Saturday, March 14, 2009

Did You Know?

So I've been meaning to put this video up for a while now. Saw it in my Digital Media class, and the numbers made me immediately get up and take notice. As they say, watch and learn!

Monday, March 09, 2009

Crazy Elephant

This is something I should have written about a long time ago. For those who know me well, you'll know I'm a hardcore Classic Rock/Blues fan. So when I first moved here to Singapore three years ago to study, I was kind of sad about the fact that I would miss out on the great live music scene that I was used to in Bangalore.

So imagine my surprise when I'm walking down Clarke Quay one day and suddenly I hear a blistering rendition of One Way Out by the Allman Brothers. Following my ear leads me to this loud bar filled with a motley crew of beer drinkers. And what's better, it's called Crazy Elephant! Nestled in the hustle and bustle of Clarke Quay, by the Reverse Bungee, Crazy Elephant is what I'd consider to be the best live music venue I've been to. And they play exactly my kind of music. I'm talking Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even some gems of Delta Blues like Mississippi Fred McDowell.


Mean Jean and the Blues Machine is the in-house band that plays there on most nights, and they are fabulous. Jeanne French, the vocalist, is just mind-blowing. She can do Janis Joplin as well as Janis did! And I'm not exaggerating about this. Hear her go crazy on You Gotta Move or Pride & Joy, and you'll know what I mean. She's even performed with some really big names in the business like Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi. Dr. John Chee, the lead guitarist, is one of those performers who just leave you wondering 'WTF how does he do that?'. Dr. Kamal is the fabulous Bassist who can play just about anything, and Mark Boatman on drums keeps the band so tight, you wont know what hit you.

Some other great performers who I've seen at Crazy Elephant include Dave Shafran, John Hanson, and Dom Turner of the Backsliders.


Of course, Crazy Elephant is not the only place for live music in Singapore. You do have Timbre, Roomful of Blues etc. But if you are into Classic Rock and Blues, this is definitely the place to be. And even if you aren't, you're still assured a great time, with a fun crowd, reasonably priced drinks, and a pool table. And heh, don't miss the Joke screen above the bar.

Get together and let the good times roll.