About a decade ago, I got my first jam band gig. Well, sorta anyway. K, who became my neighbour in hostel during my final year and became my hold-concert-in-shower buddy thereafter, had just joined my firm. He and S wanted to form a jam band and perform for the firm’s dinner and dance. He asked if I was interested and since it was one of my unfulfilled wish then to have a jam band experience, I agreed.
There were a few things I wanted to try out before I came out of varsity, and sadly I’ve accomplished everything I wanted except singing in a jam band. I had wanted to try out writing, dancing and singing, other than acting, just to see if I liked anything else besides acting.
We practiced for a month or two, during weekends, and I still remember my sessions in rented studios at Far East Plaza and this place opposite Hard Rock Cafe. K played bass and S was lead, and gee, I’ve forgotten who the drummer was. Anyway, S was also going to sing and there was another girl singing as well. So yeah, I wasn’t lead singer or anything. And yeah, the stage sure was crowded with three singers. Heh. But I did get to sing two songs and I picked “Heaven” by Warrant and “All I Want Is You” by U2.
At that time, I also knew that S had a hidden political agenda for doing an item for Dinner and Dance. Yeah, my firm was your regular political gladiatorial arena, which is one of the reasons why I upped and left the firm in the end. And rejected all attempts to lure me back ever since. But my main aim then wasn’t to get the attention of higher management, I just wanted to have a taste of how singing with a band was like.
And, after that, I realised I still preferred acting. But because of what I did, a lot of people in the firm thought I was really into music back then. My manager even talked to me a few times about my passion for singing! It was quite frustrating to me because people didn’t understand why I did what I did when I’m not into music or singing. Its machiam like folks thinking you are going steady with some girl whom you don’t like in that way but were chummy with. And that was why I decided then to correct this perception as soon as I was able.
Fast forward to now, I think I have. But I think I’m gonna confuse folks all over again after I’ve sang “Heaven” again, after all these years. Am beginning to wonder if I wasn’t already prepped for what’s about to come ten years ago. -_-”
