crop circles on the esplanade carpet..

Imogen Heap Live In Singapore
Esplanade Concert Hall
29 Mar, 2010, 9pm

I will see you therrrrrrrrrrrre!

the only reunion I rejoice for...

..is for the duo who give me the saddest songs. Azure Ray is back! they're touring the West Coast end this month and plan to release new material in 2010. At least that's what Orenda Fink's wiki page says. Stay glued.

Janet Jackson - Make Me

All I can say is...the 80's is baaaaack!

O YEAH OOOOO YEAH

Erbuddy say O! YEAH YEAH YEAHs hitting Singapore shores to show yall how it's done!

YEAH YEAH YEAHs Live @ Esplanade Concert Hall
Jan 12, 7:30pm

Early bird tix from dear precious Greenhorn Productions fom Nov 11. More details here. I suggest be a fan if you haven't already.

See yall there!!

Click here for more info on The Buzzcocks performing in Singapore next month.

who says...jen aniston had lousy taste?

"Battle Studies" out on Nov 17th.

I'm sitting here and waiting for my good friend, year 2010.

Greenday Live in Singapore
Jan 14 2010
Singapore Indoor Stadium

This is it....I feel grand...NOT!!

Click Here to listen to Michael Jackson's previously unreleased song "This Is It".

Uncannily the song doesn't have the negative ominous connotation we've been giving it all along. He's singing "This is it" in a "This is it, I'm gonna kick some ass" hopefulness more than "This is it, wop. dead end."

Sounds raw. As much money they can still rake, they will, I guess. And wherever we can squeeze off any MJ magic, we will lick any leftovers..



ETA: It's a fake yall. This song was written in 1983 by MJ and Paul Anka. In the spirit of MJ, the bizzaroos never ends, read this article.

Rally the troops...

Cat Power Live @ Esplanade Concert Hall
13 Jan 2010

Can we get a woooop deee dooop?!

Rallying the Chan Marshall welcoming committee as I type this..

death cab for new moon

Click here to watch the video Premiere of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE'S "MEET ME ON THE EQUINOX".


My verdict: Too much Kirsten Stewart and not enough R. Patz. I'm still trying to come to terms with how potentially awesome the New Moon soundtrack will be. Just look at the tracklist if you don't believe me.

New Moon OST Tracklist

* DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE — MEET ME ON THE EQUINOX
* BAND OF SKULLS — FRIENDS
* THOM YORKE — HEARING DAMAGE
* LYKKE LI — POSSIBILITY
* THE KILLERS — A WHITE DEMON LOVE SONG
* ANYA MARINA — SATELLITE HEART
* MUSE — I BELONG TO YOU (NEW MOON)
* BON IVER & ST. VINCENT — ROSYLN
* BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB — DONE ALL WRONG
* HURRICANE BELLS — MONSTERS
* SEA WOLF — THE VIOLET HOUR
* OK GO — SHOOTING THE MOON
* GRIZZLY BEAR — SLOW LIFE
* EDITORS — NO SOUND BUT THE WIND
* ALEXANDRE DESPLAT — NEW MOON (THE MEADOW)


You can't make me like the show just with a smashing soundtrack like that. You can't. You just try...I promise you, you CAN'T do this to me!

can you tell the future of music?

I need to stop dreaming and start doing. And hey, so do you ok.

Meantime, let's get inspired:

Read this article: The Future of Music Journalism




Coming soon: pics & vids from the No Doubt gig. Stay tuned.

hold your breaths!

This place needs a major shout-out and a tiny revamp. I'm on that road definitely...I'll have more time in my hands from next week to give this site the boost that's long overdue!

So watch out, homeys!

mid-week meddling.

Ahoy! what's slumberin' mateys!

The Observatory releases new album.

And Green Day gets all gooey about guns and stuff...



Can I tell you a funny story, while in the car when we first heard this song we guessed it was a local band. HAH! (okay it was funnier at the time when the DJ said "that was Green Day!")

If you watched Transformers 2, you would've gotten sick of this song the way you would've gotten sick of all the robots like cheesecake - only good in the right portion. But in the movie, they were blown way out of proportion. (I'm not sure if there was a pun there but yea if you sense it, then yea it was intended. word. whatever.)

it might get loud.

This is it. Thanks for the music.

Michael Joseph Jackson
1958 - 2009

I can't think of a bigger icon in music or anything else who could make the world stop (world wide web included) and mourn his passing.

Today the world spins slowly round..

a lithe affair.

That's what a musicplague lilith fair spinoff will be called. And this is what the line-up will look like..depending on the weather and equipment availability.

The theme of the "Lithe Affair" will go against the ultimate Lady Gaga mantra which is.. just, you know, don't try too hard. It's not that hard once you get the hang of it...

look out, world.

This Sarawak girl was discovered on Youtube, signed on to Jack Johnson's label, Brushfire Records, now she's currently touring the US til August.

Had the pleasure of meeting her at an Xpax roadshow in KL I was covering last year, sweet girl, you could tell her influences have been worldly (read: educated outside her place of birth..like way outside). I hope she goes far.

Then maybe finally, at the other side of the world, people will not mistake Malays for Mexicans no more..

Oh by the way, her name is Zee Avi...or Izyan Alirahman...or KokoKaina..it's so tough to be relevant with one name these days..

hello!

Aimee Mann Live @ Esplanade Concert Hall
29 Aug, 2009
7:30pm

I welcome anything in these dry months of gigs to come!!!
oh and thanks for the tip.
More info here: Greenhorn rocks your socks

video killed the radio spar

WHAT's NEW, MATEYS!

what's it gonna be?

En Vogue is reuniting! The music business trend seems to be diving into the "reunion paycheck" pool.

We hope it's worth a dive.

Yup!

_______________________________

While Tori Amos is "Abnormally Attracted to Sin", we are sinfully attracted to her abnormality...at least I am..

New album! yay!

Abnormally Attracted To Sin

fill you in...

Craig David Live @ Zirca
8th Apr 2009

Some say he's passe but he's only 27, some love his ol' skinny self but hello, the new buff bod is not too shabby to look at! But everyone's gotta agree that once upon time, the ditty "Seven Days" got you hooked (and those current rippin' muscles made you look!)

Even with the cheesy casanova onstage moves, I forgive him when I hear those vocal licks that can feel like a tongue down my spine. Enjoyed myself but not so much the venue and sound system. Zirca is the worst place to have a live gig with a band, sound system was most times just a blur buzz in my ears on top of the songs I was hearing. LiveNation gets demerit points for this.

Otherwise it was a nice good trip down craig david lane - "fill me in". check. "seven days". check. "rise and fall". check. "don't love you no more". check. "rewind". check. Topped off with current hit "Insomnia". cheeky checky check.

Bootleg videos from the concert. CHECK. this out.

we're gonna take it slower..

...last a little bit longer

you really broke my heart..

Coldplay Live @ Singapore Indoor Stadium
23 Mar 09

I don't have much to put in words, I will let the pictures and videos speak for itselves...not that they'd do much justice to what actually went down at the gig. Oh you should've been there. There's nothing I can say that will do it justice.

Spaz if you want to..

N.E.R.D Live @ Mosaic Music Festival, Esplanade
20 Mar 2009


It. was. a. blast. Pharell is a ladykiller and a crowd pleaser, it's too bad we missed Chad but I almost forgot about a certain Mr Hugo who is part of the N.E.R.D outfit during the one and a half hour spasms of beats and bounces and people being pulled up the stage. It's like the artiste-audience barrier got broken down and we were just all in one big jamming session with the boys. I've never seen so many girls unleashing their hoochie mama-ness on the esplanade stage during "She Wants To Move". Crowd went ape shit when "Everyone Nose" came up, and of course went into a tizzy with "Spaz", we also tried to become the namesake of the song "Popcorn" by bouncing up and down left and right - Pharell would want no less, as he kept urging the audience to continue going crazy, even spewing an across the border competitiveness, mentioning they want to tell Malaysia (as they head to sunburst the next day) that they ain't got the energy like Singapore did. Woot and what Woop of energy That brought out of the crowd. Plus, nice throwback to Franz Ferdinand as the band segue-ed into "Take Me Out" during one of the songs, it's okay if Pharell was "pitchy" at parts, his charm and aggressive stage antics more than made up for it, so says the girls....

I'm beginning to fall in love with watching shows at the Esplanade - awesome sound system, cozy intimate setting even amidst a loud-banging show, I LOVE IT.

More please.

Enjoy the vids below (includes new song, the reggaeton-infectious "popcorn")!

Nine Inch Nails Live In Singapore

The grapevine didn't turn and twist its words when it hollered...that Nine Inch Nails are coming to Singapore.

On August 10th to be specific, this year.

Hollerrrrrrrrrrr

Watch out watcho ut watchou t watchout!

he sings, he dances, he steals...hearts

Jason Mraz Live @ Singapore Indoor Stadium
Mar 05 2009


If Justin Tim brought sexy back, Jason Raz brought hippie back.

That boy's carefree and uninhibited nature on a big stage (which he claims its his first foray into playing at such big venues) was super infectious. "Do you feel like your life has been elevated?" he asks...oh yes. 'Specially when we get to belt out "I....ayyy ayyy...won't worry my life awayyy.." ad nauseum as he spins into an extended live version of The Remedy...oooh he's got the poison AND he's got the remedy.

Looked like he felt at home on stage, at one point taking his pet hobby of polaroids on the road with him as he snapped pictures of each band members and flung each polaroid film into the crowd. Nice souvenir for the one who caught the polaroid of Mr Mraz himself!

Even though at points, I wished I was in a cozier intimate acoustic setting with certain slow burners like "Mr Curiosity", the show was simply satisfying to watch a performer whose enjoyment of his own music reeks through the pores of each high note he reached, each "thank you's" in different languages after each song, each cheeky lil dance moves that seduces the crowd, each tune, each smile, each wonderment he managed to fill up the stadium.

Many more stadiums to fill and I hope he comes back!


Enjoy the vid!

Giggling over gigs..

I bear some kinda grudge against Pharell for introducing the wear-your-cap-real-high concept, because kids who follow the trend on the streets might as well put a pencil in my eye. But otherwise, he is one sssssick producer and I'm pretty sure their live show will be dope. So I will see you there!

N.E.R.D live @ Esplanade (Mosaic series)
19 Mar 2009







I missed her last 2 gigs here in Singapore ..there's not that many times in life that you get a third chance, so I will definitely see you there!!

Rachael Yamagata live @ (venue tbc)
Apr 15 2009



zippadeee doo daa...

Brit Brats

Jealous, that's how I felt watching this...I wish I was in the audience to lap this up live!

A Grammy For Your Thoughts?

So they supposedly had to put this together way last minute after Rihanna and Chris Brown cancelled their appearances due to...whatever it was they were up to...Boyz II Men sing back-up yall!



Forget the Rihanna-Chris Brown debacle, what I wanna know is..how does JT keep it so fly.



So so dapper, that boy. I am soul in love witchu.

Here are some other Grammy highlights:


Coldplay & Jay-Z



it's so hard to get a close-up on chris martin, he's as restless as a tailless lizard. but I love it.


Radiohead(!)



I like how Thom Yorke boogies.

M.I.A, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, T.I



What do you get when you put a 9-month pregnant lady and 4 (G's to Gents) well-suited rappers?

Those gangsta rappers look scaaaaaared of a very pregnant lady.

Who's coming?? - Death and all his friends!

Hear ye! Hear ye! Chris Martin and gang (and revolution costume included) skips back to Singaling! The last time I missed them coz Nepal beckoned. My momma always said, never say no to a second chance.

Coldplay Live @ Singapore Indoor Stadium
23 March 2009

Tickets on sale at SISTIC from........not gonna tell ya coz I wanna get the best cheap tickets first. (bloody expensive these tix!)

nanny nanny poo poo.

Can You Fill Me In...

Hello Hot Stuff. Glad you could drop by. Looking forward to your visit, Mr David.

Craig David Greatest Hits Tour
8th Apr @ Max Pavillion

Tickets on sale 12th Feb onwards from SISTIC.

Breathe with me.

The Prodigy Live @ Fort Canning Park, Big Night Out
03 Feb 2009


My first thought - Maxim and Keith are two VERY FIT boys (or old men rather).

Keith jumped/spun/pranced like a techno-loving boxer ready to knock you out with some heavy-punching beats.

From the get-go, (they started off with something off the new album, Invaders Must Die - "World's on Fire") right to the end (ended with an encore performance of "Out Of Space"), it seemed like a sin not to go ape shit! The order of the day was disorder - strobe lights, energy-inducing thumps and aimless limbs. I choked on my saliva while hopping like a crazy rabbit while Keith kept telling me to "BREATH WITH ME". I think I managed to exorcise some long overdue demons while reaping the benefits of an hour long aerobics workout while at it.

A glance at other gig-revellers and I keep seeing gleeful faces who were so glad they made the decision to pay some big money for a mere 70-minute or so gig.

Gotta say it was the most satisfying gig I've been to for awhile, great sweaty workout, my calves are still aching yo! Videos below...

Breathe (I didn't even try to take a decent video of this, I guess the only successful thing I've done here is show you what it's like to be in the crowd during a Prodigy show)

Omen (new single off "Invaders Must Die") - This one turned into a jumpcut-styled music video towards the end as my body succumbed to the beats like a puppet on the prodigy strings..

boots on legs on boots

Hello my fellow music zombies...I present you...the January 09 bootleg videos (so far):

Stars Live @ Esplanade Concert Hall

Calendar Girl (Torquil went ape shit and jumped into the crowd)

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (a crowd favourite)

Ageless Beauty (the song featured in The O.C?)

The Ting Tings Live at Fort Canning Park

Traffic Light (an excerpt)

Fruit Machine

Having trouble uploading the Mystery Jets clip, but I know someone who takes kickass bootleg vids (because she has a kickass camera). I say share the lovely..

Mystery Jets Live at Zouk (vids courtesy of ikinai)

Flakes

Half In Love With Elizabeth

Enjoy!

Your gig-calendar is on fire!

Kaiser Chiefs Live @ Fort Canning Park, Singapore

7 Apr 2009

Get your early bird tickets at SISTIC.

I predict a riot!

Fruits of machines

The Ting Tings
Live @ Big Night Out (Fort Canning Park)
13 Jan 2009

There was the loop machine, a song called 'Fruit Machine', and all the machine thingamajigs that supported the 2-piece band to make them sound like 5-piece DJ set. Money don't make the world go round, machines do.

Such evolution means you don't need 6 people to sound like a full orchestra, just pre-recorded stuff that comes on cue, and do it often enough, you become singer/songwriter/button-pusher.

Okay digs aside.

I had a marvelousssssss time at The Ting Tings. Sure they get flak for their melodic hooks, I just think those savvy machines have got subliminal functions that wires some of us to get so extra hooked while the infra-redness diluted across others who'd end up thinking the songs are merely irritating.

The band teased, they threw treats and they delivered to their very-young (or is it just me?) audience.

Slightly extended versions of their biggest hits, "That's Not My Name" and "Shut Up And Let Me Go" were delicioussss, we lapped it all up like hungry dawgs, wishing there were second servings.

Their other songs were tasty dancey treats as well - "We Started Nothing", "Great DJ" and "We Walk"...it's just too bad they've only got one album!

Half in love with....

Mystery Jets
Live @ Zouk, Singapore
11 Jan 2009

I don't deserve to really review this because Mystery Jets are abit of a mystery to me. I haven't heard of their music and I haven't heard of them before, but a pair of tickets landed on my hand so I did a Youtube skimming of their songs and found myself humming addicted to one or two - "Young Love" (if I only knew your name / I'd go from door to door) was one of em. And hopped to Zouk to check 'em out.

A pretty awesome band, short of mighty awesome only coz I haven't had enough time to make memorable memories with their songs or build a rapport with their lyrics yet. haha, so it was abit cold. But I did enjoy myself and the songs all spoke for itself.

For those of you who're clueless bout this band, here's a story about the lead singer and his dad (Blaine and Henry Harrison) to warm some cold cold hearts..

Read this article.

How cool is dad?!

At the gig, Henry didn't play, so I guess he's said his goodbye.

Mraz-culous.

Jason Mraz will pop by Singapore again 5th March.

Check it out: SISTIC

LIVE THROUGH THIS AND YOU WON'T LOOK BACK.

Stars
Live @ Esplanade Concert Hall
07 Jan 2009

First gig of the year and it started out with a bang already!

I'm posting this while it's still fresh in my head. Whatever Torquil was sipping, it's so strong I am feeling its buzz, still. Hahah.

So I didn't have the best of seats, way up on top, but the band seemed mighty sympathetic that we're paying so much for their gig, they played close to 2 hours long and kept thanking us and expressing their gratefulness at how they managed to sell 1,500 kinda-expensive tickets to this tiny red dot. They were also shocked that the crowd was made up of many locals as opposed to "only Canadian English teachers" as the band had expected. heh

So appreciative they were, Torquil during his bouts of musical spasms, after repeatedly spouting the lines "Stay Alive" on 'Calendar Girl", suddenly leapt out into the crowd, balanced his way on the seats to the middle of the crowd, like Criss Angel walking on water. He was warmly received and he screamed (I've no idea what, his thanks?) while reaching out to people whose hands are in the air eager to give him a bigger welcome. This could be the first (maybe the last) time I see a successful crowd-surfing attempt at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Wicked. I want whatever he's having.

On top of that there were dozens of white and red roses sitting on their amps on stage. The members would occasionally grab some stalks and throw it to the crowd, or bunch a handful of petals and throw it on stage the way people throw rice at a wedding - ceremoniously to give the songs abit more oomph. How romantic. Lovely. (Though not so lovely for the cleaner afterwards)

Oh I'm so caught up describing the experience I haven't even mentioned about the music. How rude of me. What else is there to say...the crescendo of "Your ex-lover is dead" would've put anyone in the Hall in a second of cosmic high. There is nothing else I can describe about the music 'cept, you shoulda been there!!

If you weren't, you also missed:

- Amy Millan rocking in her disco sequinned top.
- singing a Happy Birthday song for Evan Alan!
- seeing drummer Pat playing the drums with 2 stalks of red roses.
- catching a glimpse of Chris two-stepping a salsa(?)-esque dance when he thought no one's watching.

Do you know how old these guys are?! Ageless Beauties never stop rockin'!



Will post vids soon...including the one of Torquil walking on the crowd.