Oh boy! I wanted to blog about this earlier but I forgot, but it's still not too late. So here's for you "rhythm" guys!

Stellar Entertainment presents:

THE ARTISTIC SERIES

Theme: The Fretboard Menace
Date: 26th August 2005 (TONIGHT!)
Venue: KL JamAsia, No. 19-1, Jalan 22A/70A, Plaza Crystalville, Desa Sri Hartamas.
Time: 8PM onwards
Cover: RM15+ includes free drink

First 20 Females get in free,
First 50 paying customers receive a limited edition "Fretboard Menace Compilation CD!"

Bands: Az Samad, Cosmic Funk Express and Alcentric featuring Wan on guitars.

Contact: 016-3828222 (Alda Tan)

Synopsis:

The Artistic Series is a series of gigs that aims to highlight the individual talent of various local musicians focusing on three main instruments, the guitar, the bass and the drums.

The series will bring together top-performing musicians in different fields to display their contribution to their bands as well as their ventures as solo artistes.

The Fretboard Menace, the first in this Artistic Series, has its focus on the guitar, and will feature musicians Az Samad, Wan of Alcentric and Zack of Cosmic Funk Express.
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There's more at Kakiseni.Com with a comprehensive write-up

UPDATE: The gig has been postponed until further notice due to the haze affecting Kuala Lumpur.
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Ok, this is one of those rare moments we blog about rock events. Cosmic Funk Express is in it and they will be rushing to the Sunrise Rhythm & Jazz Fest after their slot at Paul's Place, Jalan Klang Lama.

Other notable bands performing are Frequency Cannon and Vespertine among others. We spotted the good Dr. Kua Chee of Frequency Cannon catching the jazz show-band, Groove Unction, two weekends ago. Pleasant chap and thanks for supporting the jazz scene!

More importantly, Poseidon will be launching their mini-album, "Dawn of The Downed" at the event. Cover charge of RM15 is applicable and if you are an indie fan, do check it out!

They also met up with Az Samad at the Macam-Macam Ada gig on July 31, 2005 and they are back to bring the house down.

Links:
Poseidon's website
A review (rock) of Poseidon's maiden album here.
Frequency Cannon's website
Cosmic Funk Express' website
Az Samad's website

"Macam-Macam Ada" means "Anything under the sun", to borrow an euphemism. Fans of Malaysian indie-rock acts can check out the following this weekend:


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Meanwhile, Poseidon's maiden mini-album "Dawn of the Downed" (review) is now available for sale:



For orders inside Malaysia the price is RM18.00 (inclusive of postal charges). Enquiries on purchases can be done via e-mail directly to earthshakers@gmail.com

Payment mode:
Please address all cheques, bank drafts, money order and postal order to:

Kannan a/l Isapen
10 Pintas Tuna 1
13700 Bandar Seberang Jaya
Perai. Penang. Malaysia

PS: Oh yes, AllDatJazz.Com also enjoys 'tasteful' rock.

Wow, I have never read reviews on pre-release material but this one is really good:

Check out New Straits Times review last Sunday on Poseidon's soon-to-be-launched mini-album "Dawn of The Down".



This "Prog-Alt-Rock" band is mentioned here because of their boldness at improvising. Though they are not jazz but their experiment of mix and matching elements from different genres is really commendable and reminiscent of the jazz-fusion efforts of the 70's.

For those of you wondering who the heck are Poseidon, you can check out their website and read our interview and review in the links below.

There will be a special launch on 12 August 2005 of "Dawn Of The Downed" at Paul's Place and Cosmic Funk Express will also be performing.

Links:
Poseidon's Official website
Our interview with Poseidon.
A very early review of their 'live' show during Hitz.TV Blast!Off

But apparently, even something that "critical" did not end up at the front pages of NST.

It was buried under the pull-out "Life and Times" section on page 2 in the print edition today, along with an equally important feature on the life of a certain blind person.

So what has our priorities become? ...

Links:
That "critical" piece in NST.

No, it's not even remotely what you, voyeur-types out there might be thinking. No talk of "live" webcam either!

Well, there has been much talk in the local music circles on the dearth of exposure for really great bands who are marginalised from the airwaves since they are deemed not "commercial" enough.

Thanks to fellow "jazzkaki" Mack Zulkifli, there may be a solution for all that great, undiscovered music out there.

I had read Mack's blog "Music AND the band" a day before I posted about the lost of my trusted notepad but it did not hit me until just now:


That's how a Scot is exposing the world to Scottish Tartan Rock.

What a great idea that probably many Malaysian underground, fringe, hardcore, and even marginalized jazz acts can follow through with.

A low budget idea which may even turn out to pay big dividends.

Personally, I strike a common chord with Mark, the Scot when he says here:

"Being a creative person, but not having a job that supports any degree of creativity whatsoever, I noticed that there was this thing called podcasting, and thought maybe this was something I could do..."

Hmm should I also jump on the bandwagon and do some (uh-oh) bootlegged recordings for the sake of promoting Malaysian Jazz Music via internet broadcast? Julian Chan and I had a bit of discussion here.

After considering the possible legal ramifications when it comes to royalties and such, it's probably not a good idea after all unless the music's original.

What do you say?

Hear ye, Hear ye!

Friends at Awakening Productions (organiser of indie underground events) have just opened their own "band rehearsal studio" (that's jamming studio) in Kuala Lumpur.

To usher in the opening, they are having a special introductory rate of RM15 an hour just for the month of June 2005. Thereafter, the studio rate will be RM25 per hour.

The studio is equipped with the following juicy tidbits:

1) Artech 6 channels power mixer
2) A pair of Wharfdale (1 x 15) 200W speakers
3) 3 dynamic mics + mic stand
4) Technics digital piano
5) Maxtone 5 piece drumset with Evans skin
6) Alchemy MSX cymbals & hi-hat
7) Peavey 5150 (2 x 12) combo guitar amp
Marshall AVT100 (1 x 12) combo guitar amp
9) Peavey Bandit (1 x 12) combo guitar amp with extension (2 x 12) cabinet speakers
10) Marshall 100W bass amp (1 x 15)
11) Prince keyboard amp (2 x 10)

Instruments (guitars, bass, keyboards) are not provided in their studio and are on a B.Y.O (Bring-Your-Own) basis.

Check out their website below for pics of the studio and the map of directions.

For more information:
Check out Awakening Production's website
Call 012-3185233