location in Sepang

On this end, there was merch sold.

This structure is also where the toilets were.

Foodtrucks and stalls.

It was also the RMAF Museum from 1985 until it moved to Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan. Regretfully, I didn’t get to visit it when it was a museum. On the other end were these vehicles left behind.

Also left behind, a Grumman HU-16 Albatross seaplane.

de Havilland Canada DHC-4A Caribou cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing.

Here’s a picture I found from 2005 when it was in the museum, which reminds me of every military airplane movie or video game scene.

The symbol on his jacket is the Royal Air Force roundel, which the Mod subculture (and famously, The Who) appropriated.

Naratu was the first band I caught.

Always love these shiny guitars.

The quilted maple top is a good look.

Then on to the other stage, Armpunk Sindicate.

Interesting Fender Fullerton Jazzmaster ukulele!

Throw in a Slash with a Gibson Les Paul Custom.

Horn section, not the only horn section you’ll see in any Rock The World.

My trusty Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA photographs drummers.

The Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM meanwhile takes wider shots. I knew Bijan from when he was the sound engineer at Laundry Bar!

Prasasti.

Jimmy!

Plague of Happiness.

Ska, punk, reggae, and anything in between.

OAG! You can see how they tweaked the Royal Air Force roundel to spell OAG on his shirt.

Emcee Big!

Purbawara.

Seeing these Ibanez RGs on stage brings me back to 2001 when I’d walk into Bentley Music and drool over what were essentially Superstrats.

The weather was getting darker, like the music.

Mate was happy to be carrying the staff.

There was a very long queue at the toilet, so I went off to Midvalley (which was the nearest mall) to use their toilet and have dinner there.

When I returned, it was dark.

Sekumpulan Orang Gila.

Crowd surfing.

The Suspects A.K.A..

A Malaysian skinhead band.

Street rock/Oi!

Roots N Boots.

More Oi!

Part of my love for Superstrats was the masochism of learning to tune and upkeep a double-locking floating Floyd Rose bridge.

Sometimes it is nice to take full-body street portraits with a telephoto, though this was just me stepping back to take a picture instead of changing lenses.

Or this, where the perspective looks better.

Meet Uncle Hussain!

Hazama Azmi on vocals.

Cliff Umar, also on vocals.

Patriots.

I wonder what the residents in this condo could hear.

Didn’t see what happened; hope everyone’s alright!

Rock The World 17

9th December 2017: Rock The World 2017 at Car Park B, KL Sport City, Bukit Jalil.

KL Sport City is pretty, but you don’t have to walk through it to find the car park.

I came in time for Thy Regiment.

Even Bukit Jalil National Stadium in the back is real pretty! The revamp was for the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

I have yet to crowdsurf.

Thy Regiment, full of energy!

I brought two lenses with my Sony Alpha 7s. This was from the Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 SSM ZA. Gotta love Eric’s expression behind as he walks through the stage! (Well I think that’s Eric…)

This, too.

It gets close and gives enough context around the subject.

Cool shades, bro.

A wild Big appears!

Color mosh time.

The crowd was given packets of colored powder.

On go, usually with Butterfingers – The Chemistry (Between Us) blasting on the speakers.

Some opened their packets earlier though.

Poor dude right under the right leg of the crowd surfer. At least he’s not wearing steel boots.

This crowd surfer is so familiar! I’ve probably seen him at previous Rock The Worlds, doing exactly the same thing. I wonder if he recognizes me, too!

I don’t usually get colored despite being relatively in the action. This time was different.

Massacre Conspiracy, regulars.

It rained, and for some reason all the powder mixed into this bloody red. Slayer – Raining Blood comes to mind!

Masdo.

They keep it old school.

Gotta love these vintage instruments!

That and their shades.

Meanwhile, in the ROTTW booth nearby, Abang Rom is having a chat.

Chaps hanging out on a wooden bicycle.

This concert was sponsored by Tune Talk.

This is not my food truck.

I really like this banner.

This is not from the banner though.

I had this for dinner. Not bad.

Gerhana Ska Cinta.

The regular big ska band!

The second lens I brought was the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA.

Seven Collar T-Shirt. Here’s Ham, on guitar and special effects.

Here’s Duan on vocals, guitar, and feeling.

The 135mm always comes in handy for drummer shots.

Zip Zieller.

Rock and roll is gold.

Naratu.

Ijam, also of Restraint, who would announce his departure from Naratu on the 2nd of January 2018.

Big the emcee, in the artiste lounge.

Punk-faced Bunkface.

Nope I don’t know what’s up with the camel.

Then came the last act…

Emmett I!

The band featured all my friends. Here’s Josh from Seven and Tokyo Blue, or at least how I remember him.

Izuan Shah of Auburn.

Julian Lim of The Infernal Conundrum and Bokazzi.

And of course, Emmett Ishak, most known as the vocalist for the now disbanded Butterfingers.

He brought back his grunge glory days, singing in English.

Still the rock powerhouse.

A guest drummer came on stage. It was Loko, his bandmate from Butterfingers!

So you had the regular crowd-pullers – such that Rock The World has been the same – and yet, differently, I’d noticed that they have been very strict to the schedule, which I could really appreciate since I could leave after the concert finished and still take the LRT!

Levels Of Femes

Stage 1
People call you by your stage name or online handle

Stage 2
You start a Facebook Page

Stage 3
You change your Facebook name so people can’t find your personal profile

Stage 4
Your personal profile disappears from Facebook

Stage 5
Your Whatsapp profile appears to be someone else so we can’t be sure if you’ve changed your number

I am both happy and sad for Talitha Tan, for having achieved Stage 5 in what feels like a speedrun but was in fact a few years. Could this blog post be written with more stages? Sure, but I have no friends who have gone past Stage 5 so I have no idea what comes next. I guess I’ll have to follow her new Facebook page (which I have no idea if it is legit or not), or something, to find out.

Rock The World 16

17th December 2016: Rock The World 16, at Car Park B, Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

A new structure, a big tent to house the food trucks and tired rockers!

Up on the big Main Stage…

…was Republic Of Brickfields!

You’ll all know it from Aru.

Slyde emcees for the Acoustic Stage.

Electronica…

…out of a box…

…from the likes of…

KVLTS.

Most shots with the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA.

Disagree.

David who I’d not seen on guitar for a long time.

It was good ol’ singalong time.

Kids enjoying themselves.

Rest and relax. This tent was the best idea ever, as it usually rains at Rock The World and everyone runs to the hills. Well no, not really.

Otam.

Joined by a full band!

Eu Gene on ukulele bass!

Saxophone!

Electric guitar!

Classical guitar!

I took a break and had myself one of these Pau Mushroom Viral Putrajaya. Filled with a chicken-mushroom paste, it was actually really, really delicious. Don’t be fooled by its hipster food look, it’s really awesome!

Color mosh time!

Oh Chentaku.

Cool Tarik T-shirt!

Jimmy with Jack watching behind.

Look ma I can reach behind my back to hold my bass…

Jack and his scalloped Telecaster.

High energy rock and roll!

They were throwing out free shoes. Box included.

Emcee Big for the Main Stage!

Feeltupenting.

Back at the acoustic stage…

…which you might be able to discern from the different background.

Restraint.

No restraint in rocking on stage!

Wei bro lama tak jumpa!

Love it when the band visits the lonely drummer at the back.

Dish.

They had quite an ardent fanbase!

Color moshed.

The vocalist jumps in.

The Padangs.

I like photographing them when they kneel down.

I’ve never noticed this before.

What a sofa was doing there, I don’t know.

Interesting names!

Gerhana Skacinta.

Big, big band.

Some familiar faces.

Modescape.

Cool Korg!

That’s right!

Plague Of Happiness, another big band.

Masdo.

Awesome fans!

Retro surf pop yeh yeh!

Couple.

More rock and roll.

They have too much fun on stage.

Wearing Beatles influences on their sleeves and straps.

A.C.A.B..

Good ol’ skins.

Portaloo queue. This was hilarious! One guy appeared to be impatient and wanted to cut queue, but his friend stopped him. He eventually broke free and instead of going to the toilet, he entered an opening to the bushes behind where a few guys were peeing in the bushes. He shouted, “JAKIM! Apa buat di sini?” A bunch of us laughed loudly!

Daarchlea.

I love their Opeth-like introduction.

It then goes into some super heavy death metal.

Massacre Conspiracy.

Cool shirt!

Five strings for more bass.

Bittersweet.

They have the instruments to suit their retro sound.

Old Automatic Garbage.

I like this backlight.

Good ol’ Radhi-O.

The OBS: A Singapore Story Documentary Screening + Album Showcase

5th May 2016: The OBS: A Singapore Story Documentary Screening + Album Showcase at The Bee, Publika.

After the Q&A session, The Observatory took to the stage.

Art rock, experimental and electronica, apparently. As I’m not too familiar with the genres I’d say Radiohead comes to mind.

I’d first heard of Leslie Low, bandleader, on the Junk Vol 2 CD. His mellotron on All Things New was an instant favorite.

The music with the band was harder, though.

The documentary was eye-opening – it started with the history of the Singapore music scene (or lack thereof) due to government clampdown.

How ironic it is now that international bands play there and not here, even if we promise you can mosh and crowdsurf here.

One more of this otai and his shiny guitar.

Night Before Tomorrow (NB4T) x Phyla LIVE at The Bee

30th April 2016: Night Before Tomorrow (NB4T) x Phyla LIVE at The Bee. This was the first of the Urbanscapes 2016 events I’d go to which is not at the Urbanscapes House. Here’s one of the organizers, Jin Hackman!

It was at hipster central mall, Publika. Here’s an indoor busker.

First up: Home Court, a duo with Jocelyn…

…and Dae Kim, who I’d seen everywhere.

The performance was captured with a panoramic sphere camera setup.

Performers would ebb in and out with the flow.

Santaroena.

I took a walk to the ATM, and snapped this.

My Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM let me get close.

The Bee had its tables moved to the back, making an breakdancing spot.

Similarobjects.

All shots with the Sony Alpha 7S with no flash.

Orang Malaya in the crowd.

Moonlight!

Mushroom Buttons.

Fatim.

This is how you make a shoutout.

Ashley Chan and Albert chin-chin-chin-chin-chin.

I’m in love with her hair. I also am not sure who took this picture (was it Rizki or Arthur?), but I remember somebody bought me a drink, which is why I don’t remember so much.

Fauxe.

Harv.

Unconventional Science.

Soundstruck : LIVE (April 2016)

29th April 2016: Soundstruck : LIVE (April 2016) at The Bee, Jaya One. First up, Sino-french-tinged Yinthong!

Kim on the guitar and vocals beside her.

Kuizz Shah.

Priscilla Xavier.

Night Skies & Visions.

Damn I am jealous of her hair color.

Lyanne Low Hui-Yi.

I know this bluehair!

Doin’ a Flea.

Special guest performer all the way from Singapore, Daphne Khoo!

Kent Sim, emcee.

After party jam…

…with David Soh and Annabel Michael.

Open Mic @ Barlai #24

28th April 2016: Open Mic @ Barlai #24, at Barlai, Jalan Sin Chew Kee. Nicholas Sia has some songwriting chops with a distinct grunge voice.

Ian Tai who is a natural at the microphone.


Here, he does a cover of Prince’s Nothing Compares 2 U, because Purple Rain isn’t his only song, y’know?

Redzwan Awang.

Alien Lipstick Fire.


This is their original, A Try.

Andy Kidd, who has the most interesting lyrics from Australia.

Ending the night, host Shaneil Devaser. Everything in this blog post, by the Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 ZA SSM on the Sony Alpha 7s, hence the wideness.

Feedback Open Mic ft Lukarts & Sophia Andersen @ The Bee Publika / April 2016 Edition

26th April 2016: Feedback Open Mic ft Lukarts & Sophia Andersen @ The Bee Publika / April 2016 Edition. Here’s emcee and organizer Reza Salleh!

The Suave.

I was all like, our local version of Eddie Vedder!

Seibelle?

Isaac Ho.

The Mox?

The unstoppable Reening Lau.

He has a band!

Manics.

I knew I’d seen her before, on one of them Malaysian Youtuber channels!

Sophia Andersen, first featured act.

Her guitarist.

Chirin Chirin, stitched together.

The Message.

The Vist.

The keyboardist.

The Michael.

The second featured act, Lukarts.

C_C And The T_T

22nd June 2016: Jazzy Friday at Laundry (April 2016), 22nd April 2016!

First of two acts: Talitha Tan!

Checkout them guns yo.

You never know what you’re gonna get with this girl, as her band is also called Talitha Tan.

Her infectiously cute guitarist.

Second of two acts: Crinkle Cut!

More from the Samyang 35mm F1.4 UMC that I rarely bring out.

Vicky Chin, guest keyboardist.

We don’t got stars, so we serenade bokeh balls instead.

Ashley also sings in a choir! She also teaches piano. I’ve just not seen her with a guitar.

I scuttled over to pee and passed this busker, who had a backing track, from one of our fine 80s glam metal Malaysian bands.

Yuuup.

Random picture of the Don.

Random picture of the Talitha.