Monthly Archives: May 2015

Maydley!


Here is a medley of gigs from May. 7th May 2015: Bricks & Barrels, Desa Sri Hartamas. Didn’t get this band’s name.


Cool staircase though.


9th May 2015: Brendan James de Cruz busking at Publika until his D and G string broke!


I then headed to The Bee, Publika, where Amoura was the opening act.


These guys have a rocking sound.


Nice green guitar!


Vocalist Carolyn.


They were the opening act for The Bee Publika’s Lot 36 act…


Dotters’ Division. Here’s Linet the boss.


Melissa the fabulous. I like how they did a bit more 90s this time, with Sugar Ray – Every Morning and Alanis Morissette.


Bubbly Rebecca.


Jie Er the emo rock star.


Audrey Then superstar.


14th May 2015: The Barlai Open Mic #1, at Barlai, Jalan Sin Chew Kee.


Here’s Greg Ramanado! I didn’t photograph the rest, though.

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft. The Impatient Sisters & Ashley Chan / May 2015 Edition


12th May 2015: Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft. The Impatient Sisters & Ashley Chan / May 2015 Edition. Here’s Sid Murshid!


Anatasha.


Az Samad.


Irena & Az.


David Soh.


Talitha Tan.


Cheryl.


First featured act, The Impatient Sisters.


When you see the kazoo you know it’s The Ark!


Reza Salleh, emcee and host.


The SXS.


Much hirsute.


They Forgot Jasmine.


Fadhil Zulkifli.


Ashley Chan, second featured act.


Featuring DJ Khye Mun!


Also, Simmy on keyboard. Can’t resist noting the pattern on her shirt!


Ashley had become a electropop star.


I’m digging the new sound!


Daphne, who I’d seen at gigs years ago, reappeared.


Electronic Ashley.


Another one who appeared out of nowhere – the legendary Pete Teo!


Bihzhu!


Herman playing a Squier fretless bass!


He adds his sweet voice to the mix.


Straw.


Backed by Adieu.


Reza Salleh ends the night.


Courage The Cat salutes you!

BuskStop with Back2Basixx


10th May 2015: BuskStop with Back2Basixx, hosted by Hameer Zawawi, at Quill City Mall.


I also came in time to shoot this metal standee before it would be carted away – I took that picture of Otam from an open mic.


Yup, this one.


Anyway, here are the boys of this vocal harmony group! We’ll start with Devon.


Brendan with the red cap.


Daryll on guitar.


Sometimes, Christian Theseira takes over guitar. Other times, he is mistaken for John Legend.


In the middle with the manbun is Kyle.


They pulled up random people in the crowd to sing along. Here, Kelly Siew just happened to be such a random person! Damn cute when she dresses all hip-hop because she doesn’t sing hip-hop.


These guys in the back in black are rappers. Didn’t get to see their collaboration, though.


Naz at the back, just fiddling around.


This random act was walking past when Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River was sung, and he started grooving infectiously. I suppose they came from some talent competition going on in the middle.

Calories Cafe Opening Day


9th May 2015: Calories Cafe Opening Day.


This duplex shoplot is in Glomac Galeria Hartamas (which I’d describe as the nearest building in Desa Sri Hartamas to the big junction that connects it to Sri Hartamas.)


The counter.


More seats.


Dual frontage, to the center area.


Upstairs is Mimpikita, a boutique. Bits Of Random and A Soap Affair were also here, with Jaslyn Cakes downstairs.


I came in time for Lea Ismail.


She was not alone on stage.


Next up, Talitha Tan and her Maestro guitar with a rather unique second soundhole.


Hello, is it me you’re looking for? F11 at 135mm through a mirror lets me get this shot.


Everybody’s favorite Derpina gets some hair color going on.

Pop That Cherry! Launch Party & Concert


1st May 2015: Pop That Cherry! Launch Party & Concert.


It was also Fabien’s birthday, but there shall be no pictures of him, since he went past his alcohol consumption threshold.


First band I managed to catch was the djentle Deumuseth.


8 strings of djent.


Vocals straight from hell.


Bullseye Pub & Restaurant shifted their stage to the other side, allowing for a bigger area!


The emcee.


Beatrice presents a dance!


To the sound of Marilyn Manson.


Pink Acid.


Awesome hair metal!


No life till leather!


Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi, the works.


A little harmonica for Aerosmith – Cryin’.


Ending the night was the surprise acoustic version of Dragon Red.


Adam has always a commanding stage presence with his unique look. Sure, he’s got peak beard, but he does it better.


Camero on bass. Brandon took over drums, but went back to guitar for acoustic duty, as Amil could not make it.


Slyde had to go, so Adam did the rap bits and the deejay scratches, too.


Here they are, doing an acoustic version of their single, Child’s Play.


Funky helium balloons.


That big birthday card/placard.

Feedback Open Mic ft Brendan de Cruz & Castera @ The Bee Publika / April 2015 Edition


28th April 2015: Feedback Open Mic ft Brendan de Cruz & Castera @ The Bee Publika / April 2015 Edition. Here’s Reza Salleh, emcee, organizer, and first open micer of the night!


Next up: Tiah Ridhwani.


Backed by the megawatt-smiling Fazz on guitar.


Anatasha remembers me!


For that, I will remember you.


Middle Sons.


So I was taking pictures when I was interrupted by a challenger!


She was then defeated by this wanderer from Japan.


A wide-eyed wanderer, indeed.


Pictures above by Jia Wen, except the picture of Jia Wen, by me.


Yvonne flips her hair back.


Next band seemed to forget something. They Forgot Jasmine.


David Soh.


Edited: Mikhail Raiyan.


Amoura.


I was really drawn to the deep army green of this guitar!


Another draw – Illuminannnati.


First featured act…


Castera!


Repertoire in Japanese.


Featuring two familiar sisters; Yvonne Chong…


…and Sharon Chong. Faz is hiding in the back.


Sharon was wearing a shirt with this cool design – you’ll first notice the triangle (symbol of the hipster), then the eyes below it, then the sideways mouth, then the V-neck collar he is wearing.


Marie.


The Filters.


What is it with bands that can sit around and wait for their turn to get on stage but not think about tuning their guitars while waiting?


Brendan James de Cruz.


Awesome voice, awesome guitar.


George.


Lukarts.

Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft. Misgive & Isaac Ho / April 2015 Edition


14th April 2015: Feedback Open Mic @ The Bee Jaya One ft. Misgive & Isaac Ho / April 2015 Edition. Here’s Joanne & Julia, twins!


First featured act, Isaac Ho.


Deborah Gan.


Second featured act, Misgive.


Celyane/Yen. This punk rock band normally is electric punk rock…


…but this time they travelled down to Kuala Lumpur, they went acoustic. This doesn’t stop Reen from giving an electric stare!


Cort hooked them up with acoustic instruments.


I have a fretless acoustic bass that has pretty much the same shape.


This is a real punk rock band, not pop punk, and I’m spinning the CD I got from them on repeat.


New band member, Sabby.


Reza Salleh, emcee and organizer.


Wee Ning, I think…
(Edited: It’s Reening Lau, as I’d find out in 2016!)


…and Esther Ling.


Amrita Soon & Sam Soon, sisters. Amrita’s on the 12-string guitar.


Edited: Wun Tuang. (Thanks Rizal for mentioning his name!)


Kai.


It was another early night, so Reza ended it with some covers.

All pictures shot with the Sony Alpha 99 and Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM.

Panic Bird Is The Word


11th April 2015: Guiness Amplify Curates Froya’s Panic Bird Launch, at The Bee, Publika! Here’s the emcee.


First opening act, Rozella.


Her band.


Next: Jumero, featuring Jared…


…Michael…


…and Ryan.


+2db, with an alternate lineup, adding Ali Aiman and Eng Hooi. Eng Hooi has a thing for crashing the 2-member bands like Halfway Kings.


The songbird Froya!


Ivan on lead guitar.


Horn section.


She brought on Zalila, who was part of the early journey.


Melina, too!


Ann Na is all like pew pew.


If you’re wondering what’s with the noise – my Sony Alpha 7S was in repair and I had to make do with my Sony Alpha 99, which now feels dated at ISO6400.


Grace of Fazz and QG!


The Froya bunny. (Edited, thanks Melinya for the heads up!)


My tablemates won the rare USB drive edition of the album!

Moonshine: Spotlight ft Platform 11, Tempered Mental, Emperor Obvious & Blund / March 2015 Edition


26th March 2015: Moonshine: Spotlight ft Platform 11, Tempered Mental, Emperor Obvious & Blund / March 2015 Edition, at The Bee, Publika!

That’s right boys and girls, Moonshine is back! Albeit not on a monthly basis, and not at the regular spot, Laundry Bar. It has gone from starting at No Black Tie, to Laundry Bar, to this, then Laundry Bar again, and this place again. Here’s Reza Salleh, organizer and emcee, and the one all the bands thank for the longest running music show in the Klang Valley!


First up?


Blund.


They show up at Feedback Open Mic a lot.


This time however, we got to see them play their originals. Pretty catchy and a bit more rocking out! Shot with the Sigma 60mm F2.8 DN on the A7S on forced full-frame mode.


Fariz Salleh handles the merchandise booth. Same combination as above. You can barely notice the vignetting!


My Sony Alpha 7S was having some problems with the rear screen not working, so I borrowed Tang Chun Cheuh’s Sony Alpha 6000 as a backup camera.


Paired with the LA-EA4 adapter and Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA, I got much more close up.


Back to the Sony Alpha 7S for a wider shot, of Emperor Obvious


…and tight drum shots with the APS-C crop of the A6000.


They play a tight mix of what sounds to me like post-hardcore, the kind that I like.


Then, to the next band, who is superb at setting the mood.


The atmospheric Platform 11.


Trance-like.


Smiley Ken Chung!


A mix of Chinese and English lyrics.


Fortunately, I didn’t need to bump up the ISO much, so the A6000 wasn’t too noisy.


This, for example, was at ISO100!


ISO200! At 1/200th of a second, F1.8.


The A7S though does stuff like this, ISO40000…


…or ISO51200.


Final band of the night.


The progressive-ish alternative rock of Tempered Mental!


Jimmy’s drum dynamics!


Jack’s lick of destiny!


Melina’s thumping bass!


Hameer closes the night.

All shots have EXIF included, so you can figure out which is with the A6000 and which with the A7S.