August 13th, 2008 / 1 Comment » / by Vortex
Went to Richmond park on sunday…really huge place. Sadly the weather was abit cranky,
sun for a min…and next thing you know…started raining. Typical english weather!
Here’s some of the slightly decent shots. All infrared of course.
Great to meet all the other fellow photographers that day. You know who you are! 
August 2nd, 2008 / No Comments » / by Vortex
A contrast to last week drum and bass parties. This week was filled with indie bands!
Like i always say, good music is good music. I don’t care what genre it is.
Thursday, checked out my friend’s band The Bibelots at The Fly some where around Oxford Circus, the event was called Plugged and is sponsored by Gibson Guitars. Pretty cool venue..”intimate” would be the best word i would describe it. Bands are almost “in your face”, together with the audience. I can’t imagine if Converge had played in there haha!
More photos of The Bibelots can be found in my flickr.
Friday, was down at Rough Trade East at Brick Lane (my usual hangout as you can see). Was just kinda wandering around after an appointment earlier in the day. Found out they had a band playing so i just decided to just hang around the area and check out the bands. Had a quick bite at Cafe 1001 (another usual hangout) when the bands decided to start late!
Andy Votel (NOT vortex..so don’t read it wrongly haha!) from Twisted Nerve records was DJing some interesting selections before, between and after the bands. There was even some Cantonese music he was playing…which i have never heard before in my life. Not that i listen to alot of canto music to begin with, but it just sounded really obscure.
The Liftmen was the first band to play followed by Sam and the Plants.
My pick of the two…would be Sam and the Plants. Folkish, experiemental type of rock.
Based on the tracks on their myspace, it was kinda different live. Cause both him and his other female band member were taking turns to sing. Compared to the instrumental music found on his myspace.
Either way, with or without vocals, i think it’s very nice.
The use of some really vintage looking instruments and the sounds which came from it absolutely delighted me, and much of the audience i believe. A few hiccups here and there in between their set, didn’t stop the crowd from giving them a much bigger round of applause after each song.
(Sorry for the bad picture quality on this one…..was using my mobile for this)
After Rough trade, took a 10 min walk over to Curtain Road to Bar Music Hall. Right across from Plastic People, so i managed to find my way quite easily since I’ve been there. Went to meet my fellow Singaporean DJ friend, Sonny, to hang out for a while. There were 2 bands playing, didn’t catch the first one. The 2nd act, My Toys like me, which was the headliner was playing some trendy indie electro rock thingy. Oh well, guess it’s still quite popular all over the world including the UK. Overall, not too bad at all.
(Sorry for the bad pic quality on this as well…also from my handphone)
July 28th, 2008 / 3 Comments » / by Vortex
What a weekend!
Went for Movement @ Bar Rumba on thursday.
Friday, checked out The Souljazz Orchestra live @ Cargo London. Thanks to a facebook message, i got in for free! So big up to the facebook crew!
After Souljazz….it was Fabric! Finally got to see the superclub i’ve been wanting to go to. All i can say is, it feels great seeing a big superclub like Fabric, playing drum and bass in two big rooms, and thousands of people raving to it! Andy C, Hype, Bukem, High Contrast, Tayo, Utah Jazz, Alix Perez, Furney and more… were all on the lineup!
Big up to my mates, James and Eliza and Riaz!
Don’t think we will ever see this in asia, period…no big clubs dare take such ‘risks’. The people are ignorant, clubs and promoters not willing to take risks….a vicious cycle which runs on and on. All about ‘commercial viability’ back home right? BULLSHIT! That’s why culturally, we lack in so many ways. This applies to music and all arts. WAKE UP PEOPLE!
July 25th, 2008 / 2 Comments » / by Vortex
Yesterday, i did the most London thing ever. Sitting in the middle of Hoxton Square, eating drinking and just chilling!
On to my main topic…..the number 1 question i get, whenever someone gets to know i have moved to London.
“Why London?!”
July 22nd, 2008 / No Comments » / by Vortex
I decided i needed to get out of London, one fine day, last week. To take a nice walk, out in the open with no cares in the world.
View Larger Map
So i bought a train ticket, packed my bag and left…
July 14th, 2008 / 2 Comments » / by Vortex
Growing up on hardcore punk metal music during my teenage years, i’ve never seen a ‘modern’ (back then) hardcore band, back then when they were all the rage (and considered new skool then). Obviously, Singapore was just too far for most of them american hardcore bands and the scene was so small then. Now, 15 years later…i finally get to see them…Integrity and Converge. I feel like a 16 year old all over again hahaha. I probably still look like one to some :p
Here’s the main highlight, and obviously the headlining band of the night held at The Camden Underworld (London) - 13 July 2008.
Converge - concubine
Click here for more photos and videos of Converge, Integrity, Coliseum and Centurions Ghost
A professional Marketeer who specializes in internet social and web 2.0 media by day. Weekend a drum and bass / dubstep / mashup DJ and when not dropping red hot choons at the console, Vortex is packing heat with Exitmusik.com, arguably Asia's most respected underground music portal. Infrared photography is also something artistic pursued over the weekends.
