We don't need to whisper!!

Seeing Tom Delonge live is really something I thought it would never happen. Besides everyone gives Singapore a miss. But this year has been full of surprises. New found glory, Simple Plan and now Angels and Airwaves. They have finally found their way to this country.

If you want to know how the whole concert went, there is only one word to summarise, 'Exhilarating' Everyone was shouting at the top of their voices for Tom, "Tom, we love you" or "Tom, you have boobs" Throughout the concert, AVA played familiar tunes like, ' Everything's Magic' and' 'the Adventure', the audience was shouting out the lyrics to the point where Tom didn't have to sing into the microphone. Although everyone was rocking out in the concert hall, there were a feel weirdos who prefer to sit and listen to AVA. I mean come on!! sitting down for a rock concert?

As concert ended, I can't help but hope that AVA will come again to Singapore. I am still hopeful to see Blink 182 live. Who knows what will happen in the Year 2009?

force vomit at arts house!

Singfest 2008

Singfest is back again with great artists like New Found Glory, Travis, Simple Plan and many more. Since everyone knows who Alicia Keys and One.Republic are, I decide to promote bands that deserve more attention compare to what the local media has given them.

New Found Glory, a pop-punk outfit that inspired me to pick the guitar and come up with nice catchy riffs and tunes. The band is best known for their album, 'Sticks and Stones' where songs like My friends over you, Understatement and Head on Collision will get stuck to your head for long time.( You have been warned!)Though, I have yet to see them perform live before, do expect a kick-ass show from them.(Check them out on Youtube) You will find yourself singing along to the tunes that you will never hear it from our local radio stations.(They never ever play good music) If you dig bands like Greenday, Bowling For Soup or Yellowcard, you will definitely like New Found Glory

Unpopular.radio

Think HOME on 98.7fm is the best radio programme that plays local music? Think again.

In 2005, a group of music enthusiasts started Unpopular.radio, an online radio station that gives you a daily dose of local music. There are live shows on certain weekdays and the rest of the time, a loop of 69 tracks is selected to play on rotation at anytime of the day.

Tan[g]kap Suxx, who hosts the Monday live shows, usually invites guests from local bands like Lunarin and Muon, just to name a few. His shows are filled with pervy intentions and he gets very excited when females guests sit on his bed. Contrary to his name, his live shows are really humorous, something that I would look forward to on a Monday. The selection of music is really diverse, from Punjabi dance music to Padres, not what a local radio station would do.

Unpopular.radio has definitely shown its support to the local music scene, giving bands another outlet to showcase their talent. Do check out Unpopular.radio @ http://unpopular-music.blogspot.com/

Jon Chan's big shoutout @ Rock Your World series wrap party

the death of a movement

  

Last Wednesday saw the end of another era of local music. Over a hundred people turned up for the Rock Your World Series Wrap Party @ Timbre. It promotes the Speak Good English movement through local music and drama. Bands like West Grand Boulevard, Plainsunset, Lunarin and many others have given their two-cents worth of advice on how they improve English as well as performing their own numbers.

The evening started of with a show reel of all the previous bands who performed at the series, followed by acoustic performances from Jack & Rai, West Grand Boulevard and Plainsunset.

Familiar tunes like West Grand Boulevard's Flights of Fancy

and Plainsunset's Johari Window filled the evening, while diners slurped free beer and enjoyed signature Timbre fare like buffalo wings and pizza: a special treat for all who contributed to the series.

It was a great cause while it lasted. Even though local bands have lost a great venue to showcase their talent, more people have been exposed to local music and younger, newer bands. And while the Rock Your World series has come to a close, I am hopeful that bands will continue to encourage the use of good English through the power of music. Perhaps this end marks the beginning of another series.

Something REALLY good

I never liked the idea of having a hawker centre next to the Youth Park. First of all, by walking past it to get to the stage and see my favorite bands perform, one will smell like a fried chicken (though I would not be very tasty if I were one. Hardly any meat). Second, how can anyone sit and watch the gig and eat at the same time?

Ignoring the smell (and my stomach), I went down to catch the local bands playing for Somethingood. Acts like Allura, Midnight Marvel, Fishtank, Trella, Vermillion and Plainsunset were there to rock the stage. I suspected some of the Zouk crowd at the Plainsunset Album Launch yesterday, were also here today. Who can get tired of local acts?

The show went pretty well with newer bands like Allura and Midnight Marvel showcasing their originals to the audience. However, due to lack of manpower, each band took half an hour for equipment setup. It made me really impatient and I decided to give in to the demands of my stomach. As the show ended with Plainsunset, the crowd got into a frenzy and started moshing while many of the people at the bus stop were contemplating calling the cops.

I enjoyed myself (and the food) and it is a great line for a good cause. Do check out http://www.somethingood.org/ and show your support for the Make-a-Wish Foundation!