Shaneil Devaser: The EP Launch Party, 20th April 2013.

At Merdekarya, with the funniest artwork around.

Riz, hardened rocker.

Shaneil Devaser, in a more professorly look.

Krist Novoselic Chong on bass.

Rashaad on djembe and bleeps.

Cake or death? Cake!

Y’know, because it was also Shaneil’s 25th Birthday Surprise.

That’s a lot of candles.

The Infernal Conundrum (TiC)! Here’s Angelo, my cousin.

Phang on keyboard.

Rashaad with more bleeps.

Brendan on guitar and bleeps.

Julian on a very cool-looking ESP Ltd bass.

Kaya (The Band).

They did an awesome cover of Jimi Hendrix – Red House!

Gregory Ramanado joined later to jam along.

An old-school playground, made of concrete, next to the newfangled plastic and metal one, in Petaling Garden, the area where Merdekarya is in.

In other news, as of this post, my backlog is now just 9 months, yay!

Layan Fest 2013, 7th April 2013, at KL Performing Arts Center! In the foyer, there was a djembe jam going on.

Emcee.

In Pentas 2, Brian was emceeing. Also, when I hear Layan Fest I think of his old band, Layan Sound System.

Sufiz.

Christian Palencia.

Darren Ashley.

A rare lens makes its appearance at this gig – the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG!

All red with an Elmo snowcap.

Darren shows us the turn.

He then brings up a member of the audience to contribute to his loop pedal jam.

Outside, So I’m Jenn. She’s fun to watch, with a unique sense of humor!

Zalila Lee, strumming outside.

Ann Na and I, selfie-ing through the widest ultra-wide angle lens there is. I prefer the word “camwhore” as it fits the context better, e.g. camwhoring.

Zalila Lee and Ariff Akhir.

At the foyer, Jumero brings on the classic vocal harmonies of the Bee Gees and other propagators of disco.

As I look at this, I wonder if kajons will overtake djembes…

Keeping it funky.

Inside Pentas 2, +2dB, awesome dark electronica.

KIV.

The djembe jam moved outside!

Bihzhu will connect you to the gentle flow of the river that runs inside you.

Although focused on Faz, I have to say I love Bihzhu’s hair here.

Hameer joins, and finds the lyrics stand to be rather low.

BACA.

Meanwhile, a bunch of us played POLITIKO.

Inside, An Honest Mistake!

This was back in the days of the vocalist who fits in your pocket, Sheryl Goh.

Grab your friends and let us sing-along!

It has always been my aim to get that shot of An Honest Mistake, when they do the song breakdown where the 2 guitarists and bassist shred together. At this gig, it was yet to be fulfilled, because of my own bad timing. So here’s a cool shot that has nothing to do with me outlining my objectives.

Leonard Chua (left) and Darren Teh (right).

Brian Tan was doing stand up rather dryly, but we gave face and laughed at his attempts to tell jokes. (Thanks Nicole/Bihzhu for the name!)

Prakash Daniel, experienced comedian, asking for people’s names to sing in his song.

The Metaphor, post-rock.

Dark side of the guitarist.

Outside, Phoon Chi Ho, one of my favorite stand-up comedians.

Shamaine Othman, who gets to tell all the I’m-a-female-comedian jokes.

Nick Davis.

Michael Leaner, on guitar, himself a rock vocalist.

AI:IA (Artificially Intelligent: Improvholics Anonymous).

Tempered Mental, darlings of the rock scene for their progressive, innovative style. Melina on bass!

Jimmy on drums!

Jack on guitar!

The show ended early compared to other shows, at 9pm or so. Here’s Darren Teh chilling on the piano, post-show.

Awesome poster for an awesome-sounding show. I didn’t get around to following up and catching it!

26th March 2013: Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Publika March Edition! I’ve seen this guy, Nabilah’s brother, in Minotaur & The Labyrinth, but I’m not sure if he’s up as that.

Nazrin, soaking up all the experience points he can get.

Kent.

Tama.

Aice.

I’m not sure, since my notes don’t seem to align with chronological order, if this is Clifford…

…or if this is Nuhan.

Gavin.

Big, of Big & Small…

…and Small, with the big voice.

Halcony, first featured act, from Japan! (I unfortunately missed the second featured act, the awesome cello band, Paladin.)

I then moseyed over to Page 2, on the other end of Publika, to check out The Big Fish @MapFest.

Shaneil Devaser!

Elaine Foster, emcee, shows us that the spongemike is quite tasty.

Davina Goh!

She told us stories. I never knew she dated a very famous bassist!

This must be the story of her losing her mobile phone.

Thilaga Sulathireh. This picture should also tell you where exactly Page 2 is.

And now, back to The Bee! I didn’t catch her name.

Rizal.

Lai Yee & Ann Na! This is Lai Yee.

This is Ann Na.

Drunk bear.

Josiah Tay.

Azran, who did a cover of M. Nasir – Hati Emas.

Syamee Shamsul.

Looking very different back then! He did an excellent cover of Jack Johnson – Better Together.

Ghosts & Everything Beautiful.

Brandon.

25th March 2013: Open Mic @ The Venue #6 – Hosted by Az Samad! Here’s Kenneth Leow with a Nirvana-esque first song.

Az Samad, emcee and organizer!

First featured act, Isabell Jia Jia.

To her right…

…and her left.

Alloy And The Midgets, a beatboxer.

Ray Cheong, with an awesome harmonic double-tapping finger-style guitar song, and a funky cover of Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On.

Big & Small does the awesome James Brown – It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World and Blackstreet – No Diggity. This is Big…

…and Small.

Aice.

Transferring the rhythm!

Gavin, who played for Aice, also performed.

Second featured act, Kien Lim, a folk rocker.

Shaneil Devaser, a 90’s rocker.

Couch rockers.

Ariff AB.

Dhanea And The Boys.

One of the boys.

Drummer boy.

They did a cover of Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit…

…with Dhanea, violinist, playing the main vocal line.

Shafya joined to sing The Corrs – Only When I Sleep.

Shafya, from Maldives, then performed her own set.

Jia Ming, finger-style.

23rd March 2013: Twin Towers @Live 2013, Day 2! (I skipped Day 1.) That is a rather cool-looking building, looking a lot like a funky CPU casing.

I brought my Sony Alpha 99 and Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA this time, but only got into the free area. So here’s Mizz Nina, on screen.

Maybe it’s Maybelline! (Edit: Nope, it’s Cleo Lee; thanks Maybelline for the heads up!)

I came, really, to catch the Backstreet Boys. Here’s Nick Carter and Brian Littrell! It was my first time catching them. Although just as any other guy my age, I’d have denied the musicality of a boy band, I realized, after school, that their songs had their merit. They had a way of sticking in your head, such that you’d hear them on the radio and if one guy started singing along, the rest of you could chime in with all the vocal parts and harmonies.

The above picture is a 100% crop.

They started their set with Incomplete. They also accepted modern-day pop, by breaking into PSY – Gangnam Style in the breakdown of Larger Than Life!

They made full use of the live band to sound different than the record; We’ve Got It Goin’ On had a more piano-like sound instead of the synthesizer sound.

(Click image for full-resolution version)

They sat on stools for Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely and As Long As You Love Me, complete with the bit where Nick Carter gets off the stool for the first verse and does moves while singing, very much a reenactment of the music video!

They’ve probably done these moves a thousand times before, but it was still very cool to see it for the first time.

This picture is actually out-of-focus; otherwise I’d be linking it to the full-resolution crop.

I think this was either I’ll Never Break Your Heart or Shape Of My Heart. Every not-so-teenage-anymore girl’s dream come true.

100% crop of Alexander James “A.J.” McLean.

100% crop of Kevin Scott Richardson.

100% crop of Nickolas Gene “Nick” Carter.

(Click image for full-resolution version)
Here’s one that shows a bit of the stage.

From the above image, this is a 100% crop of Howard Dwaine “Howie D.” Dorough (sorry, I don’t have a clearer shot of him.)

A.J. and Kevin.

A fuller shot of the band.

They did Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) for the encore, complete with the signature dance! It was the Gangnam Style dance of its era… but cooler. They seemed to be in top form, compared to the last time they were down in Malaysia, where some said they weren’t as fit as before.

I couldn’t find my notes for this show, so I’d have to rely on the setlist found online:

1. Incomplete
2. Larger Than Life
3. We’ve Got It Goin’ On
4. Get Down (You’re the One for Me)
5. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
6. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
7. As Long As You Love Me
8. The One
9. All I Have to Give
10. Drowning
11. I’ll Never Break Your Heart
12. Shape of My Heart
13. I Want It That Way
14. The Call
15. Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)

By album:
Backstreet Boys (4)
Backstreet’s Back (3)
Millenium (4)
Black & Blue (2)
The Hits: Chapter One (1)
Never Gone (1)

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One March Edition, 12th March 2013. I didn’t note the names this time.

Big & Small! This would be the first time I’d see Krystal, who packs a rich, roaring roll in her voice, and the rhythmic energy of Daryll. They did a cover of Blackstreet – No Diggity, complete with the rap.

Some white guy with a ukulele.

Meanwhile, outside…

This would not be the first time I’d do a doge meme.

Shelley Leong & Seth Lael, first featured act of the night! Here’s Seth rocking the banjo.

Shelley, wide-eyed as ever.

Ray Cheong, fingerstyle maestro.

Ashley Chan, in her solo act days.

Unidentified dude with an acoustic guitar with nice binding.

Cassandra Chong, second featured act!

Rest in peace, Halia.

Kafayat has soul.

Aice and friend.

Ashley’s guitarist later performs his own set.

Prakash Daniel, without the goatee, almost unrecognizable.

This type of shirt seems to be popular with the singer-songwriters.

I really, really should’ve cleaned the filter on my lens. I should’ve gotten more clarity from the Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA, despite the low-contrast lighting.

Reza Salleh, organizer and emcee.

Meanwhile, outdoors, Zalila and a mid-flight jetpacking Jessica.

George Wong or 2storeyheart, emo proper.

Rizla Lynam, who has some amazingly written songs. If you dissected them, they aren’t uncommon chords, but the way he does it sounds fresh.

Outdoors, a hoedown!

Zalila is really getting into the sound of the banjo.

Shelley showing us the fun of a xylophone.

Open Mic Night at The Warehouse Gallery & Café, 28th February 2013.

This was the second time I’d been here, and the last – it has sadly closed down. Upstairs is a real swanky restaurant.

The first time I was here was just for ice-cream and coffee. It was a surprisingly wide shophouse in what was known as High Street, later Jalan Bandar, and today Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.

The Woh Fatt you see in the background is not the legendary musical equipment stockist, but a stationery shop.

I brought my Sony Alpha 99, Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA and Minolta 50mm F1.4 Original.

Despite this, light plays the most part in the clarity of the image.

Intricately inked classical guitar!

Gregory Ramanado!

Freestylin’.

Greg rolls into rap, too!

Ivon Smith tunes up.

Keino Mess and a dude on harmonica.

I don’t know who was who – the emcee wasn’t really announcing who was who.

Shaneil Devaser.

This dude again.

Jalan Tun H.S. Lee is a long road.

Greg and I camwhoring. Today you’d call it a selfie.

Tima, emcee, organizer, and one heck of a singer as I’d later discover by chance as part of Mutima.

Ivon is one heck of a bluesman!

Aslak Gronflaten on trumpet.

Once again with feel.

I’d name those who I can figure out from the invitees on the Facebook event.

Gregory Funkanado goes up again! This open mic had a very different feel, a very informal one, where anybody anytime could go up and jam. Pictures are in chronological order.

Ovation Al DiMeola signature model.

This guy has electronica sounds in this box.

The difference between my Carl Zeiss and the old Minolta is obvious. The Minolta loses contrast when shot at F1.4.

At F2.0, because it wasn’t designed with a circular aperture, the aperture’s shape becomes prevalent in out-of-focus areas when stopped down.

Out-of-focus areas can get distracting with the old Minolta.

Hameer Zawawi.

Fake plastic audience member.

The legendary Professor Che Wan Zawawi Ibrahim.

He had some catchy songs! Leave The Blues Behind.

Hameer, his son, on shaker.

There was another song that had us all singing along, but I can’t remember what it was.

Crowd dances along.

She sang a cover of Whitney Houston – Saving All My Love For You. Nice voice!

RAWR!!! The Gig The Acoustic Sessions @ Paradox Cafe, 27th February 2013. Here’s The Summer State from Singapore!

Sue & Her Boys; The 2nd Chapter did an excellent cover of Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication.

Amanda Charmaine.

Scarlet Heroes.

All shots with the Sony Alpha 99 and Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA and Minolta 50mm F1.4 Original.

Darren Teh, organizer and emcee.

Syamee Shamsul. I met him much later, and I can’t believe how much of a good boy he looked back then!

I remember the leftie guitar though.

Talitha Tan and her lyrics sheet.

This time, backed by Syamee and band.

He would later sport a rather cool hairdo. My backlog is just under 11 months now, and I’m looking to shorten that!

MirrorMirror.

Meanwhile, in the back, Nick Davis previews a track for Esty.

Jonathan Khor, violinist with an extensive pedalboard that had a wah! He did a cool cover of Michael Jackson – Billie Jean.

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Publika February Edition, 26th February 2013. Sweet Ibanez Iceman bass!

The Milkmen, I think.

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find any notes on who some of the later performers are – I usually save them in Google Calendar as an event, but for some reason I have nothing in February 2013. I do vaguely remember these guys rocking out.

Aice.

Not sure who these dudes are…

…either.

Shaneil Devaser.

Brian Gomez, first featured act of the night.

Stanley Oh.

Ariff AB.

Sufiz.

Dasha Logan.

Her merry men!

Doing the Egyptian.

Just doing her thang.

So that’s what stickers are for!

Rashdan Harith.

Kevin with a player T-shirt.

David on guitar.

Here’s one of my typical shots of Rashdan, full of sustain.

Remy J..

Teddy bear on top of the front entrance of The Bee, drunk after a can of beer.

Rendra Zawawi, second featured act.

This time, with a big band.

His siblings back him up.

String section.

Horn section.

Nope, don’t know this guy.

Mahani, who appears in Rendra’s music video for Faceless!

Yet another name to be filled.

Perhaps, as I progress through later open mics where I have ascertained their identities, I shall go back to this and edit their names in.

Open Mic @ The Venue #5 – Hosted by Az Samad, 25th February 2013! Here’s the first featured act, Shelly Leong & Seth Lael! This is Shelley, jazz singer/pianist/guitarist.

Seth, the husband, on banjo.

I somehow can’t find the list of performers that I usually write on my phone, so this guy will be unlabelled unless I get a hint.

Khaimano returns! The witty multi-disciplinarian Khai is the head of this ska-punk-funk band with hilarious lyrics. He posted a gig flyer back in the Xfresh forum, that led me to catching my first gig ever, with his band playing songs like Backdoor Man, Cannot Get It Up… just as they did this night.

Ariff, used to be this skinny scrawny drummer, but he’s now buffed up.

Bahir wasn’t the original bassist.

Az Samad, organizer and emcee, introducing Shaneil Devaser, himself an open mike gig organizer. He played a cover of Foo Fighters – Razor.

Amrita Soon and a friend.

Anna Chong, second featured act!

Fung Chern Wei, on violin.

That metallic object ringed out, adding to the atmosphere. Anna’s music envelops you and makes you feel, in a transcending otherworldly way.

Relent!

These guys bring back good ol’ rock.

There’s that infectious rock-and-roller tune Save Me…

…and a cover of Backstreet Boys – I Want It That Way.

Next was another band from a while back – Ziel.

They have that early 2000’s vibe, where rap and metal fused again.

Rudy!

They played Riot, from a time that flangers were in fashion – I first heard the song nearly 9 years ago!

Rendra Zawawi smiles at Yin, videographer and organizer of the organizer. He did a cover of Bob Dylan – Make You Feel My Love by himself…

…and then Hameer Zawawi joined him for the second song, Faceless.

The incredible Dasha Logan!

This shot, and the one before, were taken by Prakash Daniel, who gets killer shots!

Ash on drums.

Adil Johan.

Dasha is a load of energy on stage! She’s a most entertaining entertainer to watch…

…with the vocal prowess to match, going from a silky purr to a hearty rocking growl!

Her brother’s in the band as well; both children to Loganathan of Alleycats!

Hameer Zawawi, this time not traditionally the last act.

I did not catch the name of this band, that played hard rock and sang in Malay.

Super hard-rocking guitar! I remember asking the musicians how he was making that hot lead guitar sound. It was scorching, molten, sticky syrup.

Liam Callan.