Performance Aug 31

Ok! I seriously hate it when bass drums move forward!

I hate Arif's zoom 'malay pedal' hahaha!! Ok I actually do.

I have a hard time remembering words to a song. I think if I really dig a song, and never saw it coming that I'd perform it live, it would be easy to remember them.

Ah well... I really like both Creep and Goodnight Goodnight. I'm new to them. Can't believe they actually ban us from playing Creep! Hahaha!

I hate my solos! I can't play solos for nuts! I need to practise! Make sure I make a good comeback at playing solos.

I feel like playing for just myself, alone, me, with backing tracks for the DMAT concert. Really. Its just alot of work.

I could only hear my vocals, when I was singing. I couldn't really hear my guitar. The bass drum was really quiet!

All in all, it's a below average gig.

Performance & Jamiroquai!

Let It Go (Original)
I was told my bass parts could only be heard from where the music break began. Lucky me, I guess. Haha! I was quite nervous playing the bass and singing. Adam's bass was quite good to play. The electronic drums just didn't fit, period. Arif's guitar wasn't fed into my monitor and I was unable to request for it because everything was just running non-stop.

Everywhere & Goodbye To You (Michelle Branch)
I had the most fun playing these 2 songs. Maybe it's because I'm playing a guitar and that singing wasn't heavy duty. Carmen's timing was quite steady I guess, and probably the tempo was just nice. I forgot, I have to see them again. I wasn't really concentrating on Esther's vocals but I'm sure she did a thumbs up job. Nick was man of the match! What with all his headbanging and jumping. Haha!

Yellow & Beautiful Day (Coldplay & U2)
I was told by an outsider that my voice wasn't fit for U2 songs. I used to think to myself that I sounded like Bono, but I am wrong. Hahaha! This is what happens when you think too highly of yourself I guess. Argh! The mic had a sort of screeching sound whenever I tried to reach a high note. Not sure if I'm just doing it wrong or the I'm just not meant for the mic =P hahahaha!! Kidding, definitely not the latter I guess.

Kite & Speed Of Sound (U2 & Coldplay)
The same outsider returned to see us play and he thought that these 2 songs were better than the previous 2. We played Kite in E, while U2 played Kite in D. It was only one night before the show when I watched Elevation 2001 Boston and realized it. I knew I was gonna do a terrible job. On the spot I just sang the harmony lines (chorus) and improvised a little on the parts where Bono just runs into high notes.

Overall, I think what's important is the way we address the crowd and the vocals. Radiohead's guitar player, Ed O'Brien once mentioned that "Vocals are the most important thing on a song - the music can be shite but be redeemed by a great vocal take." I'm not sure if it's true, but it definitely is a push to keep on practising my vocals. Make sure I'm in pitch, 24/7 and give my all.

I watched Jamiroquai, live in Verona. I have Mr Eric to thank for that. I think that Jamiroquai music is really well crafted and arranged. Jay Kay was having some trouble singing Virtual Insanity. Haha! But he rocks. But Bono is still the King. Nonono wait... was it Michael Jackson? Oh well, we'll have to find a midpoint between the world of U2 and MJ.

Hahahaha =P

Bass and Vocals

Playing bass and singing at the same time is tough! And remembering lyrics to the Coldplay song, Speed of Sound is damn tough! How?! Performance coming up very very soon...

I'm so dead. And U2's Kite is... argh!! So high! I'll need a big space and distance away from the crowd to be singing that song's chorus. Bono is just magic.

Gig and more Guitar and PAUL GILBERT!!!

I finished playing Baybeats. The under side of my snare head tore! I have no idea how, but yeah, it did. I changed it after I finished the 2nd song of the set to the house snare which sounded pretty fine as well. Our set was halted after we finished the 5th song haha! We were supposed to play a 6th, but that's okay.

I've been writing more songs and playing more guitar.

Paul Gilbert is the bomb. His songs are amazing, and hsi guitar playing is almost flawless! He had a 3 piece band running through an almost 2 hour set with great hits and great new songs. Sadly there weren't much people there. I pity Paul and his band, but Paul still rocks! The concert was fantastic to say the least. I'm happy. Haha!

Guitar

Practised my chromatics. It's really tough! My picking doesn't seem to dance well with my fret hand. It's so frustrating! Maybe I'm not cut out to be a solo guy.

I'll work on that. Argh!!

Mr Big, Guitar and Piano

Mr Big rocks! Paul Gilbert, though very conventional of a songwriter, never fails to amaze me with his chord structures and variations. The latest I heard was on the song Stay Together, on the Big Bigger Biggest album. I'll die just trying to solo like Paul Gilbert, or John Petrucci! John Petrucci has the most beautiful bends.

Played top 40 tunes with guitar again with my pals. I have trouble with alternate picking! Fuck! I can't seem to do it slow as well!! Fuck!! Gosh, I really gotta work my way from a really slow tempo. Chromatics, major scale... the works! Soloing is so tough on the guitar. Bends too! Up til now, I get very pissed off easily hearing people who can't bend and do a proper vibrato. For God's sake, DO SOMETHING YOU CAN DO RIGHT! Sheesh...

Did 'Say It Now' on piano for midi class. I loved how the drums were done. I guess I'm going to play the melody on an electric guitar. Slip in a couple of counter melodies using midi.. or maybe I'll sing the song and play the counter melodies. Hmm... no idea which to choose from.

Meantime, I'd just like to say that only Addy "Gilbert" is the greatest local guitar player I've ever seen. Go work on vibrato, bends and for God's sake, hold your notes properly! You're framing an in-tune guitar. Or whatever.

Guitar, Drums (gig) and Sarah McLachlan

First of all, our pitch exercise was all a big mistake. Haha! We were doing the wrong thing. We focused on timbre instead. Well I just have to read them back all over again and get it right. They are pretty important as of now.

I had my very first acoustic gig. My 2 friends, Siraaj, Luqman and myself were invited to play at this cafe and we gladly did it. The guy who did sound was a very good friend of mine, Keith from Lee Kwong Seng. I'm lucky it was him, so he and I knew what I needed in my monitor and he knew just how an acoustic gig should sound like. I am thankful for that. This was also where I practised my PR work. I used to just stay still on stage (behind the drums) or stand with my guitar and say nothing until the host asked me a question. Turns out that the crowd enjoyed what we did and I'm very glad to know that. I will work on the things that needs work. Like singing with confidence and looking at the crowd more when I'm singing. It just shows how much the audience means to me I guess. Work on it!! Argh.

Today I had another gig at Somerset Road. Youthopia Xclaim 3 it was called. The soundcheck was really pleasant. But as soon as we got on stage, my guitarist's guitar amp was giving problems. He was very frustrated, but he seemed to have just kept his cool instead of screaming. Well after he was done.. I was the one who did the screaming. Haha! I mean, I screamed at him to give support? Hope you know what I mean. We played Radiohead's Idioteque, off of their Kid A album. I used a metronome to this song. I used the Tama Rhythm Watch. It's so cool, I got it as a birthday present from my brother who always urged me to use the metronome. Anyway the gig was more like a competition and we won 3rd! Haha, I'm actually very happy and fortunate to have actually won something. Some people don't, so we gotta be thankful for the things that come along our way. Pure experience.

Right now as I'm blogging, I'm watching Sarah McLachlan's Mirrorball DVD. Oh My God! She is so amazing! She has control over her voice!! The band is also amazing!! The drummer is just groovy and the guitar players hit the right tones. Gosh, when can I get that??! Soon, but not soon enough. Work on it! I realize lighting plays a very very crucial role in many live events. Though the first quarter of Jamie Cullum's concert didn't use alot of lights as it was set in the afternoon. And he made it through the first quarter without fancy lights beautifully.

So I have to work on playing music without lighting. I'll know how to deal with the 2 situations in future so that's cool. If only I had my own lighting technician whom I can lias with. That would be so cool.