Weekend-Engagement topics: WEEK 177
Weekend concert, bands, theatre and live shows - Share one of your own and tell us about it. Remember to use your own photos
I haven't had the chance to go out and watch any concerts, bands, theatres, or live shows in my area. I must say I always miss the date every time there's an event held. So I hope writing about my former band can be excluded from this week's challenge.
During my teenage years, I was passionate about singing and would often spend my time at karaoke or KTV with friends. One day, I decided to audition for a singer position at "The Colony," a pub in my hometown. Despite being unprepared, I took to the stage and sang my heart out. To my delight, I landed the job! This was in the year 2000, and it marked the start of my journey as a stage singer.
I have been performing as a stage singer ever since and have had the opportunity to travel all around Malaysia - from Sabah and Sarawak to West Malaysia. Among all the bands I've performed with, there's one band that holds a special place in my heart - the A's Street Band. As a local KL band, my co-partner Leen was the band leader, and we shared many fond memories together.
In 2019, while residing in KL, I performed with various other bands at different clubs in Changkat, Bukit Bintang, Puchong, and Sri Kembangan. When the A's Street Band offered me a job, I didn't hesitate to accept it since the keyboardist was a friend from my hometown. I hope I can meet them again someday and talk about our musical journey together.
I was happy when our band secured a three-month contract at Mango Tropical Trec, Kuala Lumpur. The place was always packed every night and was well-known for its all-night live entertainment. However, being a part of this band came with its share of both positive and negative experiences, which created a mix of sweet and bitter memories that I will always cherish.
Our band perform every day except on Mondays. Our performances included a variety of cover songs, and I was fortunate to have my co-partner and band leader, Leen, as one of the best singers I've ever worked with. Her jazzy voice and incredible tone were truly inspiring, and I idolized her so much. Despite being far apart, we still kept in touch and maintained our friendship.
I came across a lot of our old photos while we performed onstage. It really displays how we were back then as a band together. This photo above was during our earlier set, and it had a hilarious story behind it. I remember trying my best to hold back my laughter, which is evident in this picture. It's amazing how a single photograph can bring back so many memories.
I even miss the times when we finished our sets, and my guitarists would send me back home first. I used to carpool with my former male singer and bassist, and we'd often stop for supper. They would tell me silly jokes or tease me since I was the only female in the group. Although they were just harmless jokes, those moments were always fun and unforgettable.
Unfortunately, I could only perform with the band for three months, as I was replaced by other friends before the contract ended. The reason for this was that I wasn't in good condition at the time, as I had just found out that I had a fibroid. The pain from the fibroid sometimes affected my performance with the band, and I had to resign. I decided to join a more relaxed and chill band instead, where I could still continue to sing and perform.
This band holds a special place in my heart because it's where I gained a lot of experience and learned about singing techniques, particularly in improvising each song to make it my own. I owe much of this knowledge to my co-partner and band leader, Leen, and I continue to express my gratitude to her to this day.
It's great that this week's topic is about concerts, bands, theatre and live shows as it allows me to tell about my past experiences with my former band. Unfortunately, the band had to disband due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My co-partner, Leen, has since joined other bands and has decided not to manage her own band anymore, citing that it's a tiring and challenging role. Being a band leader certainly isn't easy, and it requires a lot of hard work and dedication.
Currently, I am freelancing as a singer, but I have limited myself to performing only with acoustic or small piece bands. I have turned down offers to perform with full live bands as I find it too tiring. Instead, I prefer singing at events or in hotel lobbies, where the music is more quiet and chill.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who took the time to read my blog. This week's topic was particularly special to me, and I'm glad to have shared my experiences with you. If you're interested in participating in the #weekendengagement, click here. I'd also like to thank 