Son Of Age

Showing posts with label Malaysian Band. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysian Band. Show all posts


Do anything to be caught in sight, underground it, you’re overbearing, don’t need your shit, I can swallow mine” – excerpt taken from “Pussycat"

27th March 2010...

It was a tepid, windless night, the first ever Earth Hour event in Kuching was held at the parking lot outside the Green Heights Mall.

The friends I came with were scattered everywhere but the stage area. I was on the side, listening to a guy bawling his brains out by attempting to sing “My Sacrifice” by Creed.

[warning: criticism towards local music ahead]
Malaysian bands/musicians in general always had this copycat mentality and at the event, I was a bit disappointed with the Sarawakian side so far as I was hoping for some local talent to wow me with their musical prowess.
[end of critical insight]

It was bad enough that we were surrounded by yuppies and hipsters, seemingly there for the scenesterism but I could be wrong.

At this point, I was already at my peak of tolerance conjoin with pure, unadulterated boredom and sweat. I wasn’t in the mood to hear another acoustic version of some Lady Gaga song and I wasn’t that ecstatic for the next and final act all the way from the urban jungle of KL.

I didn’t care much for their runner-up status in the Yamaha Asian Beat Competition or whether they won second place at Global Battle of the Bands (GBOB).

Kyoto Protocol…

Why did they name themselves after a protocol created by the UNFCCC to combat global warming?

The band got up on stage, their lead vocalist introduced the rest of the band members.

The band comprised of Fuad Alabester on Guitar and lead vocalist, Gael Oliveres  the backup vocals/Keys, Hairi Haneefa on guitar, Shakeil Bashir playing the bass and Shanjeev Reddy on drums.

[Note:  At the time of the event in 2010, Rashid Brown was the drummer for the band]

I can’t recall what their first song was but it took me by surprise from the beginning, whether it was the shredding of guitar riffs in perfect harmony with the keys and drums or the strong boisterous clear crisp vocals of Fuad, either way, the band was charismatic as they come.

They commanded the crowd with back and forth sing-along songs and superb crowd interaction.
I heard their two original songs that got me hooked as a stalking fan boy.

The first one was “I am not (Marlboro Man)”, a modern day country western and “Pussycat”, a bleeding heart social commentary on following the crowd mentality.

The night ended the show on a good note. I zealously search them via Google the next day and found their reverbnation page, coincidentally I have my own reverbnation page and it was easier to comment on their page.

They commented back, even complimenting me on my songs, even recommending me on their twitter account . Take note, I don’t care much for those 'MySpace' artists fanning me back because I fan them or vice versa, I’ve always wanted honest supporters and they seem to fit the bill or at least they’re good at lying.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I met them once again this year at an Earth Hour event at Damai Central. Prior to that, we kept in touch online once in a while. When I was working at the peninsular side, I wanted to watch the band perform but I was always kept busy.

So after their performance, they were hanging out at the “Escobar” lounge, showcasing their merchandise and I went up to say hello, thinking that Fuad and the rest won’t recognize me even if I was wearing a shirt that said “Hey, I am that dude online you talked to and supported”.

From left to right: Shakeil, Fuad, Joyce, Son Of Age (me), Gael and Hairi


I was wrong. I was met with a loud energetic holler from Fuad followed by the rest of the band.

We chatted and hanged out at the bar with Trigga Figgaz, a local Sarawakian rap group with a taste for west-coast apparels and gangsta rap styling.

I got their album[KP's] before the night was over and eagerly listen to it the next day.


Let’s start with the album cover design.
Kyoto Protocol - An Album


The album entitled “Kyoto Protocol – An Album” was fashioned in a white frame with a soft coating finish. The album art has two circles intersecting with a bomb overhead ready to be dropped in between and the band name transparent across the two circles, the first one depicting the ocean and the second one the moon.

The album contains 5 tracks, Mosquito, Big Machine, Pussycat, Gimme Nothing and lastly Never Know.

Mosquito started off with a drum fill followed by a rip from the guitar 6 seconds later, maniacally imploring a string of blaring guitar riffs before allowing Fuad to come in proclaiming “It’s my nature to destroy you…”, setting the mood of the album and starting on a high note.

The next song, Big Machine, proclaims loudly how we are manufactured and follow a set of rules like sheep.  The song reminds me very much of Pearl Jam with Eddie Vedder’s startling vocals giving the music life, likewise with Fuad’s on this jam.

Pussycat, their hit song, the more pop-friendly vocal delivery along with the catchy beat reminds me very much of Franz Ferdinand but unique enough to hold their own.

Gimme Nothing, one of my favorite songs from their album, in my interpretation, the songs talks about how we compromise for others but we get nothing in return.

My favorite line “I might’ve changed for you but you gave me nothing

Never Know, another favorite, in my opinion, talks about that sexy foxy lady that didn’t give you the time of day but instead dates assholes who normally leaves them with burn marks and scars. If she gave a chance with you, you’ll treat her right but well, we’ll never know.

Final Thought

The album is packed with raw energy that can pump you up and yet be calming and reflective.
they convey their message in their songs while not being overly preachy and also have a hell of a good time doing so.  The pricing of the album is fair and worth the price, it’s almost a steal considering the professionalism, the mastery of the record. If I had to give a con, I would say that the album should have more tracks but I take this album as an introductory to the awesome that is Kyoto Protocol.

Check out their links below:


Website:           http://www.kyotoprotocolband.com/
Twitter:             https://twitter.com/#!/KyotoBand
MySpace:         http://www.myspace.com/KPband
Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/kyotoprotocol?v=app_2405167945
Reverbnation:  http://www.reverbnation.com/kyotoprotocol
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