At a beast-like 13,000 square meters, the surf-wave pool at the Sunway Lagoon Resort in Kuala Lumpur is said to be the world’s largest. The fact that they managed to empty it and turn it into a giant mosh pit was not only creative – it was downright genius. Then again, as the setting for MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia – our region’s turn to host the weekly series of exclusive musical performances – the epic scale was a given.
On the big day, as I got ready to meet some of the people who had only been names in my iTunes library, and whose music quickened my twentysomething pulse, it hit me: This was how a concert looked like from the inside. On the one hand, the tireless girls and boys of the pioneering music network moved ninja-like around the premises to ensure that everything – from media registration to post-party preparations – was running smoothly. On the other, the first of over 20,000 kids – and some overzealous parents – had started to fill up the venue, roasting in the Malaysian humidity as early as 4:30 p.m. Feeding off the infectious energy, I soon joined the madness. After all, seven performances for the price of one sounded like a totally rad deal.
Screams And Flying Plastic Fans
Local heroes Estranged kicked things off, knocking out a rousing version of Slave In Us. The award-winning rockers followed that up with more Malay hits, enough to make the audience forget that there had been a tropical thuderstorm a few moments before.
Amid screams and flying plastic fans, Boys Like Girls took the stage soon after and started their set with Love Drunk, their latest track. As if on cue, it started pouring again as they sang Thunder and their biggest hit to date, TRL smash The Great Escape. Earlier, I sat down with the Massachusetts band, who told me that their pitstop in Manila in 2008 was one of the most memorable gigs they had ever played because the fans “were just so awesome and energetic;” judging by the reception these dudes got in Malaysia, it was clear that they do have a lock on the global tween market.
Like A Baby Mick Jagger
But if there was an act I was eager to see, it was Raygun. Hailing from Brixton, the same London suburb where David Bowie sowed his musical seeds, the four lads summon a plethora of influences I happen to be down with: Andy Warhol, Scissor Sisters and INXS. With a surplus of infectious energy, they swaggered in with Just Because, their debut single. Looking like Suede’s Brett Anderson, razor-cheekboned lead singer Ray Gun shimmied through their four-song repertoire like a baby Mick Jagger, especially on See You Later. Their showstopping performance gave me goosebumps, the same ones I got as a 13-year-old discovering great music for the first time.
Pixie Lott was also a revelation. The lone female in the stellar lineup, the 18-year-old British phenomenon wowed the crowd with her brand of soulful pop. For starters, Turn It Up, her current single, was something Natasha Bedingfield would have killed for, while her remix-friendly hit, Boys And Girls saluted the golden days of millenial pop. (“Turn it up, make it strong / A good beat never hurt anyone,” she belted.) Finally, Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh), her retro-tinged chart-topper, showcased her big raspy voice, which suggests a little Dusty Springfield, a little Duffy.
Oklahoma Boys
MTV VJs Denise, Andy and Sean next cued in Oklahoma trio Hoobastank. The rock ’n‘ roll vets brought with them an arsenal of their greatest hits, including My Turn, The Letter, and Crawling In The Dark. Aside from their final song, “The Reason,” it was the impromptu cover of an 80’s hit, Ghostbusters, that inspired a massive sing-along.
The soundtrack to my university years, the All-American Rejects brought a few tears to my eyes with their tight renditions of Swing Swing, Dirty Little Secret, I Wanna, The Real World, and Gives You Hell. Down to the last song in their set, the prom-friendly It Ends Tonight, it was obvious that the Oklahoma power-pop superstars have been seasoned by eight years on the road. Their accomplished performance showed a band comfortable in its own skin. As a bonus, Tyson Ritter – “I’m a tea man” – even made good on his promise and rolled onto the stage covered in glitter.
Pathologically Optimistic
Up to this point, there had been lots of surprises along the way. Nothing, however, compared to finally seeing Kasabian in the flesh. From long-haired Leicester lad to dapper dad, Tom Meighan’s fashion evolution has been a bit surreal; the last thing I expected the lead singer to rock out in was a checkered Ralph Lauren shirt. That said, the festival faves delivered, pounding out Club Foot, Fire, Shoot The Runner, Vlad the Impaler and LSF with the fury of thousand electronic volcanos. It was Kasabian’s first time in Asia and for sure it wasn’t their last.
When it was all over, I busted up smiling, trying to process everything that took place. In an increasingly fragmented age, I had taken part in something that brought young people together. From what I’ve learned, awesome live music can make one pathologically optimistic, unable to think about anything else except the good times.
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The two-hour world premiere telecast of MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia will debut on MTV Asia on Friday, August 28 at 8:00 p.m.
Special thanks to Jad Deveza of MTV Philippines.