Stopgap

After nine years in Singapore going from one gig to another I am surprised about how little I know about the music scene in Singapore. Blinded by my attention to jazz and close off-springs I had no idea that there were so many bands. 

I was lucky to meet Bas, a fellow countryman, a few months ago. His knowledge of, and involvement in some parts of the local music scene that is unknown to me is so extraordinary, I almost think of following him for a documentary. It was Bas who first made me aware of TinHill Rock fest. 

  

This post however is not about TinHill. While we were out there, there was talk about the bands at Armenian street night fest and that they were going to be really nice as well. Some of you probably cannot believe we ditched Charlie Lim for Armenian street but I have to admit it was partly convenient as well. 

Armenian street is about walking distance from home. We had scheduled for a break after 4 hours of TinHill to have dinner at home and drop off the  bike. The original plan was to then return by public transportation to allow for me to have a couple of beers. Over dinner on the balcony we decided to stay close and opt for that great Malaysian band that was on at 12 at the night fest. Which is not what this post is about either.

 

Before the Malaysian band that may be featured in part two, we saw Stopgap a local band who identify themselves as Indie/Alternative Rock.

For those of you who have read my posts before you know I do not elaborate much about the music quality. Although the sound of music is my primary reason for attending these events, the blog tends to be more in the direction of the live part of the performance. 

This is driven by the visual aspect for the pictures but part of it is what I believe is inherent to human nature. What looks good, sounds better! 

I am not talking about dance groups, light shows and pyrotechnics that distract from the real attraction (that contradiction is deliberate). I am talking about personal things like: looks, character and charisma. Yes looks are superficial but research will confirm over and over again that it makes a difference as, I think, do character and charisma. A man like Mick Jagger has been making his own fireworks for decades and he made all the pyrotechnics simple side effects. 

Yesterday I was reminded of Jagger, in a strange way. I was intrigued by the lead singer of Stopgap as I have been intrigued about Ginny of The Steve McQueens and Riot in Magenta for the past 3 years; a very interesting looking guy with strong features. He reminded me of Jagger, though in my opinion Jagger is not your basic good looking guy, that's why I though the was more like an offspring of Mick and Bryan Ferry. I hope I am not freaking him out. 

It goes without saying that I liked Stopgap. Great originals and that powerful front-man. If I were into band management and promotion I would seriously consider them. That guy must be in his early 20's. Considering Mick, he should have at least another 50 years in him (Knock on wood). Great return on investment I would think.

Elisa Garcia: Fado at Bukit Pasoh

There was initially some confusion. My wife was traveling and we discussed over the phone when Elisa had said she was going to sing at BOCA. One of us thought it was “today”, so off I went on that Tuesday night. As I arrived it was a bit too empty for such an event. I was quickly told that the music would be Wednesdays. Not too big a loss because I now could scope out the place and make a reservation for a suitable table. 

After that I simply drove to Hopscotch “around the corner” where I order Chinese take away and I found good company, like always.

My particular interest in seeing Elisa sing at BOCA was that BOCA is a Portuguese restaurant and Elisa was going to sing Fado. All I knew about Fado at that point in time was from one or two CDs, it may be a double, by Amalia Rodrigues, that I own and used to listen to. Amalia was probably the queen of Fado and it is likely impossible to reach her stature in the genre but I, being more a live person, thought it was much better to go see Elisa and hang out with some random people in the process, than to dust off Amalia at home. Secondly, and with me this is secondary, my apologies to Singaporeans' number one fad, I could explore a, till that point to me completely unfamiliar cuisine: Portuguese. 

  

As noticed the previous evening, the interior of BOCA is charming and tastefully romantic, which will bring us back to Fado.

What ever you read about Fado, it will not be happy, apart maybe from the fact that it brought Amalia from dire straits to fame and probably money (though either is not a guarantee for happiness). Fado is soulful, it is about loss and yearning, the kind of emotional pain we like to hear about, judging by the many music genres reflecting it, though we are very scared of actually experiencing it.

I have heard Elisa sing the more “frivolous” Latin music with “local” bands such as the Havana Social club but not yet this stuff. I was impressed from the first notes. In contrast to the general topic of Fado, her voice as well as delivery was powerful and rich. Amalia had that trait I think. You will not be considered the queen of anything if you do not show that self-confidence. Sadness delivered with a power of “I will survive”, but in a melancholically romantic way!

I understand that Elisa will be a regular on Wednesdays at BOCA, I will go back one evening soon, this time I’ll make it a date. I am pretty sure, afterwards, we will walk arm in arm down Bukit Pasoh rd, rather than me a couple of meters ahead prioritizing finding a taxi. 

Alemay Hazrul and Mathilda: Three is a Choir

 

She was often times our main excuse to walk out of the house for a bite to eat and an alcoholic refreshment at long lost Bar Stop on Devonshire.

We still miss that place in many ways. I remember it best because of all those beautiful people we got to meet. Many of them we still follow around in Singapore! Staff like Carine who moved on to other venues, and musicians like Audrey Tang, Michelle Poh, Melissa Tham and of course the grand dame of them all Alemay Fernandez. 

On a recent friday night it was more or less an impulse desision, but no doubt memories of those days triggered it from our subliminal minds. We knew she was performing at the Sing Jazz Club and just felt like listening to her for a bit. “Bit” is a word that does not match Alemay very much though. 

With a majestic profile,

 

an astronomical memory for lyrics

 

an stage presence of an actrice

and the vocal capacity to blow the roof off the venue

she is easily Singapore's power house of music. 

For that evening she gathered together some other familiar faces to support her. 

Gabriel Pitts on drums

Jordan Wei On Piano

And joining later Anson Fung on guitar

Though both Alemay and I know that she can easily fill an evening on her own, she had arranged for more vocal stimulation by:

Hazrul Nizam

Mathilda D'Silva

A very interesting combination of talent that often times developed onto surprising contrast. Hazrul with what appeared to me tenor tyoe of voice against the raw soul and quirky voice bites of Mathilda 

or the highs of Hazrul against the lows of Alemay.

Recognizable soul and R&B tunes with a single Jazz song to stay true to the venue, Sing Jazz, provided opportunity for sing allongs as well as to sit back and relax. 

I am glad that Sing Jazz recognizes that music does not really need these boxes like Jazz Blues and what not. What's nice is nice! “This is better then” is a matter of personal preference. If I may share mine. I would love to see these two ladies rock!