Itosii / Huang Ee Fei / Uglymen Charity concert
Nov 28, 2005 Events, Gallery, Uglymen
Event: Parit Buntar Charity Concert (i)
Date: 27th November 2005
Hot… Hot… Hot…
Rain… Rain… Rain…
We started our journey to Parit Buntar for the Itosii Charity Concert about 1.30pm from Penang, and reaching there about 3pm. It was very hot and the heat was burning everyone. It was too early as the stage had not been set up, although we were asked to be there by 3pm. So, we walked around under the intence hot sun and finally sat down in a coffee shop for a couple of drinks.
It’s so hot!!
The place is located beside a river, local folks call the place old town. It was about 15 minutes drive from the Bandar Bahru tol. It is situated at the end of a road, the road had been closed to allowed the organisers to put chairs, audio systems, cars, equipments in front of the stage. Beside of the road are two row of shop houses, some pre-war building, very deja wu feeling been there.
River view from the back of the stage
The stage is big enough for a mini orchestra or emsemble, or a dance group, and infront of the stage some seats were already being arranged.
So, since we were too early being there, we had some drinks, i drank 2 cups of carrot juice, and right after next, we went to a coffee shop just 3 shops next to the previous one….. to drink again!! It was our manager ~ Kenny’s idea as he went there to eat some roti canai. Guess what, the roti canai seller recognised Kenny from the famous KRM group back in late 70s!! We sat there for about 30 minutes and started to walk again without any purpose… and then we stopped by the large poster of the event, hanging in front of a shop at the corner of the road leading to the stage
Still very very hot at 4.15pm
Nothing better to do, we went to a shop nearby and bought some toys and stuff and went to the car and …sleep
We were finally able to do our brief sound check about 7.30pm, funny thing was, before our sound check done, the emcee already started to give the openning speech, i guess it was because there were already huge crowd. The sound check was late, very late in fact. But every one has no problem with it and we went down the stage to go to a near by place for bath and changing.
Check check check…
The organisers were serious in organising this eventual successful event, as they were 4 video cameras (captured and will be comercially available in DVD format next year), with camera railing for multiple angles and flowing shootings. And the backdrop of the stage was a giant projector screen to show life camera angles when the concert would be going on later, very nice indeed.
Video camera on rail
Guess what, one of the camera was set up on the roof top of a three-storey building to captured bird’s eye view (looks like a dog on top of the roof though)
We arrived at the venue again at 8.45pm and the performance still had not started, VIP giving speech, souvenir presentation…. and
raindrops keep falling on my head… it had started to rain! The entire venue, crowd area and stage were not covered.
The emcee for the night was Fat Cat (肥猫) very funny and very well-verse in hadnling the stage and crowd.
The first performers on stage was 24 Chinese Drums performance (二十四节令鼓), very powerful, nice footsteps, some amazing hoping and dancing from the young lads
Wonderful energetic drumming
Next in line was the main attraction of the night ~ Itosii kids band. They started of strongly, just like the rain, came pouring down heavily!
Some technical problems for the bassist and keyboardist in the first song but hooi and i were quick to sort out for them as we were sitting on the stage behind the drum. I asked hooi “since when we became sound crew? kekeke”
Itosii kicked off with Wong Fei Hong theme song (男儿当自强) but on the giant screen was a huge photo of Itosii kids stating (小小当自强) 
cool!
Then, they proceed to sing Itosii (band theme song), (Rasa Sayang), and (流水年华) a favourite with the elder crowd.
Itosii were also presented with the certificate of Malaysia Books of Records “Youngest Band” by an officer from Guinness Books of Records.
Rain became heavier with strong wind, but the show went on
Itosii in pouring rain
By the time Itosii ended their first session, the rain was really affecting the show, insturments were all wet, and to a great dismay to everyone, one the keyboards used by Theresa (Itosii keyboardist) was electro-shocked by the rain water. Itosii were supposed to sing another five songs (想念你), (爱情泡沫茶), (最后班机), (Kau Boleh), (another one forgotten song name). We felt very badly as Itosii had been practising hard for this show day in day out, and had even came to Alor Setar all the way from Nibong Tebal for a 2-hour training. They were looking forward to this grand event.
Sadly, the rain did not stop…
Huang Ee Fei & Miao Miaos were next, i did not have the chance to take photos as Uglymen were standing-by at back stage. He sang really well and there is no doubt he is Malaysia’s king of hokkien pop, especially when he sings “Na Si Gua Wu Jit Pa Ban”… great dance and singing from them
Huang Ee Fei shortened his performance from 6 songs to 4 as the rain continued.
Uglymen went on stage straight after Ee Fei went off, the rain was falling heavily on my guitar, until part of my Uglymen sticker on my guitar also went off!. We were all wet but very fired up for the show. Mr Law (Itosii band manager) had earlier asked us whether we want to proceed with our performance as the rain did not seem stopping at all. We went for it, it’s for the Fire Brigade, for charity, and for all the crowd.
Initial plan of the night was (Robots R Us) (Kuai Ma Siong Seng) (DoMiDo) (Missing You) and (The Last Flight), but since Itosii would no longer perform, we omitted The Last Flight. The sound was really good on and off stage, the crew did a tremendous job. We did not drag the show for too long as the crowd (wihtout umbrella or shelter ones) were getting wetter. Crowd respond was really good though, as they sang along Do…… Mi Do with us loudly. Big applause to the appreciative crowd, they braved the rain to be there for the whole show.
And for the finale, Itosii kids joined Uglymen (hm… Kj, where were you?) hand in hand, singing “Take My Hand” till the end of the show to a satisfied and supportive crowd of Parit Buntar.
Can’t wait to get a copy of the DVD
well, its 5am and I havent bath since the show about 6 hours ago, arrived in Penang midnight and straight away went out to watch West Ham vs Man Utd.. what a tiring but meaningful day to end with ~ MU WON!
Fat Cat and me at the back stage after the show, he bought “Ugly” album, thanks!
bye for now, good morning every one!
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Event: Parit Buntar Charity Concert (ii)
Date: 27th November 2005
Photos: Courtesy of Lynette Ong
Itosii nice group posing before show
Uglymen singing Take My Hand with itosii
with left Junnee, and right Lynette, and Fei Mao
Featured Students Nov 2005: Cheng Heng Lih
Nov 12, 2005 Featured Students
One of the best guitar students I ever taught, and certainly one of the most industrious guitarist I ever come accross. Curently in USM, just came back for a month’s lesson and will be back in May 2006 for another stint here.
Heng Lih was into pop guitar back in 2003 before I brought Mr Big, Extreme, RHCP, Steve Vai etc into his music dictionary. He is also one of the Keat Hwa crazy gang (San Sit, Cheng Kok, Zie Loon…) Thanks for coming to the Uglymen Unplugged Show!! All the best to you in your studies.