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?

17th April 2012: Feedback Open Mic, at The Bee, Publika. Here’s organizer Reza Salleh!

Jazzbird Mia Palencia!

Bay! She is very adorable. But do you know what could be any cuter than this?

Not a regular shellac-ed ukulele, but a colorful one!

Talitha Tan, who I’d stumble upon later. I was pretty sure it was the school holidays!

Jared Lim Trio rocking out with old-school groove.

They certainly get the hair down.

Ashley covered Clara C – Offbeat, of which I have had the unlikely chance of having seen.

East-side rockers Relent!

They do a mean Foo Fighters – Hero and Kings Of Leon – Use Somebody cover. I do enjoy their originals, too!

Here’s Christian Palencia…

…and Christina.

Prema Yin does something we’ve never seen her do before – play guitar live!

Although she normally writes her songs on guitar, the task of playing them goes to Isaac here.

Joe the hipster bassist.

Raksasa just got out of bed. Who keeps him awake?

Probably these damn nocturnal kids!

Since I’m feeling productive today, here’s a two-in-one update.

5th April 2012 was the funkadelic Dr. Rhythm live at Nerofico, Jalan Dungun!

Featuring some familiar faces like gregarious Gregory Ramanado…

…his brother, Herman Ramanado…

…and his brother from another mother Jared Cheow!

They were doing jazzier stuff with the keyboard and saxophone in tow.

Jamiroquai – Canned Heat and a jazzed-up Deep Purple – Black Night come to mind.

Of course, there was that one cover from the band which I know the Ramanados from – their hit single, Gypsy Girl.

Obligatory teeth inspection shot with Greg.

Fast-forward to the 16th of April 2012, for The Songwriters’ Showcase at The Bee, Publika! Here’s Jasemaine (on the right) emceeing with a girl whose name I did not catch.

Straw Lim!

I’m not sure if this was her band Astrawnomi or not.

Didn’t catch this guy’s name either. They were all speaking in Mandarin, mostly, which I cannot catch.

This was the first time I heard the epic Anna Chong.

Her band and her will draw you in with haunting layers of oriental worldly transcendent music.

All shots from this blog post, from the Sony Alpha NEX-5 with E-mount 16mm F2.8 pancake or Opteka 85mm F1.4 through the Sony LA-EA1 A-mount to E-mount adapter.

3rd April 2012 – Rockafellas – Come Together, for Alda Evan Tan.

Here are the Ramanados!

These boys are the funkiest young talents to come out in the scene in a while! Greg broke a guitar string, causing his guitar to detune (strange, isn’t it, given that it was a fixed-bridge… but it sounded like an intentional off-tune key shift in a pretty cool way.)

Jared “Chad” Cheow.

Jay of bluesmen Rolling Sixers.

Khai on leftie acoustic.

Eddy, frontman and blues harper.

Henry – dreads, a haircut.

Random camwhoring time with Regina and Collin Chin. Wide shots were with the Sony Alpha 77 and Samyang 35mm F1.4 UMC; tight shots were with the Opteka 85mm F1.4.

Rithan of Deja Voodoo Spells!

I don’t ever remember seeing him on acoustic, so this was an acoustic treat.

He did more 90’s rock this time – Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun for one.

Then came the fundraising – an autographed Dragon Red – Holocaust album!

Dragon Red, of course, played.

Switcheroo.

Slyde looking at the beautifully-bokehed Adam Lobo. Some days the 85mm just impresses!

Amil is not used to having his guitar so high up – he normally stands up and rocks. Or so I surmise.

Camero tuning. He was many bassists after Alda, who played with Dragon Red.

Adam, head screamer.

Rithan graciously offered his acoustic Ibanez up for auction! Ironically the Dragon Red boys started bidding madly on this, with the winner being Adam.

Zona, Alda’s sister, flew down. Here Adam was telling a poignant story about a question Alda’s dad asked him. Zona then told a story and we felt the presence of onions everywhere.

Adam and his source of rage.

However, here’s a video of them covering George Michael – Careless Whisper.

Russell Curtis, who runs the bar.

Zaim the groovy.

Eddy joins the blues jam.

Throw in Rithan’s cousin, I think.

Add in Rithan, and whoa! It was 1:33AM when I left, knowing I would not be able to wake up the next day if I didn’t leave, so I did.

A really old picture.

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