No Lovers Allowed

Okay, this is a serious issue, despite the pretty erm.. 'humorous' title.

There's a certain obligation and compromise when you become part of a band. You have to divide yourself into two sections - Personal life and band life. You can't have people interfering with your dreams, nor can you have some lover/wife/boyfriend who is supposed to understand and adapt to the life of a rockstar in the first place, to tell you what to do with your band.

Unless, of course, it is good criticism that advices the band to strive.

This weekend, I hear of a band that recently had to switch members due to some wife's attitude. That is just absolutely unacceptable. The band's had a strong, tight line-up, not to say friendship, for about five years, and just because the wife of the vocalist had issues with jealousy and incapability to accept the band members and their lovers, (see what I mean by not letting 'personal life' kacau?), she tells the vocalist to kick out the guitarist and the drummer.

Okay, that's not the stupid part.

The stupid part is that he listened.

And who's playing the guitar now? Some kid who doesn't even know how to tune his guitar right and play the solos that once conquered the songs.

Piss off, I'm pissed off about this.

To musicians' girlfriends/wives/boyfriends/husbands/mistresses, etc:-

Look. You wanted to be with them because of who they are. So there's a compromise. There's a certain freedom a musician possesses that you have to accept the moment you hold their hand. You can't own them. You have to accept this. And their band actions should not have anything to do with you. If you have a problem with any of their bandmates, you just have to swallow it. That's what a supportive lover is. Not someone who tells your husband to kick out the drummer because you fell out with his girlfriend. Babi betul.

Musicians have a wild soul, they mingle, they socialize, they mix. They get famous, and people (both guys and girls) will swarm up on them. You can't even THINK about being jealous in this situation. If you want a guy who listens to everything you say and stay at home, marry a god damn business man. And even with them, you can't own them. So imagine a free-willed musician.

To the musicians with controlling lovers:-

You can let them control you on your TV programs, on the food you eat and the things you do, but never ever let them near your music life. You start a band, you love the band, you live the band. You don't suddenly give control of your band-making decisions to your wife/husband. That's just wrong. If they really are good lovers, they would want the best for you and want you to succeed. They wouldn't kick out GOOD musicians and replace them with background faces because they have stupid personal issues, that are half the time immature anyway.

If they can't accept that you have to have this part of freedom with you the rest of your life, I'm sorry man, you're going to be taking care of kids at home, cooking dinner for wifey in no time. If they respect you, they'd compromise, not hold your ball-sacks and expect you to obey.

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Band name disclosed, by the way, I'm not a tell-tale. :)

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With Love,

KL Mosher

Sunburst KL

As we all know, and are peeing our pants with anticipation over it - Sunburst KL is hitting our town again! Hell yeah. Excited as I am however, I haven't forgotten the few 'bad's I witnessed from the previous Sunburst in 2008.

Disastrous stuff, man. I mean, no it didn't cause havoc to Sunburst, but the little things that could've been met to make Sunburst a WOW concert (for me) didn't really happen... much to my disappointment.

I think I have mentioned in my Zombie Crowds blogpost pasal semua yang bayar banyak duit just to stand around and look cool. I swear, if it happens again this year, I am going to scream. Come on lah, do you guys seriously think it's worth it paying over RM200 just to stand around? It's not only a waste of your money, but it's also a waste of the bands' efforts for performing for you guys... you know?

So please, if you're attending Sunburst - or any other concerts for that matter - ... ENJOY IT! Jump around, love the songs, sing along, and make the bands feel appreciated. 

Secondly, an issue I would like to strain on a bit stronger. Hujan might be making an appearance at Sunburst this year. They did last year, and are invited again to perform this year, much to my enthusiasm! Hujan, the band that's been MIA since last year, ever since the whole issues against them erupted. This makes me think of something, a few possibilities that might happen in Sunburst. Guys, if you want Sunburst to work, if you really are music-lovers... hear me out.

Sunburst has 4 stages. If you don't like the band performing at Stage One, kindly proceed to either one of the other three stages and support the other bands. If not, you can always sit at the shaded sections and have a cup of drink until a band you do like come on. You could visit the Silent Disco and dance with the wireless headphones. You could play games. But don't... don't think it is alright to be barbaric and decide to insult and degrade any bands you dislike. It's not a healthy sight to see someone purposely watching a band they dislike just to 'fck' them when the band comes on stage. Please. Keep a happy environment seriously.

Also, to all peraba's. Keep your hands to yourself coz' this time no one's taking the shit. 

If you guys see a girl telling some guy to get out of the crowd, that'll probably be me. Hwar. So yeah, if you're going to Sunburst, bring some sun lotion or  you'll get burnt. Get a towel for sweat, deodorant (for your stink), and MONEY for food or you'll starve. Bring a change of t-shirt. And of course... your ticket to enter :)

Tips for the girls who wish to mosh:

-Wear hoodies

-Tie up your hair

-Wear shorts only at your own risk

-Keep your head down when you mosh, not up and ready for people to punch you in the face.

-Don't wear jewels, dangly stuff, valuable things. We don't want it to be a bloodied ground now do we?

-Keep it simple; 12 hours under the sun, maybe under the rain... you don't need to dress to dazzle

Stuff for guys to keep in mind:

-Protect your girl

-Don't start fights, it just ruins everything

Okay I'm out of ideas right now. More updates on Sunburst as the time comes.

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With Love,

KL Mosher

Peraba issue

I reinforce this problem again.

It.Has.Got.To.Stop

I am getting so frustrated. Seriously, this is not a joking matter.

Now, a new way to continuously molest has just acted up on me, and it makes me so sick to the core.

These sickos actually follow you around in the crowd. They don't let you escape. This is the scary part.

Recently, when I was moshing, every time I felt a hand at an uncomfortable part of my body, tiap2 kali I pandang belakang... it's the same fucking asshole behind me.

He purposely has his eyes anywhere but on my face (they don't ever dare to look you in the eye), but I know where his hands are. And when I try to mosh over to the other side, he follows. Like... FUCK OFF.

I would just wish to repeat to everybody reading this blog;

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Stop these dicks from itching. I actually was already preparing to kick him in the balls, but sadly (actually thank god) his attention was distracted when someone crowdsurfed our way, and he went off to push the crowdsurfer.

I really detest having to feel uncomfortable when I am moshing, it just completely ruins the fun of being part of the crowd. Not to mention those stupid rude disrespectful people and kung fu moshers already plaguing the crowd. I would just like to give a shoutout to the two kick ass boys who were protecting me throughout the recent gig I went to. They are exactly the type of people we need in our local scene. I pointed out some freaks to them and they actually went up to the dudes and shook their heads going "Eh, tak cool lah, henti lah."

Nik and Ijat, korang cool.

So again I repeat to the girls:

Don't be afraid to tell somebody to protect you. Don't be afraid to confront the asses - the rest of the crowd will protect you. And always wear more protective clothes - ones that don't show off your body curve too much.

And to the guys:

If you're the one doing all this shit, wake up and stop it.

Protect and surround the girls with your friends to make sure they are alright. Jangan malu, shout out to the peraba to cut the crap.

Just a thought:

Instead of anti-ing bands, why not anti-peraba instead?

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With Love,

KL Mosher

SERIOUS ISSUE: Girls and moshing

Remember that era when Malaysia was dominated with a sudden spurt of all-girl rock bands?

When the riot-girls flooded the crowds at gigs? 

Korang dah pergi mane!? Well, the answer is simple...

Peraba.

This is a problem that's been bugging the Malaysian Indie scenes constantly, over and over! Girls fear to enter crowds, sebab diaorang takut diaorang kena raba.

Why?

WHY.

Why must the boys find such delight in touching a girl rudely, and/or calling names? 

People say "Eh, dalam scene ini, kitaorang kena respect sesiapa." 

Tapi? Where is the respect in girls' bodies?

Fikirlah.

When girls go into crowds:

- They get grabbed either at their boobs, butt or worse.

- They get harassed by men. "Eh, awek, kamu masih single, tak?" Blah, blah, blah. Are you guys there for music or for some action!? Seriously!

- Girls can't actually move around when crowdsurfing, because all the guys just hold on to them to get some skin. This is sick.

Now, because of the lack of experience the girls have when coming to moshing, girls worry about getting punched, getting bruised or scratched. They worry about getting trampled to death. They can't enjoy music the way everybody in the crowds are, and that is such a shame.

This issue is a big mind-poker and I cannot just let it go unnoticed. 

Everybody who is reading this, pass this on to all  your friends! 

Help Malaysian music become the most respectable one, even in terms of moshing. 

The word is : CHANGE. 

Ways you can help at gigs:

- When you see someone grab a girl, LET PEOPLE KNOW. Shout to let everybody know of what the person just did, and let people know it's not acceptable. Jangan malu, jerit dengan kekuatan, bagi semua tahu mamat tu adelah peraba.

- Help girls in defending themselves. Get trustworthy people to mosh around her. You and your group of friends. Kalau dia tak ada boyfriend, kamu cuba jaga dia, jangan biar peluang kat semua peraba yang sedang tunggu masa dalam crowd. 

- If you're one of the rude ones, stop. Doing things like these to girls is just not right. It makes you look like an idiot, makes everybody want to kick your ass, and decreases the chance of you having a girlfriend. Why the hell do you think you're still single? -_-

For the girls:

- Pakai hoodie. Seriously. Wearing a hoodie reallyyyy helps in disguising yourself. Setiap kali I pakai hoodie, I mesti tak kena raba. The last time I took my hoodie off, I got molested about ten times.

- Don't be afraid to fight back. If you know who touched you, SHOUT. Point at him. Push him away. People around you will  help you because they know the guy who did that was in the wrong.

- Go in groups. It is always safer to go with some people you know.

- If you get punched, or kicked, don't get angry. It's better than being grabbed. At least getting bruises from moshing shows the crowd was treating you as an equal, not a girl. 

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With Love,

KL Mosher