FACT: The planning for the line-up took 8 whole months for the Baybeats team, from the first cut of about 50 bands that were put together internally. Seems like the hard labour paid off as most if not all of these acts made music enthusiasts rave on for days. From folk to vedic metal, electronica to comedy metal, we got most of the three-day soiree covered:
ANECHOIS
Pronounced: An-echo-is (no it's not French)
Equipment on stage: 15
River happenings: 2 Chinese junks, 3 boats, 1 huge moving platform with cannons (Yes, cannons)
Number of climaxes: Countless
Headbang-Worthy tracks: All of them
What you should do: Get their EP (we reviewed it HERE)
CASHEW CHEMISTS
Number of white shirts on stage: 3 + 1 T-Shirt
Number of khaki pants on stage: 4
Sad songs: 'Heartbreak'
Fireworks: Yes, and at perfects moments too!
Jets and boats: 3 jets and there were speedboats. Darn it, is it war time already?
Fan base: Supportive, very.
Merchandise plugging: 3
COCKPIT
Who will definitely approve: The Metal Gods
Style peg: Overgrown child dressed as superhero
Choice of accessory: Capes
Notable songs: The Seaman's Son, Crystal Ball
Lead guitar harmonies: The Metal Gods and I approve
Highlight of the night: Tuning Song
DARREN ASHLEY (MY)
Fireworks: They must have paid more than Cashew Chemists. The fireworks lasted the whole set!
Comfort level on stage: Over 9000!
Guest star cameo: Dancing with #1 Baybeats Fan, the guy with the leopard hoodie
Vocal effects: More than Crystal Castles
Number of audience members dancing: 5, including the middle-aged man in the leopard hood
Talent: Incorporating karate moves with Dubstep music.
Achievement unlocked: Get the Baybeats crowd on their feet
IN EACH HAND A CUTLASS
What is a cutlass: A type of sword
Fact: No actual cutlasses were used
More sharp facts: Musicians were as sharp as cutlasses with their very focused and multi-layered performance
In summary: Heavy-as-a-very-heavy-thing riffs coupled with pretty atmospheric soundscapes electronically conjured, what's there not to like?
LOVE ME BUTCH
Most awesome moment: The held vocal note in Barricade
Duration: 10 seconds (at least)
Impressed? Most.
Mosh pit intensity: so-so
Vocalist stage prowling pattern: Middle-left-right-middle-drumset. Repeat.
Reminds you of: The good old emo/punk rock/post-hardcore days of yore.
MOCCA (ID)
Percentage of audience capacity to venue: 150%
Vibe: Zooey Deschanel x Dian Sastro circa Ada Apa Dengan Cinta(Indonesian actress)
Singalongs: "Do What You Want To Do"
Dance styles utilised: Cha Cha, Tango, Samba
Extra notes: Check out their documentary film, Life Keeps On Turning screening HERE
Credit: Yahoo Singapore
MONSTER CAT
How many times I have seen them live: 5
Bored already? No
How many cat masks I now own: I will not dignify this with an answer
Number of cool cats spotted: 4 (no prize to guess which ones)
Number of actual cats spotted: 0 (sadface)
Cost to download album “Mannequins” legally: $0.00
STARS AND RABBIT (ID)
Number of people debating who she sounds like: A LOT
Who she sounds like: Depends. Choose from – Joanna Newsom at the beginning of her songs, Russian Red, Coco Rosie, Anthony Green, “Coco Rosie singing like Rachael Yamagata”
Moves like: Kimbra
Style peg: Lady Peter Pan (approve)
Instruments used: Vocals and an acoustic guitar
Transported to: A forest with talking animals
Number of upbeat songs: 1
The song where Elda had to battle funny throat: 'Man Upon The Hill'
Achievement unlocked: Get the audience to sing
START OF THE DAY (JP)
Happy people: It wasn't easy to make out everything the frontwoman Atsuko sang, but she seemed cheery and happy to be in Singapore
Sound judgment: Beautiful melancholic post-hardcore music bogged down by a bad sound mix
Good move: Guitarists were intense, ending the set with visceral guitar feedback noise
Did we talk to them: Yes! Read about it HERE
THE TREES AND THE WILD (ID)
Dressed like it was: 15 degrees celsius
Number of minutes before first banter with fans: 30
Sounds like: A mix of Explosions in the Sky and Sigur Ros
Duration where I was in a trance: 45:00. Basically, for their whole set.
Did I want it to end: No
Was I sad when it ended: Almost close to tears
Destination after their set: Straight to the merchandise booth
All of the awards: Best Band of the Day, Most Synchronized Band, Best Drummer of the Day, Best Sound of the Day, Best Merchandise
Side notes: It was the best experience I had since Laneway Festival. I wish them all the best for their European Tour and I hope they get the recognition they deserve.
A Plug: Chip in for their EuroTour HERE
URBANDUB (PH)
Amount of Filipinos in the audience: Too many to count
Learn this, Singapore: The only band that could school Singapore in fan dedication
Level of dedication: Heard from a friend that there were Filipino fans who flew from their hometown just to watch them
Fact: Surprisingly no dub influence in their music
This is no Eurovision contest: No urban background dancers too (I was kinda hoping for that)
RACHAEL TEO
Cool socks: Blue with red stripes
Some instruments used: Paper and sighs for "Oxygen"
Level of melancholia during set: High
RUDRA
First attempts of crowd surfing: During the first song
Song titles I couldn't pronounce: A few
Security guards trying to stop crowd surfing: Failed
CHC-related jibes: A couple, which only roused the crowd more
Legit Rockstar moment: "Baybeats turns 10 this year. We've been around for 20."
Text: Daniel Peters, Delfina Utomo, Ilyas Sholihyn, Nigel Lopez & Olivia Griselda
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