THANK YOU!!!

On Sunday 18 Dec, we had the last Troubaganger gig of 2005, a year which we look back on proudly for the six months worth of gigs at La Bodega KL we (the Troubadours/Doppelganger team, who are Jasmine Low, Azmyl Yunor, Tan Sei Hon and Jerome Kugan). We held two gigs a month (the first Sunday of every month being Doppelganger and the third Troubadours, or our joint shows) plus one or two more, which altogether makes for a total of 14 or so shows.

Simply said, it was a really wonderful experience for us. Thank you so so so much to our sponsor La Bodega KL for giving us a living room where we could share the music, words, joys, sadnesses, aspirations and dreams of our wonderful performers and you, our audience. Thank you. Hope to see you next year.














Yes, that's right. The Troubaganger team are taking a little break in January 2006 to enjoy the new year. We will see you at La Bodega KL on Sunday, 5 February 2006.

Anyway, to keep things going, here's a drumroll for the performers who've appeared at Troubaganger, Doppelganger, and of course, Troubadours: Meor, Shanon Shah, Furniture, Mei Chern, Shelley Leong, Reza Salleh, Ferns, Broken Scar, Kohl, Euseng, Lurks, Soft Touch, Izzy Mohamed, Jasemained Gan, Auburn, The Sofa Sessions, Lied, Nell & Hannah, Rizal Hefni, Fergus Ong/Gracecars, Bernice Chauly, Ady Suwardy, Zalila Lee, Az Samad, 360 Degree Head Rotation, Lucy In The Loo, Couple, Mils/Prozac Nation, Lisa Zahran, Justin Chan, Skyjuice Coffee, Melina, Rhapsody, Pang Khee Teik, Lynie, Akustik 39, Panda Head Curry, Wei-Yin, Detrimental Reliance, Hanafi, Jay, plus ourselves (heh heh hehe) and more... sorry if we left out any names... the mind can only remember so much.

Before we say goodbye to a wonderful year, here are some parting shots from the 18 Dec gig... were you there?













"Don't make me laugh!" Hari Azizan pleads, while Koon looks on. Not incidentally, we would like to thank Hari for letting us borrow her camera to take these photos. Thank you!













Sharing dirty jokes before showtime is but one of the many traditions that have been established at Troubaganger. Here, Azmyl, Lee Kwang, Sei Hon, Kevin and Ron laugh about their girlfriends.



















Sei Hon (aka Green Man) kicked off the show, which started very late (also another tradition at Troubaganger). Minta maaf!













Meor is alive and free! "Tapi beer tak free pun!"


















Azmyl Yunor played after Sei Hon, with Keng as his guest guitarist.



















Jasmine Low read some of her poems and then sang for the the first time at Troubaganger!














... And then the bald dude had to ruin it all. Thanks to Danny Lim for braving the risk of blindness and taking this photograph of the beast aka Jerome Kugan.













Yuri and Khailee of Project Bazooka tells everyone about their wiki venture to create an online community resource centre for local musicians and everyone else to reach out to one another. Hmm... does that mean we can reach for Yuri? Oh, Khailee also can...



















"Really? Can ah?" We're smiling too, babe.













Skyjuice Coffee played a rousing set full of funky numbers.



















Broken Scar gone wild!



















"I'm ready for my manicure now." Yvonne in her librarian disguise.













The bad boys of Panda Head Curry show you how to be death folkists! Rafil and Ben are so damn hardcore that PHC's appearances are never announced...













Is Meor the Iwan Fals of Malaysia? No, because he's better... wahliau!













Presenting Justin and the Chan brothers plus a nice shaved friend. By the way, Justin is not...














All the contestants of Troubaganger's Next Top Model instintively know how to pose at a moment's notice. Smile!













Well... hmm... some of the models need a bit more training. Hands, Ron! Where are you putting your hands?



















Kevin/Broken Scar with his fast hands, which explains why his songs are played at lightning speed.



















One of the Chan brothers is a tattoo enthusiast. We wonder what other things he likes to be done to his body.













"Make up your mind. Is it Justin or me?" "But can't I have you both?"



















The evening has entered a wonderful shade of melancholic.














Alex is proud of showing off his eye. Lee Kwang looks scared.













"Nah, man! We didn't come here for the scenery. We really like the music!"

















Su Ann (hope we got the spelling right) approached the stage very shyly and read us a very tantalising poem. Hurray for self-expression!



















"For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains."













Hari, Koon and Yvonne had to suppress their laughter when asked about their boyfriends.













"You talkin' to me!" Sei Hon just a few seconds before pounced a heckler.



















"Hey!" Justin Chan steals a side-glance at his adoring fans. Kawaiii!!!













We at Troubaganger are adoring fans of Sasha and Gerardine, our resident sound ladies!



















"Let me tell you a story." Jas wants the whole world to know about...













"When is the show starting?"



















"Yes, yes. We've bought a villa in Florence. And the puppies are coming with us!"













Jas's friend shows you how to turn a beer bottle into a musical instrument. "Never over-blow!"



















Meor in a mercurial moment.













Justin in the middle of his romantic set.



















A Transformers fan, obviously.



















"Don't forget to dream about me."













Azmyl and Keng in the middle of creating a new genre called post folk.



















Human rights supporters Alex and Hazri believe everyone should wear orange.













"Has the show started yet?"



















Hazri spots something that he wouldn't mind biting. Pang doesn't seem to mind at all.



















Yet another photo of the bald dude. Enough!



















Photojournalist Danny Lim is also a Green Man.













Strutting their chops, Skyjuice Coffee tastes like this, y'all!












Meor never stops entrancing!


















It ain't easy maintaining that hardcore death folkist persona but Rafil makes it seem so effortless.



















Yet another contender for Troubaganger's Next Top Model not even breaking a sweat to deliver a killer smile.













"You mean, a villa in Florence costs about as much a Kelisa?" Troubaganger is the centre of strange-and-unreal information, yo!



















Koon and friend wrestling on the stairs. This move is called Squeeze Your Enemy and Smile!



















Thank you Justin for breaking our hearts. Are you...




















"This song is called Anak Dara. It's what you can't get when you only makan gaji."















Peace! Some of the guys from Skyjuice Coffee thrilled to be playing.















Yes, we're all related! The Troubaganger team














"Now, about our deal. When can we meet the next top model?" Gerardine and Sasha already making plans for next year.

Ha ha haha... well, that was nice for a few laughs, yes? Anyway, see you next year. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

BTW, there is a Love Boat Party at Frangipani on Xmas Day. Please come to watch Ady Suwardy, Rhapsody and JK play plus food and drinkies and DJ set by J_Sun. More details at http://www.geocities.com/girl_gungho/

Hey, hey, it's our last show for the year and everyone's invited! Share the love!

Get ready to be Moonshined again, folks!

Azmyl Yunor, Jerome Kugan and Tan Sei Hon will appear at KLue's Words & Tunes at MPH 1-Utama (new wing) on 16 December, alongside Bernice Chauly. See you there!

MEOR: UPDATE*

Meor was released on Tuesday (6/12/2005) after a group of supporters successfully raised donations for his bail over the weekend. The bail was set at RM3,000 but was successfully appealed to RM1,300. Lukman, Black, Rahmat Haron and Meor's wife were present on the first day of his arrest to settle the paperwork. Thank you to the following who contributed to the bail appeal:

-Rahmat Haron & friends
-Joe Kidd & I-lann
-Lisa Zahran
-Bernice Chauly & Razman
-Ariff Akhir
-Tan Sei Hon
-Azmyl & Yvonne
-Rafil
-Justin Lim, Jagu & Edwin
-Siang

*Last Friday (2/12/2005) evening, at around 6pm, our singer-songwriter/busker friend Meor was arrested at Central Market. Meor was reportedly manhandled during his arrest while he was busking and was locked-up. Due to the technicality of an arrest on a Friday evening, he had to stay in jail over the weekend.

We were alerted by poet-artist Rahmat Haron on Friday via SMS:

Meor kena tahan operasi random pembersihan ****** ******, minta tolong raise fund untuk bail out. Dia ditahan sewaktu busking. Tq.

We deployed a donation appeal with Rahmat for Meor's bail over the weekend and successfully raised enough funds for it. Thank you all for your concerns and contributions.

More insight -
Ricecooker

Meor -
pestajiwa.net

SH & AY

A WOMAN'S WORLD

Troubaganger 16 Days of Activism Special, 4 Dec 2005, at La Bodega KL.

Last night was a Troubaganger special gig organised with Katagender in order to raise awareness about gender-based violence, in conjunction with the 16 Days of Activism period. Quite a few people came and listened to what was an almost all-women line-up of solo singer songwriters and bands performing original material with a few choice covers thrown in. We also had two readers.

While music and words can be used to entertain, they can also be used to raise awareness about society's injustices, including violence against women. While violence may not only concern women, they are often the victims of acts of violence in society. Women and children anywhere in the world are always at risk of violence comitted mostly by men. Acts of violence is not only physical (beating, abduction) or sexual (rape, incest, forced prostitution), it can also be economy-based (child labour) and psychological (coercion, threats). Worse, gender-based violence can be institutional, including traditional customs and beliefs (marriage customs, women in schools, sex-selective abortion) which can disadvantage a woman's ability to be self-sufficient and independent.

A few quick facts:
*Globally, it's estimated that 1 out of 3 women have been beaten, forced into having sex and abused at least once in their lifetime.
*At least 60 million baby girls and female foetuses are killed every year in Asia through sex-selective abortion, infanticide or neglect.
*More than 90 million African women and girls are victims of female genital mutilation.
*The International Organisation for Migration estimates that around 2 million women are smuggled across international boundaries every year.
*Globally, between 40 and 70 percent of all homicide cases where the victim is a women, the crime was committed by their partner, usually in an abusive relationship.
- taken from UN Handbook on SGBV

Violence against women doesn't only affect women but all of society, including men. And that's why the responsibility to eradicate violence against women should be in the hands of both women and men. If not, the cycle of violence continues. Stop it now!

That's that for the serious stuff. On a lighter note, a lot of people came to support last night's gig. We didn't really do a headcount, but we think that about 60 people came. And they came to see, in order of appearance: Lynie, Lisa Zahran, Akustik 39, (little shpiel by Jaclyn Kee), Kohl, Melina, (surprise reading by Wei Yin), Zalila Lee, Bernice Chauly, Lucy In The Loo, Detrimental Reliance and Panda Head Curry.

Sorry to all who didn't know we were charging RM20. Usually Troubadours and Doppelganger nights are free. But last night we wanted to raise some extra money for charity. We managed to collect RM426 for charity which will be used to buy groceries for a women's shelter run by Women's Aid Organisation (WAO). Thank you to all who came to support this special gig.

Now, here comes the part you really want. Go spot yourself!


















Troubadours teamsters Jerome, Azmyl and Sei Hon. Stop grinning! FYI, we will be selling our calendar for 2006, featuring all three Troubadours in suggestive poses. Wha?


















It's good to be a woman. You can wear huge things around your neck and look fashionable.












It's good to be a woman. You can share little secrets and giggle about it to no end. There's Melina on the left. In the background, Lucy In The Loo sing.













It's good to be a woman. You can act nonchalant and people think you're being funny. Jac and Ezrena doing... we have no idea.













Jas, Nikky and Ben (of Ben's Bitches and Panda Head Curry) talking shop about something funny. Obviously.














Obligatory crowd shot to show how much Troubaganger people enjoy themselves. Hmmm...


















You can always say Thank You. This is Keong, barkeep on duty at La Bodega KL at last night's thingy. Do you accept tips, man?















Rizal Hefni's hypnotic stare. We dare you to look away.













Kohl in action.


















One of the singers of Akustik 39 in action.













Lisa Zahran in her element.













Lucy In The Loo... but you know they're not reeaallly in the loo.


















Three women in deep concentration. Who are you?














More women in deep concentration. Who are you?


















Hey funky with a camera! Send your pics to us at troubadourskl@gmail.com



















Doppelganger Chief and Honorary fourth Troubadour Jasmine Low making sure the performers are amusing.



















Do Zalila Lee and Wei Yin look amused?













This is something we don't see everyday. Sei Hon and Hui Koon on holiday.



















Bernice Chauly, a multi-hyphenate, reads some of her wonderfully written poems. BTW, Bernice is organising a words and music event at No Black Tie on Dec 13.













Jaclyn Kee, a self-professed feminist and rep for Katagender, talking about the 16 Days of Activism.
















Who are you? We are intrigued. Write to us!















Gorgeous women have made Troubaganger their second home. We know, we know. We can't believe our luck!













Our favourite sound ladies Sasha and Gerardine of Kaleo Entertainment. Thank you for the beautiful sound!
















Reza "Djembeboy" Salleh dropped by with a cute smile.













Yvonne, we love you! For obvious reasons, obviously. Just make sure Azmyl's not looking!












Lucy and friends.















Sometimes we wonder if people come to Troubaganger to pose. Not that we mind. Not at all.












Where's Wally?














Sei Hon and Sonia, waiting for the other one to say something intelligent. Hmm...


















"Did you see what she was wearing?" We did!















Lucy In The Loo playing acoustic!













Lynie opened the show for us. Thank you!













Zalila Lee didn't want to open the show for us! Oh! The stress of performing live!













Sorry. The photographer got distracted for a few seconds. Who's the pretty boy?













Pretty boy part two. The saga continues!



















Sara Lo of Kohl shows you how to put emotion back into the song.















Katagender member Zapa and friend.













Melina and friend.













Detrimental Reliance sang two wonderful covers.


















Bernice Chauly performing her moving poems.















Akustik 39... aka The Five Most Eligible Bachelors in KL.

And that was Troubaganger 16 Days of Activism Special!

Don't forget to make a date with us on 18 Dec when we'll have our Troubaganger Thank You Special! Celebrating six months of performances at La Bodega KL! Everyone's invited!