Big bands and chipmunks at XFM's rock 'n' roll beach bash

Tacked against the decidedly exotic backdrop of dancing palm fronds, surf-ready waves and the beach’s pristine pulchritude; the evening air at Impiana Resort Cherating was redolent with the aroma of barbequed seafood as attendees partook with hushed, polite conversation.

The radio DJs looked visibly relaxed, gamely swaying and dancing in the crowd. This chilled mode was espoused by all, not least by a few cheeky XFM crewmen who’d taken upon themselves to inhale helium from the balloons and converse loudly in Chipmunk-ey voices. Invitees, XFM contest winners and holidaymakers gathered to scrutinise the performances of Monoloque and Pop Shuvit. The latter generated the first sing/dance along of the evening with ‘Old School Rocka’ and ironic New Wave ode ‘Oh Sizuka’.

Stonebay gave a solid turn–deluging the breezy milieu with the 90s alternative rock sonicry that recalls Dave Matthews Band while Altimet cut loose with a lusty horn section, and proceeded to dish out old school hip hop with that Sugarhill Gang cover and his own righteous tune ‘Cantik’. However, it was Bunkface that dialled the energy level up with their precocious, if tight, musicianship and abundant punk pop clichés–all of which were enthusiastically lapped up by the 200-strong, mostly teenage audience.

Fresh-faced Ana Raffali was the surprise late addition to the event, owing to Pesawat’s late arrival. With her petite, baju kurung-clad form and lone guitar framed in the spotlight, the troubadour gave a sincere, honest performance–her soaring, saccharine vocals clambering lithely around the spine of her sparse songsmithery.  In spite of being divested of a backing band, the girl displayed a crackling self-possession and vulnerability absent from many of the acts present. Pesawat finally circled in and rallied the audience into a sync-clapping mass to the rhythm of their Brit-tinged ditties. Hujan–whose members Noh and Dimas had been trading witticisms with the onstage acts from the front row of the crowd throughout the night–continued  the fun by slipping in an impromptu Bunkface and Stacy AF cover into the setlist with their characteristic drollness.

It all felt like a weekend company barbecue or a family day outing. Now, if only there was a reggae band…

WORDS JARROD PHOTOS BUN VIRUS
www.xfm.com.my

Big thanks to XFM for bringing Junk to Cherating! Here are some pics form the whole shebang...