Monday, March 9, 2009
FREEDOM!!!!
MOM'S BACK IN SG!!!! Yes I know I'm being a tard by typing this but yeah. Just ''sharing'' my feelings with the fam. Things getting boring already, weather's still ablazing and Alden is still a-shivering...Dunno why though...ah well...Happy days, stressful weeks*not to me=)*and a silent house for a week....I BET, I JUST BET...my mum will nag at us for not keeping the house in 'Tip-Top Condition.' Oh and Cor-Yang...I like Billy Talent...wish I was there. Oh and Cor-Nik...Can I borrow ur Downhere and Compassionart? Please?
Soundwave + The Cat Empire
Okay, so this happened a couple of weeks back, but I never got around to posting it. I'm at uni now, and have about 10 minutes to spare (first day baaacckkk!!!), so I'll deal now.
SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL
Awesomeness in a box, was held out at eastern creek raceway on Sunday the 28th...? or 29th..?.. anyway, it was 2 Sundays ago. Awesome lineup! Rocked hard, got knocked around. About 5 and a half hours of actual moshing and ear destruction. But it was awesome fun, with lots of great bands. Did some damage to my ears, which were ringing for 4 days. I'll make sure I use earplugs at least some of the time next time. 6 stages of rock awesome, great bands. Couldnt get everywhere I wanted, but I saw most of what I wanted to see. All of the bands, may I say, had mad chops.
So a blow by blow account;
Arrival ~11am
Got out to Eastern Creek at 11am. Was in the line for a whole hour. Think 20 000 people going through an entrance the length of 2 cars. Not pretty, and the whole affair smelt of wet dog. Picture really says it all.
Silverstein ~12:15pm
The first act was a Canadian band called Silverstein. They were really good. Like REALLY good. Also told off security for being a bunch of jerks. +1 for Silverstein. Awesome sound. Great mosh to start the day.
Evergreen Terrace ~1pm
Mad awesome straight-edge metal fun. Circle pit? Yes. Smash pit? Yes. Awesome? Yes. You just jump and headbang and run around in circles and.....ah it was just awesome.
Anberlin ~3pm
Best act of the day. And thats not just cause I was a die hard fan. They performed a bunch of jumpy quick songs, and executed them very well. Woohoooot. Really great crowd too, and...well, just an epic performance.
Finch ~4:30pm
The sloppiest of the bands I saw, but still awesome. Crowd went OFF. Having about 500 people around you screaming out he words with you feels awesome. The band only recently came out of hiatus, so it was a treat to see a band I thought had gone for good.
Funeral For a Friend ~5:30pm
Their last two albums SUCKED. But they decided to completely skip the bad songs and do their old awesome stuff, and the handful of good songs off their latest album. The lead singer singing "I just called to say I love you," was also hilarious.
Lacuna Coil ~6:15pm
Like their virtues or not, Lacuna coil ripped out a really good set. I watched this from a distance (not in the mosh like I was with the rest), and just listened. It was GOOD. At about this point night was beginning to come down. Also saw quite a few stoned people. Funny, but dont do drugs.
So about here the day sort of ended, for about 4-5 more hours we watched some acts on the main stage from a distance, which included Billy Talent, Alice in Chains and NIN. I wasnt really a fan of these bands, but heck, I paid to come. And they were pretty tight.
Few more photos...
Got home at maybe 1am that night. Incredible. My ears rang and rang and rang for like 4 days, until Thursday night.. (and now I segway into..)
THE CAT EMPIRE
At Wollongong uni hall. AWESOME... So lets go over this one, their support band was a band from Europe called "Paprika Balkanicus." They were great, just plain fun. well coordinated and hilarious. Great music they played too. They were a treat. But the real stars of course, were the Empire.
I've never seen percussion done so well. I've never seen... well anything like it, except the last time. It was a great great night. Fun and musically incredible. I cant say much more there.
A highlight was running into the band's keyboardist on the way home. We stopped at a servo and saw him! YEEHAW!
Coldplay coming up in a couple weeks time as well. I am psyched! Should be really good.
Thats all from me.
SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL
Awesomeness in a box, was held out at eastern creek raceway on Sunday the 28th...? or 29th..?.. anyway, it was 2 Sundays ago. Awesome lineup! Rocked hard, got knocked around. About 5 and a half hours of actual moshing and ear destruction. But it was awesome fun, with lots of great bands. Did some damage to my ears, which were ringing for 4 days. I'll make sure I use earplugs at least some of the time next time. 6 stages of rock awesome, great bands. Couldnt get everywhere I wanted, but I saw most of what I wanted to see. All of the bands, may I say, had mad chops.
So a blow by blow account;
Arrival ~11am
Got out to Eastern Creek at 11am. Was in the line for a whole hour. Think 20 000 people going through an entrance the length of 2 cars. Not pretty, and the whole affair smelt of wet dog. Picture really says it all.
Silverstein ~12:15pm
The first act was a Canadian band called Silverstein. They were really good. Like REALLY good. Also told off security for being a bunch of jerks. +1 for Silverstein. Awesome sound. Great mosh to start the day.
Evergreen Terrace ~1pm
Mad awesome straight-edge metal fun. Circle pit? Yes. Smash pit? Yes. Awesome? Yes. You just jump and headbang and run around in circles and.....ah it was just awesome.
Anberlin ~3pm
Best act of the day. And thats not just cause I was a die hard fan. They performed a bunch of jumpy quick songs, and executed them very well. Woohoooot. Really great crowd too, and...well, just an epic performance.
Finch ~4:30pm
The sloppiest of the bands I saw, but still awesome. Crowd went OFF. Having about 500 people around you screaming out he words with you feels awesome. The band only recently came out of hiatus, so it was a treat to see a band I thought had gone for good.
Funeral For a Friend ~5:30pm
Their last two albums SUCKED. But they decided to completely skip the bad songs and do their old awesome stuff, and the handful of good songs off their latest album. The lead singer singing "I just called to say I love you," was also hilarious.
Lacuna Coil ~6:15pm
Like their virtues or not, Lacuna coil ripped out a really good set. I watched this from a distance (not in the mosh like I was with the rest), and just listened. It was GOOD. At about this point night was beginning to come down. Also saw quite a few stoned people. Funny, but dont do drugs.
So about here the day sort of ended, for about 4-5 more hours we watched some acts on the main stage from a distance, which included Billy Talent, Alice in Chains and NIN. I wasnt really a fan of these bands, but heck, I paid to come. And they were pretty tight.
Few more photos...
Got home at maybe 1am that night. Incredible. My ears rang and rang and rang for like 4 days, until Thursday night.. (and now I segway into..)
THE CAT EMPIRE
At Wollongong uni hall. AWESOME... So lets go over this one, their support band was a band from Europe called "Paprika Balkanicus." They were great, just plain fun. well coordinated and hilarious. Great music they played too. They were a treat. But the real stars of course, were the Empire.
I've never seen percussion done so well. I've never seen... well anything like it, except the last time. It was a great great night. Fun and musically incredible. I cant say much more there.
A highlight was running into the band's keyboardist on the way home. We stopped at a servo and saw him! YEEHAW!
Coldplay coming up in a couple weeks time as well. I am psyched! Should be really good.
Thats all from me.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Cardiff + Liverpool
Cardiff, Wales
Interesting welsh language. Cardiff = Caerdydd. The sign below depicts the welsh translation for english. Nice quiet little city, with a beautiful bay! Its great for relaxing and everyone is helpful and friendly! Paid 8 pounds for a return trip from london, spent 6 hours there and explored Cardiff Castle (first established by the Romans) and Cardiff Bay (its a quaint little port town).
Fish and Chips with unlimited Chips. Though i was so full i didn't really want anymore chips. The chips were better than the ones i've had so far in london, but nothing beats the aussie version. nothing.
Liverpool - where the beatles came from, saw the rest of the world, and conquered.
Home to the world famous Albert Dock (pictures below), and its a nice city. Strange Scouser accent, which made me ask the waitress to repeat and repeat what she just said. Other than that, apart from a horrible bangers and mash, the city is rather beautiful. Heavily devoted to the beatles and Liverpool FC, it has many sights! just not enough time to finish them all!
Walked for 1/2 an hour holding my pee, because it was about 3km till we find the nearest toilet, in the city centre. Plus it was at most 2 degrees, so was dying really bad. When it was getting really bad, this really really hideous-looking lady (think Roald Dahl's 'Witches') grabs my arm and asks me to go into a shop. Promtly shouted 'no' and dashed off. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise! It gave me a much needed time extension to hold my pee and reach the toilet of hope.
My back was so sore from 6 hours back and forth on the bus. Especially the ride back, where there was someone sitting behind me with a serious snoring problem. From little grunts, to purring with his lips and full-blown thunderous snoring sounds. kept me awake much of the journey.
haha anyway, looks like everyone is having fun. Josh, your homework is legible, or illegible, but never eligible. haha. tickets to new york look cheap..............
Yang
Interesting welsh language. Cardiff = Caerdydd. The sign below depicts the welsh translation for english. Nice quiet little city, with a beautiful bay! Its great for relaxing and everyone is helpful and friendly! Paid 8 pounds for a return trip from london, spent 6 hours there and explored Cardiff Castle (first established by the Romans) and Cardiff Bay (its a quaint little port town).
Fish and Chips with unlimited Chips. Though i was so full i didn't really want anymore chips. The chips were better than the ones i've had so far in london, but nothing beats the aussie version. nothing.
Liverpool - where the beatles came from, saw the rest of the world, and conquered.
Home to the world famous Albert Dock (pictures below), and its a nice city. Strange Scouser accent, which made me ask the waitress to repeat and repeat what she just said. Other than that, apart from a horrible bangers and mash, the city is rather beautiful. Heavily devoted to the beatles and Liverpool FC, it has many sights! just not enough time to finish them all!
Walked for 1/2 an hour holding my pee, because it was about 3km till we find the nearest toilet, in the city centre. Plus it was at most 2 degrees, so was dying really bad. When it was getting really bad, this really really hideous-looking lady (think Roald Dahl's 'Witches') grabs my arm and asks me to go into a shop. Promtly shouted 'no' and dashed off. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise! It gave me a much needed time extension to hold my pee and reach the toilet of hope.
My back was so sore from 6 hours back and forth on the bus. Especially the ride back, where there was someone sitting behind me with a serious snoring problem. From little grunts, to purring with his lips and full-blown thunderous snoring sounds. kept me awake much of the journey.
haha anyway, looks like everyone is having fun. Josh, your homework is legible, or illegible, but never eligible. haha. tickets to new york look cheap..............
Yang
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
the big 4
So if you're in England, why not be a football pilgrim. So 4 big clubs to visit, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool (in chronological order)
Stamford Bridge Training Open House
Arsenal Stadium
Old Trafford Stadium Tour (3 hour drive from leicester)
finally, Anfield. 6 hour bus ride. ouch ouch ouch. this was yesterday.
Will post the landscape pics in due course! Cardiff, liverpool, leicester and more!
Yang
Stamford Bridge Training Open House
Arsenal Stadium
Old Trafford Stadium Tour (3 hour drive from leicester)
finally, Anfield. 6 hour bus ride. ouch ouch ouch. this was yesterday.
Will post the landscape pics in due course! Cardiff, liverpool, leicester and more!
Yang
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Blue Tongue Skink VS My Dad and I
I'm glad this sorta happened, on Saturday afternoon (which turned out pretty boring) my dad told me to go sweep the leaves off the front porch of the house. As I walked out looked down and there it was, a 1 and half foot blue tongue skink, pretty much that was the length of the doormat and it well was bigger than that just by a tad.
Theres no pictures to upload yet cause my phone won't connect to the computer but I'll upload them ASAP.
So this is how it worked, I got a box and dad got the broom. Somewhat the silly lizard cornered itself and we caught it and put it inside the box where it hissed away at us. Called RSPCA, told us it was harmless and we had to release it.
Now heres the fun bit:
When mum came back (cause we had told her earlier about the lizard) she was a little bit more cautious than usual. So when my dad walked out into the garden and made a joke about us releasing the lizard in the garden, my mum's face was worth a billion bucks, literally.
Ask Asher he knows.
Alden was here.
Theres no pictures to upload yet cause my phone won't connect to the computer but I'll upload them ASAP.
So this is how it worked, I got a box and dad got the broom. Somewhat the silly lizard cornered itself and we caught it and put it inside the box where it hissed away at us. Called RSPCA, told us it was harmless and we had to release it.
Now heres the fun bit:
When mum came back (cause we had told her earlier about the lizard) she was a little bit more cautious than usual. So when my dad walked out into the garden and made a joke about us releasing the lizard in the garden, my mum's face was worth a billion bucks, literally.
Ask Asher he knows.
Alden was here.
jazzzzzzz
I had dinner with mum and dad at that expensive italian restaurant (compared to our usual fare) - and they had a mahjong paper covering the tablecloth, and i couldn't resist...
I really miss when i had the time to just draw and draw - wish i took art in school! thank God that i had the chance to do it in england.. would like to pick it up again! Anyway, the dinner was the night after the jazz band performance!
It was really quite the ride - totally burned my recess week, so i only did about 30% of what i could have done... but oh well, it wasn't a total waste! it was a good experience just sitting in rehearsals, and watching the other drummers play has inspired me to practice harder.
i figured that if i can't handle this now, what makes me think i can handle things like this in the future? God has been good though, the mid-terms were spread out enough - even today, my lecturer fell sick, so i had time before the mid-term exam! (of course, it's not good that she fell sick..)
still got 2 presentations this week though, and quite a bit of catching up to do.
anyway i leave with more pics:
(rehearsals with the smoke machine - am i in heaven?)
(ready for battle)
(the weapons of war)
(the 5 warriors)
(plus a photo with the great warrior champion, whose limb independence and proficiency surpasses and astounds all)
(and yes, what is a night without a photo with a famous person?)
So am i staying in jazz band? i guess for now so. it's gonna be a challenge to balance everything out, but i'm gonna give it a go :)
and to end off, le masterpiece - and some memories :)
I really miss when i had the time to just draw and draw - wish i took art in school! thank God that i had the chance to do it in england.. would like to pick it up again! Anyway, the dinner was the night after the jazz band performance!It was really quite the ride - totally burned my recess week, so i only did about 30% of what i could have done... but oh well, it wasn't a total waste! it was a good experience just sitting in rehearsals, and watching the other drummers play has inspired me to practice harder.
i figured that if i can't handle this now, what makes me think i can handle things like this in the future? God has been good though, the mid-terms were spread out enough - even today, my lecturer fell sick, so i had time before the mid-term exam! (of course, it's not good that she fell sick..)
still got 2 presentations this week though, and quite a bit of catching up to do.
anyway i leave with more pics:
(rehearsals with the smoke machine - am i in heaven?)
(ready for battle)
(the weapons of war)
(the 5 warriors)
(plus a photo with the great warrior champion, whose limb independence and proficiency surpasses and astounds all)
(and yes, what is a night without a photo with a famous person?)So am i staying in jazz band? i guess for now so. it's gonna be a challenge to balance everything out, but i'm gonna give it a go :)
and to end off, le masterpiece - and some memories :)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Rain, Sentry Duty and Jazz Homework.
Recently started to take Jazz lessons on inspiration from Nick. Its been a while since I've actually had formal music lessons. So I put out a post on Soft, looking for a teacher. Got this portfolio of a dude that studied at Berkley, in Singapore. I thought hey, I'll just try the guy out.
Turns out, he's a good chap, goes by Shaari, charges well.
Not the point.
On my first day of lessons, I got like.. a ton of homework, a ton of revision, and new-old concepts.. Maybe might apply for NUS Jazz, seeing that Nick's out and running everywhere (: plus I need people to blend in and grow with.. Might be a good idea.. If not, soft!
I wish I had photos of my homework, but I don't have eligible ones. It looks disgusting.
Love,
Josh
Turns out, he's a good chap, goes by Shaari, charges well.
Not the point.
On my first day of lessons, I got like.. a ton of homework, a ton of revision, and new-old concepts.. Maybe might apply for NUS Jazz, seeing that Nick's out and running everywhere (: plus I need people to blend in and grow with.. Might be a good idea.. If not, soft!
I wish I had photos of my homework, but I don't have eligible ones. It looks disgusting.
Love,
Josh
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