Monday, September 20, 2004

All Hail the new Singaporean wonder!! Presenting the one and only: THE SUNS!! Previously known as Boredphucks, with Banned in Da Singapura as the official charter, this amazing phenomenon was cruelly usurped by local authorities after accidental use of vulgarities, while enlightening a 2,000 strong crowd of devotees at the Youth Park in 2000. Recognizing their potential for attaining cult status, the authorities decided to protect their own backsides first by banning the Boredphucks once and for all from performing live in Singapore. Pity.


Thankfully, this astronomical gastronomical concoction of musical ooh-la-las has resurfaced in Melbourne and are once again rockin' da universe!!! Honest to God, I cannot recall another live performance that got me rockin', screamin' and singing along like they have, during their gigs at Pony Bar & Greyhound Hotel. They've got a natural stage flair and the way they worked the audience was eerily successful and altogether superb. The SunS is made up of San Singer on vocals and lead guitar, J Bass on bass guitar and backup vocals, and Wayne Thunder on drums and backup vocals.

San is one helluva guitarist and truly worthy of being a frontman. All aspiring performers out there, this is the guy you should be studying! There's no other way to describe what he does on guitar than making love. I'm a hardcore Hendrix fan, so it really takes alot when I say that the first word that came to mind when I saw San perform was "Jimi". But he sure as hell works the guitar and songs like Hendrix did: ultra smooth, ultra sexy. Electrifying! And wait til you check the vox!!! On stage, he was cheeky and extremely teasing, with the crowd being putty in his hands, with antics like licking along the neck of his guitar while unleashing a notorious display of sheer guitar genius... Off stage, however, the superstar demeanour was shed and San was totally approachable. He was really down-to-earth, took the time to hang out with the crowd and personally thank each and everyone for attending the gigs. This is what I call a true artiste! Finger-wagging good!!

J Bass was no sidekick and his personality was just as strong on stage. Apart from having an extremely long tongue which sent both girls and guys reeling and squealing, J's reggae stomp was signature to his almost trance-like state of total immersion with his craft. This guy loves his bass and you know it!!

Wayne Thunder was Alexei Nemov on drums! When I first saw him before he got on stage, I thought he was just peddling the merchandise, with his kitschy ensemble of traditional chinese outfit, sneakers and military satchel of EPs. Unassuming and extremely friendly, he became Speedy Arms with A Mega-Watt Smile onstage! If not for his brilliance on the drums, he would just have been lost in the midst of his drumset, with flashes of gleaming white teeth ever so often. Wayne sure as hell made his presence felt, drumming the bootiful band to the rockin' core of da universe!!

Apart from being mindblowing performers and excellent musicians in their own right, the trio make an excellent combination of eclectic styles, resulting in a perfect harmony that isn't just multicultural. Their musical and performance timing is almost reminiscent of the comic timing between Frasier and Niles! Their style is a sweet amalgamation of reggae, surf punk and old school rock. A power mix that leaves you no choice but to rock along with these lovely people! No matter how hard you try, you just won't be able to keep still! Just imagine the Beach Boys, jamming with Bob Marley, in a showdown with a notorious partnership between Marc LeGras and Jimmy Page, possibly. Oooh, sizzling!! Infectious beats, catchy lyrics and a whole lotta love goin' on! Stand up all you lovely people, and check the cool guitar intro!!

Their latest release, Rock EP, has been riding and reigning the radio waves in my cavern. And now I want to do nothing other than to croon along to Cecelia, the first song on the EP. Whoever Cecelia is, she better be freakin' happy that she's got me singing odes to her night after night! Cecelia has also reached the charts on Syn.FM and are up for nominations on many other charts. They're fast making a name for themselves in Melbourne and San even spoke to me about the possibilty of an all-out Australian Tour in Summer next year. So, keep a lookout for this band for they could possibly be one of the few to leave a lasting mark on local music history and rattle the nerves of local authorites with an "in your face". They are indeed a force to be reckoned with! So, do trot along now, why don't you, to their site on my links, and revel in what could possibly change the tide in the local territory!

black llucii at 5:40:00 pm