Tag Archive for 'Patrick Chng'

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The axemen cometh

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by Christopher Toh
Published at 12:59 am, October 4, 2010

Guitar enthusiasts unite!

Starting TONIGHT, The Esplanade will be featuring some of our top guitarists doing what they do best. It’s a series of performances entitled Me & My Guitar, as part of their At The Concourse series. Mind you, it’s acoustic guitar performances, so you know you’ll be in for a treat. For the month of October, you can expect the following (and luckily for you guys, I will not be appearing! haha):

 Monday, 4 October 2010 & Wednesday, 6 October 2010 – Randolf Arriola
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

sml randolf

He’s got more special effects on his guitar than the movie Avatar, but Randolf makes it work so much better.

Tuesday, 5 October 2010 – Paul Danial
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

You want rock? You got rock.

Thursday, 7 October 2010 – Rosli Mansor
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

sml rosli IMG_1937-editdgbn1

If you’re looking for notes that are smoother than a glass of Bailey’s, this is it.

Monday, 18 October 2010 – Patrick Chng
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

Simple. Melodic. Effective.

Tuesday, 19 October 2010 – Dominic Wan
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

band3

This guy has got to be one to the best acoustic guitar players I’ve had the pleasure to perform with (that’s him on the left and me on the right, flanking Pam Oei, back in the days when we were called Peculiar Remedies.)

Wednesday, 20 October 2010 – Ahmad Khalid
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

He’s the head Silhouette, but you’ll be getting more than just a silhouette of his ideas at this session.

Thursday, 21 October 2010 – David Ng
7.15pm – 7.45pm
8.15pm – 8.45pm

David has been performing with just about everybody and just about everywhere since he was 17.
And once you’re done with this, you might want to check out the CGP himself, Tommy Emmanuel, who’ll be in town Oct 24, performing at Esplanade Concert Hall.

No part of the guitar too sacred to make music from

Trust me, if you’ve not seen him perform then… what, don’t you go to YouTube? But seriously, he’s got to be one of the best guitar-pickin’ players I’ve ever seen – along with Paul Ponnadurai, John Williams, Julian Bream and Chet Atkins, of course.


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Making a hopeful Noise

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by Christopher Toh
Published at 4:02 am, September 20, 2010

I SPENT a sweltering Saturday at Timbre@Arts House, listening to music made in Singapore. No, there wasn’t a festival going on. It was the “second cut” for The Apprentice Programme (TAP), a selection process where the mentors of TAP select which of the already whittled-down applicants they want to mentor as part of this year’s Noise Singapore.

noise applicant 1 IMG_3867

Doing the duties were Kevin Mathews (a long supporter of local music and a musician himself), Patrick Chng (guitarist for Typewriter and some say ‘godfather’ of the local indie scene of the ’90s), Jon Chan (lead singer of rock band Plainsunset), Don Richmond and Jason Tan (producers – Taufik, Hady, Mark Bonafide, Sezairi Sezali, Sylvia Ratonel, 53A and more) and Dave Tan (lead singer of Electrico).

Mentors and applicants get to talk (from left): Jon Chan, Jason Tan, Dave Tan, Don Richmond, Patrick Chng and Kevin Mathews
Mentors and applicants get to talk (from left): Jon Chan, Jason Tan, Dave Tan, Don Richmond, Patrick Chng and Kevin Mathews

I don’t envy them the task of sorting out the applicants who, despite the searing heat and obvious nerves, were brave enough to put themselves and their music on the line. It’s not easy going to auditions knowing that your future could change because of it. I know. I’ve had my fair share of rejections auditioning for other bands through the years post-AWOL before finally getting into the groove with the guys – and gal – from Melt, possibly the most fun band and friends I’ve had the blessed pleasure to know.

noise applicant 2 IMG_3877

Anyway, the potential apprentices were as varied as they come: Apart from the slew of singer-songwriters, there was  “symphonic goth”, rap, rock and even an instrumental group.  Who’s going through TAP? We’ll know in a couple of days.


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Stefanie! Liam! Tommy! Rosli! The Lion Story!

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by Christopher Toh
Published at 3:19 pm, October 28, 2009

Thought I’d just pop in with a quick update on the ins-and-outs this week.

Firstly, Liam Gallagher. The ex-Oasis frontman says he’ll be back in the music scene soon enough, but it’s “not Oasis, something else. But I’m having a breather from music for a bit, without a doubt”, he said.

sml oasis IMG_8310

“I’m still who I am and I can go and do something else. I’ve got music in me. I’ll never leave it behind but we’ll see where it goes. It might be shite but you don’t know until you try.”

Someone who’s also trying something new is one of our favourite pop stars, Stefanie Sun.

 perfect cut

 She was recently in Beijing to film the music video for Mu Lan Qing, the theme song for the upcoming movie, Hua Mulan. The 31-year-old had hair extensions added to look the part. She also mentioned that she admired the character’s strong, um, character.

Her mentors Lee Wei Song and Lee Si Song wrote the lyrics to the tune and this is the first time she’s going a movie theme song. Will it work? Time will tell, but at least we’ll get to hear her on the airwaves again.

Speaking of airwaves, acoustic flavours fill the air this week. Tomorrow night, guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, CGP, will perform at the DBS Auditorium.

 sml tommy emmanuel 17

Those who didn’t buy tickets, let me tell you what you’ll be missing – ONE HECK OF A GREAT SHOW, if his previous gigs are anything to go by.

Then on Friday at the Singapore Art Museum, it’s the monthly OOOM @ SAMonce again. That’s Originals Only Open Mic, where you can get to show off your songwriting and singing skills. Special adjudicators will be there but not Dick Lee, Florence Lian or Ken Lim. Making a special appearance is The Lion Story (below), a trio who are slowly-but-surely making waves in the music scene. They’re preparing for a new album to be out in 2010. Definitely one to watch out for.

sml lion story 022

And lastly, another album we’re also watching out for is the new offering by one of Singapore’s top guitarists, Rosli Mansor’s Deeper Than Purple.

sml rosli IMG_1937-editdgbn1

According to keyboardist Gavin Cardoza (the dude who plays with local rock band Energy and is featured on one track), making an album like this requires guts, and Rosli’s “got it”. Check out how Rosli’s faring at http://terrabox.wordpress.com.

Another site to check out is Walk On Music, run by Patrick Chng and Don Bosco, two guys who know what they’re talking about when it comes to local music and who are also trying to put English local musos on the map.

walkon

Catch their new video series called S-Indie TV on http://www.walkonmusic.net.


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Helping the music scene – James Woo

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by Christopher Toh
Published at 6:29 am, September 24, 2009
Sorry James, had to crib this off your Facebook!
James Woo, the music man behind the scene. (Sorry James, had to crib this off your Facebook!)

THIS is just a shout-out to James Woo, the guy who runs Soft.com (http://soft.com.sg) whom I feel is one of those guys who aren’t appreciated enough.

(Sorry James, I know you usually shun the publicity, but too bad, this is my blog – ha ha! And no, readers, he is NOT paying me for this.)

For those who don’t know, James not only handles Soft, he’s always at gigs either scouting for talent for Soft TV, or helping gig organisers, or just simply lending moral support. He’s also been seen judging at music competitions and auditions, and has been supporting the local music scene here for as long as I can remember.

And he’s soooo not tao about the fact that every musician I know heads over to his website when they want any sort of info or whatever to do with local music.

I don’t know, isn’t it high time Compass or whoever it is that handles music awards these days should give him – and all the people behind the scenes like producer Leonard Soosay, promoters like Willy Ang and Jonathan How, the guys who run Wake Me Up Music, and staunch local music supporters like Paddy Chng and Don Bosco – a special award for his contribution to, and for helping promote and sustain, local music?

So here’s a nod for to James and a blurb for this weekend’s event…

drum xchange

The 14th Drum Xchange Singapore
What: Club/Group Meeting
Date: 27 September at 12:05
Where: Geylang East Public Library, Merpati Hall 3rd Floor
James says, “Come and meet fellow SOFTies!”

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=166602923746&mid=122ebd3G2340abb0G2da25e9G7

Have drums will rock. (Thanks to Maurice and Erik for this shot!)
Have drums will roll (Thanks to Maurice and Erik for this shot!)

(I’m not a drummer, but I like the fact that it starts at 1205hrs instead of 1200hrs. You can still make it to catch the F1 race after.)


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