amusing music

zee avi, malaysia's equivalent of norah jones (i'm sure she is) is one talented singer-songwriter. me, being positive as i don't usually do, is a singer-songwriter myself. minus the talented accolade if you must. well, i don't remember writing my own music into a full, ready-to-be-performed composition. considering Am, Bm and Dm to be a must, simply a result of heavy rotations of radiohead's OK Computer, i penned a straight verse-chorus-verse song. which i since decided that it could only be showcased at, none other than my own sweet-smelling bed. with my hungry cat being the only, lonely member of the audience. the only creature present actually, by invitation.

and the lyrics differs every time. depending on the, of course, my mood. it might also occasionally sound like the not-so-punk rock, unedited, mellow version "negative creep". off an album cobain never had. (or be thankful he hadn't).

in conclusion, zee avi is one Talented musician. and she could also consider herself as an accomplished artist. artist because there are obviously lots of arts involved. artistes in a sea of "entertainers". she gets a nod from me.

dishwalla

back when i was still struggling with books and juggling with classes, i could safely say that i succeeded in putting almost two-third of my time to waste. movie, music, "sessions", movie and music again and more "sessions" in between.

that was when i really had the opportunity to do my discovery channel moments. about that band, this band, our band. err, i can't really say that i was ever in a band. i'd go jamming just to maintain my hard-earned sanity. we made friends with just anybody. you know how uber-friendly people get when they're not themselves?. right.

a friend brought along his collection of old cassettes (perhaps so that we know how enlightened he was musically). and i saw one depeche mode tribute album with dishwalla on it. first i thought, the band was merely ok.

fact is, the band totally blew me away. like listening to mellon collie and infinite sadness and say nothing to a friend talking next to you so that you won't miss any part of it. that good. a great collection of songs you can listen to anytime. driving, sleeping, camping, walking, sinking or whatever.

but on a serious note, if you haven't really discovered dishwalla, you should. and you'll thank me and well if you don't, you're on your own.

999

many years ago, i remember toying with the idea of being in an alt-rock band selling millions worldwide. then i'll be drowning in money, surrounded by many, really hot chicks. and that will garner me much-needed respect from my hometown boys, my teachers and envied by just anybody my age. i'll smile whilst saying, i have the best job in the world. doing things i like and getting paid for it.

and then i feel like waking up from a long, deep sleep. the journey stopped even before it even started. that was all naive and embarrassing and funny. but i know for sure, i have no business being a frontman if i can't sing like chris cornell or at least eddie vedder. no, definitely not james hetfield.

so 2nd best option - i thought if you can't be one, you could at least live like one. and that's exactly what i did. haha..that was the period of a very stupid me. still, honestly sometimes i feel like reliving that moment with a pinch of hope to revive the dream. i would always believe, we should all stay young at heart. exception - there'll be no hard-partying or colorful combination of weird looking substances anymore, just natural high. :-p

p/s : i left one important thing behind. should i become an ultra-successful rock star, i'll have my first dodge charger. with big 69 painted on each door. damn!

there is a light.

speechless is a word. we can go on and on just discussing the word with no clear purpose. and maybe that is the whole point. we actually don't really need a purpose for anything. i just feel like saying it. and verbally, i'm no longer speechless.

at 6.24pm, i'm still here. at 28, i'm still here. in 2009, i'm still here. and it might sound that it is never wrong or bad or anything, unless that's what you would prefer to think. unless you would prefer to listen to all the good, mesmerizing stuffs. that is all your ears are reserved for. or perhaps, that will be the sole, contributing agent in keeping your sanity. now, is that mesmerizing and all?

i know many things or ways or tricks i could somehow apply in building walls to avoid such disturbances. and i know i don't really feel like there is anything wrong.

and at 6.31pm, i just decided i should stop typing. at 28, i should just leave. and finally, on a sunny august afternoon in year 2009, i know i need my camels and pearl jam.

August is for Virgins?

my car has been "warded" for two weeks now. been using a friend's honda ever since. i'm beginning to like it but not as much as i would to a 3 series. (remember that line from radiohead's airbag? - "in a fast german car, i'm amazed that i survived...an airbag saved my life"). that's why i'll be getting myself one.

went to KL last friday. almost missed my flight on the next day. thanks to those who braved the saturday afternoon marching on the road (maybe for a reason they themselves couldn't really tell). was there for a presentation and i sincerely hope it shall be the last time i ever needed to be there for. had a good chat with brenda though (niceeee chick!)..hee..

back in town just in time for the closing ceremony of The 6th JB Arts Festival. Si Bongkok Tanjung Puteri, tale of that Robin Hood-y legendary hero, was magnificently enticing. or maybe because i have never been to a musical drama of any sort. but seriously, they were good.

did i mention about enjoying julian mokhtar and karen nunis blackstone (from mississippi to chicago) a night of blues concert weeks ago? not familiar with half of the songs but they really blew me away.

in about three weeks, it's Ramadhan again. time, hmm..

I Miss Being A Little Boy

the boy in that last scene was damn lucky!

J & V

ever since The 6th JB Arts Festival officially commenced on the 10th of July i got so consumed by it. as a matter of fact, weeks before it actually commenced were the most tiresome. it is the sixth year and as always, there is room for improvisation. so far so good though.

i never really listened to roger wang before. and a pretty shame to not ever heard of paul ponnudorai. boy, these guys are very, very good. a friend said something about mr paul being ranked at no 8 for fingerstyle guitar in the world. now that's a big deal, ain't it? i saw roger played "bunyi gitar" by the late Tan Sri P Ramlee and a medley of MJ's songs - man in the mirror and also the crowd favourite - imagine by john lennon. and when i first heard paul sang an old blues number by chet atkins, whoa!...i wish i could play to impress, like he did.

and then the indie nights. that 3-piece band from KL (mystery call, i think) was fantastic. funk, prog shit. and the only band from JB, fronted by an aged bloke started off singing their own song, which was not bad at all. and from the 2nd song onwards, they rocked!. songs from eric clapton bluesy selection, called it a night with cocaine. cool song!

i had to come almost everyday since the festival also allocated fringe performances for our indoor stage. dances, music, arts and many other related stuffs. and on the 3rd day of the festival, i got myself a real bad fever.

took a day rest on monday and tonite i'm ready for more action. tonite is the BassGroove 100 Jazz Concert! not going to miss that one.