Belle and Sebastian is Coming To Town !!

"Hugging is a wonderful tonic. It makes you feel energised and gives you an emotional boost...especially at this busy time of year when many people are feeling the pressure. In fact, the medical evidence is that a hug even makes your body produce more Oxytocin, which is the 'feel good' hormone. Research in America found that one 20-second hug a day makes a big difference between how happy and relaxed we are. Which is why people in a healthy relationship are happier and feel less stressed. "

(http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=187260)

Especially if Stuart Murdoch hugs you *kyaaa*, on stage, in front of thousands audiences.

How cool is that?

So i was coming to this concert without any high expectation. Belle and Sebastian has been my fave band since my last due dilligence project (thanks to Jamal!). And voila, this indie pop band formed in Glasgow will come to Jakarta in a festival called Beat Fest 2010 along with some indie bands i hardly know. Folks said that this is a very rare moment because since this band is formed around 1996, never heard that they're going to have tour to Asia. So when i read the news about this concert, i booked the tix 3 months previously.

I and some colleagues who love this band consider that this is kind of band which songs are difficult to sing-along. I mostly only humming on the melodies during my time-consumed project. Since most of the personnels (or i can say all) are multi-instrumentalists, i am enjoying their music so much. A very rich music. Cheerful, sweet, not really easy listening actually, with good lyrics as if they are story telling and playing music in the same time. So my expectation was like standing nicely, nodding my head a bit, clapping a bit, well just be a decent audience la. Plus the fact that i don't really memorize all the lyrics of the entire album =p

Mr. Murdoch & Sarah Martin

Long story short, i did not understand the three opening bands before Belle and Sebastian. Well i'm not a big fan of indie music, just know some because a friend of mine working on that kind of music industry. So, with all fans shouting happily, i was try to enjoy the moment and asking to my friend for the band info. Not too bad anyway. Around 9.30 pm the stage is cleared, the crews are walking around organizing things checking this and that. I miss those checking things myself *teehee*. And about 10 pm the band came in. Everybody is shouting. I did not expect this, really. How come a band consists of 'oldie men and a woman' could attract the audience to scream as if the personnels are goodlooking boyband members? I'm not saying that they are really old and ugly though. And errr i screamed as well. Bobby Kildea was in front of me, and Stuart Murdoch can't be that gayishly gorgeous (yesh i was standing on the front row, really really front just behind the separator gate).

I recalled that they played super nicely. Very neat, very clean (so far this lame ears heard), well just as if you listen to the recordings. Good interaction with the audience also. The concert was warm and humble but satisfied my eyes and ear perfectly. Then it came the moment when Stuart asked is there any audience want to go on stage. So the audiences (mostly teenagers!) raised their hands, i stupidly raised my hand and jumping like energizer bunny hoping Stuart will see me. And then i found out that Stuart has chosen some girls from left section of the stage, so i was like: "OK lah no prob then." All of the sudden, Stuart came to the right section on the stage, just a few metres before me and the separating gate. This little missy who loves to compete yelled and jumped again thinking that this is a once in a lifetime moment, go give it a try. And then Mr. Murdoch picked a girl just beside me leaving me with a feeling of being defeated. But a second after that i still can't believe that melodious sound of him saying: "Yes, you too, both of you!" to meeeeeee =D. WOW! WOW! WOW! I know that most of those teenagers will envy me up 'til now but i don't care, he chose me. So me and the girl besides me (whom later we befriend on twitter) leaded by the crew to backstage and were briefed shortly. I just knew that time that a fan can't touch or kiss or do any physical contact to the artist on stage, or so that the crew explained. Well, i'm not alay anyway, won't do those forbidden acts.

Minutes afterward i realized that i would stand on stage in front of thousand people, including my seniors at office. And after i asked what they are going to play when we were on stage, i realized that i wasn't familiar with that song (remember the humming not memorize thing?). So a panic attack strucked me and i was holding hand with Ai, the other lucky but nervous fan, and woohoo we walked, showered by lights and screams and dang! we were on stage with our fave band. Ai rushed in and joined the other girls dancing with Stuart while i came to the left side of stage to Bobby *teehee*. Being warned not to touch him, i carefully move my feet right and left only, danced like 80's geek with stupid cheshire grin on my cheek. It's so nice of Bobby Kildea that he moved closer to me while my friend wanted to take pic of us, oh laf yu so Bobby!!!



Blurred-happy-Bobby and me =)



After a couple of minutes i moved to the middle side and joined the other fans, dancing and clapping while i only know a bit about the song (sorry other fans!). I tried to look at the music scores as well. I looked around and enjoyed being on stage, felt so freakin' lucky, err and waved a bit to my friends. That was one of the best moment in my life, ever. So when the last note played, Stuart called us and gave us a big hug and kissed us in cheek. If i'm not mistaken i think he said something like: I thought you guys were better singers LOL! Uhhh i won't forget that hug =p. Stu's hug energized me and gave me emotional boost at busy time of year when many people are feeling the pressure. Thank you Stuart Murdoch!

Good no..Superb performance from Belle and Sebastian. I hope there will be more good Indonesian bands which are as good as them, in recording or live.

What a precious moment *still grinning while writing this*

Oh, did i mention that i am on youtube? *wink*