My beloved Jiu Fen (Feb 2007)
Originally uploaded by murmur_s

byebye taiwan. wont be seeing you for a while.


This year's been good. One TV series (Do Not Disturb), two films (Men In White, Gone Shopping) and there's the year-end Hong Kong horror flick, Rule Number One. Fun keeping an exciting future.

After Gone Shopping finished late last month, it's back to my beloved travelling. I did my first overseas gig spinning at Juice (Msia) Mag 5th Birthday Bash with Zack from the Deserters. What a kick! Then it was off to BKK for a break. Followed by the Sarawak Rainforest World Music Fest. My seventh in a row and my last for a while. Let's do something new and different.

Soh Chin been wanting to interview me. I kept telling her I don't think I have done enough to warrant an interview. Perhaps 10 years from now after a more substantial body of work. I think it will be out tomorrow. Good time to update my blog with new mp3s.

I missed Leslie's solo performance at Earshot but thank goodness Nat caught Circling Square on her mp3 recorder. Including this unreleased gem.

Obs' UCC gig was one of the best I've seen them. Here are two songs.

Caracal has typical frenetic energy but there's a bright fuzz about them that I like. So do Superillegals with Biddy in good form last few gigs. However their Homeclub set was rather uneven. Still I love their last song that nite.

Few bands tightrock harder than Lunarin. Monday Sessions' swan-song had them showcasing some new material. Three-months-a-year band Nuance played this fresh piece with new guitarist Alexius (from my beloved Localbarboy).

Plain Sunset reforming is a damn good thing. I so love this new number. The Oddies made a brief comeback when drummer Johnny return from Taipei and had everyone singing along to this classic.

3/4 of 2007 is nearly gone. Keep your future exciting.

Homegrown My Ass Vol.4

Destroy All Monsters (pic taken off their myspace)
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

Prior to the mid-70s in Canada and Australia, local music was hardly played on their radio stations. Perception of domestic music was poor. Around that period, several groups of individuals and record labels bandied together and drew up white papers to lobby their respective governments to foster a domestic music industry. The primary point was radio airplay. If you don't get to hear it, no one is going to know it. Newspaper, mags, print media might rave about this band and that singer, but music is heard, not read. If the masses don't hear it, no matter how many rave reviews your band gets, its not going to make a rat ass difference.

The main plan was to work towards a minimum quota of local music that radio stations must have on their playlist. If I'm not wrong, it was a 4 or 5 year plan. Beginning with Year One, 10%. Year Two 20% or something like that and going into 40% at the end, This is to allow the industry players to slowly have an infrastructure in place (staffing, fine-tuning their A&R, etc).

Sounds great right? But no. When the idea was first mooted, there were heavy resistance against it. Radio stations and advertisers didn't warm to the idea, that the public is used to American Top 40. It's too much work. So why rock the boat? Even the masses would (I imagine) go "eeee local music sucks" (sounds familiar right?). But both Canada and Australia's government then push it through and became mandatory law for radio stations have that quota in their playlist.

At end of the 4 or 5 year plan, it started to reap rewards. In the early 80s, both countries saw real $$$$ growth in their domestic music industry. So much so that there was a huge surge in Aussie bands making inroads into the American Top 40- INXS, Men At Work, etc. The same goes for Canadian music with bands like Men Without Hats. It created jobs (engineers, producers, A&R staff, etc etc). With that it created expertise. The more they do it, the better they get. With expertise, it attracts jobs/projects/businesses from overseas. Get the idea now? Beyond all this, I reckon is the most important intangible...

P R I D E.

It's priceless. National pride is something you cannot tag a $ value to it. It gives a profound sense of meaning to every individual in relation to the geographical space they call home. So often I've seen/spoken to Canadians and Aussies whose eyes will have that extra gleam whenever the pub/club plays something from their country. This is the result of what happened in the mid to late 70s in their countries.

Can it be done here in Singapore?

(Note: My info was accumulated from talking to overseas colleagues when I was working in record companies years ago. And also through the years of reading here and there.)

I can't get enough of 1234X. So here's(live) two more.

At the same gig was Destroy All Monsters. 1 vox, 1 bass and a mean drummer. Real kick ass stuff.

Wish I can hangout more with Aidil from Couple who is such a nice fella. They were here a few weeks ago and played a marvellous set. I told him that the opening guitar lines for Tentang Kita always make me gush. And I thought Say Hi was Stay High... I'm so silly.

Eugene says "Give cheese a chance" after suggesting I should have cheese in my maggie

1234X live at End Of Recordings (16 Sept 2006)
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

We were having a smoke outside before 1234X's gig and I joked to Charan, "Look. You see those trees across the road. Hidden amongst the shadows are the secret police snapping pics of anyone you talk to." And we proceed to wave, grin and pose for the camera... imaginery or real.

During the gig, bassist/vox Marina asked for water, I offered mine and Dino checked "Joe got spike the drinks or not?" I love the band name. Its equally matched by the cool material they have. This is from their 1st CD single. Go to http://www.myspace.com/onetwothreefouraxe and buy it from them. No regrets.

Warms my heart everytime I hear this. The gig was organised at Whitley Secondary and the sight of hundreds of teenager screaming, dancing and supporting local bands... I was speechless and so pleased. Check out the screaming. More on this screaming when I have the time.

I thought I was getting down a damn good Great Spy Experiment performance at a few months ago. When I listen back at home, I realized that all the cameramen walking in front of me and my mic (it was very compact in front) muffled the recording. Grrrr... I like this other performance also.

Ler, Alexius and I just had out first jam last week. We are forming an acoustic-only outfit the Very Serious. It ought to be the total opposite from Localbarboy so we are thinking of taking ourselves very seriously. We will be sullen and joyless. And that should be very fun. Debut show- Earshot Cafe, Arts House on 28th Oct 2006 but things might change so check out this space for details.

Yes Poptart is ending.... I met so many good souls through Poptart and got re-acquainted with old friends at many a craze party there. Adrian, Aida, Zaidi, Pearlyn, Cherry, Ayi, Daren, Vincent, Gerald, Ray, Vicki, Ginette, Radzi... It's an endless list. Hope you'll be there on 16 Sept for one final bash at Homeclub.

Adrian sent me this a while ago and I got damn emo watching it.


Lilia was back but only briefly. So Morphy played their only gig for 2006. Their new direction now is more like how I imagine them to be. The rocking out is translucent and the ethereal colourings more apparent.

I thanked Terence for putting them on the bill that night. Al Grande Terrismo blew me away with their awesome display of gutteral thrash metal. The new Ossuary? Guitarist/vocalist Kay told me they are very new. I'm shall eagerly follow their progress.

Dug this out to listen again after I missed Documentary In Amber's gig two weeks ago. I only caught the final song. A monstrous assault of beautiful noise. Think huge bowl of chocolate icecream and you're lapping it up like you're possessed by the ghost of Cookie Monster.

I was too tired so I went out for a quiet moment and willingly missed Elise. Ayi will hate me now. But I know they won't disappoint. This is another quality product from the boys from cacophonousville.

Saw Elektone at Monday Sessions and really like what they did. Unfortunately my recording was really crap. Way too much crowd ambience. I kept wanting to but decided I won't post it up cos it won't do the band justice. There will be another time. Check them out at http://myspace.com/elektone.

2nd Worst Band In SG

2nd Worst Band In SG
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

At one of our gigs, a few people asked me whos the worst after I declare Localbarboy to be "the 2nd worst band in Singapore". In reply I said, one must always have a goal to pursue so that one can continually strive for betterment. Hence! We are the 2nd worst striving to be the worst.

A few people have been asking me for our last gig. Here's it is. In two parts. Hope you like out of tune singing, bum notes, off time, spilt beer on Tim's gadgets, incoherent garbled nonsense... BUT great crowd, great singalong and a lovely atmosphere.


This is so good---> http://hutdugaikarsui.blogspot.com/. Only just stumble upon it a while ago.

Marathon first... this can wait

Marathon first... this can wait
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

Was at the foot of Mt Kinabalu (4,095m) a few months ago and I shall do it one day. It's not easy but it's not hard to climb either. That's what I heard. I've yet to do my marathon. On my own I've only done the half-marathon 3 times. Should I go for the full one at end of the year? I'm so unfit now. Don't just talk. Do it... start training now.

Concave Scream made a wonder comeback. Two of these were from June while this was from Baybeats.

Astreal also played a good gig that evening. Uneven at the start but eventually they got it down well.

Hope you also caught Lunarin at Baybeats. It was their last gig after which they are taking a break.

Not the best set I've seen Great Spy Experiment but this is a great hooky number.

While Baybeats was happening that Saturday, Lilac Saints and Localbarboy played an acoustic show at Earshot Cafe, Arts House. Thanks to all the people who showed up, the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. I got goosebumps when Lilacs played their old hit Gina and man, Rick can really sing.

At the same show, we did a new version of Stoned Revivals' Goodil. Thanks to Ler who came out with the idea at practice jam.

I'm missing Localbarboy a lot and I missed Yap. This was our final song at our last gig (well until Yap comes back). Our version has warts and all- out of tune yodelling and bum notes. In the background you can also hear kelvin, george and ginette hollering for me to turn around to pass me something. Despite all that, I feel we played and sang Concave Scream's Horizons like there's no tomorrow. What a greaaaat song and what a great friend Yap is.

Glad you found me. Thanx to Cien, this is my new home. Be posting again soon.

Got a lot of goodies last few months but haven't the time to cut em up. For the time being bop to this.

Homegrown My Ass Vol.3

Nuance at the now defunct Cafe Cosmo
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

It was kind of a tough gig for Concave Scream on Sunday night. I spoke to them before they went up and they were all quite tentative cos it felt like they won't be welcomed by the largely Filipino crowd (who were there for the main act Bamboo). But Filipinos, they know how to have a good time and although they were alien to Concave Scream, they applauded and cheered politely.

When the signal for Concave Scream to enter stage was given, they duly went up, plugged in and prepped themselves. But the soundman was doing something else, or he wasn't ready or he was just too busy staring blankly at the stage (cos i turned around and saw him standing behind his console staring blankly at the stage) and for the longest time Concave Scream were left standing there on stage waiting like do-do's.

Willy the gig organizer, his staff and the bouncers were waving
frantically at the soundman that the band was ready. But the soundman was just ..... staring blankly at the stage. I don't know why. Maybe he lost his contacts. Maybe he just woke up from a nap. Or Maybe to him its just another local band, so why bother. So it must be a ...yawwwnnn.. nap.

Nevermind that. Perhaps he really did lose his contacts. But anyway
there wasn't a tech guy by the stage. So when Pann's amp broke down intermittenly during the first two songs, no one was on deck to fix the problem. It took them ages to get someone to the front to
troubleshoot. It made Concave Scream look bad. If not for the
fact that they ARE really a good band, that they kept their shape,
brushed off the initial tech gliches, pulled it through and finally
won a good part of the crowd over.

Through the years I have seen this too many times at countless gigs- The Tidak Apa Bochap soundmen. Buying them a coffee and having a big grin is a must during soundcheck. So he will be kinder to your band and put in that extra (actually not extra but the bare minimal he is supposed to put in in the first place) attention to your band sound.

That said, bands at the same time are equally guilty of not wanting to understand the meaning of balanced stage mix, of playing together. Vocalist, "I can't hear my vox." So vox level up. Guitarist, "I cant hear my guitars" and so the guitars goes up... and it spirals on and on. Hence the birth of the Tidak Apa Bochap Soundguy. So which comes first? The chicken or the egg? I don't know and I don't care. I take the egg and smash it at the band, and let the chicken shit on the soundguy.

I love this to bits the first time i heard it when they played at the AGF Theatre in 2004. Hearing it at Barnone last Sunday I felt chills under my skin.

Pop-O-Rama

Gas Haus gig 27May06
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

Many bands. Plenty fun. So come come tomorrow night to Gas Haus. Door opens at 6pm. Localbarboy slated to be on at 8ish pm. This is how you get there.

Homegrown My Ass Vol.2

Yat of Valium at Gas Haus
Originally uploaded by localbarkid.

They tried killing off local music in the 70s. The ban on long hair and rock concerts then effectively killed off the scene and most importantly the industry. The void in the ensuing years was plugged by music from abroad. It wasn't just the recording & performance industry that was decimated. I think its worse than that.

As a teenager in the 80s and a young working adult in the early 90s, I was perplexed that my contemporaries have no knowledge of local music. The only thing they have heard of are perhaps Dick Lee, Tokyo Square and the odd songs here and there. To a lot of them "local music" is a term, an anomaly. Worse still some even treat it with disdain. It is also regarded by many of my peers as a genre. Like for example, I like sentimental hits, or I like heavy metal... or I like local music. I've only met a very rare few who have embraced it and take it to their hearts as part of their life and a personal heritage to be proud of.

Why is this so? My reckoning is as a kid/teenager, what we listen to on the radio (prior to late 80s, there was only one English radio station and one Mandarin station. No podcasting etc) determine our awareness and our approach towards it. If we don't hear it, we don't know it. So When we grow up to be adults in the 90s, we have no local music in our hearts. We don't know what it is. Many of my peers don't even think they need it. That to me is utterly tragic and sad.

Local music isn't a concept nor a genre. It is voices from songs, harmonies sung and written from our shared sociological experiences. And beyond that, it is dignity and pride that reflects an integral part of where we come from. Where we belong.

This weekend the barrage of gigs continue. Tomorrow night at Cafe Cosmo, Alexius will open for Serenaide- showtime 8pm. Saturday there will be two gigs, at the Arts House (Life Without Dreams, Camra and the Mother) and Gas Haus (Amongst others, Localbarboy comes on at about 8ish).

Valium played at the Gas Haus twice. I caught this last month.