Live4MusiC

The five-man rock band from San Diego, California, had flown in earlier that day from Perth, Australia, and would be heading off the next morning.

And yet the band delivered an explosive performance which kept the crowd on its feet. The show opened with the rock anthem The Sound from their latest album Hello Hurricane, and the audience knew the lyrics to every song in the set.

Switchfoot delivered a variety of songs, ranging from their popular classics (Only Hope, Meant to Live, 24) to recent hits from their last two releases Oh Gravity! and Hello Hurricane.

There wasn't a hint of tiredness in Foreman's voice, or any sign of road-weariness. "People are singing our songs halfway around the world - that gives me energy," said Foreman during a press conference before the show.

In fact, he thrived on interacting with the fans - he borrowed a fan's hat to wear for one song, then waved a placard another fan brought that read "We are one tonight" (a song from their 2005 release Nothing is Sound).

He even hopped into the crowd twice, setting off a flurry of camera phones, and ensuring that even those who didn't have front row seats had a chance to hi-five the charismatic rocker.

My only grouse was that the band didn't showcase any tunes from their upcoming album Vice Verses - something which they had done in other concerts on the same tour.

But the omission didn't seem to bother the Singaporean fans.

They had waited three years for the band to return, and the 90-minute set was the ultimate singalong they'd been waiting for.

It was three years worth the wait.

The last time Switchfoot performed in Singapore was in 2008 at the Max Pavillion. It was a good gig, but that large venue lacked the cosy atmosphere and personal touch the band usually put in their performances.

This time, the sold-out gig was held at the Rock Auditorium in Suntec City.

Before the show, Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman told reporters at a press conference that the band hadn't had much sleep.

- AsiaOne 

The Big 4, together on one single stage. This is the 2nd consecutive year this has happened and it's the very first time the 4 legendary bands performed as one in the U.S. Not just anywhere in the U.S. but in Southern California where 3 of the 4 bands originated from. Apt indeed!

Travelling to a land 9,000 miles away in the heart of the desert certainly makes the trip pretty challenging (especially financially). But who's complaining? =) 

It turns out, as expected, to be THE best gig experience ever! Never have I imagined to be able to see the 4 legendary bands together right in front of my eyes.  Slayer and Megadeth I've seen in Singapore but not Anthrax and definitely not the almighty Metallica! 

THERE'S nothing like letting your hair down and getting a little dirty at a rockin' concert.

And fans of The Script learnt that lesson at a rather-muddy Fort Canning Park during the Irish pop-rock band's gig on Tuesday night.

For this reporter, the muddy grounds caused by rain throughout the day - the rain stopped only shortly after the trio kicked off at 8.40pm - meant binning a pair of canvas flats at the end of it all.

Still, the atmosphere (reminiscent, in parts, of the recent "Rainway" festival) was electric.

Especially as the band themselves seemed intent on "getting the party started", as livewire frontman Danny O'Donoghue, 30, stated eloquently.

The Dublin trio - comprising O'Donoghue, drummer Glen Power and guitarist Mark Sheehan - oozed charisma during their 85-minute set, which consisted of a good mix of songs from their 2008 eponymous debut and last year's Science And Faith.

And, for a bunch of "normal Irish boys", as Power described them in an interview with my paper, they sure did have a lot of spirit.

O'Donoghue, in particular, put on a show. He bounced all over the stage throughout, spitting out raps to songs like We Cry, which put them on the map in 2007.

Of course, it was hits, such as The Man Who Can't Be Moved and Breakeven (Falling To Pieces), that garnered the loudest response.

But louder still were the screams emitted when O'Donoghue proclaimed his single status - "Just putting that out there," he said cheekily - to the ladies in attendance.

Indeed, The Script were an act worth getting down and dirty for.

- VICTORIA BARKER

By Han Wei Chou

 

SINGAPORE: All eyes were on Singapore singer Tanya Chua when she appeared in front of a packed Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday for the Singapore leg of her Tanya and the Cities concert tour.

Chua cut a striking figure on stage as she kicked off the concert, her very first large-scale performance in Singapore, with the crowd pleasing number "Breathe".

But something was wrong. 

The singer on stage looked like Chua and moved like Chua but she simply didn't sound like her. 

Chua sounded hoarse and her pitch was a little off during certain moments when she performed her hits "Bottomless Pit" and "I Do Believe".

It's unclear if the cause was a faulty microphone, a case of nerves or a dry throat, but Chua was clearly not herself. 

However, Chua soldiered on and rallied after a short break and some water.

Turning point

Chua stormed back with "Key to Happiness", an original song from her planned English album.

This was the turning point of the show. This was what her fans have come to see.

It may have been the first time the song had been performed live, but what really left the crowd entranced was the way Chua delivered the Jazzy number. 

Some members of the audience swooned as she brought them through the feel-good song, completely at home on the stage.

This marked the end of the song but also signalled the beginning of a much better performance by Chua.

The 36-year-old singer then wowed the crowd with an Indian Classical music inspired rendition of Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Lady Gaga's energetic "Poker Face" and then got them singing along to her favourite song "Darwin".

Welcome Home

Still, it was her highly anticipated duet with Kit Chan of Dick Lee's "Home" that brought the audience members to their feet. 

It was a sight to behold - two of Singapore's greatest singers sharing the stage to present an iconic Singapore song, a fitting song to welcome Taiwan-based Chua home.

Chua followed it up with a special dance segment that saw her flit effortlessly around her dance partner to the music of "If You See Him", before concluding her concert with a series of hit songs like "Amphibian", "Remember", "Projectile" and "Beautiful Love".

"I didn't dare dream I'd be standing here today. There was also a lot of pressure because it's been so long and I miss you all, but I was worried you'd forget me!" said Chua in between songs.

The audience's appreciative applause told her she needn't have worried. 

No goodbyes

When she finished singing the moving "Beautiful Love", the crowd was chanting her name and asking her to return for an encore.

Chua, resplendent in an elegant blue gown, was smiling from ear to ear as she stepped onto the stage once more.

She launched into "The Roads Travelled" before gearing up for her final number "Till Next We Meet", a song from her upcoming Mandarin album, a treat for the crowd of diehard fans who refused to leave until they were certain Chua was done.

"I don't want to say 'goodbye', I only want to say 'till next we meet'!" said a misty-eyed Chua as she geared up for her last song of the evening.

By the time the song ended, the applause was deafening, as though the audience was intent on forcibly drowning out the closing music.

"Because of you all, I'll never give up making good music!" declared Chua after the song, waving to the energised audience amid thunderous applause. 

-CNA/ha 

Starry Nite XIII once again shined for SMU. This time with a little bit of British twist to it! Fans of Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Rollings Stones, Muse etc were in for a treat! 







The night started off with bands like Chordless, The Slackers and Sixth Avenue playing high energy songs like Muse's Hysteria while the crowd was still warming up with the booze. 

SINGAPORE - Singing the songs and pulling the moves as US-based electro-hop group Far East Movement could, no one could tell just by watching these guys on stage they each hid one big secret - jetlag, sick and sleep-deprivation.

Sporting a cough during an interview just two hours before the show, the band's lead singer Kev-Nish (whose real name is Kevin Nishimura), said: "My voice gets sore halfway through the day, through interviews or airplane rides because it's really dry, similarly on-stage it comes right back."

Another band-member Prohgress, was down with food poisoning, but reassured that it was the first day he was feeling better... just in time for the jamming to start at Sentosa's Wave House.

Back for their second time, with their first at The Butter Factory, the "Free Wired" boys gave their best to the Singapore crowd at their Thursday concert, rocking Sentosa's beaches with hits like "Like a G6" and "Rocketeer".

Unfortunately, they were extremely late as well.

For a show that opens at 7pm, the fans here had to wait for a precise two hours and 20 minutes before Far East Movement came on-stage.

While enjoyable, the experience was woefully short and even the encore did not seem to appease the fans who rushed the barricades.

Very obligingly, J-Splif shook the outstretched hands of screaming teens.

Off-stage, the electro-hop group also made both local and foreign media tap their feet, not to their music unfortunately, as they straggled in for their interview session.

They were however, oh-so- sorry about their tardiness, which some may find it forgivable given Far East Movement's jam-packed schedules of 5 countries in 5 days, as well as a barely-restful run with Rihanna in Australia.

Despite such busy schedules, it is surprising that the 20-something young men still manage to look good.

Sporting simple work shirts coupled with skinny ties (and an ominous-looking coat for Kev-Nish), these dudes have not just snagged the hearts of female fans because of their songs but for their quirky street-wear fashion sense as well.

According to Kev-Nish, the honour of fashionista of the group is bestowed upon band member J-Splif (or Jae Choung).

"He's just the most fashionable, he's always on the blogs, always online, he knows where to get the best shoes," said the 27-year-old Japanese-Chinese singer.

Yes, in addition to their immaculate fashion sense, these guys are really into Web 2.0 and credit their success to the mainstream community to the World Wide Web.

"We always like to say as a joke that we created spam. When we first signed in to our Myspaces, we were the ones bulletin and blasting and private-messaging every person we could just to get our music out there" said the Kev-Nish.

Since the early years of 2003, the group has been relying on the web for publicity and communication with their fans. It has definitely paid off as Kev-Nish explained.

"The biggest example of how the internet affected us was the song 'Like a G6'. We put it online and we threw it out on CDs during our shows, never thinking that it would be an official single and literally in like two months, [it] hit a million views - for us that is unheard of."

As if to thank the crowd for turning up at their event, the Asian-American lads popped bottles of champagne and sprayed the contents all over their fans, much to the glee of everyone in front of the stage.

Then the signature monkey head mascot donned on by DJ Virman joined the rest of the group, prancing round the stage.

Staying true to their “Free Wired” lifestyle of endless partying, the group urged fans to continue the party… then left for the night at 11pm.

- CNA/sf

SINGAPORE: Playing in Singapore for a second time in just over seven months, one might be tempted to think that Saul Hudson, or Slash as he's better known by, holds a soft spot for this little country.

No one though, could anticipate the living legend would break away from the norm and confess his love, saying, "You guys are ****ing awesome. What's playing here three or four times a year?"

With that, Slash and co. etched their way into the hearts of the 2,500 present last Saturday, on Day 2 of the Big Night Out festival at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. It was a mighty strong performance that will surely live in the memories of many in the crowd till Slash returns.

The band, featuring Myles Kennedy (lead vocals), Bobby Schneck (rhythm guitar), Todd Kerns (bass), and Brent Fitz (drums), provided the perfect compliment to the star of the night as they delivered 21 songs of pure entertainment.

Slash kick-started the night with "Ghost", a track from his latest eponymous album.

He then worked the crowd gingerly, starting conservatively before unleashing his finger party on them.

Breaking out in spontaneous solos and showing what 45-year-old fingers can still do to worn and battered fretboards, Slash pulled out all the stops by running, hopping and spinning around all over the stage, even going on his knees at one point in true showmanship fashion.

He was captivating, to say the least, but did not overshadow his other famous colleague, the Alter Bridge front man Kennedy, who broke into his own with a soulful and heart wrenching take on "Starlight".

By the time they reached the world famous Guns N' Roses classic "Sweet Child o' Mine", the crowd had been whipped into a frenzy and once the signature riff echoed through the arena, a riot erupted.

Slash impersonators, fans and practically anyone who happened to be there, simply could not resist the lure of the beat and were found whooping and throwing their hands up in surrender to the guitar god on stage.

This lasted all the way till the band closed their set proper with "Slither", a heart thumping rock anthem that earned Slash a Grammy award back in 2005 with Velvet Revolver.

And the crowd cried for more.

Yet one could not ask for a more perfect finish to the gig when Kennedy declared before their last encore song, "This next song is about as fitting for a city like this, as a song can be."

No prizes if you named "Paradise City" as the finale. 

-CNA/jl

WHEN he held his press conference last month, JJ Lin promised that he was going to give the best performance he could for his concert in Singapore even though it was going to be on home turf and it wouldn't be as nerve-wracking. 

On paper, the I AM tour production seemed flawless. With people onboard like renowned music producer Billy Koh acting as creative director, famed Korean dance choreographer Jang Woo Hyuk, popular music video director Bounce, and reputable costumer designer Thomas Chan, you'd be forgiven for setting high expectations. 

The video projections, the almost-requisite pyro, the elaborate costumes - including an armour-like suit, a Tron-esque light suit, and one that looked like a blood-splattered white trench coat matched to a lampshade-like helmet - and the funky dancers were all meant to wow. They worked for the most part as we were impressed by the largesse of it all.

But at moments, it seemed like the show threatened to run away from its star. Maybe it was just me, but JJ seemed a little detached as he ran through a gamut of songs like Killer, Number 89757, Laughing Eyes and X. I've always liked the fact that JJ can always engage the crowd with his down-to-earth banter despite declaring himself to be terribly shy. But somehow, that was lacking a little during the first third of the show. Perhaps it was the drama of the performance. Maybe it was nerves.

At any rate, it wasn't until he did a solo spot, accompanying himself on piano and performed a medley of songs including Killing Me Softly With His Song, She Says and Home (Kit Chan, who was in the audience, gave him a standing ovation for that), that he appeared to relax and take the show by the horns. He also showed that the most important thing about the show was the music.

True, there were moments where the set changes were a tad too long and there was nothing happening onstage - a stark contrast to the constant multimedia overload during the first half of the show - which made it a little discomfiting. But like his song, Push On, JJ didn't let that dampen the mood. He was obviously enjoying himself, as he sang his hits like Bean Curd And Dough Sticks, These 100 Days and the song he wrote specially for this concert tour, I Am.

For his fans, seeing JJ was enough for them. Apart from singing along each time he asked them to, they also cheered on his special guests, One Million Star discovery Jam Hsiao and newcomer Zhang Jing By the time he ended the show, they were over the moon. And really, as any musician knows, performing for true blue fans is all that matters.

- Christopher Toh 

City Alive! 2011 like its previous years was a huge success, drawing a crowd of over 6000 people to the pit building, all ready to party to the wee hours of the morning. 
 
A prelude to the actual party day, there was the Tri-crew (Singapore Finals) and DJ Protege . Response was amazing, great effort from the organisers at PAYM in putting all these together.

Tri-crew Singapore Finals

 9 very talented trios compete on stage to be selected as our Singapore Tri-crew Team to compete against the other teams from China, Philippines, Hong Kong and Japan, 'Styles from Beyond' emerged as the champions and yes they will be representing Singapore in the Tri-crew - Best of Asia which was held on the event day of City Alive!2011.




 
The Judges

 
A great turn-up despite the wet weather!

And the Winning Performances!

The Champions: Styles From Beyond


1st Runner-up: Hustle Boogie


2nd Runner-up: 3GS




DJ Protege

 The winner of DJ Protege got a chance to perform in front of a 6,000 strong crowd on the actual City Alive! 2011 event day. The DJ Protege finals was held in Studio Wu. The 3 contestants took their turns to display their skills in front of renowned judges, DJ Andrew Chow and DJ Sarasa aka 'Silver Boom Box'. 

And the winner for this year is duo, Chris and Cedric, both 18 years of age. Full of life, this duo did an awesome performance and the house enjoyed it just as much as they enjoyed playing.

We also had the tri-crew teams from Hong Kong, Japan, China and Philippines to join us for this event. They were all very nice and warm, patiently giving some pointers to the dance enthusiasts from Studio Wu. We sure love them around.

Enjoy the spins of the night!
 
Champions: 
 

1st Runner-up:
 
 
2nd Runner-up:



And the Party Begins!!!  City Alive! 2011






 Tri-crew - Best of Asia competition: what a stunning performance from all the nations! 

China Team:



Hong Kong Team:
 

Philippines Team:
 

Singapore Team:
 

Japan Team:


The results:
Winner: Phillipines Team
1st Runner-up: Hong Kong Team
2nd Runner-up: Singapore Team 

Chris and Cedric having a spinning great time on the grand stage! 
 

And the crowd goes euphoric for the rest of the night with DJ Tashi, DJ Sarasa aka Silver Boombox and DJ Andrew Chow taking turns on the table accompanied with performances by Rapper Dandee and the gorgeous Cyber Japan Girls.


(Photo courtesy of PAYM)


Cyber Japan Girls
(Photo courtesy of PAYM)


 (Photo courtesy of PAYM)

Special Thanks to the organisers, PAYM for inviting Live4MusiC to City Alive! 2011 and Red Dawn Communication for their wonderful support.

Something I'm sure many metal fans in Singapore could never have imagined. The Gods of metal, Iron Maiden, setting foot on Singapore with their very own Ed Force One.



Definitely the biggest metal concert in Singapore to date with the 12,000 strong crowd! With a setlist identical to the one in Moscow, the band played a fair amount of songs from their latest release, The Final Frontier. Bruce mentioned before that the songs on this album sounds so much better live, and hell was he right.