L - R : Joe (guitar), Black (drum), Awie (vocal) and Eddie (bass)
2.00 pm : Highway To Heaven
It took us more than a 3 hours drive from Down South to the capital city of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur. Tonight, WINGS will take the stage at the prestigious ISTANA BUDAYA for their OPERA HIDUP CONCERT (3 days event : 29th April - 1st May). Its a biggest recognition for a rock band to play there and to be accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra (Okestra Simfoni Kebangsaan). This proved that their 25 long years was never a waste. To be there at the first show was always killer. No expectation, only adrenaline rush ! Excited ? Yes we are ! To witness the songs we grew up listening to transformed into orchestral monster, that's bloody exciting !
The venue was sold out ! It's goin' to be an intimate show in a sense, able to house about 7,000 fans at one time. We will take our seat an the centre of Grand Circle.
5.30 pm : Lay Down Your Soul To The God of Rock 'N' Roll
We checked in somewhere in Bukit Bintang (translated as Star Hill) and refreshed ourselves. The show will only start at 8.30 pm.
8.00 pm : Entering Istana Budaya
After having a light dinner nearby, we entered into Istana Budaya and went straight to the merchandise stand as always, checking out shirts and other goodies. The show need to be remembered and at least we need to have something that are able to bring us back to that magical moment.
Entering Istana Budaya was never easy. No round necks, no camera (though we are able to sneak it in and later found out that there will be light pointed out to you whenever you tried to snap photo, and there came the security).
8.30 pm - 10.45 pm : Rock You Like A Hurricane
WINGS was excellent as always (great sound system by the way), belting numbers from their debut album - 'Belenggu Irama' (1987) up to the period where the band survived with guest vocals - MUS (of the legendary MAY) and MEL. We also got special appearance from SHAM (original guitarist, who only appeared in the band's debut) and JOJET - original drummer who never appeared in the earlier albums until the band's 4th - 'Jerangkung Dalam Almari' (1991). There were MUS, MEL and AWIE all together on stage for few songs.
After the instrumental opening of 'Watari', WINGS rock the night with "Opera Hidup" which was perfect since its Opera Hidup Rockestra. When the band hit "Inspirasi Taming Sari" and later "Peronda Jaket Biru, we maniacally sang our heart out, and we believed, so did the rest. The set list was a good blend (great to finally hear those underrated ones like "Jerangkung Dalam Almari" and "Romania" for example), but it will be killer should we also get "Harapan", "Bujang Senang" and "Midnight Blues". Its not an easy task, the band need to select the right tracks and find tune with the orchestra, to be able to nail it. We are more than happy though the orchestra sounds bigger than the band itself in some songs.
The crowds were encouraging, but what more can you expect from them, watching a rock show in seats ?I JOE (guitar) was full of persona, wrapped mysteriously in hoody and sunglass. While, EDDIE (bass) and BLACK (drum) were simply fantastic. AWIE (vocal) on the other hand was too comical, cranking too much jokes on stage, though his vocal prowness was still one of the best after all these long. It was a great show indeed.
After the instrumental opening of 'Watari', WINGS rock the night with "Opera Hidup" which was perfect since its Opera Hidup Rockestra. When the band hit "Inspirasi Taming Sari" and later "Peronda Jaket Biru, we maniacally sang our heart out, and we believed, so did the rest. The set list was a good blend (great to finally hear those underrated ones like "Jerangkung Dalam Almari" and "Romania" for example), but it will be killer should we also get "Harapan", "Bujang Senang" and "Midnight Blues". Its not an easy task, the band need to select the right tracks and find tune with the orchestra, to be able to nail it. We are more than happy though the orchestra sounds bigger than the band itself in some songs.
The crowds were encouraging, but what more can you expect from them, watching a rock show in seats ?I JOE (guitar) was full of persona, wrapped mysteriously in hoody and sunglass. While, EDDIE (bass) and BLACK (drum) were simply fantastic. AWIE (vocal) on the other hand was too comical, cranking too much jokes on stage, though his vocal prowness was still one of the best after all these long. It was a great show indeed.
Setlist
1) Watari (Jerangkung Dalam Almari)
2) Opera Hidup (Hukum Karma)
3) Hukum Karma (Hukum Karma)
4) Ranggi Metropolis (Naga Kramat)
5) Di Ambang Wati (Bazooka Penaka)
6) Inspirasi Taming Sari (Belenggu Irama)
7) Romania (Teori Domino)
8) Bernafas Dalam Lumpur (Bazooka Penaka)
9) Samar Nan Terang (Mr. Barbarik)
10) Blues Ular Sawa (Double Trouble 2)
11) Suara Kita (Bazooka Penaka)
12) Lena Di Ulit Intan (Orang Asing)
13) Biru Mata Hitam Ku (Biru Mata Hitam Ku)
14) Jerangkung Dalam Almari (Jerangkung Dalam Almari)
15) Semalam Yang Hangat (Orang Asing)
16) Biarkan Berlalu (Belenggu Irama)
17) RnR Lu Punya Suka (Jerangkung Dalam Almari)
18) Sejati (Teori Domino)
19) Belenggu Irama (Belenggu Irama)
20) Taman Rashidah Utama (Hukum Karma)
Encore
21) Peronda Jaket Biru (Belenggu Irama)
Merchandises :-
