Oddoneout’s Adventures!

RAIN!?

You know the saying it doesn’t rain, but pours? Definitely true. Just the day before we were going to shoot, bad luck just seemed to keep on coming.

The photographer stepped on a nail, our PA’s mum had a mild stroke, the driver had stupidly gotten the van (which had no power steering) badly scratched and the band was getting pretty nervous.

Did I mention it rained? Everything was set up so nicely, the lights were in position, the instruments in place and the band was ready to go. Then the heavens opened up and cried. What did we do wrong? Who did we anger? Maybe Arnold, our sound guy, because his new keyboard which he bought for this was thoroughly soaked, thanks to a leaky canvas.

Oxley in the evening before the rain

Feng checking the monitors

Setting Up

Amazingly, everyone was in a good mood. Even Arnold, though at that point he had yet to discover what had happened to his keyboard. We waited out the rain, attempting to take abstract photos/videos of it and each other, playing UNO and then trying to throw the bloody producer into it.

Waiting out the rain

Then rain ceased and we were back in action, quickly moving everything into place and draining the water from the Arnold’s keyboard. If he was angry, he made a commendable effort of not showing it.

Arnold inspecting his keyboard

Arnold drying off his keyboard

Oddly enough, our debut band for GS, Class Act, seemed less comfortable in front of the non judgmental gaze of the camera lenses than in front of a live audience. Maybe the whole atmosphere was too cold and impersonal for them Or maybe they were thinking of their A levels chemistry practical test the following afternoon.

Lead singer Sharifa getting her make up done

(From Left) Glenn (keyboardist), Sharifa (vocalist) & Fengheng (guitarist)

Cue Michael and his intense 650W lights. On they came and brightly they shone through the darkness of the night as if the sun had never set. Soon enough they were warming up and we were rolling.

Michael and his bright ideas. Hur hur

Feng searching for his epiphany in a pink hued wall

“Sing, baby!”

Edwin, the overseer in his control room (or lot)

Kim trying out Arnold's semi-water drained keyboard

Considering it was already quite late and we were playing near the estate of the esteemed Lee-der, it was surprisingly no Gurkhas stormed the set. At least none within view of one our crazy guys who climbed the roof. (In retrospect if they did, it would have made for some great footage. Provided we survived the shock encounter)

Best seat in the house

Perhaps it was Sharifa’s (the lead singer) awesome vocals – beautiful, and haunting. All the more so when she started playing her er-hu. The slow gentle strains of her bow formed a poignant melody which echoed throughout Oxley that was hard to forget more than ever when she started singing. Maybe that’s why the Old Man didn’t send his guys after us because he too had fallen in love with the voice that we had.

Sharifa and Fengheng talking about their chem prac

Lilthe, nimble fingers

Not easy commiting lyrics to memory

The face to the voice we all love

Getting into positions

The crew having a preview

Well, thanks Old Man for letting us carry on. It won’t be in vain, you sacrificing your sleep if you did, because we will bring Garage Sessions @ Oxley to all of you soon for your aural and visual pleasure. Akan datang.

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