Category Archives: Music

Moonshine 11-2


Here is Moonshine: A Homemade Music Show, a certain 11th of February 2010. This is Diandra Arjunaidi!


This time around, she has a bigger band.


Hanafi’s in love!


My first gig with the Vivitar 24mm F2.0 un-tilt-shifted. 24mm F2.0 1/30s ISO6400.


I have this affinity towards taking pictures of people with screens glowing on their faces…


…and faces which glow like the likes of likeable Liyana Fizi!


24mm wide makes for some interesting perspectives.


Of course, the 135mm is the usual drum shooter.


Yes, I misread that the first time too!


Reza Salleh pushing a more rocking beat this time around.


Hanafi’s a major tweak geek. Look at the number of switches on his Fender Jaguar!


And this is his pedalboard, neatly annotated with the common settings.


I… am not sure what she was doing.


I wonder if that was a video because she was holding her phone that way all the time.


Mira of Tilu!


This was one heck of a big band, 8 of them (there’s the keyboardist to the left and the bassist to the right.)


Jeff, who looks to be our indie scene’s only saxophone player.


They played some swing, soul and old-school R&B. Y’know, of the Earth Wind & Fire flavor. Boogie time!

Unrocking Monday

Why? Because Ronnie James Dio, prominent heavy metal vocalist for many bands like Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Dio, passed away on the 16th of May 2010.

He is the voice behind Holy Diver and Heaven And Hell, if the only clue you have of good ol’ heavy metal is from classic rock compilation albums.

He was in Tenacious D’s Pick Of Destiny movie, in an unforgettable scene:

The lineup of Black Sabbath when Ronnie James Dio was in it, returned again under the name Heaven & Hell. They toured to Fort Canning, Singapore, where I managed to catch him!

A stage moment with Vinny Appice, Geezer Butler, and the plastic-fingered Tony Iommi as Heaven & Hell, in 2007!

My blog entry on this:
Having A Hell-uva Time

Five Parts Metal


And now for some mugshots of members of local metal band Dragon Red! Here is Adam.


All shots with the Sony Alpha 900 and Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D) at ISO200, F11 – F11 and hard lights from both sides gives a heck load of detail! This is a 100% crop.


Adam is the guy who runs around stage screaming and shouting, and crooning melodically once in a while. He also does a mean Daron Malakian impression (and he used to have a Shavo Odadjian goatee!)


How about something more Oakley?


Camero is the relatively new bassist to a now stabilized lineup.


I was not introduced to him as Camero though – can you guess what his real name is? Hint: It sounds remarkably similiar, which is fantastic for a glamour name!


Landslyde, formerly of Poetic Ammo, is the boss. He throws a typhoon of rap!


Vin Diesel impression.


Amil is the resident shredder who puts in a healthy dose of chunky riffs, pinch harmonics and melodic solos.


I remember the days when he had a yellow star-shaped guitar (I can’t find the picture so I’m not sure if I can call it a yellow ESP LTD Random Star… but then I remember it being a Kramer.)


Manshaan backs everybody with a tight drum section.


So brutal he could double-pedal with his fingers!


Somehow he looks like the Transformers Movie Megatron here.

It was fun shooting the band since I’ve seen them for many years. Where else could I discover an excellent cover of Creeping Death by Bullet For My Valentine, if not in their car on the way to shoot outdoors, or to find Guitar Hero champions?

The outdoor and indoor band shots are here:
It’s True It’s Dragon Red

It’s True It’s Dragon Red


Last year, I had the opportunity to shoot my favorite local metal band, Dragon Red!

Although their sound is modern, I can’t call them nu-metal – there are solos, and pinch harmonics to remember Dimebag Darrell by. This is one of the few bands I would let my hair down for to headbang with (and now, I don’t need to let my hair down to headbang!)


From left to right: Amil the shredder, Camero the bassist, Adam the screamer/crooner, Slyde the rapper, Manshaan the drummer.

The light setup was simple – one F42 from left, one F58 from right, and one F58 on my A900 to trigger them both (this was before the F20 came out.)


The Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D) does admirably in the element of F8 with good light. In that sense I say it’s suitable to be a studio lens when stopped down to F8-F16.


The belt is so metal, it doubles as a lighter!


One light from above left, held by a tripod. I pulled out two JPGs from the RAW file, and merged them on the faces. Makes for a less fake HDR look.


Feeling restless? Let’s go outside.


The fire-breathing dragon did it. Really.

If there is one thing I’ve learnt from shooting bands outdoors – do it quick while the sun is hot. At 75mm F14 ISO400 I was getting a weak 1/40s at 5:32pm in the evening. I needed the 75mm to get the desired perspective, while F14 was to get everyone in focus.


EXIF data is included in all shots. More to come!

Moonshine 01-10


Moonshine: A Homemade Music Show at Laundry Bar, The Curve a certain 14th of January 2010!


This is the skillful Az Samad double-tapping fingerstyle and slapping his guitar violently to make percussive sounds of it.

I like how the Opteka 85mm F1.4 lets me get closer and wider (and optically better than my aged Minolta 50mm F1.4.)


For closeups like this one of punk-folk-rocker Azmyl Yunor though, the Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 is a must.


85mm again.


24mm wide with the Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D). (This was before I disabled the tilt-shift capability of my Vivitar 24mm F2.0.)


Hello there!


Udjinn ponders. He always does. You may or may not see the Opteka’s color.


Paolo Delfino puts his ponderances to song.


He roped in his brother on drums!


Obligatory ISO6400 shot. 1/40s 85mm F1.4.


This was more interesting – a stitched shot from two 135mm F1.8 ISO6400 shots.


This is a crop from a portrait orientation shot, giving effectively a 200mm angle of view.


My 50mm finally comes out at F2! Here is to 90’s rock with Stonebay.


Ojie will not lose his hat this time. I remember a time when I’d always see him with a colorful beanie.


I’ve always wanted to try inverting an image, but this is the first time it has worked. I inverted a layer copy and changed the blend mode to Luminosity to return somewhat normal color.

Moonshine HD!

I present to you a new high definition image resolution on my blog – 720×480 pixels! What better to start it off than with Moonshine: A Homemade Music Show, a certain 10th of December 2009 ago.

This new resolution is due to Facebook finally supporting 720 pixels on my account, for all of you who like to take my pictures and post on your Facebook profile (but keep the watermark yeah! If you insist on removing the watermark, make sure to credit me in the text.)

This also marks the first time I have broken compatibility for 640×480 screens (explains my previous 600×400 image size.) Well at least it’s still compatible for 800×600 screens!


Zalila Lee, the funky songmeister.


This shot of her made it to the birthplace of the Moonshine show – No Black Tie.


Spot my picture in the calendar!


Somebody’s had a long night.


Next up, Monoloque! Loque of Butterfingers on the left.


There was just something about his expressions which were so funny!


Loque’s Dahlia.


Keys all over the left, and electronic drums all over the right.


Closeup of the Roland V-Drums.


Kadak of Butterfingers on bass…


…and keyboard. Er, how many keyboards were there again?


Kinda makes a fretboard look underdressed.


Then came a surprise in Jack The Shredder’s usually long hair…


…for the all-time crunchy progressive modern rock purveyors Tempered Mental.


Jimmy!


Do you Recall?

There was a Beat It solo in between songs, which was way cool.


Next up was big ska band 40 Winks!


I don’t think I ever remember the dude on the left without shades.


I cheated on this – put in some barrel distortion to make the center guy bigger in scale.


How you all doing in the back?” asks the energetic Faiz Rosli.


My favorite shot of the night. I had begun to appreciate 24mm more on full-frame (and this on the Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D), which would be too dark for this place.)

Rock The World 9 Part Five!


26th December 2009: Rock The World 9 at Bukit Jalil! Here’s the sweet-voiced Liyana Fizi. Sadly I missed Take It Slow and any possible dedications. 🙁


Disagree. Zahid gives everybody a big hug for coming for Rock The World 9!


Ajin those glasses are too cute man!


This is, of course, Brainhead.


Azlan & The Typewriter with a familiar Lan (formerly of MeetUncleHussain!)


And then it was time to Rock And Roll, Rock And Roll with the very infectious…


…rock-and-rocking Couple!


This is the new pop – Love Me Butch! Well no not really, they keep it real.


Stonebay keeps it locked down in the 90’s.


Ridzuan of Seven Collar T-shirt shows us his favorite pick to make haunting melancholic rock with.


So who was on vocals for MeetUncleHussain then? Was it this guy…


…or this guy?


A most interesting battle ensued.

Emcee Harooooon! also told us this band used to be called Meet Saddam Hussain. Interesting.


One Buck Short on stage, and on the speakers.


Bittersweet, who also had a new vocalist. Still very much Brit!


Pesawat besar.


Bunkface ended the night past midnight.


I hope all of you who stayed past the LRT’s closing time, managed to get home!

More pictures here:
Rock The World 9 Part Four!
Rock The World 9 Part Three!
Rock The World 9 Part Two!
Rock The World 9 Part One!

Rock The World 9 Part Four!


26th December 2009: Rock The World 9 at Bukit Jalil! Julian Mokhtar plays the blues on a beautifully scalloped fretboard.


Slowjaxx. Not quite sure of the distinction between this and Stoned Revivals, though.


Monoloque takes Kadak and Loko of the Butterfingers and adds a few more for a refreshing musical experience.


Everybody wants to joget!


Labrat is Syahrul of Love Me Butch, and family! (Yes that is his wife in the bottom-left panel.)


Otam who always sounds like he walked out of a juke joint.


The Times! They did a cover of The Who – My Generation.


Skudap Skudip were in white to play ska.


This is how you start to crowd surf.


This is not how you start to crowd surf.


This is Jose Thomas, amazing shredder.


Saturnine, remember them? “And halllfff of meee is good enough!


Auburn, borrowing members of Tempered Mental.


Bleeding Mascara is the metal.


All that is missing is a full moon.


Awooo!


Car Crash Hearts. Because guitars are not meant to be slung low.


Friends, Romans, countrymen!


Guitar up more Mr. Soundman who is behind the drumset!


Republic Of Brickfields. I missed Amy Search coming on stage to sing along to their cover of Balada Pemusik Jalanan! Darn missed oppurtunities when running between 3 stages!

Sorry Bo, I missed your set. 🙁


Y2K is still going strong past Y2K, playing punk covers!


Rashdan Harith yeah!


Pop Shuvit yeah!


AJ on bass. It’s nice to see that they’ve maintained their lineup like, forever. Minus Point Blanc that is.


The Otherside Orchestra and a drummer engulfed in smoke.


Karen Nunis Blackstone and a couple of haunting tunes.


Shahrider


and Nizam P. They have the funnest Malay songs ever.


Sweet-voiced Yuna.

More pictures here:
Rock The World 9 Part Three!
Rock The World 9 Part Two!
Rock The World 9 Part One!

Rock The World 9 Part Three!


26th December 2009: Rock The World 9 at Bukit Jalil! This is the hardcore Restraint.


Modread.


John’s Mistress is back…


…with a new guitarist!


Say what? Ask Me Again.


The wider telephoto shots that have a shallow depth of field were shot with my freshly-gotten Opteka 85mm F1.4. Here’s Rosevelt!


Meanwhile, the Zeiss 135mm F1.8 was used for all drummer shots.


Nitrus, who has been around.


They did a cover of Duffy – Mercy. Fun!


Surf rockers Kugiran Di Tepi Pantai, who have been around even longer, were great fun. That guitar looked like something I saw from a distant memory in Peterson Guitars.


I wanna hold your haaand!” Beatles done surf style.


Forty Winks, who probably has as many members in the band.


Whatever happened to Faiz being vocalist for Lied?


The Roland AX-Synth, a legitimate Keytar!


Rendra Zawawi brings his dark folk to the folk.


Blind Tribe raaawrrr! No white face powder though; they’re death metal not black metal.


When headbanging with dreadlocks, you may be reminded of its smell.


Still, makes for a good shot.


Eve Oh, an emo representative of An Honest Mistake.


Artcore is hardcore!


Darren runs up to the crowd to tell them to buy his band T-shirt. Yes I want one too!


Lurks is still lurking around.

And that ends my daylight series – the next series of pictures were after the torrents of rain that caused a blackout on the power generators. They shall have stage lights!

More pictures here:
Rock The World 9 Part Two!
Rock The World 9 Part One!

Rock The World 9 Part Two!


26th December 2009: Rock The World 9 at Bukit Jalil! Here’s more with Ceased War.


…who had the Sepultura sound.


Crowd shot with the Peleng 8mm F3.5 and 2x teleconverter, then de-fished in DxO Optics Pro.


I pointed the fisheye at a dead crowd, and they started jumping…


…I had started a moshpit without even being in the moshpit!


This is one of many misunderstood activities that happen at a rock concert. Anybody who is in the front knows what they are in for; a physical manifestation of the energy gotten from hard and heavy rocking.


Exorage, who sounds a fair bit MUSE.


Floor 88 did a cover of 30 Seconds To Mars – The Kill.


Aku.


Man I love sunburst wood tops!


Spot me!


Jeapardice brings funk.


Wynken Delirium yeaaarrrggghhh!


You know a band is true when they have obscure oriental instruments.


The Great Southern Gathering – haha! That gig title was definitely a spinoff of Pantera’s The Great Southern Trendkill.


Moving on to indie sounds with Sam Kuman.


Nice crop from the Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8. All shots here are with that lens or the Minolta 24-105mm F3.5-4.5(D) unless otherwise specified. Heck this blog entry shows all the bands before I got my Opteka 85mm F1.4 in the afternoon!


What was going on in the Chillout Stage?


Coca Di Monday is a huge band, a precursor to ska.


Pitbull Inc. rocks the Main Stage.


Why yes, pulling up does help…


Hmmm is that my pick guard on the floor?


Gotta love those aged Fenders.


Bactrim also does funk.


Robot Asmara does indie.


Gotta dig his mohawk…


…and them shades. Shades are a definite way to increase visibility in rock concert pictures!


Federated has a kilt. That is so metal!

More pictures here:
Rock The World 9 Part One!