BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE - 15th JULY

Another Sunday at a mall in Kuala Lumpur, Berjaya Times Square was the location this time around, right within the heart of the city attracting near, far and almost everybody eager to enter. The Gegar-U truck was placed right opposite the main entrance ensuring that everybody got a dose of the wonderful 'Warna, Warna' theme song along with the other Gegar-U activities. The day was cloudy and it eventually did rain heavy in the afternoon and it was a wet evening throughout. Project Rush served the crowd with delectable songs from their palette that always inched the crowd to murmur or utter the lyrics and if Mr.Embarrassment permitted, sing along.

Project Rush in action while the rain served a perfect backdrop




...while the mix played on, Nian Tze tried to get a deal on the Skoda


There were performances from the ICOM band, Astro artists, and Zailan Razak & Daniel. As usual, Zailan enthralled the audience and Daniel attracting the attention of the onlookers with his careful pounding of the congas. Zailan invited members from the audience to come and join them with their carving of rhythm; a few dared eventually and made it to the stage.



Father & son locking

The ICOM band with Thomas on vocals quizzed the crowd with a few questions that carried a prize of a CD with it and the crowd was eager as always to own another CD.




Nelson's 'Bass Riddle'



Technical director Nilesh: 'perhaps it's a good time for a class.'




The production crew as always tried to make the best of the day, this time though a new hobby was discovered- Uncle Sudoku!



Sudoku keeping their eyes glued



' Load 'em up pianoman, we gotta go home!'



Another mall, another delighted crew with their respective paraphernalia

UITM 11TH JULY 2007

UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY MARA

This university in Shah Alam, known for its music department was the fifth university ICOM headed to for the competition. Another 45 minute journey from Jalan Pahang, the crew travelled in a van with the ever-ready McDonald's meal to occupy their stomachs for setup. We reached UITM and our pianoman arrived prompt and thus began another routine, which by now was almost set in everybody's mind. Unloading done, the stage folks began their stage dressing and make-up, power and snake boys doing their thing, Chief engineer Nian Tze preparing her FOH station all by herself in a matter of minutes! And within an hour and half, we were done and then waited for the next activity to begin.


Nian Tze: Me, my console and these chairs













Aiman: If he's not above, he must be below or vice versa.



Crew and the cat doing their respective things



There was news that there might be more than 10 bands, but to our surprise, that same day was registration day for the students, so there goes the soundchecks or whatever had to take place, since all the students were already occupied.


Nevertheless logistics man, Zart informed us about a breakfast buffet, which everybody rushed to and feasted on a Malay traditional meal and then back to work.

<---Shall we share or stare?




























<---PM: Alright boys, stop looking at me!
















Nian Tze suggesting Tai Chi to the boys...

...well if you can't, at least give the victory sign


The usual waiting began before the Astro & Power Root artists arrived for their performances. We managed to get one soundcheck but the stage manager had to send them away to 'tuning school' and then come back when they graduated.


Shir Li focusing on the horoscope

The Astro and Power Root artists did their thing and kept the crowd wanting for more, this time there were lots of games which involved girl students eager to get a closer glimpse of their artist and shake their hands. All this done, the ICOM band went up for another set and managed to reach out to the crowd standing behind the FOH station ,while the day kept getting hotter.

Just to highlight on various aspects of the production process, soundcheck is one crucial part wherein the band can get their stage levels and tone right, the FOH manager can get the band's sound controlled. But to run these soundchecks, a lot of patience and control is required if not direction is lost. Our stage manager, Christina makes sure she's got the darn stage under the whip of her tongue and arm! Watch below...








...roger, roger Nian Tze!





...now, sister listen up!





'...oye, listen up you all, better watch out!' thus spoke the stage manager



...lending a hand just in case the ladder gets tired!


...the three singers giving the gegar-U!


...aye sister give your hand???
...ayya, I got phone ma!


View: Front of House, (right: back stage)



























An acoustic act which reached the final


PM: Hitch a ride to Pulau Penang folks



...while the crew enjoys a post-tear down Teh-Tarik session

UKM 10TH JULY 2007

UNIVERSITY KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

Another drive 45 minutes out of KL and we arrived at UKM around 5:45 am and waited for our 'pianoman' or Rahman (movers) to arrive with the equipment. While the Gegar-U truck was already positioned, the crew waited as always and tried to contemplate the day ahead (that's if their minds were awake). Pianoman arrived and thus began unloading and awakening . We started setting up the stage and the sun slowly began to show up; by 7:30am setup was almost complete and then another wait began for the event to start during which a lot of grazing from FOH to stage went on, jokes cracked, giggles intruded and smiles cleverly converted to yawns.



`Edwin says 'this way', Aiman says 'you said that way,' Joe says 'anyway'

A few soundchecks were done, one with an 'error-filled-minus one CD' to which the performers actually sang 'in time' apparently they would have rehearsed to the same CD, so bravo for that!
The ICOM band scuttled in for their late soundcheck with stage manager and chief engineer denying them a soundcheck at first because of not being punctual! (That's the spirit ladies!). Let me also introduce the band as I haven't done it in the past blogs. Band leader Joseph a BTP student at ICOM on guitars, Steven Chelliah a BTP student on lead guitar, Nelson on bass guitar, Bong on drums, Ali Aiman on Keys, Thomas and Zariff on vocals.


'Boys, what can't you play?'



The ICOM band called 'Project Rush' have been involved in many of the events so far and they are a hardworking, enthusiastic bunch who fail to make it for sounchecks on time once in a while, make sure they take a nap between competitions and pull each others legs. These guys deliver the musical goods in the end!






ICOM band having fun on and off stage




PM: 'Alright, where am I?
While this was happening, the usual Gegar-U activities filled the atmosphere- writing unity messages, getting the crowd all perked up by various emcees until Serene took the stage and delivered her masked performance.

'How de?' Serene's masked charm

Stage manager: ' ...alright boy, you play while I munch!'

The bands that competed were all in the same league as what we had encountered before- few trying their luck with the right chord, right tone, right pitch and many- the right tuning. But as for the crew, the sun wore them out through the entire day, scorching above our heads and burning our skin. Crew members picked up Power Root drinks to quench their thirst, a few took a quick nap under the truck, a few just absorbed the sun. Tear down was on our minds continually.

Box 1 guy makes box 1 his bed


...that's the reason a song missed its guitar solo



Chief engineer Nian Tze striking her regular pose

Stage manager ponders about the nearest exit

Joe doing the power root rounds


UKM crew fresh as always1

Chief Engineer: ...of a certain 'takeaway'... yeah right!

Stage manager: ' ...how low?'