リライト

Guess what.

The last time I went to a concert was in 2019. End of 2019 actually, just before the pandemic so no wonder, right? And it was a festival, not even an individual concert. I couldn’t really recall when was the last time I went to an actual one-musician-show concert, the last blog post I had for this was back in 2016 for God’s sakes!

The point is, it’s been TOO LONG since the last time I went to a real concert. The one that only showcases ONE artist be it a solo or a band. The one that doesn’t require stages changing and schedule planning. Yet I didn’t really notice that, until I saw this announcement.

 

At first...

I was surprised by the fact that...
This is freaking ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.

Honestly I was not yet a big fan of them -was, because now, of course I fucking am now!- but they are a part of my childhood and early adulthood during my long-running Naruto era. And I know that they really are a big name in Japanese rock music industry so of course seeing that poster the first time I told myself,

“You’re going, Vick. You’re going, and you’re gonna be screaming Haruka Kanata out of your heart and throat.”

So I bought the ticket out of my sheer desire to pay homage to one of my childhood anime musicians. Nothing else, all pure for Naruto. I even thought straight in planning which outfit I’ll be wearing, disregarding the fact that I had a bigger homework to do: memorizing their hit songs.

Oh that “memorizing their hit songs” phase. 2-months full of cramming Ajikan’s songs into my ears and abusing my soul with sudden Japanese rock tunes. In Jakarta, in Bali, then back in Jakarta then back in Bali then straight to the concert venue.

At first there were only five biggest hit songs I crammed into my daily life, two of which I knew already. Then I warned myself that this wasn’t enough. Obviously. So I added five more after thorough research on the internet and Spotify listeners rank. After trying hard to get myself used to those 10 songs and its lyrics -of course I had to memorize the lyrics also, I wanted to sing along!- I began to realize that, no, this was still not enough.

So upon my second trip to Bali during this “memorizing their hit songs” phase, I added 10 more songs -TEN!! HAHA I WAS SO DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THIS “SCREAMING AJIKAN’S SONGS OUT OF MY HEART AND THROAT” THING!- to the total of 20 songs, all played endlessly on my way to, across the streets and beaches in, and then back from Bali.

Then...

It came to my realization that...
I think I fell in love with AJIKAN.

How did I not? The songs played as the background to my WHOLE trip. Whether I realized which title was playing or not, it all played. So it subconsciously lingered to my brain. And it kept playing through my subconsciousness even when my Spotify is off, and it kept playing in my head even when I was asleep.

Rock music is not actually my main forte. But Ajikan already stole my heart with their Naruto appearances so somehow, I could tolerate their music. And eventually not just ‘tolerate’—I could actually find pleasure in their songs. Each title has a certain part that I love the most, which makes me excited to anticipate the coming of that part, which eventually, makes me love all the other parts as well. Is this how those Japanese rock music bands lure their fans??? I think so.

But really, it’s not just about the feeling. When I broke each songs down elements by elements, I somehow figured that I love every details of them. The overall moods are energizing. Not just regular energizing, but anime-opening-credit energizing. You can feel the difference if you watch anime.

The instruments are all beautifully crafted to the point that I thought to myself, “I could really enjoy these instruments alone even without the singer takes part in the song”. And surprisingly, I could’t wait to listen to those instruments on the live concert—something I rarely anticipated from a musician! The vocal, oh the vocal... Gohto-san is such a godly rock star indeed. And the fact that these songs are so compact none of them are overly repeated and none of them has a boring stretched part, I didn’t know how they consistently do it!

It’s crazy.

Crazy to think that I can be easily falling into their music. Crazy to think of, why on earth didn’t I listen to their songs years and years earlier? At this point I could’ve been a freakier fan, purchasing their most expensive ticket, fighting for their meet-and-greet session, gulping their official merchandises, wearing them proudly on the floor while screaming the loudest among the crowds as if I’m their number one groupie and know them the best.

But that’s okay. I was not that late yet. I still got to see them and catch their concert, and be that freaky fan in my own spontaneous way now that I grew stronger love towards them.

And so I left Bali, still with those 20 songs playing non-stop through my AirPods, back to Jakarta where the first concert of Asian Kung-fu Generation would take place, exactly the next day.

Oh the concert...

It's gon' be a long one as well so...

Let's rewrite it in another post.

It's Time

Some people still asked me about, why, on earth, out of the blue, I suddenly flew to Singapore to watch F1 live. Then when I answered "I seriously am now a fan of F1! Why would I spend so much to watch something I half like??", they'd give me a hint like, they didn't buy it.

Well here's the deal.

Several months ago, I was on the beginning stage of liking this sport. As a spectator, because no, I have no intention of being a racer -I mostly don't even have intention to drive my own car. When I knew that there'd be a Grand Prix in Singapore, I impulsively bought a flight because, well, it's just Singapore.

At first I didn't really have plan to buy the actual F1 ticket because as what I saw on TV, on those European circuits, people can actually watch the race on top of hills or by peeping through the circuit fences. So I said to myself, well, I should also be able to do this in Singapore, no? So I guess not buying the ticket seems fine. The plan was firm, until finally someone told me that there’s no way I could do that in Marina Bay STREET Circuit. Street. So no hills, no free peepholes, and again, it’s Singapore. So no free riders allowed.

Damn, no? And I knew the cheapest tickets were so off my budget. So, damn, yes? Is it my time to back out? I supposed to myself several days before my departure. Or should I go anyway, and only hear the voice of the engines from afar?

Well, God has other plans for me.

And that plan is called

IMAGINE DRAGONS

Pic's from here.

Yes.

They were there as a part of the show. As Singapore Grand Prix's guest star of this year, along with this new artist Halsey. I couldn't believe my eyes at that time. And just when I recalled my feeling, I'm pretty sure once I read their names, on the table of artists that will be performing on the RACE DAY -please note it, Race Day, not practice or quali, I subconsciously told myself that okay, Vick, you're so going to buy it.

And so I bought it.

And it became one of those memorable random shit I'm proud I did.

Because Imagine Dragons had always been a gig I was dying to go to. Along with Bastille, which apparently became the guest star of the qualification the day before -I swear my eyes almost popped out when I saw both names on the webpage, until I finally realized that they performed on different days. But guess what, on the night before the race, when I innocently visited Marina Bay Sands and decided to chill by the river for a moment, apparently Bastille was playing and the sound could clearly be heard from afar! And I bumped into "Flaws" which is my favorite song! I SWEAR I WAS THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC FANBOYING! AND I SWEAR THIS IS THE LONGEST SIDE SENTENCE I'VE EVER WRITTEN IN THIS BLOG. And attending a concert -well technically, TWO concerts- abroad had always been a cool stuff I was dying to brag about. Plus to be able to have it altogether with an F1 race in which I started to have this weird obsession within, damn, this was a major jackpot to me!

And Halsey turned out to be a thing. I heard some of her songs before, and browsed some more of her hits before my flight, and all of them were performed! DAMN! She instantly became a dear to me.

But of course the highlight was the main reason behind the ticket purchase. Imagine Dragons was epic. Their performances, their songs, their crowd –my first foreign crowd!– their energy, their STAGE ACT, the unique voices and screams Dan Reynolds made, the drum beats that almost blew my eardrums, the fire, the lighting, I swear every time they finished a song, I threw my usual curses and bad words in Indonesian, which made me a bit worried at first because some words were just too harsh for people to hear –plus I was there alone, with no friends so is it not weird to be excited and all swearing by yourself!?– but then, I remembered that it’s not home so people won’t know what I was saying so, I kept on swearing like an idiot.

Still can't believe this view. Never thought watching a concert in the
middle of a business district would serve this spectacular scene.

Obviously the fire thing were the Singaporean's doing, but it really matched the performance!

For that kind of performance, I'm willing to tribute more than just a round of applause.
Some appreciative cartwheels would do.

And this one's Halsey with Singapore's city sunset. Best scenery I ever seen in this country.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!

Pardon the language but to hell with that—I WAS AND STILL AM FUCKING EXCITED!!!

I swear I never had such great great deal in my life before. First double concert. First gig out of Jakarta. First expensive ticket I don't mind wasting because it was all worth every rupiah I spent—UNIVERSE WAS WITH ME ALL ALONG!

Well for this time, to hell with spending.

I've worked hard for the past six-or-so months.

I've been waiting for this particular band to come.

Obviously,

It's time

An Indie in Me

When it comes to music, usually I’m dragged to the mainstream.

You know I like Pitbull. And Jason Mraz, and The Black Eyed Peas, and I’d mostly fall for any Billboard Top 40 hits that match my ears. I ain’t any indie guy, because their tunes aren’t any of my preference. And I just can’t vision myself enjoying the music to myself, not having a chance to easily share my love for the music with the other fans, or going to their big concerts to sing it aloud—no, that’s just not how I appreciate music.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that all my favorite artists are ‘em boring guessable ones. I like tunes that “that match my ears”, remember? So of course, I have a bunch of fave artists that come from the indie section. Like this London-based indie pop group named Autoheart which I started listening to since August last year. Don’t know them? Haha okay, what about this.

A friend of mine once asked me, after all the gigs of my idols I succeeded to catch, which artist(s) whose concerts I’d really dying to see. Well I’ve witnessed many of my faves. But still my life feels incomplete withouth these two. And so I answered

Bastille, and Imagine Dragons.

Pics are from here and here.

A British indie pop group, and an American indie rock band. Lead by vocalists named Dan Smith and Dan Reynolds –I don’t know what happens: whether the universe cospires, or they are made purely for me and meant for me but, what a coincidence to have both groups led by vocalists who share a same damn first name!?—these two had been on my iPod since the beginning of last year.

My love towards Bastille grew during my Bali trip in late 2013. It was “Flaw” that first came to my ears, which song to me, is Bastille’s best piece. Then I started listening to “Pompeii” in Vietnam-Cambodia 2014, “Overjoyed” in my recent Philippines 2014 trip, and I’m sure many more yet to listen.

Contact with Imagine Dragons was even longer. I brought “It’s Time” to Malaysia-Thailand 2013 –my very first solo trip experience!– and been in love since then. “Demon” was played all along my USA 2013 trip, while “On Top of the World” and “Radioactive” were always with me in Vietnam-Cambodia.

Those, and many other vacations and occasions afterwards, were times where I subconsciously fell in love with the bands.

A love I can’t do much about,

But listening to them through my headphones.

Cause these two, as I said, ’re pretty off the stream.

And would probably not come to Indonesia.

Please don't leave me hangin here, Dans. Pic's from here.

Many of my favorite artists come and go to Indonesia. David Guetta, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Calvin Harris –although I missed many of them too, but it’ll be much fulfilling if I can ever catch at least one of these bands. But yea, I don’t know.

Indonesia’s growing but it seems like international artists are much more interested to come to Tokyo or Hong Kong. And of course, Singapore.

But still I have faith in me. And I’ll definitely catch ‘em.

Right before they lost their Indie-ness

The Local Warming

So the day I was anxious about had come.

The day I referred to as my runaway, yea it came.

Yes, the day I meet my idol again.

Skenoo Exhibition Hall

September 1st, 2013

Can't really tell you how I exactly felt. This was his third time coming to Jakarta, and my second time coming to his gig. My friends didn't really expect him and even had no idea that he planned to come again. It also meant that, no one would ever be going to the concert.

So I don't care.

I watched it anyway.

Alone again and that was okay.

Unlike his second concert which was started around 9 and ended before 10, this time, the whole concert was much more humanized. We queued at an air conditioned hall, sitting, sequentially entered the main hall and only waited like one hour before the show started.

8 PM, music played, lights dimmed, bands started performing and boom! There came my all-time, top notch, irreplaceable idol. I knew I watched him before, but once I saw him on stage yesterday, it felt like my first time. I yelled, I chanted his name hysterically, I was like a male groupie.

He sang like every single hits he hit. His original songs, his songs where he got featured within, some popular songs as the bridge to his main songs, AAARRGGHH I DO LOVE HIM!! Funny thing was, I'm sure I was the only one who rapped with him. Other people, who stood in front of me, hindering my way from my idol, acted like his biggest fans, only sang the choruses which mostly done by featured artists. I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO MASTERED THE RAP!

And people glanced at me for that. I didn't really know, and care, what they were thinking about. But I'm sure it was either how could he do the rap?? or perhaps the contrary. Shut up, you stupid hoe! We're trying to enjoy Pitbull here! But what can I do, people?? It's just my nature to rap along Pitbull's songs. And I paid to feel the concert anyway, so the songs and the stage were half mine.

On some level of the concert, I stopped singing and just rolled my eyes to where that guy moved. The beat, the rap sensation, the lighting, the fvckin smokin hot dancers, the Armando Christian Perez...

I adored that guy.

I do, wholeheartedly, adore that guy.

I realized I wasn't just acting like a fanatic fan in front of my friends, these last three years.

But I, really am a fanatic fan of Pitbull.

After one hour and fifteen minutes, he got off the stage. People kept screaming "We want more, we want more!" but I knew, he wouldn't be coming out again. 

So the hall started to be clearing off, and I started to get near the stage and saw if I could bring something home. Earlier on the concert, Pit threw his recently-wiped-to-his-bald-head hankie right to my spot. But my hand couldn't stretched further and I failed several centimeters before a male scum bastard ass snatched the cloth right before my very face.

So yea once again, I only got a playlist paper.

Even a bule staff of his couldn't get me the towel...

Well then I returned home.

But no, I didn't feel down...

The concert really opened my mind about how I actually idolized Pitbull a lot.

People know that I like him, people turn to me when it comes to Pitbull.

The guy's all about me and it's just the other way around, vice versa.

But I just never realized that this thing is real deep.

Feels a bit dramatized eh? But no, I really mean it.

Then came the question, "How was Pitbull, Vick?"

"Rocked my night." I answered. "And I'm sure he'll be back soon.

Even if apparently, he's holding another concert tomorrow, well friend,

I'm so gonna see it again."

Worst Gig, Maybe...

If the fucking traffic jam,

If the sudden heavy rain, and

If the wet outfits are included.

Aside of that...

DAMN WHACKING PLAN!!

Djakarta Warehouse Project

At Istora Senayan, Dec 7th 2012

Emang sih, gue nonton cuma bertiga. Sama Cika sama Kejot. Yang lain entah dimana beredar ga karuan, gue gak bawa hape dan males ngubungin satu satu. Dan gue gak nonton dari awal. Karena macet yang guguk banget itu, gue baru sampe venue jam setengah 11. Dan stage yang gue pantengin cuma satu dari tiga.

Tapi entah gimana, gue ga ngerasa sia sia ngeluarin 500 ribu.

Meski gue cuma bisa nonton Angger Dimas yang gue gatau samsek lagu-lagunya -pun gue baru tau ada orang namanya Angger Dimas hari itu juga- sama Calvin Harris -gila aja kali kalo gue sampe ga dapet Calvin Harris, masa insiden 13/10 keulang lagi??- yang gue cuma tau tiga dari sekian lagu-lagunya... I was having fun though.

Apalagi pas "Feel So Close". Udah gangerti lagi keseruan yang terjadi di dunia pada saat itu. Berasa... Apa ya? Semacam hidup bebas hidup ringan tanpa perlu kerja karena uang dikasih sama pemerintah -beraque, mana mungkin yak :')

Trus yang bikin mood gue boosted adalah karena sejak awal, gue udah dapet semua insentif yang dijanjikan dengan maksimal. Foto booth dapet 3 -tanpa harus follow account twitter mereka- jadi masing-masing dapet satu. Neon stick dapet 6, masing-masing dapet dua. Gantungan Wakai, meskipun stoknya udah abis, tapi karena Kejot sama Cika anaknya seductive parah gitu kan, jadilah dapet 3.

But one thing I like the most from the event was, because I explored a little further about the other side of me that was able to enjoy the show wholeheartedly, sincerely. Was like Pitbull all over again. Without forces, without pushes and tensions, if you know what I mean.

Because with him,
even the gig that I thought was supposed to be the worst
Could turn so extremely marvelous

As I Say 'Gig', It Usually Means Standing And Dancing All Along

But for last night, well it's the other way around.

Jadi semalem gue nonton sebuah konser. Alhamdulillah dapet tiketnya gratis, tapi kayaknya gue gamau ceritain disini karena ntar merusak esensi postingan yang mau gue dedikasiin full buat

HITMAN

David Foster & Friends

Mata Elang International Stadium, Ancol

http://www.beadonorsavealife.com/david-foster-photos

Haha sumpah gue gapernah aware sama sekali sama si om David Foster ini. Bahkan awalnya gue kira dia penyanyi! Tapi setelah menelisik lebih jauh, akhirnya gue tau kalo dia ini pencipta lagu, dan lagu-lagunya dinyanyiin sama orang-orang tenar yang gue tau. Meski demikian, meski gue cuma tau satu dari lusinan lagu yang muncul dalam konser itu, gatau kenapa gue ngerasa seneng-seneng aja gitu nontonnya. Oh wait, gue tau!

Karena konser ini beda sama yang sebelum-sebelumnya. Ya ya, pas David Guetta juga gue bilang itu konser beda dari yang sebelumnya. Tapi yang ini beda dari awal sampe akhir, beda luar dalem!

First of all, and the most crucial thing, we didn't really have to take a queue. Damn, I love high-end concerts! Karena si promotor tau yang dateng bakalan orang-orang generasi terdahulu, jadilah seat nya tertulis di tiket, jadi gapake rebutan. And yes, we got a seat! Seumur-umur nonton konser, selalu bediri gitu kan trus jingkrak-jingkrakan ampe modar.

Then the line-up, well don't get me started with the line-up. But I have to!

Please click each name to see the source of the pics

Let's talk about each of them from left to right! Fernando Varela, gila suaranya dahsyat banget. Hayley Westenra, pertama kali denger doi nyanyi langsung keinget Celine Dion. Paul Young, yaaa gak terlalu berkesan tapi okelah. Chaka Khan, well I'm so gonna talk much about her on my next post. Kenny "Babyface" Edmond, ahh thanks to him because he sang "The End of The Road" which was the only song I know from the whole concert. Raisa, baca aja deh disini. Terakhir Dirty Loops, band dari Swedia apa kalo gasalah, yang semoga aja mereka cepet terkenal, jadi at least gue pernah nonton mereka pas masih cupu :')

One last thing that I loved was, the interactivity. Si David Foster nya itu kayak gak keburu-buru gituloh. Bawain lagu, becanda, ngundang orang, becanda lagi, ngajak penonton nyanyi, becanda lagi sama Om Pri, ngenalin anggota band, becanda lagi ahh lucu deh pokoknya. Beda banget ama Pitbull yang bet bet bet tiba-tiba udah selesai -tapi tetep, itu konser yang paling oke sejagad.

Trus ada satu segmen dimana si Babyface disuruh bikin lagu dari kata-kata yang bakal dipilih sama penonton, saat itu juga. Trus muncul ide bikin dari kata 'Obama', kata 'rainbow' usulan seorang gadis Malaysia, dan kata 'Pri' sebagai primadona yang dielu-elukan pada malam itu. Dan Babyface bisa aja gituloh bikin lagunya haha gue gak sempet ngerekam saking terpesonanya.

Tapi, ehm... Kadang karena terlalu iteraktif, muncullah orang-orang yang penjilat malesin yang argh pengen gue lempar pake makanan ayam biar kepalanya dipatokin. Jadi kan di beberapa sesi Om Foster kayak nyari talent gitu kan, siapa yang bisa nyanyi. Nah mulai deh berdatangan orang-orang yang sok ngefans, sok-sok bilang, "We watch you again because we love you" bla bla bla pup meong -had to smoothize the word.

Gue bukannya sirik ye, haha liat mungke si David Foster aja baru kemaren itu. Tapi gimana ya, gue males aja gitu liat orang-orang carmuk sok penting cem mereka. Haha sudah, sudah. Gue gamau mencemari kesakralan postingan ini hanya karena baby-baby -had to switch the words because I got complained hehe- itu.

Oke, sudah kepanjangan sepertinya. I gotta stop here. Dan gak kayak biasanya, gue pulang dari konser ini tanpa membawa cinderamata apapun.

Hmm yea well that's just fine, it was costless anyway.

Nevertheless, considering all those things, it was priceless.

There's a fine line between them

P.S. : Pas lagi nyari kata buat dibikinin lagu sama Babyface, awalnya si gadis Malaysia dengan seronoknya mengajukan kata 'Malaysia' like we were okay about that. Nyatanya? Ya nggak lah!! Satu auditorium langsung nge-huu-in dia trus David Foster nya bilang, "Malaysia? Hmm it's not sexy." huff puazz!

A Gig I Never Felt Before

Gue emang gak terlalu ngefans sama doi. Tapi beberapa lagunya itu featuring artis-artis tenar yang beberapa gue doyan. Jadi mumpung dirinya lagi kemari gitu kan, gada salahnya juga sih gue nonton. So, jadilah kemaren, gue dan temen-temen kampus gue tongkrongin

David Guetta

At Eco Park, Ancol

Karena jadwalnya barengan sama Big Bang yang konser di Mata Elang, plus itu adalah malem minggu, jadi walopun open gate nya itu jam 9, gue udah standby di Ancol dari Maghrib. Ketemu Ichoy, Key sama Cika trus kongko kongko dulu. Biasa laah anak muda fuuufuufufuuf.

Jam 11 pasukan udah lengkap, baru deh kita masuk. Disini lah gue menyadari bahwa konser ini beda dari yang pernah gue datengin sebelumnya. Yaiyalah, biasanya jam 11 udah ketar-ketir bingung mau pulang naik apa, lah ini jam 11 baru cekakak cekikik masuk gate. Di voucher nya pun bilang, kalo acara selesai jam 4. Nah loh, bingung kan tuh mau ijin cem apa ke orang rumah. Untung gue anaknya jarang melawan, selalu patuh dan rajin menabung. Jadi sekalinya minta ijin pulang pagi yaa dibolehin hohoho.

One thing else, Guetta nya baru muncul jam 1. Lebih dikit. Performa gue yang udah keluar rumah dari masih terang, belom makan malem dan tenaga udah abis buat jogetin DJ DJ sebelumnya, mulai menurun. Dan lo harus tau, beberapa saat sebelum jam 1, GUE KEBELET PUP! Perut aneh, belum diisi udah mau buang hajat. Mana spot udah pewe banget kan itu gue sama yang lain ada di tengah-tengah venue.

Tapi yaudah deh, gue lebih milih memanjakan perut yang udah 20 taun nemenin gue hidup itu -si Landra dengan nyinyirnya bilang, "Jadi lo lebih milih tai daripada joget bareng gue??" wakakak sampiz- dan dengan lemah gemulainya menerobos ribuan orang yang lagi asik joget tanpa ngerasain gejolak perut yang gue rasain. Iri sih, tapi ya gimana ya. Jalan hidup orang kan beda-beda. Kali ini jalan gue adalah toilet umum. Itu doang.

Sampe sana, antriannya panjang parah. Gue ngantri sambil duduk, meremas perut dan membujuknya supaya tahan lebih lama sampe akhirnya fireworks berkumandang. Penonton membahana. David Guetta masuk.

Gue berasa dikhianatin. Bayar 400 ribu cuma buat ngantri toilet yang lo mesti tau, pas tinggal tiga orang lagi sebelum akhirnya gue masuk ke toilet yang fana itu, ternyata di pintu tertempel sebuah pengumuman yang bunyinya, "Toilet hanya untuk buang air kecil."

Tiba-tiba hajat gue kayak naik lagi ke perut. Gue minggat, langsung balik ke venue buat join the parteyy. Tapi ya kan gamungkin ya gue nerobos itu angry mob buat balik ke temen-temen gue. Ya jadilah gue ke barisan paling belakang, duduk sambil ngetweet karena sakit perutnya belum beres.

Sedih sih. Akhirnya gue keluar venue aja daripada sakit hati. Eh gak berapa lama, temen-temen gue muncul. Mungke-mungkenye pada gak excited gitu. Ternyata menurut mereka, David Guetta nya kurang 'pecah', gak semenggigit yang diharapkan.

Justru special guest nya, yang gue tonton dari jam 11 sampe tiba saatnya waktu pup itu tiba, yang menurut mereka semua paling nampol. Yes, it was

Alesso

Untuuuuungg aja pas Alesso gue masih gagah perkasa. Joget-joget liar bareng Landra, bikin barikade supaya orang gak lewat-lewat, abis itu lonjak-lonjak dan foto-foto lucu. Dan untuuuuuungg aja David Guetta nya gak sehits itu. Jadi yaa kurang lebih keputusan gue buat ke toilet itu tepat -walopun ujung-ujungnya gue kaga jadi pup.

Ah gila, puas kok sebenernya. Apalagi ngelewatin itu bareng temen-temen tolol nan gila cem mereka semua. Some things are desperately needed to be reshared again at the campus, some things are mandatorily needed to be left by the park. Ngaco sih serunya, tapi mesti banget ada disana biar bisa ngerasainnya. Susah cuy kalo diceritain dari sini haha.

I might not get the chance to sing along some David G's songs I like.

But the memories I got last night, well it replaced the money I spent.

Can't wait to attend DWP!

'Gigs' Is a Four Letter Words

Konser pertama, gue udah hampir nonton. Muncul di JJF2009 sebagai special show, tapi karena mesti nambah budget, jadi ogah-ogahan. Padahal bokap udah nawarin bayarin tiketnya tapi dengan lagak sok-dewasa-gak-mau-ngebebanin-orang-tua-lagi gue itu, gue pun nolak. Gagal dengan indahnya.

Konser kedua, gak kepikiran buat nonton. Diadain tahun 2011, tahun dimana gue lagi dalam masa-masa terpuruk yang pernah gue alami, PLUS digelarnya di Bali, ehm, ga mungkin banget gue nonton.

Konser ketiga, keadaan mulai stabil. Tabungan memadai, jadwal manggungnya nggak ganggu kegiatan pribadi, dan diadainnya di Jakarta. Will I not attend this one after failed watching the first two?

Of course not!! Cause he may not coming back again.

Jason Mraz

http://id.tiket.com/jasonmraz

Yoehh, beberapa detik setelah gue baca di timeline kalo doi bakal dateng lagi, gue langsung teguhkan iman siapkan dompet buat nonton konsernya. Untung ada Derry yang mau dititipin beli tiket fuuufufufu.

Jadi 22 Juni 2012, kemaren, adalah jadwal konsernya. Open gate kata Derry jam 6 dan nyanyi-nyanyinya mulai jam 8. Inget kan kalo saya sedang magang? Nah jadi sebelum berangkat gue udah siap-siap semuanya, termasuk strategi gimana caranya gue keluar dari kantor kalo bisa lebih cepet, dan caw ke Senayan dengan efektif dan efisien.

Seperti biasa, gue cukup banyak nganggur di kantor kemaren. Abis solat Jum'at dieeeeeemm aja sampe jam 3an. Karena ngerasa kering dan gerah trus gue samperin Pak Joko dari biro internal buat ngasih gue kerjaan.  Dikasihlah gue sebuah artikel untuk diedit. Bet bet bet, beres. Nganggur lagi sampe akhirnya jam setengah 5,  setelah jiwa dan raga siap untuk siap-siap beranjak ke Senayan, gue dapet kerjaan lagi dari si bapak.

Udah was-was kan tuh, tinggal satu jam sebelum pulang dan gue harus ngedit satu artikel lagi. Dan baru mulai berapa kalimat, komputer yang gue pake dipinjem orang buat ngirim email. Muka udah nanar nih. Duduk udah resah gelisah semacem naro pantat di atas kompor.

Ketika komputer lowong, langsung gue babat itu artikel -tetap dengan ketelitian penuh dan standar profesionalitas berdedikasi tinggi tentunya- dan grabak-grubuk buru-buru keluar. Absen dulu, turun ke bawah, jalan cepat ke shelter busway, naik bis ampe halte GBK dan you know what next? Dari FX sampe JCC gue lari. Literally lari. Kegiatan melangkahkan kaki dengan kecepatan tinggi guna memperkuat otot betis. Lari.

Nyampe lapangan D, setelah menenangkan diri dan mengenyahkan ngos-ngosan, gue minta tiket dari Derry trus masuk dan gabung di antrean bareng Icha sama Resti. Ngantri bentar, body checking bla bla bla trus masuk ke venue dan mulailah prosesi menunggu seperti pada konser-konser pada umumnya.

Jam setengah 9, barulah Jason Mraz keluar. Along with his band. Riuh kan pastinya. Tapi untung orang-orang di sekitar gue nggak barbar dan gak desek-desekan. Yaa mungkin karena mau sedempet apapun juga, kita ngga bakal bisa deketin stage karena, ehm, tiketnya kelas reguler bu :')

Anyway, gue, seperti biasa, sudah siap dengan kamera membumbung di angkasa sebelum konser dimulai. Lalu pelan-pelan mereka mainin satu per satu lagunya dan pelan-pelan gue menyadari kalau suara mas Jason jernih parah. Pelan-pelan juga gue mulai males ngerekam tiap penampilan doi dan lebih milih buat ikutan nyanyi kalo lagunya gue tau dan apal, atau at least ngedengerin aja kalo lagunya gue gak tau.

Parah, dewa banget ini orang. Suaranya patut disembah -tapi tetep, Allah lah sembahan utamaku- karena merdunya bukan main. Ada satu lagu dimana dia semacem ceriosa gitu. Gue gatau lagu apa, tapi yang gue tau gue merinding pas dengernya.

Konsepnya yang bukan cuma Mraz-centered aja, tapi focus on the whole band too, bikin konser ini jadi semacem Java Jazz gitu. Orang lebih pengen berdiri anteng buat nikmatin musiknya daripada joget-joget ga keruan. Padahal tempat di lapangan D, outdoor tuh.

Setelah I Won't Give Up selesai dimainin, selesai juga konsernya. Bubaran deh orang-orang dengan tenang dan rapih dan berwajah puas tentunya. One more time, gue gak ngerasa rugi ngeluarin uang segitu.

I loved Jason Mraz's voice. And his personality too. He is funny, and more of an ice breaker. He also sang some bridge song about Jakarta anniversary, about growing older because by the next day he'll be having birthday, and some other bridge song just to connect one song to another. That guy, is brilliant.

What a show, I must say.

And hats off to you, Mr A-Z.

Thanks for coming for the third time, but

How did you know I missed your first two?

More Like a Diary But Still... It's a Story of a Gig, People!

Alhamdulillah subhanallah maha besar Allah akhirnya UAS selesai juga!!

Kaco ini semester, gak boong. Gue kira bakalan santai banget kan. Pas UTS juga oke-oke aja, nah pas UAS... Sudahlah capek gue ngomongin yang satu ini, gimana kalo denger cerita gue yang kemaren.

On January 11th 2012

At Tennis Indoor Senayan

I watched

FOSTER THE PEOPLE

http://idolator.com/5829132/foster-the-people-interview-coachella-kanye-west

Padahal masih ada take home 4 biji yang belom selesai, yang harus dikumpulin hari ini, tapi who cares mate?? It is Foster The People! The only indie band I ever enjoyed!

So on that day, kinda sucks actually. Awalnya doang sih. Jadi gue bediri dari mulai open gate dari jam setengah 5, ngantri masuk pintu ampe jam 7 kurang apa kalo gasalah, PUN masih harus nunggu di depan stage ampe jam 8 lewat. Intinya, tema kita -well, saya seorang maksudnya- hari itu adalah BERDIRI. STAND UP. HOLD STILL. NO SITTING. STRONG CALVES. SO TIRED. CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT!

Dan semua orang kayak kompakan gitu bikin gue kesel. Ada satu mbak-mbak bogel gamau ngalah. Celah dikit doi nyelip. Mentang-mentang kerdil. Tapi gue juga gamau kalah. Kaki gue gue selipin duluan. Emang sih pose gue jadi janggal kayak pose miss universe gitu, yang kakinya kedepan satu. Tapi bodo ah.

Udah berhasil dapet spot eeehhh gak seaduhai itu rupanya. Di belakang gue ada koko-koko yang ngintilin gue. Gue maju, doi ikutan. Alhasil, jarak tubuh kita tuh kayak cuma berapa senti. Nah depan gue ada mbak-mbak badannya gede aduhai dan bajunya tipis. Kalo gue maju dan nempel tuh cewek, hehe bisa kena tabok dong gueee, ntar dikira bokep. Mau mundur si koko ngelipet tangan #likeaboss. Asik kan? jadi deh badan gue condong ke depan. Mau ngapa-ngapain juga harus pake perhitungan karena gak semudah itu ngegerakin anggota badan. Sarap emang.

Tapi teteup, semua itu ilang seketika pas bang Mark, bang Mark, sama bang Cubbie masuk ke stage. Kyakyaaaaa, kaki udah gatel kan pengen jingkrak-jingkrakan. Orang-orang pada maju, spot kosong pun bermunculan. Ah udah deh, kalo udah lampu mati, spotlight sama stage light dimana-mana, semua orang langsung lupa diri.

One thing that I regret, was because I didn't master all their lyrics. Bete banget sumpah kalo nyanyi tapi gagap karena gak apal. Untung mereka mainnya oke. PARAH OKENYA. Kayak cuma diliatin aja tuh udah bikin puas dan gak nyesel ngeluarin uang. Dan lagi, paling nggak gue udah apal lah nada lagunya gimana. Jadi gue tetep bisa ngikutin.

Oh satu hal yang bukan main luar biasanya adalah, the drumplay. Sumpah ya Mark Pontius sama siapa tuh satu lagi gebuk drumnya keren gila! Kayak ngamuk tapi seindah alunan harpa. Si Mark Foster nya juga mainan drum gitu dan sama serunya!! ngacoooo ngaco!

Nah puncaknya nih ya, pas lagu terakhir Pumped Up Kicks. By the end of the show si Mark turun dari stage dan manjat pager pembatas. Kaget gak sih lo? Seketika manusia di depan gue pada lari semua ngerubungin doi. Lahan kosong kan nih? Yaudeh gue ikutan nerobos. Haha kocak deh mana mungkenye si Mark panik gitu kan gak nyangka tuh fans-fans bakal seliar itu.

Selesai acara? Tentu saja gue gak langsung pulang.
Berkebun lagi, sodara-sodara!!

Tapi kali ini fail...

Kertas playlist pun gadapet. Gue cuma dapet botol minum bekas Cubbie Fink. Kagatau dah buat apaan tuh aqua, pas gue ambil masih penuh. Tapi yaudahlah ya, at least itu botol udah pernah ngerasain satu stage sama FTP. Dan tutupnya udah kebuka sih, jadi asumsiin aja deh ya itu aer udah sempet diminum :')

Selesai itu gerecokan dulu sama Dindut dkk, foto-foto dulu sama Paula, pulang nurunin Nunu di cikini dan Ami di Rawamangun. Tuntas? ya, untuk hari itu. Besoknya gue masih berkutat lagi dengan 4 take home biadab perusak impian itu

Thank God it's Friday, those darn things had disappeared like HOUDINI.
Let's just welcome the holiday and WASTE some epic time slacking off.
This month off, DON'T STOP me from doing dumb things ;)


P.S. : Ami menang meet and greet FTP. Udah kok, gitu aja... Gue gamau ngomong panjang lebar soal ini :')

Spontaneous, Mood-Swinger Mr WorldGig

Kalian ngerti nggak seberapa ngefansnya gue sama penyanyi rapper gila asal Cuba yang satu ini?? Yaa, gak fanatik banget sih tapi parah gue pengen banget bisa nonton dia live.

Pitbull

Udah dari bulan Juli gue tau kalo dia mau dateng, dari yang awalnya mau di Balai Kartini, ke Istora sampe akhirnya jadinya di Tennis Indoor. Dan Juli itu kan gue baru pulang dari Bali, lagu doi masih nempel parah di kuping gue jadinya gue mau banget banget bangetan nonton.

Tapi ngeliat harga tiketnya, gue pun ciut. Uang baru aja dipake buat The Script dan gue juga mau nonton Foster The People -mumpung harganya masih jauh lebih terjangkau. Nah jadilah gue kubur dalam-dalam harapan bertemu si botak.

tapi...

Sunday, December 4

Tiba-tiba temen gue ada yang nawarin tiket Pitbull. 800 ribu dapet dua, dan itu FESTIVAL. Pengen kayang gak sih dengernya? Harga aslinya tuh satunya 935, kalo gue beli dari temen gue itu dan satu tiketnya gue jual pake harga asli, dengan kata lain gue dapet untung 100 ribuan dan bisa nonton Pitbull secara cuma-cuma!!! Mungkin gak gue tolak tawaran doi?

tapi lagi...

Monday, December 5

Ternyata ada yang nawar tiketnya dengan harga yang jauh lebih tinggi. Temen gue bilang masih belum fix dibeli sih, tapi seharian gue udah leye-leye aje, berasa nungguin istri lahiran. Udah gue minta doa sana sini biar berhasil dan malemnya pas gue telpon... Yeayyy, udah kejual :')

akhirnya...

Tuesday, December 6

Ini KIAMAT buat gue. Lo harus tau gue udah download banyak lagu Pitbull buat dipelajarin, gue udah ngeliat blueprint Tennis Indoor dan nyusun strategi mau nonton dari mana, tapi semuanya sia-sia. Dan hari itu semua orang nanya-nanya, "Pitbull tuh hari ini kan ya?" atau "Vik lo gajadi nonton Pitbull?" dan bahkan si Izzat sama Sizi nonton!! Shit man, shit! Persis banget sama pas Bruno Mars.

tapi tunggu...

Tuesday, December 6, 05:30 PM

Gue dan beberapa temen laknat gue lagi jaga stand CommUI Cup sambil ketawa-ketawa, berusaha ngelupain kegetiran hidup. Tiba-tiba Eda nyeletuk, "Vik gue mau nunjukin sesuatu tapi plis jangan banting hapenya ya..." dan gue baca apa yang dia tunjukkin. Ternyata si Dea punya TIKET GRATIS PITBULL DARI DETIKCOM DAN GAK ADA ORANG YANG NGAMBIL. Kaki udah lemes kan nih, kayak gada tulangnya gitu. Ah langsung lah itu bocah satu gue telpon, tapi... Ternyata yang punya tiket stand by di kantor cuma sampe jam 5. Gue pun leye-leye lagi.

ehm, belum selesai...

Tuesday, December 6, 05:35 PM

Udah desperate parah nih ceritanya. iPod Icha gue pasang lagunya Pitbull, berusaha menghibur diri dengan mendatangkan suasanya yang sejatinya hampir serupa dengan Tennis Indoor :') dan gak lama Dea nelpon Eda, dan langsung dioper ke gue...

Bayangin deh. lo lulus UAN, keluarga seneng-seneng kan, ngajak makan malem deh. Pas lagi di restoran lo dapet kabar lolos SIMAK. Kebelet pulang gak sih? Nah pas otw tempat parkiran ada talent scout nawarin lo ikut casting yang kemungkinan lolosnya tuh kayak ampe 90% gitu.

Nah itu perasaan gue pas Dea nelpon dan ngasitau kalo tiketnya masih bisa diambil. Tapi resikonya, gue bakal telat masuk venue karena open gate itu jam setengah 7.

Peduli gak sih? Bisa dateng aja gue udah sukur, dapet paling belakang asal kepala kinclong ama kacamata si Pitbull keliatan mah gue udah juga seneng.

Akhirnya gue lari ninggalin semua kenyataan. Literally lari. Dari kampus ke kosan. Ambil uang, ambil baju, ambil parfum, langsung caw naik taksi ke kantor detikcom di Pejaten. Sebenernya hati udah chaos banget tuh, tapi untung sopirnya bapak-bapak ramah gitu, pinter nyari jalan pintas pula haha the best deh lau, PakDang -nama bapaknya Dadang, serius.

Keluar dari kantor gue pandangin tuh tiket penuh kemenangan, gue foto, gue tweet dan gue baru menyadari kalo tiket itu adalah... FESTIVAL!! *sembah Allah* Dari sono pake taksi yang sama gue langsung ke Senayan. Beneran deh Allah lagi sayang banget sama gue hari itu, gak macet sama sekali cuuuuuyyy.

Nyampe Tennis Indoor jam setengah tujuh lewat dan gate belom dibuka HAHA untuk kali ini gue cinta sama kebiasaan ngaret orang Indonesia. Setelah ngantri cukup lama, akhirnya gue sampe di dalem jam delapan kurang. Masih opening kan, yaaa kalem aja deh gue.

Melihat sekeliling, gue membatin. Kayaknya semua kesitu sama temen atau siapapun lah, gak sendirian. Sedangkan gue? Berasa ansos, bawa-bawa ransel pula cem teroris. Tapi bodo deh, yang penting gue nonton. Posisi bener-bener di tengah, diitung dari sudut koordinat manapun. Pol banget deh hokinya.

Jam sembilan lewat baru mulai. Ini air mata rasanya mau tumpah ngeliat rapper idola gue muncul di panggung. Gue yang tadinya diem kayak siput langsung liar pecicilan macem gajah kena tombak. Orang-orang sekitar udah risih tuh gue yakin, "Ini apa coba bocah sendirian kagak punya temen tapi joget-joget tereak-tereak berasa satu Tennis Indoor kenal sama doi," tapi siapa peduli woy?? SIAPA??

Etapi bener-bener ya artis tenar kalo udah sukses tuh pelitnyaa naujubile. Dateng gapake surprise apa-apa, langsung nyanyi bet bet bet tiga lagu sekaligus baru berenti. Basa-basi muji-muji Jakarta, nyanyi lagi sepotong, ganti lagu lain sepotong, ganti lagiiii gitu-gitu terus ampe akhirnya terakhir Give Me Everything full, trus doi keluar. Total kira kira cuma 45-50 menitan.

Yasudah apa daya, ternyata beneran cuma sebentar. padahal udah ditereakin "We want more, we want more" tapi gak keluar-keluar juga. Yowis, gak berapa lama ladang menyepi, gue pun melipir ke pager, menjalankan misi yang sama seperti The Script kemaren: 'berkebun'. Setelah perjuangan minta botol air bekas Pitbull yang dikasih ke orang tepat di sebelah gue, setelah rebutan selampe sama ratusan angry mob dan gagal, akhirnya yang gue dapet cuma kisi kisi lagu lagi :')

Udah, abis itu gue nyerah. Keluar Tennis Indoor, naik taksi -lagi-lagi sopirnya asik, abang Batak gitu, gaul masih kuliah dan doyan nonton konser juga- depan FX trus pulang ke rumah dengan indahnya. Puas? P-A-R-A-H. Dengan 150rb rupiah untuk ongkos Depok - Pejaten - Senayan - Kelapa Gading saja, gue udah bisa nonton Pitbull yang harga tiketnya hampir sejuta

Gangerti lagi harus bersyukur kayak apa ya Allah...

Dan thanks banget buat Dea, sumpah lo emang emang emangggg!!!

Aaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh, I knew I would made it!!

So satisfied I finally fulfill my rap-along-with-Pitbull passion.

Dale!

For The First Time, A Gig!!

Jadi semua bermula dari rumah jam 1, naik busway, dempeti-dempetan dan panas-panasan penuh perjuangan ke rumah Dindut. Sampe sana udah jam 3, gue udah kayak Dead Man Walking.

Gapake istirahat gue langsung nyetir ke Central Park. Untung di mobil ada hiburan. Jadilah kami semua warm up dulu dengerin lagu-lagunya The Script, sambil siapin kebetan sama kisi-kisi berupa lirik sama playlist lagu yang kira-kira bakal muncul nanti.

Jam 6 udah ngedemprok di Pullman Ballrom bareng 4 ribuan manusia lainnya. Pas pintu dibuka, hemm... chaos lah ya pastinya. Pintu yang gue antriin stuck gatau kenapa. Sedangkan dua pintu sisanya udah terbuka lebar bagai pintu surga.

Jadilah kami merubah haluan. Gue udah gak peduli lagi langsung semua gue hantam, I'm a Man Who Can't Be Moved and everything around me were just Nothing. Tubuh gue yang tipis dan selincah kijang ini menembus riuhnya angry mob dan gue langsung dapet spot di tengah ballroom. Mayan lah.

Tapi yang bikin mpet, acara baru mulai jam 8. Itu juga baru basa-basi doang, opening dari Mike's sama Groovyland (yang menurut gue sih lumayan bagus, tapi karena mereka bawa lagu ampe 7 biji, orang-orang udah keburu demek... Kasian sih tapi liat mereka di-huuu-in) sama aduh apa ya itu satu lagi gue lupa namanya. Kaki udah leye-leye rasanya, You Won't Feel a Thing about your feet.

Pokoknya lama banget gila ampe akhirnya jam setengah 10, Before The Worst happened, they got up on stage and...

We Cry. Histeris. Ya, reaksi semua orang termasuk gue. Akhirnya gue bisa juga nonton apa yang gue mau setelah keabisan Maroon 5 sama gagal dengan manisnya pas Bruno Mars :')

Bang Danny, bang Mark ama bang Glen... Mereka semangat banget performnya. Kite sekampung ditweet pic pula hahaha. Mereka bawain 13 lagu. 4 dengan lancar gue nyanyiin tereak-tereak meski agak tone deaf, 6 gak apal sambil open source, 3 sisanya baru tau hari itu juga hehe.

picture belongs to @thescript, captured by Mark

Tapi gila lah. Kaco kaco kaco! Gue ampe bingung mau jelasin disininya kayak gimana. Yang pasti gue makin ngefans sama mereka yihaa!!

Tuntas acara, gue ngegembel dulu di depan stage. Tiap ada mas mas deketin pager, langsung datengin. Orang-orang dapet pick gitar, stick drum, selampe si Danny, kaos, lah gue cuma dapet kisi-kisi konser. Udah kayak orang dongo pas berebutan kertas, gue kira isi tanda tangan gitu kan. Gataunya... Haha yaa gapapa lah buat kenang-kenangan. But note this, The Script! If You Ever Come Back, i'll be getting more than just a piece of paper of your playlist!

Out of Central Park, it was not The End for me. Gue didrop di Sizzler deket GI trus... Lanjutin malmingan bareng some other friends HAHAHA mumpung lagi gak dicariin cuuy.

Okay, so in conclusion...

WHAT A WEEKEND, EH??

After all the struggle, all the waiting,

And all the standing for that long,

When i finished watching you guys,

I call it Breakeven

P.S. : tadi pagi gue liat siapa lah artis gajelas ngewawancarain The Script di tivi. agak pengen nimpuk sih sebenernya, tapi gue langsung inget perkataan Devina kalo kita harus sportif :')