EuroTrip 09 in pictures - Part 3 - LOVEBOX Victoria Park Day 1

Set in Victoria Park in the depths of East London, LoveBox is one of the few music festivals in London. It's been going for about 4 years and this was my first time. Consisting of 5 major areas / stages, a VIP section and other eating, drinking, alternative arts and even a huge treehouse, it's no wonder the festival is held over a weekend. Frank Musik!!! Yup - I got to see one of my favourite new artists to be born out of the UK, singer-songwriter FrankMusik. Major 80s electro pop throwback productions around simple, catchy and melodic tunes. Check him out here

He jumped around stage with loads of energy and showed off his skills on the 'ivories' too. One of my favourite tracks of his is 'When You're Around (Boyz Noise Remix)' where he cleverly writes an entire new song over the sample riff from 'Golden Brown' by the Stranglers.


We were also lucky enough that day to get an exclusive preview of his new single CONFUSION GIRL... his 'live' version RAWKED! You should check out Russ Chimes remix (you can have a listen by streaming/downloading my Podcast called 'September Songs' here . It's the 2nd track :)

I waited and waited for Frank to play VACANT HEART (the 1st ever Frank Music track I ever heard) but had to rush off to catch the person that all THESE people were hungry for....


The man was in town as N*E*R*D* not just for LoveBox but also to oversee the opening of his newly renovated Bathing Ape Store off Carnaby Street. Is there anything that this guy touches that does NOT work???


I must say I was quite taken aback with Pharrell's humility - he seemed almost shy on stage - speaking kindly of the British crowd and showing appreciation for being invited to be part of the LoveBox line-up - with N*E*R*D* being HipHop, was something new and different for the festival.... any excuse to shake that booty, shimmy those shoulders and nod heads


Being the flash git that i am i got myself a VIP pass and headed to said area to fill my tummy with some food and catch these 2 guys from Cambridge aka THE NEXTMEN. The first time I ever saw them was at WorldWide Festival in Singapore back in May. They ALWAYS ply awesome sets mixing current with cutting edge and retro and crossing all music genre boundaries... LovessssssssSiT!

As dusk fast approached it brought us nearer the time to catch the Headlining act for Day 1 - the NOTORIOUS, WILD BOYS living in this ORDINARY WORLD who often COME UNDONE watching GIRLS ON FILM and are always HUNGRY LIKE A WOLF...

This was the nearest I could get without getting completely SQUASHED

With an awesome light and laser show... none other than DURAN DURAN

And I must say ALL band members are looking pretty good still.... it aint easy being on stage performing ALL OUT for 90 minutes non-stop, especially at their vintage!

I'm a sucker for merchandising and just HAD to pick up a Duran Duran Tee with the classic 'Rio' imagery :

But made current by the back text (sorry, I still havent worked out how to flip an image!)

With the sun already set behind us, the deep blue sky engulfing us and the stars starting to peak, Simon Le Bon's voice echoed the words to a song that i relate to on so many levels and for so may reasons :

" Who do you need, who do you love, When you come undone "

EuroTrip 09 in pictures - Part 3 - LOVEBOX Victoria Park Day 2 coming NEXT >>>

EuroTrip 09 in pictures - Part 2 - LONDON MUSIC

One of the great things I miss of living in London is the wide variety and high frequency of music gigs available all year round. So I took the opportunity to catch as many gigs as i possibly could during this trip. Gigs don't just cover LIVE performances by artist and bands but going to watch DJs play too.


The Ed Banger 6 and a half birthday party at The Coronet in Elephant & Castle was definitely one of the highlights of the club gigs I went to. The line-up for the main room included the head honcho himself Busy P, DJ Mehdi, SebastiAn, Feadz, Krazy Baldhead, So_Me and brand new signing Breakbot. Two other rooms had DJ sets hosted by familiar acts such as Friendly Fires and Mystery Jets.

Inside the Coronet

Despite buying the tickets in advance we still had to line-up outside for a good 40 minutes. The crowd were the usual Ed Banger lot (I guess our nearest would be Lap-Sap or BarSonic look). Most were well wasted and some were generous too - we were not allowed to bring drinks in and those who were came prepared to line-up who still had left-over tinnies and bottles, very generously passed them on to people, including me!



The Ed Banger Crew

As expected the crowd were seriously UP FOR IT and sweating like Beeyatches in there... check this out :



Seeing as the night/morning at the Ed Banger party ended at 6am (and that was DESPITE turning down various invitations to private house parties) most of the next day was spent recouperating in bed because I had tix to see BabyFace play at the O2.

This is what the tube looks like at 6am and you're the FIRST soul on the platform...

BabyFace really is uber-talented... and the women were literally SWOONING. I noticed lots of metro-sexual men there and by the way... i was more or less the only asian person there!

Kenny 'BabyFace'Edmunds

I was a wreck at the Babyface gig by the way... so very wrecked....

Coming Next >>>> LOVEBOX in Victoria Park

EuroTrip 09 in pictures - Part 1 - LONDON MISC

Here are just a collection of some of my favourite moments in London... a lot of them you may not 'get' cos they're quite personal but I'm gonna share them with you anyway - it's been nearly 5 years since I've been back in the City that I used to call home for 20 YEARS... yes... 20

Dinner at uber cool, chic and sophisticated french restaurant, Les Trois Garcons in Shoreditch with my 2 Best Friends (who by the way have barely seen each other since I left!) And yes they are camera-shy unlike us shameless KL camera-whores - HA!

A fellow Malaysian and her luverlee boyf ;)

2 thirds of Les Trois Garcons (The 3 Boys) - Michel & Hassan (who is Malaysian himself). Great friends (for over 10 years) and amazing hosts. I spent my entire London trip as their guest in their home which is above the restaurant.

The boys bought this old Victorian East End Public House (Pub) many years ago before anyone wanted to live in the East of London and made it their home - another thing the boys have apart from impeccable taste and style? Great FORESIGHT :)

Only a couple years after living there did they decide to go into F&B and open a restaurant many features in the building are protected and listed....

But apart from being restauranteurs, Bar Owners (LoungeLover) the boys are antique dealers and interior designers... google them lah or

http://www.lestroisgarcons.com/choice.php

http://uktv.co.uk/home/item/aid/593609

A trip to London is NEVER the same with a nice mibble eastern meal - shawarma Kebab with ALL the trimmings and extras *SLURRRP*

.. Oh and a but of shisha to finish off the meal (this was my first time!)

I was blessed with the BEST weather in London... There's nothing like a typical English summer : Pimms, Wimbledon, Parks, picnics, strawberries, pollen, hayfever, tube delays..... etc

i can't believe it's been 6 months!

Good Lord how did i let 6 months go by since my last post???

So much has happened for me... lots of travelling, photoshoot, music making and music playing what with my guest DJ residency at Aristo still going strong and a podcast of my mixtapes I've just started - check it out at http://boogalooboo.podomatic.com

Writing for the new album began about a month ago and i know have a collection of 20.. yes TWENTY UNFINISHED tracks... *aaargh*

Starlight got remixed by Internationally known Grammy Winner Eric Kupper and has been released on a FIERCE ANGEL compilation.... available for purchase online only. Keep your ears and eyes peeled on the mags and radio stations for competitions where they'll be giving them away as prizes.... I'll probably also run a competition from the mothership that is www.melissaindot.com

Travelling included Pangkor for my birthday, Rawa for a quick escape, Euro Trip (it's been nearly 5 years) and Phuket with the family

Ramadhan has been wonderful so far - i love the conscientious eating, the great communal eating spirit. All that yummy home prepared grub and a great, great excuse for me to indulge in all the things i don't normally eat - kueh2, biscuits, CHEETOS *drool*

It's just a shame there's been so much bad publicity for Malaysia during this spiritual month - the case of the woman caught drinking who now is to be caned, the muslim BAN for the Guinness Closing Party featuring the Black Eyed Peas (it's now been lifted, which is even more embarrassing), the cow's head fiasco in Shah Alam with no arrests, followed by a peace vigil held in the name of the cow's head protest that ended up with 16 arrests!

RIDICULOUS.

SHAMEFUL.

SHAMELESS.

SENSELESS.

I've never been more an avid fan and user of TWITTER - for me it's the best way to stay up to date with every thing that's going on. Follow me if you aren't already @ :

www.twitter.com/melissaindot (for all things 'official')

and

www.twitter.com/boogalooboo (for all things controversial, offensive, open & honest)

I highly recommend you follow our very own Marina Mahathir www.twitter.com/netrakl

On a more superficial note : Working out and trying to get my flabby body into shape has been a challenge and a half - especially with my chronic back problem but the combo of light weights, regular cardio in the form of the WAVE machine & elyptical/crosstrainer and my SUPERB Pilates teacher Sherlyn, I feel like I'm finally on the road to recovery. YAY!!!!

Check out www.nubody.com.my - it's the brainchild of a primary school friend of mine - Melissa Zecha... fantastic healing place - lovely people and lifestyle. By The Way, my teacher is fully booked - so DREAM ON!!

I promised myself i would post something here EVERYDAY to make up for lost time... well everyday for the next week that is... hahahahaha

I was thinking a photo journal-type synopsis of my Eurotrip.. so watch this space (well til tmrw).

i gotta go now... gotta buy buka food and head to a friend's place before the traffic build up

Selamat berbuka to all my muslims friends and non muslim friends who are joining in :)

xxx