Photos: Jamming session 29 Oct 2008

Here are some photos I could capture during the last jamming session with DCmates, at Rhythmix Studio.

Attendees: Mihad, Wieburn, Shazz, Kenit, Sadat, Tifli, Arida, Aki (new vocalist, to join us performing on MCOBA dinner).

The last 2 photos are really blur... Can't be helped.

Arida trying out Kenit's guitar when he's out for a puff. Err..., am I supposed to tell that out loud? Erks! Sorry, BroArida... Can't help but telling it to BroKenit! [Shazz giving an innocent look]

Can you see the 2 keyboards we're playing here? The one I was playing belongs to the studio - not so friendly buttons I tell you!

Very blur image of a ghost... Yeah, the drummer is so skinny that he 'blends in' with the drumset, as if he's not there... If he's not wearing his hat (the one I kidnapped), you might think he's one of the cymbal stand! Huu huu huu... "Jangan mare, bro!"

Sadat was studying hard on the notes given by Tifli, that the air molecules vibrated so much and shook this photo capture. Hehehe...!

Planning on disappearing act for this comming Dinner... wahahaha!!
- Shazz @ DCmates
31 Oct 2008

Photos: Concorde event with FSPU Band

Below are the photos captured by Halim (FSPU Band lead guitarist) on 25th October 2008.

Morning - setting up the equipment are Concorde, KL. Junior tagged along, until the 'great babysitter' arrived around 2:30PM.

It's darn starving, and hot! Hard work should be accompanied with good food rewards... even if it's at some mamak stall behind the hotel. I think we came here about 4 times that day alone, before the big dinner..., following Dr E (the face under the hat beside Fasha). Phew!

Full rehearsal, well sort of. We didn't have much time then, but we managed to cover some songs to test our sound.

Mama Rock already got her 'clothes clippers' to be used for the music file. It was Dr E's idea to use those pink-coloured clothes clippers. Behind me was Mahen, the Bassist and Band Leader. Ehem... don't I look rugged in here? ;-)

The FSPU band, minus a few? Wait... lemme count. I think there's some missing in this. I will upload the full line-up later, once I get it from other photographers.

Exhausting fun, and a big relief when the whole thing was a success...,
- Shazz @ FSPUBand
31 Oct 2008

Jamming Session 26 Oct 2008

Instead of starting at 4:30PM, we started at 5:00PM after everybody arrived.

Instead of my kid having a nap before the practice, I ended up taking that nap on the couch while waiting for my kiddo's turn, but she ended up dozing off right when we arrived Subang. So I had to carry her around... Sigh!


The practice this time round was 'celebrated' by 4 kiddos - 3 boys of JimBob's and 1 gal of mine. To make the boys behaved, Mihad released his secret weapons (the same method he tried on my kid last time, but to no avail) - the maracas and tambourine - and let them played with them.


My kid? Well..., despite all the begging of "Nak gi jamming! Nak gi jamming!", she ended up sleeping during the whole session. She only woke up the moment the silence filled the air in the studio... Just like old times. Good thing too, otherwise she would be disturbing me and my concentration, or she would even start a quarrel with the boys! Hhmm... (I can hear Mihad's comment, "Just like her Mommie!", whatever that means.)


But her begging, "Nak gi jamming! Nak gi jamming!" continued after our jamming session. Huh! I wonder if she really understands the meaning of 'jamming'. :-S (... just like Mommie, hahaha!)

We had a few rounds of songs planned to be played for the MCOBA dinner, including my fav - "Runaway". One after another vocalist in the team rejected the offer to sing the song due to the chorus 'jump of 10 notes' (not just an octave, you know!), which all doubt could make it. Sadat turned out to be the only guy who could get that part right, so he has no other choice now but to sing at least the chorus part. "Bro! No more 'run-away', eh?!"

That's all I could remember at this moment regarding that jamming session. Will continue updating everybody on our next session..., eh, it's tomorrow! Hhmm...

Deaf me with some more good dance tune, bebe!
- Shazz @ DCmates
28 Oct 2008

Current Fav...

Just to share with you guys my current favourite (the one deafening my ears at this moment, repetitively)...

EASY LOVER by Phil Collins
(Released on phil baileys chinese wall album, 1984)

Easy lover
She'll get a hold on you believe it
Like no other
Before you know it you'll be on your knees
She's an easy lover
She'll take your heart but you won't feel it
She's like no other
And I'm just trying to make you see

She's the kind of girl you dream of
Dream of keeping hold of
You'd better forget it
You'll never get it
She will play around and leave you
Leave you and deceive you
Better forget it
Oh you'll regret it

No you'll never change her, so leave it, leave it
Get out quick cos seeing is believing
It's the only way
You'll ever know

Easy lover
She'll get a hold on you believe it
Like no other
Before you know it you'll be on your knees
She's an easy lover
She'll take your heart but you won't feel it
She's like no other
And I'm just trying to make you see

You're the one that wants to hold her
Hold her and control her
You'd better forget it
You'll never get it
For she'll say there's no other
'Till she finds another
Better forget it
Oh you'll regret it

And don't try to change her, just leave it, leave it
You're not the only one, ooh seeing is believing
It's the only way
You'll ever know, oh

No don't try to change her, just leave it, leave it
You're not the only one, ooh seeing is believing
It's the only way
You'll ever know, oh

She's an easy lover (she's a easy lover)
She'll get a hold on you believe it (get a hold on you)
(She's) like no other
Before you know it you'll be on your knees (you'll be down on your knees)
She's an easy lover
She'll take your heart but you won't feel it (you won't feel it)
She's like no other
And I'm just trying to make you see (trying to make you see)

PS: Search for the MP3 yourself! :-p

'Til deaf do us part...,
Shazz @ DCmates
28 Oct 2008

A little diversion from DCmates

Let me blog about my last performance with FSPU UiTM Band, today. Give DCmates a bit of a rest.

Venue: Concorde Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Event: Wedding of Nabila and Agus
Band members: Mahen on Bass, Halim on Lead, Lee on Rhythm and 2nd Lead, Nasser on Acoustic, Fairuz (staff) on 3rd guitar, Remy on drums, Dr Esmawee (or WieBurn of DCmates) on percussion, Fairuz (student) on percussion, Shazz on keys
Band manager: Dr Esmawee
Vocalists: Fairuz (student) and Tengku Ida

It was a long day for all of us. I didn't help out with the morning transportation of equipments from UiTM, because I had to sort out my morning medical checkup and my kiddo. I could only help out with the transportation after the show, which led to 3AM after everything was settled.

Photos captured after 10AM at Concorde KL Ballroom, during the setting up of equipments...



Let me go straight to commenting on the show itself.

The event witnessed the unity between 2 nations - Malaysia and Indonesia - thus our songs were mainly from evergreen oldies of Malay and Indonesian songs. The climax of our performance (from my point of view) was when we made heads turned everytime we 'stroke' the first note of an oldie, such as "Widuri", "Budi Setahun Segunung Intan", "Jangan Ada Dusta", and "Kasih". Guests must have felt impressed seeing 'youngsters' performing the veterans' numbers quite fluently. Something to be proud of, which I think this band is unique for.

We had 2 sessions - during dinner and after the VVIP left the hall. The first session was cut short, thus we missed the chance to perform "Mencintaimu"... so Fairuz (the vocalist) and I were thanking God so much for that! Haha!! Well, kinda frustrated (because it would be the most impressive performance from us both if we could make it right) but relieved at the same time (because we tend to lose the tempo, a challenging song for both of us).

As how Halim used to tell me, "KakShah kena leleh lebeh sikit... tak cukup leleh lagi tu!" Yeah, right! I was known to be very bad at ballad, dear... :-p My teachers always scolded me for the same reason since I was a kid. I couldn't even play the old version of "Negaraku" well enough because I was so impatient to do the 'leleh' part and waiting for the song to end! That's how I ended up with DCmates, playing hard rock and heavy dance tunes. Duh...

Back to the scores... We managed to perform... Hhmm, where's my list? I think we covered most of the songs planned to be played that night. Among all are:

1. Pengantin Baru_Saloma
2. Widuri_Bob Tutupoli
3. Malam Ini_Sudirman
4. Hello_Lionel
5. Kaseh_Hetty (F)
6. Budi Setahun Segunung Intan_Ahmad Jais (M/F)
7. Jangan Ada Dusta_Broery
8. Senja Di Kuala Lumpur_Broery
9. Dan_Sheila On 7
10. Kau lah Segala nya_Ruth (F)
11. Mencintai Mu_Kris Dayanti (F)
12. Wonderful Tonight_Eric
13. Selamat Hari Raya_Ahmad Jais
14. Sepasang Kurung Biru_Khairil Johari
15. Hujan_Adibah Noor (F)

From the list, I think we missed out "Senja di Kuala Lumpur" and "Mencintaimu". (Oh dear! My amnesia is worsen! Huu huu...)

Backstage scene, everyone with his/her own way to overcome the anxiety...

I think I will list down all the songs I've performed and practiced in this blog, as part of my portfolio... some time later... when time permits...

I will also upload more photos of the event, once I receive them from our photographers.

Yet to have a proper band name,
Shazz @ FSPUBand
28 Oct 2008

Jamming Session 23 Oct 2008

Last night, I almost could not attend the jamming session. Had a whole day wondering how to escape the Gala Dinner at my university. Eventually got the guts to escape before the event started, and I was the first to arrive the Rhythmix studio (3 hours early!)... While waiting for the rest, I had a light dinner and prepare my file for this Saturday's show (under FSPU, performing Malay retro genre).

We received bad news yesterday, from our "Queen of the Night". Kyra had to pull herself out from the MCOBA dinner this coming 8th November 2008, due to her injury that requires her to rest for another month - no walking, no standing, no dancing... (I guess there's always a lesson in keeping pets at home, eh? Even a cat can turn into a "lion", causing damage to others! Hhmm...)

We started our practice at approximately 8:30PM, with Kenit seeing his hope to play "Objection" and "Wherever Whenever" crumbled in front of his eyes, and Sadat cursing "Shit... shit..." all the way. It's a grief to lose a chance to be noticed with a blastful performance with the presence of a female vocalist, but hey... that's the ups and downs of a music band, right? I just kept myself quiet at a corner and let the 'boys' grief while churning their mind to the max in thinking of plan B. [My mind then was on FSPU band more than DCmates, bear with me for a while eh.]

Our practice went on well, minus all the female and duet songs... so, bye-bye "You're the One that I Want". Tifli arrived a bit late, so I covered as much as I could for his part, with the 'not-so-friendly' keyboard of Rhythmix (at least to me it's not that friendly).

Upon Tifli's arrival, we managed to get a new list of songs sorted out, with a no-female-vocalist in mind. We decided to perform "Sway" (by Michael Buble), "Those Magic Changes" (by John Travolta) and "Jailhouse Rock" (by Elvis Presley). [At last, I get to play Michael Buble... surely I'll get goosebumps during the show, haha!]

We also decided to take back into the list some songs, including "You Drive My Crazy" (by Shakin' Steven) to replace "You're the One that I Want". Honestly, I think Arida sings very well with that song... kinda suits him. Good job, Bro!

The band members decided to add some few songs during the meeting after the session, which I was absent (I had to leave early to pick up my tot). I think they added a few of my best performed songs, like "Runaway" and "La Bamba"... Not too sure. I can't release the full list here, yet. Thanks, Bros for considering my songs..., appreciate it! :'-D [Come to think of it, is it a way to avoid me from having last-minute thoughts, too? Hhmm...]

Attendees for last night's session (according to arrival time): Shazz, WieBurn, Kenit, Sadat, Mihad, Arida, Tifli. I guess we all got a hang of the songs by now, and we will do well for the show even though the time left is not that 'friendly'.

PS: "Mihad kata si Aza join. Mana dia batang idung tak nampak-nampak pun lagi?! Tipu lah!"

Back into 'music constantly ringing in the ears'... I'm ready for the world, bebe!!
- Shazz @ DCmates
24 Oct 2008

Jamming Session 19 Oct 2008 (cont'd)

We (my kiddo and I) arrived PJ around 4:30PM, just in time when the rain 'decided' to pour. Sigh! Good thing my kid woke up when I turned in to Section 14 (yes, I carried her from home when she's still sleeping).

The practice was good, but my attention was divided into a zillion - my kid and the whole batalion of crankiness and naughtiness she brought along with her; and the band...

One minute, I had to carry my kid while playing, another minute I had to feed her in between the songs and during the songs, at one time I had to feed myself (because I suddenly felt hungry due to stress and lack of caffein dose of the day), at another time my kid want this and that and this...

I thought I was the only one stressed up, my lead keyboardist had a huge word of "STRESS" written on his head, too! Hahaha!! Well, that's what happened if we pull everyone out from the comfort of home on Sundays, eh? ;-)

We had a few rounds of practices on some songs:
1. "Joget Kenangan Manis" (me as lead keys) - which I 'destroyed' the solo parts due to my 'amnesia', oh dear!
2. "You're The One that I Want" (me as second keys) - which I finally got the hang of, got ideas how to play and back up the singers with my synth brass tone.
3. "Kenanganku" (me as second keys) - 'hentam saja la labuuuuu...' because I wasn't playing during the previous practice of this song.
4. "Celebration" (me as second keys) - this is nice, and the parts are very clear, even had ideas on how to play the triplets to make it sound continuous with the lead keys.

Almost forgot to mention... We had a new male vocalist for yesterday's practice, Arida, and a new rhythm (or is it bass?) guitarist, JimBob. Welcome to the band of brothers, bros!

And no, I did not record any audio yesterday. I didn't feel like carrying my laptop AND my kid AND my bag AND my keys AND... (myself?) on Sunday some more!

Good practice boosts confidence in everyone involved,
- Shazz @ DCmates
20 Oct 2008

Jamming Session 19 Oct 2008

Yesterday's practice was held at Just Jam Studio in Petaling Jaya, Section 14. The time allocated for that was from 4:30PM to 6:30PM.

2:30PM - I got a message that my band members were slowly heading towards the venue... and where was I? Oh! I was starting to have a nap beside my kiddo! It was a tiring day. Sunday is my only day at home, to cook, to clean, to babysit, to tire myself with housework...

Oh God, so exhausted! Sunday is the only day I could have some extra rest, and afternoon nap! It's quite a miracle that I could make my kid to sleep around 1:30PM. Otherwise, she could force her eyes to stay awake until night!! And that won't be good because it would make her cranky, etc... Ops! Too much story on my kid! :-S

4:00PM - I got up, getting ready - packing my kid's stuff to bring to the studio, getting myself ready, pack some brunch left-overs in case we're hungry during the practice, etc... My kid was still asleep. (Sigh!) I got a wake-up message around that time from my drummer, to remind me to bring my music chords and lyrics. Hhmm... somebody must've forgotten to bring theirs, eh?!

Ops! I got to go... My 7 final year students are presenting their project proposals today. Continue later...

Rushing off,
- Shazz @ DCmates
20 Oct 2008

Jamming session 16 Oct 2008

We had our first practice last night, at Rhythmix, Subang, to prepare ourselves for the MCOBA Dinner 2008 in November.

We practiced 3 new songs from our list, starting with "You're the One that I Want" (by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John), "Joget Kenangan Manis" (by Sudirman Hj Arshad) and "Kenanganku" (by Jeffry Din).

This podcast is the last round we played on "Joget Kenangan Manis", sung by Mihad. Enjoy the session!

https://sha905.solidcasts.com/xml/download/1559/audio/3803/dcm_jam161008_jogetsudirman.mp3

Getting used to Malays songs, slowly...,
- Shazz @ DCmates
17 Oct 2008

UCSI Students' Performance

A small blog of photos and short video on UCSI students' performance during the Award Day, held on 9th October 2008.

The band was coordinated by the Music lecturer, Adil Johan. I only witnessed their first performance during the opening ceremony, when they performed "Gemilang" (originally sung by Jacklyn Victor).

Other than the female vocalist, the band consisted of 2 keyboardists, 2 guitarist and a drummer.

The 5-piece band...

Even a small, good performance could bring tears to my eyes...,
- Shazz @ DCmates
15 Oct 2008