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