Rekindling...

<----- Raymond, Prashan, Paul, Sherman & Me at HARRY'S after the gig at the ESPLANADE



The gig in Singapore turned out to be excellent...more than we hoped it would be actually.The first night at the ESPLANADE was one of the best gigs I've ever had.The crowd was really good and responsive, and I was very surprised that they took to the music we played.Ha ha...I never told the other guys this but I did have some doubts when Paul came to us with this idea for a Country & Western night at the open air stage.God...Country & Western...don't get me wrong, I love C & W (maybe not as much as some of my other REDNECK friends) and I do think the genre produces some of the world's finest musicians .Also, the music is in a word...'HEARTFELT', but C & W at the ESPLANADE, supposedly one of the more trendier spots on the sunny isle of SINGAPURA...ha ha, can you blame me for not being a true believer!To my utter surprise, the setting was lovely!Great stage and thousands of people, most of whom came for the fireworks display that happened between our 2nd set but they did stay back when they heard the music.The crowd just loved every minute of the performance and I have to say I loved it even more.The whole evening played itself out to perfection.Maybe I should have trusted Paul's instincts after all, seeing as he is one of our more popular exports!Ha ha...my sincere apologies Paul for my lack of faith and thank you (your lovely wife too) for giving us what we truly needed...a renewed conviction in our beliefs that we have not been barking up the wrong tree with our choice of trade because that is exactly what I came away with from this whole episode in Singapore.I have just been going thru' the motions these past few months and finding fault with everything and everyone else when I should have been looking within.Wondering why I derive so much less satisfaction from performing these days than I used to.Playing in Singapore with 3 other very talented and dear friends has made me realize that sometimes you just need to take that cold walk outside, gather up some more firewood, walk back in again and just throw it in the ole' fireplace...ha ha, hopefully before the initial flame fizzles out!

Speaking of rekindling...I had the pleasure of catching up with some really old but very good friends too.All of them have families of their own now but they're still as hospitable as ever.I have not seen one of these guys for about 10 years and it was very very good catching up with all of them.It's also really good to know that they're all doing well.I've made up my mind that I'm gonna take extra time to keep in touch with each and everyone of them.It's funny but this whole year has actually been about renewing old friendships!Early this year some friends of mine from a college in PJ started a little yahoo group for ex students.So over the space of these past 8 months I've had the pleasure of hearing from some people I never thought I'd ever hear from again.Ha ha...I have to admit that it's a wonderful feeling and a real test of my memory too.I never could have imagined being in touch with so many old friends but with the onset of the world wide web, I guess our world is getting smaller after all!So I hereby pledge to stay in constant touch with all of you...ha ha, SCOUTS HONOUR!!!

Ok ok...back to Singapore...the 2nd day we spent all afternoon specifically in Peninsula Plaza!I think we must have covered all the music stores in that plaza and the one next to it...can't remember what that building's called.So many guitars to see...wow, I could have just died!I tried quite a few and I'm still thinking about most of them...like the LAKEWOOD, PARKER FLY & PEERLESS!Ha ha...maybe when I have a bit of cash to spare...I'll make another trip! :o) Anyway at night, we all converged at TIMBRE...a nice little 'Al Fresco' bar somewhere along Armenian Street as BIG GAME were engaged to perform there for the night.That was a good night too!Danny, the boss who also happens to be a blues musician, came up and jammed a few songs with us.We finished the night there with Paul who joined us after his gig at Harry's (ESPLANADE).Ha ha...I have to say that by the end of the 3rd set, most of the Singaporeans had said goodnight and believe it or not, we were left with quite a few 'relocated' Malaysians to entertain!Nothing like a little 'local' support anywhere in the world, I guess!Anyway after saying goodnight to the crowd, we proceeded to another bar called HOO HA, somewhere in Pasir Panjang Village.Little did we know that the party was only just beginning.We climbed the stairs to the sounds of some classic rock being played and walked smack in the middle of one of the loudest jam sessions ever...GREAT!We jammed and drank and jammed and drank some more and then we jammed and drank some more!Before we knew it, it was time to leave but the boss, Victor (a gem of a guy) insisted on taking us for the best NASI PADANG (it's a local malay dish of white rice and other delectable dishes) in Singapore.Paul and Anne decided to go home...ha ha, actually Anne wanted to join us but I think Paul was just too tired.Victor took us for breakfast (it's definitely not called supper at 7.30 am) and it turned out to be a really good meal.So for those of you on your way to Singapore, do drop by HOO HA PUB for some late night jamming and if you're lucky, Victor may take you for some really great NASI PADANG...or at least he would point you in the right direction!By the way Victor also says that the steaks at his pub/restaurant are the best in Singapore!

My 3rd day in Singapore, I woke up at about 2pm and one of my friends, Dinesh came by to pick me up.We went over to his home for a couple of drinks and basically just to talk.At about 7pm his wife dropped the both of us at Balmoral Plaza...somewhere along Bukit Timah Road and we proceeded to a pub called BOJANGLES.The owner, Amarjit was expecting us for a dinner that he himself prepared and there was also a bottle of whisky waiting for us.Sherman was already there when I arrived so we waited for Paul and Anne before proceeding with dinner.The food was excellent so I really pigged out but I did stay clear of the whisky...ha ha, only because I had been on Guinness the whole day.After the meal and lord knows how many more Guinness stouts, my friend said he had to go.The rest of us (Paul, Anne, Sherman and I) caught a cab to Harry's, Boat Quay.There was another jam session happening there!With the exception of Anne, all of us got up to jam and it was a lot of fun.The bunch of musicians I saw performing at Harry's , Boat Quay were first rate...some of the young Singaporeans can really play!I mean they know their stuff.They decide on what they like very early and do just that!Ha ha...I guess we Malaysians are a lot more eclectic!Well anyway, we ended our last night in Singapore as only Malaysians know how!BAK KUT TEH!!!Ha ha ha ha ha...for those of you who do not know what that is...well it's basically pork cooked with 11 herbs and spices...oh no, I think that's 'Kentucky Fried Chicken'...seriously though it is pork cooked in traditional Chinese herbs.Really good when you've had too much booze...actually that's about all it's good for...ha ha, it's delicious though!I happen to live in the the BAK KUT TEH capital of the world so I do know what I'm talking about!Good ole' KLANG town...ask any hot blooded BAK KUT TEH enthusiast, they'll vouch for me!

We left Singapore for home the next day,literally said goodbye to all the jazz of Singapore for the blues of Malaysia.We were so tempted to carry on partying at the duty free zone in Johor Bahru (see what I mean by the blues!) but I decided to spend some time at my mom's place in Johor Bahru while Sherman went to visit his daughter who happens to live in JB as well.We only left JB for Kl at about 8 pm.All in all it was a fantastic weekend but it also left me wondering about a few things.I've realized that it was really good catching up with old friends and also that I don't need to wait for a special occasion to be in touch with them!Just have to make sure you have enough firewood stocked up to keep the fires of friendship and music going for long, long time...cheers everyone!!!

Gerard

P.S. Check out the same blog here (more pics) ;

http://dgerardsingh.blogs.friendster.com/a_slice_of_my_pie/

Stress relief...

I've just spent a 'stressful' but 'enjoyable' past 3 days with some musician friends of mine...

Stressful because we've been practicing everyday since Monday from 2 pm till about 6 pm after which, I would go straight to work.I would leave my home at about 1.30 pm to get to practice and only get back home again at about 3 or 4 in the morning.14 hour work days....aaaarrrrgggghhh!!!!!My eight year old actually said "Daddy, where have you been? I miss you." Ha ha...she's a real terror but she has her moments of sweetness I guess :o)

Enjoyable because I've been practicing for a show on the 11th of August in S'pore, with 3 of the most talented musicians I know!Paul Ponnudorai, Raymond Chia and Sherman Tan.I'm really looking forward to this because it would be like a brief respite from the saturated KL music scene.So if any of you people reading this happen to be in S'pore during this time, drop by.You never know, you may actually enjoy yourselves.Ha ha...what was I thinking, you will definitely enjoy yourselves!!! :o)

On the 11th we perform two 45 minute Country & Western sets with Paul at the ESPLANADE and a third set on our own as BIG GAME...

http://www.deathstarproductions.com/biggame.cfm

We'll probably end up jamming with Paul at HARRY'S after we finish our 3rd set, both on and off stage, ha ha...and we'll all be going to bed at 4 am again.Same shit, different setting!!!Ha ha...not that I'm complaining, mind you!It's always a pleasure to hang out with Paul & Ann (his wife) and also to listen to him perform.Definitely one of the best...in all honesty, as good as Paul is (believe me...he's brilliant!), what I enjoy most is having our little conversations.He can be really funny when he wants to be and in a very articulate way.Cheeky :o)

On the 12th, Paul has set us up in an 'al fresco' (I think that's the term they use) bar called TIMBRE, somewhere along Armenian Street.I'm looking forward to that too coz we'll actually be performing our regular eclectic repertoire as BIG GAME the whole night.I'm also very curious about the kind of people we might get there.Paul did give us a general idea of the crowd that hangs out there...ha ha, we're all still very excited about the prospect of playing to a younger audience.He also did mention about dropping by as soon as he finishes at HARRY'S BAR.

...and on the 3rd day, we shall rise again!The 13th of August...that's when the real party starts.We're actually not working but have decided to stay another day in S'pore because we basically want to indulge in one of our favourite pastimes...RANJAUing.It comes from the malay word 'ranjau' which actually means 'boobytrap' or 'mantrap'.So please don't ask me why when I use it in the context I just did, it means 'loafing' instead!Ha ha...you can chalk it down to slang I guess. Anyway, my point is...with Paul & Ann's help, we plan to spend the whole of Sunday roaming and combing the streets of S'pore in search of veritable oases that cater to alleviating the thirst of three wayward travellers from across the causeway (I guess it's better to be VERBOSE here rather than in my songwriting!).Ha ha...what is life if not for the pursuit of fine spirits to soothe one's parched throat.Well, one of its pursuits anyway...believe me, I'm not the only one who feels a certain kinship towards alcohol.Read below...(ignore the fine print)

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. " ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." ~ Dave Barry
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.

This last one is the best one yet and it's taken from the long running series CHEERS, I think most of you would remember this...

"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... a herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers...

I rest my case...no pun intended :o) Anyway, if things go according to plan we should be back in Malaysia on Monday the 14th of August.Not KL mind you, but Johor Bahru.Ha ha...we hear that the duty free zone in Stulang Laut is a haven for travelling minstrels!Worth checking out...CHEERS!

Gerard Singh

P.S. For those of you who have not checked out my band BIG GAME yet...SHAME ON YOU!Here's the link again...do check us out and drop us a line...tell us what you think.Thank you and God bless you all :o)

http://www.deathstarproductions.com/biggame.cfm