Rock The World 8 conquers cynics

Rock The World 8
20 December 2008
The Secret Garden, Stadium Merdeka, KL, Malaysia

Rarely has there been a regional festival mired in as much controversy as this year’s instalment of Malaysia’s definitive annual music gathering Rock The World. Everything from the controversial lineup to a mistake made in the flyer was criticised by fans and non-fans alike, as only eternally complaining Malaysians would do. Comments slamming the festival went beyond the 300 mark on JUNK’s website, and even organiser Jason Lo was not spared the abuse when he chose to write a diplomatic response to the verbal chaos.

But as it turned out, all the negativity and insults amounted to nothing–Rock The World 8 still amassed a (reported) 10,000-strong crowd. And there was certainly enough quality in the bands performing to satisfy everyone. “It is always hard to pick the bands for RTW,” said Zahid Yon, CEO of organisers Fat Boys Records, days before the event. “Although there are a lot of new and upcoming bands, we can only pick 17.”

Beneath a sunny afternoon sky, the day kicked off with six college bands onstage including Static Emily, Out To Bed and Harvesting Space Sound, all proving very capable in the showmanship department. But the real buzz began as Upon Arrival took the stage, with metalheads taking the opportunity to launch into frenzied moshing. Zip Zieller and Republic of Brickfields sparked off more spontaneous dancing while the eye candy was aplenty via Estrella’s sweet-looking vocalist Liyana and pop punk breakouts Bunkface.

It was The Otherside Orchestra, however, who would set off the first solid set of the day. Despite having only been together since 2006, the band’s party rock coupled with zany sound effects and manic lighting had the crowd dancing through an evening that was now being greeted with drizzling rain.

As the night got darker, Bittersweet, Estranged, The Times, Koffin Kanser, Revenge and One Buck Short kept things moving. But by then, everyone was all too ready for the one band that they had probably spent their RM20 just to see: Butterfingers. The Rock The World stage veterans returned to the festival in ecstatic form, spawning mass incidences of lung-bursting sing-alongs through the band’s classics. It was a brilliant finish to a day that, through thick and thin, conquered the cynics in true rock ‘n’ roll fashion.

Words Ellyn Photos Ahmad Saiful

Check more pics of Rock The World 8 in our online gallery here. Were you one of the 10,000 at Rock The World 8? Tell us how it was for you!