+65 Indie Underground on Channel Newsasia

A history of Singapore's band scene

Well-balanced Weekend.

We arranged for band practice on Saturday so in order not to feel so bad about leaving the kids, I took them out earlier in the day for some fun.

In hopes to tire them out so when they spend the next couple of hours sleeping at home minded by Matriarch and helper, we ran for practice.

When Sunday came, Mister had to sleep in after a graveyard shift but I've gotten used to doing things with the kid/s on my own so I planned to take Munchkin to a Cat Show since the little one is skittish of cats. Taking the almost 4yr old out now is convenient cos I don't have to carry around diapers and milk bottles plus she makes great conversations (at any time there's always someone to say I'm pretty even though I look like a train-wreck). But most of the time, I feel wretched about leaving the 17mth-old at home with the helper. So we waited. As soon as the younger one shut her eyes for her 11am nap, Munch and I got dressed and left. It's less of a heartache when the other one sleeps so she doesn't miss much. By the time we got home, it was the elder's turn to nap so I didn't waste any time, got Pumpkin dressed and off we went to a another heartland mall.

Sense of achievement there when both get equal treatment. Now let me think about ways to manage this with a third kid.

Current Girl Band Love - Plastiscines

Latest episode of Gossip Girl set me skyrocket love for Plastiscines (a girl-band love since Sahara Hotnights). Because ALL I EVER WANTED was a RICKENBACKER. I've always loved girl bands but I hate it when girls do it out of some kind of boy-bashing.

Natalie Curtis

I'm always fascinated by how much a child can look like his/her folks. Ian Curtis (1956 – 1980) singer of Joy Division, certainly passed his face down to his daughter.

Hello Daddy!

This morning, a lady standing in front of me was reading Today paper and I spotted a photo of my father-in-law and his band on a page.

page scans>



Last week, we saw him on this poster when we were having dinner at Banquet.

image borrowed from http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/

The Spouse and I can't help feeling tickled by these images. Now I foresee my kids laughing their heads off seeing their folks' hey-day photos.

On the Waterfront - Rockin' The Region: Indonesia

15 May 09, Fri
7.30 - 8.15pm The Fake
8.45 - 9.30pm Cascade
10 - 10.45pm Homogenic

16 May 09, Sat
7.30 - 8.15pm The Fake
8.45 - 9.30pm Bangkutaman
10 - 10.45pm Homogenic

17 May 09, Sun
7.30 - 8.15pm Cascade
8.45 - 9.30pm Bangkutaman

youtube link of Bangkutaman's live set
youtube link of Homogenic's music video

In 2003, we had not found myspace. I was socialising on an Indonesian forum called Malesbanget. A couple of guys were organising a gig and offered me and my friends to play. It was December when we went.

We stayed in a serviced apartment called Hotel Kristal where, before we left for the gig, someone who fronts a band called Bangkutaman came by to ask us a few questions for an article of a zine called Outmagz.


This weekend, that band Bangkutaman, will be in Singapore to play at Esplanade along with other Indonesian bands. One of them is Homogenic from FFwd Records which is the same label as Mocca. FFwd Records has also done a lot for my band.

We've made many Indonesian friends since then and they showed great hospitality. I feel a need to do the same when they come here.


This was my favourite photo of the trip. An all-vocalists photo.

from left: Santa Monica, Serenaide, Bangkutaman, Blossom Diary.

selit page scans of the article Acum did:

Kitchen (You’ve Never Had It So Good)

synopsis taken from esplanade website:
It's 1965 and everything is just about to happen. Pop, subculture, superstars, feminism, drugs, bright lights, and sex are about to rock the world like never before. Inspired by Andy Warhol's 1965 film Kitchen, Gob Squad's "live film", Kitchen (You've Never Had it So Good) takes you on a trip back to the underground cinemas of New York City, back to where it all began.
Gob Squad reconstructs Kitchen and other Warhol films Eat, Sleep and Screen Test. How can they get it just right? How do they know if they're going wrong? How did people dance in 1965? What did they talk about? Had feminism happened? Or was it yet to begin? The performers talk about sex, drugs and wild parties, attempt to snort lines of coffee, eat layer cake and dance. Halfway through the performance, the lines between audience and performers slowly disappear as selected audience members replace the actors one by one.

Gob Squad official website

Sans Coldplay

What coincidence. I was looking up my archived discs for old photos when I found Coldplay's scanned setlist of their gig in 2001. Like almost everyone on FB was having hangover from the gig on Monday; everyone but me - I just don't and can't like them still but I should be ashamed to have gone to see them play here with Travis. (But that's because it was only fifty bucks for 2 bands and I didnt have much financial responsibilities then). Anyway, this setlist landed on my feet despite the frantic mobbing. I picked it up and shoved it in my pocket ignoring the exceedingly evil glares thrown at me. I regret not letting them have it.. It could've saved lives.

Mini gig-goers

Sunday got fine (what more with Mister beaming ear to ear over pool's win) and our trip to esplanade with the kids was fab. from the weather, to the bands to the sound technicals, to our parking spot, to our seats (thanks faezah who spared us centre top space when the place is almost packed to brim) to the company. mocca+yuna+typewriter = one of the best reasons to take the trip down with the kids.

Alphabreaks. OMG kids got cool.

I absolutely love what I saw on Playhouse Disney recently. Alphabreaks is a new kids' show that teaches alphabet through music. That nifty band outfit, awesome set design, their outfit color coordination and of course, handsome musicians made me do a bit of homework.


The kids in the video are crushingly adorable.

And the band that played, Dappled Cities is on my exploration list.

(500) Days of Summer

i'm anticipating this flick

not just because it has The Smiths on soundtrack but also because Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel makes a perfect combo.

YUNA from Malaysia

It's been a while since I heard a voice I could like instantly. For someone who doesn't take acoustic music very well, it's a big deal for me.

http://www.myspace.com/yunaroomrecords
She'll be here for Mosaic. :)

The Father-in-law's Band

Chanced upon an interesting blog today. One that has photos of the father-in-law in his hey days. A dude he was.


http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/ by andy young, my father-in-law's ex-bandmate.

Munchkin's Art Digitized

I finally managed to scan some of Munchkin's art to manipulate and animate them. Wanted to practise a bit of action scripting but all that I tried applying failed to work so I only kept to the basics of basics. Gah.. I'm not a programming person. Guess will just have to stick to visual art. Have a lookie.

Shoegaze Amaze

My start into UK bands consisted of a lot of shoegaze but I shut it down at one point due to overdose. Evey now and then, I turn on a bit of Ride and Chapterhouse for a refresher but lately I've been refreshed by Stellarium. I would make it down to esplanade for their set this Friday but I can't let Matriarch do overtime with the terrors and the Mister is on reservist so we can't go as a troop. Excuses. Excuses.

Stellarium at myspace.
and
get down to esplanade for some hot female bassist action:

Even Ruder

28 Nov 08, Fri
7.30 – 8.15pm : Stellarium
8.45 – 9.30pm : The New Mondays
10 – 10.45pm : The Sallys


29 Nov 08, Sat
7.30 – 8.15pm : The Sallys
8.45 – 9.30pm : The Stoned Revivals
10 – 10.45pm : The Pinholes


30 Nov 08, Sun
7.30 – 8.15pm : Cesspit
8.45 – 9.30pm : Etc

Richey Edwards officially declared "presumed dead"

It has been 13 years since he mysteriously disappeared but now the fate of missing rock star Richey Edwards has been finally settled – in legal terms, at least.

There have been dozens of unconfirmed ‘sightings’ of the Manic Street Preachers guitarist and songwriter, public appeals and claims from band members that ‘things don’t add up’.

Now, however, his parents Graham and Sherry Edwards have been granted a court order for their son to be presumed dead.

The move is said to be ‘hugely emotional’ for the other three band members – James Dean Bradfield, Nicky Wire and Sean Moore – who still dedicate songs to Edwards hoping he might one day return.

Described as a tortured genius, it is widely believed that Edwards, 27, took his life by jumping from the Severn Bridge although no body has ever been found.

He was last seen at 7am on February 1, 1995, in London’s Embassy Hotel as he prepared to fly to America for a tour.

After driving to his flat in Cardiff, where he left his passport, credit card and Prozac pills, he headed for the service station next to the old Severn Bridge. His car was found there 17 days later.

Because no body was discovered conspiracy theories soon began to circulate. In 1997, a college lecturer claimed to have seen Edwards getting on a bus in the hippy resort of Goa, India.

The following year, a barmaid in the Canary Islands told a newspaper how one customer had run for the door after being told: ‘You’re Richey from the Manic Street Preachers.’

Earlier this year, Nicky Wire reignited the debate, telling the NME: ‘There’s still things that don’t add up.’

The band even maintain an account in his name to receive a quarter-share of his song royalties.

However, their long-time friend and publicist Terri Hall told The Mail on Sunday they supported the family’s decision.

‘The band has been aware this was coming,’ she said. ‘It is hugely emotional for all of us. This is the parents’ choice and the band is happy to go with what the parents decide is best. We all dream Richey will come back one day. You hope he is still around somewhere.

‘But it is no longer a realistic hope and if this offers some kind of closure then the band will be content with that.’

Edwards’ parents, staunch Methodists from Blackwood, Gwent, were entitled to begin presumption of death proceedings in 2002 – the minimum seven-year period required before a missing person can legally be declared dead.

But they refused, hoping that their son’s apparent suicide was a ruse to reinvent himself away from the pressures of the music business.

Yesterday, they would not discuss their change of heart. But the family’s lawyer, David Ellis, said it reflected ‘an acceptance that his affairs have got to be sorted’.

He added: ‘That’s not the same as an acceptance that he is dead.’

In a separate move, his parents were also granted control of his estate.

The document issued by the Probate Registry of Wales names his parents as executors and states that he died ‘on or since’ February 1, 1995.

Because Edwards died without leaving a will, and had no spouse or children, his entire estate of £455,990, reduced after death duties to £377,548, is inherited by his parents.

Edwards spent much of his adult life suffering from depression, anorexia and bouts of self-mutilation. In 1991, he used a razor to carve ‘4Real’ on to his arm in front of a journalist – an attempt to prove his artistic convictions.

But friends insisted he was not the type to contemplate suicide. And in 1994, he was quoted as saying: ‘In terms of the S word, that does not enter my mind.’

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Serenaide 3.0

Mister took out his guitar (tong) and played something unfamiliar. Then he said "I want to get something recorded".

Suddenly it hit me. I don't remember where my bass guitar is.

KAMI

KAMI - a Malaysian tv mini series which debuted on Sensasi channel last weekend got me visually and aurally attracted to but halfway through, the remote got hijacked by Munchkin who hogged on to her Playhouse Disney all the way (did I mention before I make a horrible disclipinarian?).

Anyway that got me settling for lesser in quality watching over youtube and apart from having to cringe at the accent on their English-speaking parts (Sazzy Falak excused cos it flows naturally on her and her character) and the stiff acting from a couple of the main casts, I say I'd definitely enjoy more of these. I love that most of my favourite Malaysian bands are on the soundtrack especially Ferns!

This toilet scene was so cute I almost believe it wasn't scripted. They appear a lot more natural when the dialogue's in Malay.

Epiphone Riviera

Not another sale post! I'm helping my brother sell this guitar for $850 as he's intending to get a Fender bass instead... (which I might be able to benefit from right?)

The Boy from Katong

The Lard Brothers featuring Dewi of MarchTwelve on vocals did their version of Serenaide's The Girl From Katong. Listen!

http://www.myspace.com/thelardbrothers

Bass Guitar or Stroller?

The initial plan last year upon getting this Epiphone Viola Bass was to use it for the recording of Serenaide's new material.

But the vocalist knocked the bassist up again and practice sessions were majorly disrupted. Plans had to be shelved so the band goes on another maximised maternity break.

Since the guitar was bought, it had only been caressed once for 2hours and was untouched since (plastics not even removed yet).


Being the 'struggling musicians' that they are and with coming of baby no.2, they figured that it's more practical to sacrifice the guitar and get a stroller AND a car-seat instead.

So anyone wants an Epiphone Viola Bass (with hard case) for $450?

Strawberry Fields Forever

There is always a place in my heart (and dish) for strawberries. They trigger some kind of a happy chi in me. Munchkin loves them as they are, Mister loves them in his cereal and oatmeal although he doesn't really eat them (he loves his food pretty).

While we're at that title, let's squeeze in a youtube (although the song has zero to do with strawberries).

Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles.

Switching Gears

Let me first introduce to you these two bands from Indonesia if you haven't already know them.


The Upstairs
I absolutely love their music and image ever since I knew about them. Very original and creative with much credit given to frontman, Jimmy Multhazam.


White Shoes & The Couples Company
Good music too! Plus how honored were we for having the privilege to share the stage with them when Serenaide played Bandung in 2005. Unfortunately we didn't get to mingle as they played right before us. Besides, us being the last band, when the show ended, all I wanted to do was to leave the smokey place as I was 4 months pregnant with Munchkin.

Anyway these two bands had a 'switching gears' session which I found hilarious (check out Jimmy in White Shoes gear. The hair and moustache!)


The Upstairs as White Shoes


White Shoes as The Upstairs