May 29, 2004
Esplanade Theatre Backstage
Singapore
High fashion was the order of the day as -- arguably the best two bands from Singapore right now -- Tiramisu and Zircon Gov. Pawn Starz's appetite for flamboyance ruled the gig with low fashion. Like models, both bands strutted out on stage dressed up from sublime kitsch to lo-fi chic. The colors were a dizzy garish and became irresistibly sexy when married to the charged up music both bands discharged. This was refined irony at its best.
Tiramisu opened the show with their raunchy rock n roll that swaggered like Ziggy Stardust, have the sneer that punk rock lost and have more fun than Andy Bell (Erasure) in leotards. The band was led out all in full splendor by their dancer, performance artist/actor Dovan Ong who twinkle-toed around in a pink costume with butterfly wings. Bassist Noor Azlan was in a Shazam superhero outfit, guitarist Jeremy Sharma in Karate Kid red and guitarist Keith Su was styled as a modern Mongolian warrior in Afro wig. Keyboardist/sampler Isrudy was a techno cowboy in matching cyan and yellow and charismatic singer Rizman Putra was togged up in tight shorts and a ladies top.
Rizman with one hand wrapped in black ladies’ glove, wide eyed and in mock delirium had a method to his madness. Possessed by his Manic Jango alter ego, his pulsating energy fuelled the band’s sonic assault. Tiramisu’s hour set became a frenzy of maniacal energy opening with the towering “Do A Little Dance” and ending with the euphonic “Shelter Me Jamie.” “Take Over The World” and “Dewa” -- hit songs Singapore radio stations never knew about -- were as always greeted by gasps from fans. They kept two surprises towards the end, covering Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart Again” and the Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”
While Tiramisu wore their tawdry outfits with class, ZGPS wasn’t about to be outdone. Singer/lyricist X’Ho in white homemade graffiti garb wore tangerine niteglo lipsticks. Singer/sex-bomb Sue Sue Law catwalked on in neck high cheongsum, which surprised the crowd expecting her to come dressed in something a lot more titillating. By the middle of their set as ZGPS’s dirty electro-clash got hotter, naughty Sue Sue relented and disrobed down to her lingerie. The last of the trio guitarist/instrumentalist Yeow opted for the simple ubiquitous bandana and padlock neckchain accessory.
ZGPS isn’t just all show and fashion. X’ Ho’s lyrics are angry and together with Sue Sue, they half-rapped and half-sang their messages across like a hellbent punk band. Opening with “Starf**ker” through to the catchy “Media Whore,” their music was thick on low frequency modulation and high on sleazy disco brine. A delicious heady mix followed on the call and respond “Freaks”, their cover of Futon’s big beat anthem, “F**k Machine,” and the superb “Nag Nag Nag.” By the middle of the set, Sue Sue and X’Ho took time out to wish Yeow a happy birthday. Sweet.
A guitar-only opening of Iggy Pop’s classic “I Wanna Be Your Dog” ascended into a drilling industrial dance piece with X’Ho singing in Thai. The fun never ends as the band pay tribute to the The Singapore Make Babies Campaign with another call and respond number “Just F**k,” urging the crowd to “Don’t smoke cigarette/ Don’t take any drugs/ Don’t go out at night/ Just F**k.” It was back to the loudhailer as X’Ho brought the night to a close with “Nightmare (On 8 & 5).”
-- Joe Ng
Esplanade Theatre Backstage
Singapore
High fashion was the order of the day as -- arguably the best two bands from Singapore right now -- Tiramisu and Zircon Gov. Pawn Starz's appetite for flamboyance ruled the gig with low fashion. Like models, both bands strutted out on stage dressed up from sublime kitsch to lo-fi chic. The colors were a dizzy garish and became irresistibly sexy when married to the charged up music both bands discharged. This was refined irony at its best.
Tiramisu opened the show with their raunchy rock n roll that swaggered like Ziggy Stardust, have the sneer that punk rock lost and have more fun than Andy Bell (Erasure) in leotards. The band was led out all in full splendor by their dancer, performance artist/actor Dovan Ong who twinkle-toed around in a pink costume with butterfly wings. Bassist Noor Azlan was in a Shazam superhero outfit, guitarist Jeremy Sharma in Karate Kid red and guitarist Keith Su was styled as a modern Mongolian warrior in Afro wig. Keyboardist/sampler Isrudy was a techno cowboy in matching cyan and yellow and charismatic singer Rizman Putra was togged up in tight shorts and a ladies top.
Rizman with one hand wrapped in black ladies’ glove, wide eyed and in mock delirium had a method to his madness. Possessed by his Manic Jango alter ego, his pulsating energy fuelled the band’s sonic assault. Tiramisu’s hour set became a frenzy of maniacal energy opening with the towering “Do A Little Dance” and ending with the euphonic “Shelter Me Jamie.” “Take Over The World” and “Dewa” -- hit songs Singapore radio stations never knew about -- were as always greeted by gasps from fans. They kept two surprises towards the end, covering Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart Again” and the Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”
While Tiramisu wore their tawdry outfits with class, ZGPS wasn’t about to be outdone. Singer/lyricist X’Ho in white homemade graffiti garb wore tangerine niteglo lipsticks. Singer/sex-bomb Sue Sue Law catwalked on in neck high cheongsum, which surprised the crowd expecting her to come dressed in something a lot more titillating. By the middle of their set as ZGPS’s dirty electro-clash got hotter, naughty Sue Sue relented and disrobed down to her lingerie. The last of the trio guitarist/instrumentalist Yeow opted for the simple ubiquitous bandana and padlock neckchain accessory.
ZGPS isn’t just all show and fashion. X’ Ho’s lyrics are angry and together with Sue Sue, they half-rapped and half-sang their messages across like a hellbent punk band. Opening with “Starf**ker” through to the catchy “Media Whore,” their music was thick on low frequency modulation and high on sleazy disco brine. A delicious heady mix followed on the call and respond “Freaks”, their cover of Futon’s big beat anthem, “F**k Machine,” and the superb “Nag Nag Nag.” By the middle of the set, Sue Sue and X’Ho took time out to wish Yeow a happy birthday. Sweet.
A guitar-only opening of Iggy Pop’s classic “I Wanna Be Your Dog” ascended into a drilling industrial dance piece with X’Ho singing in Thai. The fun never ends as the band pay tribute to the The Singapore Make Babies Campaign with another call and respond number “Just F**k,” urging the crowd to “Don’t smoke cigarette/ Don’t take any drugs/ Don’t go out at night/ Just F**k.” It was back to the loudhailer as X’Ho brought the night to a close with “Nightmare (On 8 & 5).”
-- Joe Ng