Of Music and Men

I couldn't care less about celebrating Halloween.

But I went to a Halloween gig anyway, because I celebrate music.

It's a gig by Converse in conjunction with their brand-new Boots line and was by invitation only.

So been wanting to check this band out, coz people say their live shows are awesome.

The band's called Enterprise. This is them. The drummer's totally rad, and these guys are awesome!

Enterprise

It was extra sweet when I won myself a pair of the new Converse boots! Jyeah.

My musical appetite has been fulfilled as far as 2012 is concerned, but I'm still looking forward to Urbanscapes this month for Sigur Ros and Yuna!

My friends and I were supposed to represent The Syndicats at that event, but due to our unforgiving schedules, we had to give our slot away.

Cancelled my trip to Singapore for Sigur Ros, to catch them in KL instead so that I get some Yuna treatment as well. Win!

Loving this year so far. And as the year approaches that corner where New Year is, the Laneway Festival will keep me on my toes!

Rock on! \m/

Hari Raya Eve

Just about every muscle and bones in my body right now is aching - as a result of over-working them. What an irony, although given the fact that I have been sleeping less (coz of Ramadhan), but more deeply. I couldn't hear my alarm, couldn't here my sister knock on my door, couldn't recall myself walking downstairs with my blanket and sleeping on the couch with tissue in my hand. When I sleep, I really sleep.

Mostly during the Ramadhan, after solat tarawikh, I'd be having supper and then make myself hot Milo and be sipping it in front of the TV while I lie down. Haha, absolutely a terrible habit since it's never a good idea to drink hot drinks while lying down (but I find comfort in that), and somewhere along the way I'll fall asleep. Yep, in between sips of Milo. And Grey's Anatomy.

So the over-working part is, I did more things while fasting than when I'm not. For example, I walked to and from between the LRT station and my house. It usually took me 15-20mins tops on non-fasting days, but during Ramadhan it took me a freaking 45minutes!! By the time I got home, I was panting and on my knees in front of the door, unable to even put the key in the hole and turn the knob.

I also strained my endorphines aka the happy hormones. I got easily agitated and moody especially when it comes to issues pertaining food. But the straining part is not that, it's when I try to cover up this agitation and act all cool and calm - coz it's the Ramadhan after all. I needed to be the best I could be.

I got into more things than I should have. I signed up for things that could be done during other times of the year and instead had to do them during Ramadhan. I was involved in a theater, entered a contest (that I was in the running to win for?), help move stuff from one house to another, took over my mom's gym membership and a heck of a lot more things.

I was insanely running from one point to another, all flustered and sometimes barely making it for break fast in time. I once broke fast while I was walking from the LRT to my house. I felt like crying, but thought of it as if it was any other day.

When it was finally bed time, I totally zonked out. Then we had to wake up every 5am to magically come up with some dish and eat our sahur. Then prayers etc. Sometimes we also wake up in the wee hours before sahur to pray. So you get how enormously tired our bodies would be. My sleeping patterns was really messed up, that I accidentally woke up at 10am and was really late for work.

If you think I'm complaining, well, I'm not. I'm just saying that now, I hope things would go back to normal, I can eat at normal hours, and not have to wake up at odd times or do things differently.

So on this eve of Hari Raya, I'd like to wish you all a good one (improperly first, I'll do a proper one later) and I think I'm gonna get that long, dreamful rest I've been longing for. Thank God, we've prepared food, did spring cleaning, put kuih in the jars, and even ironed our clothes already. Hence, this rest will be well-deserved.

Selamat Hari Raya everyone; and emphasize the 'selamat' in that phrase please :) Love you all!

BONNAROO

My days are now filled with sunshine. I made a few important decisions, and visions are once again clear (so is my desk at work yeehaa). I've been making too many mistakes twice, and I will not let that happen again.

I just wish one thing would happen for me as the pinnacle of this temporary happiness.

One word: B O N N A R O O




You can check their website here.

It's happening very soon! But it's half the world away, and I might have to sell myself to go there.
Mission: Impossible!




Normally, I wouldn't bother to look up the infos on these music fests as I know I would only disappoint myself in the end. But this is just too irresistable!

Check out the line-ups!! (I'll only cover those I like here):

- Neil Young (oh how I cry listening to Heart of Gold and the tunes of sleek harmonica in your songs! Imagine listening to it live)

- Iron & Wine (I downloaded your albums!! If you play My Lady's House I'll kill myself. Sam Beam rocks the "Jesus" look and I&W is definitely a religion in the music world)

- The Strokes (shit man, shit. I need to be there. Julian Casablanca!!! Need I say more!!)

- The Decemberists (Mariner's Revenge is the shizz ughhhhh)

- The Low Anthem (apparently they sound better live than in records! The three part harmonization, the eccentric instruments, dudes with 'staches, the range of subgenre just within folk itself - EPIC. I need to hear them live)

- The Drums (I featured them here before in my blog. Their tunes remind me of carefree days! Let's Go Surfing!)

- Smith Westerns (their stage antics and cute band members! indie rock with sounds ala Nuggets and I love Nuggets from before!)

- Ratatat (not into electronica but somehow they got me! Loud Pipes is the anthem!)

- Pretty Lights (OMG. I just posted their song here! Please, lyricless madness. Fusion of all sorts. I think when all the music genre in the world are combined and gets mashed up in a blender, it would sound like their songs. Finally Moving all the way!!!)

- Eminem (I mean, come on. He's a genius no matter how main stream he is. I am a groupie since '99 Slim Shady days but like really fell in love with him during his most deepest and darkest period. When he sing, he owns it. Gotta be there to live it)

- Mumford & Sons (Since first heard of them on the free CD by the Uncut magazine some time ago, I just didn't look back. Smart persona, upbeat folk-ish tunes, waaaaaaa I just need to see them live!!! Folk with attitude!)

And then there are the rest of the 2011 lineup which you can check at their official website. All ticketing details are there too. And they have some art installation thingamajig going on too. So it's really an event not to be missed for those who actually CAN make it. Please go on my behalf!

To be honest, it is kind of a fantasy lineup for any music events! (If they would include AFI and Elliott Smith is still alive, and maybe also bring in A&J Stone, this could have been a music festival organized by the angels in heaven.)

And then there's another sad case where Bob Dylan is concerned. He is coming down to Singapore for the Rock and Roots music fest. Aaarrrggghhhh.

 

Although this is more possible than Bonnaroo, I don't really feel like going just for him since the lineup pretty much sucks (for me, I'm sure other people think otherwise).

But oh, wouldn't I love to hear his silky voice on the mic? And who knows, he might meet&greet with a few lucky groupies. In which case, might be me..

Suddenly my life looks pretty darned gloomy in comparison to those in the USA or Singapore. I hate y'all biatches!!!

Where is Malaysia?

How much more do you think people notice/know/have heard of Malaysia than Slovenia? (Kidding. hehe. re: Paulo Coelho's Veronika Decides to Die)

Though people may have their own ideas of what and where you are,

you are always one to me: home

Happy Independence Day, Malaysia

Here's to you:

Song: Made in Malaysia

By: Roots N Boots