Selamat Pagi Gadis

Written by J Shamsul, Friday, November 7, 2008 | 2

There are now quite a number of local indie bands and artists featured on Jiboneus. I don’t write just about any band that I came across, just only the ones that I like.

Normally I don’t write about bands that I have not yet been to any of their performances and also bands that has not release any official albums, or EPs.

However, I have to make exception for this band known as Selamat Pagi Gadis. I had never seen them perform live, and yet I like them enough to be featured on Jiboneus.

Return of Butterfingers

Written by J Shamsul, Thursday, August 7, 2008 | 15

They left us in 2004, leaving us with their album “Selamat Tinggal Dunia“, in English it says “Good Bye World”. Now they are back with an album “Kembali“, a Malay word for “Return”.

In the early days, Butterfingers is the epitome of ’90s indie rock/grunge scene. As a Nirvana fan, it was easy for me to dig Butterfingers’ music. During the 90′s, Butterfingers homegrown ‘Seattle grunge scene’. I was still in my secondary schooling days.

Formed in late 1993, with the line up, Loque (songwriter, guitarist), Emmett (vocals, guitar and lyricist), Kadak (bass) and Kalai (drums) they hit the underground scene with such vengeance, that one could only describe as ‘the stuff of underground legends’. Most of their shows were sold out.

Even though during this time the Seattle grunge scene slowly fading away after the death of Kurt Cobain, and making way for more melodic and less angst bands, but the Malaysian youth were far from over with grunge.

KLue Urbanscapes 2008 the aftermath

Written by J Shamsul, Tuesday, July 1, 2008 | 4

A report on last weekend’s KLue Urbanscapes 2008, the city’s all-day creative arts festival held at KLPac (Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center). Although I’ve heard many things about KLPac from friends, but this was my first time to KLPac.

The place blows my mind away. Situated at Sentul, which is in the middle of busy KL city, but once you are inside you will loose all notions that you are still in the busy hectic cosmopolitan city known as Kuala Lumpur. On the way in, you are greeted with beautiful greenery landscapes, clear lake and an old A’ Famosa colonial-esque building. KLPac with its huge spaces of greenery is perfect for events such as this.

KLue Urbanscapes 2008 on the other hand was a kaleidoscope of sights, scenes and sounds. It is as if all of the city’s creative communities gathered at KLPac and do their thing. Also it seems as if everybody in KL who has Digital-SLR cameras are there at KLPac, Urbanscapes. All kind of camera was present. Everybody all trigger happy, including myself.

We were early for Urbanscapes. This is notable, because rarely do I manage to come early on such events. There are goodies for early birds, we got a paper doll thingy from Urban Cr3atures.

Rock on Rave: Day two report

Written by J Shamsul, Monday, June 9, 2008 | 0

This is a follow up on Rock on Rave, as posted yesterday. The second day of Rock on Rave was much better then the day before. This time they started on time but the crowd wasn’t. I thought I was early, there are more ‘security’ then fans. I wasn’t early because Bunkface was playing.

Apparently I bring my camera but not its battery. Silly, I know. Fortunately I live near by, so it was much of a problem. When back, had lunch at Little Penang, then back to the action.

Hujan, to big for mainstream to ignore

Written by J Shamsul, Monday, May 12, 2008 | 13

No doubt that Hujan is currently the ‘it’ band at the moment. Creating stirs in the underground music scene and at the same time taking the mainstream by storm.

You’ve heard their songs played on the airwave. You’ve seen them sell out gigs. Though Hujan was only formed about two years ago, their rise to fame has been unprecedented. In fact, they are the most talked-about act to emerge in recent memory, an indie band too big for the mainstream to ignore.

Supporting our local acts, past and present

Written by J Shamsul, Sunday, May 4, 2008 | 0

Support Local Acts “Support Our Local Acts!” is actually a 2 CD set compilation album featuring 20 of the finest bands coming from Malaysia’s local indie music scene. Even though few of the bands featured are more mainstream these days, you can’t denied their indie roots.

The compilation is a joint venture between Malaya Records and Universal Music, with bands like, ACAB, OAG, The Pilgrims, Butterfingers, Project AK, They Will Kill Us All, Komplot, The Suspect, Koffin Kanser, Gerhana Ska Cinta, FlopPoppy, Hujan, Couple and many more. It is a good mix of different genre in Malaysia local music scene and ranges between old and the new upcoming bands.

Sunburst aftermath

Written by J Shamsul, Tuesday, March 18, 2008 | 4

Last Saturday music lovers gathered at the Polo Pavilion Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort for a 12 hours of fun filled music festival. Sunburst KL 08 Music Festival featured over 26 artists span over 4 stages, 2 each side of the field and both of them are running simultaneously.