XLive Fest at Genting

Pictures later.

It was as messy as Live and Loud but not as chaotic as Sunburst. I wonder, if Malaysia is going to be ever ready with organising a ginormous scale-of-a-concert ala Big Day Out, Virgin Fests etc. The answer: no.

I think it takes a lot more organising and briefings to get things straight and a bit more PR-ing to not piss people off. While the press con was in a chill-out mood, where people were walking in and out freely, we felt like some artistes were not pushing their stuff to the media. It felt like a "hey, you don't like my stuff, I don't care, I'll play it to those who do." Yeah, well, there's a problem with that. I think if you're smart enough to use the media to promote your stuff and "educate" the lot, the kind of genre you feel utmost passionate about, you create a hype that people will want to know more about, no? Being defensive is one thing, pushing your music is another. Why we didn't feel passionate listening or asking is because you are not giving us a reason to feel so.

On the other hand, speaking to the foreign acts were a delight. Alhaca took time to explain about their supergroup background despite the repetitious questions. Filo & Peri, likewise. Even the Indonesians were cherry. Stylustiks also layaned me and MeiAnn and we were going to exchange ghost stories before the press con started. Goodnight Electric looked like they were just chilling out with their super comfy stylish attire that I had to jump in and take a photo with them... with their stylo Kanye West glasses. After that, the rest of the media followed suit. I started a riot. Also got a shot with Filo & Peri, Alhaca.

The one act we wanted to get our freak on with was Missy E, of course. But apparently, she only gave 30mins of her time to the media so only the TV crew got in. Maybe the main daily as well so we had to wash our hands clean off that. Sad but true. But a little bird we know, who is from a cool magazine, became her PA liaison (as she puts it very nicely) and took Miss E shopping at Pavilion and Sungei Wang. We were brimming with jealousy. Breathe in, at least it wasn't with Brandon Boyd, ok I can live with that.

We enjoyed ourselves most at the Wave Pool where the indie music was playing and we danced like there was no tomorrow to Goodnight Electric. So what if it was only the few of us - we were just having a ball of time.

Another peeve that night was not being allowed into the media tent and the one thousand people whom we asked where the location was, had no idea where it is! In the end, Sarah, Mesh and a couple of us barged through the gate. It was silly because it WAS the media tent but we had no idea why they won't let us in. Then it was supposed to be booze free-flow but we needed to have coupons in hand to redeem. Which we were not given in the first place. Like, er. A number of them were losing it but I was happy with my orange cordial and food. Don't necessarily need alcohol to be happy, yes?

Missy E started her act an hour late. We were given permission to snap pictures the first and last 20 minutes of her show. Then, the inevitable happened. The cops asked us who gave us permission to stand near the stage. We told them we were just going to take pictures and go. Her bouncers came. They kicked us out. MeiAnn stood up for us and rationalised with them: "Give us another location to take pictures then."This thin black dude was nice enough to listen and helped us get to front of the stage where the crowd had already booked their place. We must have apologised a thousand times to the fans. Then, not only that, he gave out booze coupons to those we were standing in their places! Now, that's what I call good PR.

Missy was CRAZY. She attemped to throw her Swarovski-blink-blink shoes to the crowd. Not only that, she made her way to the crowd and making them stand on their feet. Then, she walked to the middle of the crowd and started singing. CRAZY, was the word to describe her at that moment. I guess she made up for making everyone wait. The pyrotechnics were a joy to watch and it was good showmanship nevertheless.

We didn't take the free hotel room and chose to drive home by 230am. I wonder if I ever get old doing this stuff one day.

cyber-red on 1:28:00 PM at | Permalink

Youtube sensation Marie Digby live in Kuala Lumpur
Which reminds me, if you folks want to come to our hot magazine party (free booze, goodie bags with Maybelline, Durex etc), please pick up hot issue 98 go to our website for more details on how you can land yourself a pair of tickets. I'll be there, so you better.

I think newbies should learn a lot from her. Marie was bubbling with energy yet she was sweet and humble at the same time. She even poked fun at herself by posing awkwardly - she looked like she was comfortable in her own skin and having fun. My respect for her went up by tenfolds after that.


At the press con in Good Evening Bangkok in 1 Utama (MeiAnn and I wanting to cause a ruckus by telling all the fans where she was but of course we didn't), Marie answered everyone's questions with ease while the both of us, er, kinda were like gushing over her boots. Heh.


We even told her how much we loved them and she replied, "I've been living in them!"


My only WTF moment was when I was talking to Marie and trying to get her to pose with our hot magazine when this holier art thou reporter shoved herself in my way to get her deed done. Like, hello, don't know how to line-up issit? I found out where she works. So you think you very big, meh?


Anyway, I gave the mag to Marie and told her, her article was inside and she went, "Oh you interviewed me at home!"


"Yeah, over the phone," I smiled. The headline and subhead of the article were "My job was to make coffee and lick stamps" and "How Marie Digby, the wispy singer with model looks went from being an intern to today's internet sensation" respectively. Never buy hot leh? Regret leh? Start subscribing lah then! I take great effort in my work okay.


After that, we wanted a picture with the gorgeous one and I got this guy to take for us. And he was pretty good with my camera! After he returned it, he whipped out his handphone and called out Marie to pose for him. That was a situation I find both weird and funny at the same time. Another photographer got Marie to pose with our magazine and now we're dying to know where he's from and what he's going to do with that picture.


While I was awating for MeiAnn who was asking for her autograph, this guy in blue tee asked me if I wanted a picture with Marie. I smiled and politely declined, saying I'm just waiting for my friend. I saw he was holding our mag, so I pointed out, "Oh, I work for that magazine you're holding."


"Oh, really", he flipped it open.


I smiled, "Yeah, I wrote an article on her," and turned to the page for him to view (hint hot issue 97 with Sex & the City girls cover). "Sorry, I didn't get your name," I asked.


He reached out for his name card and passed it to me, "Jen, I'm with Hollywood Records and I'm based in Hong Kong."


After that, I've been commissioned to post him a few copies of the mag now, lol.


The showcase was good. She was good, of course. But my other qualm was how the hosts were dragging the crowd interaction too long and were making it all about themselves on stage. You know, the whole: me, me, me thing. Yawn.


I left by the fourth song because I didn't wanna leave MuscleMan behind (whom s such a big fan but last minute got scared by the crowd and didn't want to come inside the press con and media stage area) and I was already panting from the lack of air. The media space was pretty tight with the presence of bloggers as well. One was trying to make eye contact with me but I couldn't be bothered with short men and highlights in their hair, if you know what I mean?

cyber-red on 1:55:00 AM at | Permalink

Sunday, May 11, 2008

What happens during carwash, stays during carwash


I get the ultimate satisfaction from seeing my car spotless and in tip-top condition. You know how the car shines without any hint of dirt or dust and when you brush your hands on it, there's this layer of soft wax residue on it? Yeah. I haven't had the luxury of washing my own car because I often finish work late so I'll just dump her at the instant car wash.


That's when trouble starts.


The last time I went, this dude started a "friendly" chat with me. And the smart fellur cleverly brought up my car. My weakness, I must admit, is flattery when it comes to her. "New car!" or "White's a nice colour!" is enough to get the ball rolling. Can't help it that Muscleman has such great taste in cars and colours, you know. So, this fellur and I went on and on about how difficult it was to maintain cars (when all in my head I was going 'Okay, I wanna go home'). As soon as my car got released, he bid farewell and I hopped into her and drove off.


Just two hours ago, I sent her for another round of washing and whilst I was waiting, this Chinese dude with a walkie-talkie went up to the attendant. My first thought was "aiyoh, DVD peddler, 'tho not as handsome as Jason in Sepet." He started talking in broken English/Malay: "Aiyah, you wash this car first then mine ah..." Then, he turns around and looks at me in obvious true fashion and goes: "Aiyah, nevermind lah the car so cantik, the ah moi also cantik. You, Chinese?" He smiles then walks off to a bench nearby with a grin I would love to smack his face off.


He committed at least a few offences which would result in a brand new, genuine leather Guess bag being flung to his face. Namely, the ah moi name calling which was derogatory, the last time I checked in my books. But, seeing he had a walkie talkie in hand, he could either be a really lapsap DVD peddler, a small fart acting big or a really big fart with konchos. Well, the revving V-Tec of his Honda engine might say something. Or maybe not. Let's just stick with the assumption that the Ah Beng was driving his boss' car to a carwash stand...


MTV Asia Awards in Genting?


You didn't hear it from me but I got it from the horse's mouth. VJ Utt, that is.


MTV Asia Awards will be held in Genting. Yay? He also let slip that it should be the first week of August. Recap back, we had Alicia Keys, Black Eye Peas, Kelly Rowland, Daniel Powter, Korn, Maggie Q, etc who graced the previous award shows back then - do you think we'd be served a lacklustre line-up then? Hey, my inner pop wouldn't mind OneRepublic, James Morrison, James Blunt, John Mayer - just to name a few. According to another little bird, we would be getting more goss this week...

cyber-red on 10:38:00 PM at | Permalink

Friday, May 09, 2008

So, you win


Sometimes I wonder if all that's happening is the works of karma. I preach about the wrongdoings when in fact I know, I did him wrong. But, I'm doing my best here to patch up the holes, yet trouble befalls me. I don't know how to talk to him anymore. It seems whatever I say doesn't make any sense. It's like trying to tell a five-year-old kid that punching another one in kindergarden is wrong. It's so fucking wrong okay. So, you win. I am just coldly disappointed.


[music for the soul: The Ice Is Getting Thinner - Death Cab For Cutie]

cyber-red on 12:29:00 AM at | Permalink

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

toxic


"You can't change a man's attitude when it's habitual."


So what constitutes the act of wrong or right when tempers flare? Does that mean exchanging blows is an action that supercedes rational and logic? I came to a point when I got tired of explaining, tired of righting the wrong, tired of being patient. There are too much of toxicity and too much negativity that I couldn't bear that I walked out. Honestly, I'm tired.


We don't normally measure consequences before getting entangled in the trappings of action. We don't see the bigger picture; the people that are part of your life... we just continuously wrap ourselves in a coccoon of danger till it engulfed us.


How is there so much angst in someone that's enough to lay a finger on another? I just don't get it. Most of all, I don't get that you don't care about the aftermath.


I'm tired and I need a long walk.

cyber-red on 11:05:00 PM at | Permalink

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

i'm not here


If this space correlates with what I feel inside me, it would have the words "I'm empty" all squished inside. There will be the i, two m's, one p, one t and one y dangling in vacuum. All in this hollow space of mine.


Other days I have this masterplan of shooting off elsewhere: take a day off, shut the phone and disappear elsewhere, uncontactable. Far from human contact. Just a little warning, luv.

cyber-red on 10:27:00 PM at | Permalink

a little gem that is...



I was struggling to hear the muffled lyrics sung in the background of Grey's Anatomy Season 4 Episode 2 so as I could google them up. And boy, did I dig up a gem that is Neverending White Lights, whose track 'Distance' features Matt Hales. I've just melt with adoration. Excuse me while I play this on loop.

cyber-red on 1:12:00 AM at | Permalink

Monday, May 05, 2008

the dusty, wispy voice


The power of the Internet is truly one source that many are unaware of. Look what it did to boost the presence of Colbie Caillat and Marie Digby?


So, it didn't come much of a surpise when kokokaina was eventually signed on to Jack Johnson's label when she confirmed it to me and MeiAnn when we spoke to her (more goss in hot mag)


I have to admit; the petite singer does hold a powerful set of vocal range. Think a hint of Dusty Springfield mixed with a bit of airy Nina Simone - she's very lucky to have caught on the waves of Duffy, Adele, etc singer-songwriters and the likes. Just a bit more work on getting over stage fright and working on getting across her personality - and she'll be off in no time.

cyber-red on 1:44:00 AM at | Permalink