| fly or die | |
| Monday, July 26, 2004 | |
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Just chillin'
"Isn't he amazing?" June groaned. I raked my brains for something polite to say but my mind drew blanks. I was dragged to Starbucks, Mid Valley, on a freaking hot Sunday afternoon because June says there's this musician I must listen to. I eyed the man in question - tall, skinny, in jeans, dirty boots and crumpled pale blue cotton shirt which looked like he woke up in, half an hour ago. He had a scowl on the face, disheveled hair (or was it an organised mess?) with a cigarette perpetually hanging from his lips. Honestly, he really wasn't much to look at and I kept thinking, 'Why?' "You mean that guy, is it?" I jabbed with my chin at some other cute guy, a little way off. "No! Him!" she protests, offended at my apparent lack of 'taste'. Pete Teo, June says and for reasons unknown to me, is a hottie. He was nominated for the recent AIM awards, has a spiffy website that won Arachnid some gongs, and an even cooler music video that's also bagging some. Ah, he has a weblog too. The guys writes well, that much I must concede. "His lyrics are beautiful," she continues. "Marianne Called kills me, man!" "Okay," I said. "I shall, for your sake, give him the benefit of the doubt." I was on my second tall latte, and getting a little impatient. The HSBC's Chill Out thingy was set to start at 6pm but they were still doing endless soundchecks. I looked around for a feedback form to vent on - none! That aside, I must say it is a grand idea from HSBC, Starbucks and KLue. Local talents get to showcase their stuff and the indie scene gets a much needed shot in the arm. Yeah, yeah, I know they a hidden agenda of selling credit cards, coffee and CDs but as always, nothing is free. As long as everyone goes home happy, hey, I'm all for it. Slotted for yesterday was Jason Lo, Disagree and Pete Teo. But Lo didn't make the show, so folksy, cute chick Shelley Leong who just cut an album, Story Teller, did the opening instead. Shelley was accompanied by Az Samad of Dalcha Duo on guitar. Az was awesome. I could watch his cute face and lightning fingers all day. Az is the progeny of acclaimed poet laureate Samad Said and I read here that he accompanies his father's poetry reading on acoustic guitar too. Oh, what I would give to listen to that. As for Shelley, I'll say her music wasn't my cuppa. Nice effort though. Disagree was cool. Neat tunes. But I thought the singing was badly muffled - don't know whether it was his voice or the sound system. Nonetheless, I was impressed with the drummer/percussionist. That man knows how to beat the hell out of those drums. Then Pete came on and I began to see why June has the hots for him. On stage, the man transforms. He trades in his scowl for a wide, boyish, almost impish grin. He cajoles the dull, unresponsive audience. He gets us to clap and sing along. His music is refreshing. His vocals moving. He's as slick as a snake charmer. Jesselton Tonight and Arms of Marianne were upbeat and momentarily lifted the staid crowd. Pete definitely provided the high notes of the evening. I looked around and saw lots of beaming faces and quite a few women with a hynotized glaze in their eyes. As for lyrics, well, I couldn't quite make them out. You have to listen to the CD, June insists. "So you want to have his babies or what?" I asked, as we strolled out of Starbucks. She sighs, "If only." Which goes to prove my theory that women are suckers for the brooding, artistic types. Now why didn't you guys practise your chord progressions way back then? P.S. Why? Still don't believe that a skinny Cina apek can be hot? For Pete's next event, click here.  Pete drives chicks wild.
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