A triple dose of six-stringed goodness

The coming months are set to be a real treat for gig-goers who like to hear a great solo or two. Three iconic guitarists will be in town within the space of one month.

Photo: kevincho.com

Eric Clapton – 14 February at the Singapore Indoor Stadium

The name behind classics like Tears in Heaven and Change the World, Eric Clapton will be playing at the Singapore Indoor Stadium this Valentines Day. He has seen music eras come and go, from the hippie days with his former bands Cream and The Yardbirds, to his more mellow solo work of late. Having been in the business for nearly 50 years, Clapton has constantly been named one of the best blues guitarists in the world. His nickname, “Slowhand”, isn't at all derogatory, but rather a sarcastic play on how he likes to transition from soulful verses to quick improvised solos.

Photo: hotdog.hu

Carlos Santana – 7 March at the Singapore Indoor Stadium

Carlos Santana, like Eric Clapton, has been an important figure in music since the 1960s. Also like Clapton, he loves the blues. But he has also added latin, jazz, fusion, funk and other influences to create a style of guitar playing all his own. Santana's tracks range from melodic, almost ambient instrumentals to heavier latin-style rock songs. His latest album, launched last year, features covers of rock classics, including AC/DC's Back in Black, George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Cream's Sunshine of Your Love.

Photo: heyuguys.co.uk

Slash – 12 March at the Singapore Indoor Stadium

Returning to Singapore after his previous gig last August, this is the man who has inspired many guitarists from our generation to learn to shred. During his time with Guns N' Roses, David Saul, better known as Slash, made his name as one of hard rock's foremost musicians.Although not as veteran as Clapton or Santana, Slash is often mentioned in the same breath, and he has a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame membership to prove it. Slash will be headlining this year's Big Night Out (linked above), whose highlight act last year was Brit band Muse.

Their highest rankings in the guitar world:

Eric Clapton - #4 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

Carlos Santana - #15 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time

Slash - #2 on Time Magazine's 10 Greatest Electric Guitar Players

Who is your favourite guitarist of the three?
	Eric Clapton
	Carlos Santana
	Slash
	I like all of them!
	I don't like any of them
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Extra:


Eric Clapton and Santana on the same stage


Slash at Fort Canning Park, August 2010

Uno, Dos Tres: U2 Rock Out in 3D

Photo: moviestripe.com

Screened at the Singapore Science Centre at $15 a ticket, U2 3D offered a new kind of musical experience for little more than the price of watching a movie. A complimentary poster was also given out with each ticket.

U2 3D showcases footage from the Irish rock band's Vertigo tour. It was filmed on the final leg of the tour in South America, mostly in Argentina and Brazil.

Lead singer Bono makes the most of the 3D effect. Photo: outnow.ch

To enhance the sensation of being in the crowd, many of the shots were positioned behind the audience, hands waving and camera phones sticking out. But it was the varied close-ups and arial shots that made the biggest difference, as it would be impossible to view the band from those angles if in the audience.

“It was a nice, new experience,” said U2 fan Allyson Tan, 27, one of TWG's viewing companions. “You get the feel of being there even though you know you are watching a movie.”

But what about movie goers who are not familiar with U2's music? Beth Peng, 17, who also enjoyed the show, reckons it would still be worth a watch. “I think it would be quite interesting even for non-U2 fans. It's something different, and they would probably enjoy a few of the songs anyway.”

U2 are known to promote various humanitarian causes, such as peace in the Middle East. Photo: ppanlwk.wordpress.com

Despite the fun, there were a few areas where the experience fell short. The Omnimax theatre was under renovation, so the film was screened at a temporary cinema at the Annex. “The whole cinema was too bright and the screen was too small. It made us very conscious of the fact that we were watching a movie,” Allyson explained. She added that if she could watch the film on the Omnimax's panoramic round screen instead, it would have been a lot more exciting.

Still, considering the critical praise that U2 3D has received internationally, we might well see a new trend in concert films in the next year or two. If you have never seen your favourite band perform live in Singapore, a watching a 3D movie of their tour might be the next best thing. The Science Centre will be screening U2 3D until February 27 2011, and tickets are first come first serve.

More information can be found here.

Due to cinema restrictions, TWG did not take any photos inside the cinema.

TWG RATING: 7/10.

Preview clips (although not in 3D, obviously)

Go and get shot

Photo: shots.

No, we don't mean it that way! We're talking about shots. cafe (yes, the lowercase and fullstop are how it's spelt). This cafe offers three different kinds of "shots". Their description of an ideal day at the cafe consists of:

a shot of espresso in the morning
taking shots of photography in the afternoon
shots of sake in the evening

Set up by Edward Loh, a professional photographer (who clearly likes puns), shots. combines coffee, photography and sake to offer an all rounded arty and social experience. Loh's business partner, WB Tan, oversees the cafe's F&B matters. Its menu contains of standard cafe fare like sandwiches and lasagne. Photography classes are conducted by Loh himself.


The cafe's location, Ann Siang Hill, is a perfect fit, what with its many indie bookstores and fashion shops.

shots. cafe
8 Ang Siang Hill, Singapore 069788
Tel: +65 6224 8502
Email: info@shots.com.sg
www.shots.com.sg/cafe

Have you been to shots. or do you know a similar cafe? Share it with TWG in the comments box!

Joo Chiat,the schizophrenic food hotspot

Having grown up in the East, Joo Chiat has always been one of my favourite makan places for cheap and good food. But recent years have seen many more upmarket restaurants popping up in the area. TWG wondered if the cheap hawker centres were being driven out by the “atas” eateries, so a walk around Joo Chiat was in order.

Photo: Private Affairs

First, TWG looked at why the new fine dining places chose Joo Chiat to set up shop. One of the most posh restaurants to make its name in Joo Chiat is Private Affairs, a kitchen-and-bar restaurant specialising in modern European cuisine. Its management felt that the charm of Joo Chiat made it slightly different from restaurants in the usual fine dining enclaves like Holland Village and Dempsey.

Photo: Smokey's

However, Rob Szepvolgyi, executive chef and owner of Smokey’s BBQ at Joo Chiat Place, said that the restaurants there succeed because of food first and location second. Szepvolgyi mentioned that many of his clientele come from other ends of Singapore such as Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris and Jurong.

For Joo Chiat’s hawker centres, it seems to be business as usual. Thomas Gan, 50, owns Hagashi Nishi Cuisine, a Japanese and Western stall at the popular Dunman Food Centre (Dunman). Gan told TWG that hawkers in Joo Chiat are aware of the new presence of gourmet eateries, but that it does not affect their businesses. In a mix of Mandarin and English, he said, “We are able to survive because of our regulars. Most of them are from around here and have known us for a long time.”

He also added that a good number of backpackers staying at nearby hostels, like Betel Box, visit Dunman and its neighbouring hawker centres. “They come from overseas, but they are like us. They also enjoy cheap and good food, so they will not eat at the restaurants either.”

So, coffee shop lovers have no cause for concern, Joo Chiat’s cheap treasures will not disappear. Joo Chiat evidently suffers from, or rather is blessed with, multiple personality disorder. The food on offer really depends on which part of the area one visits.

It is along the places closer to Katong like Joo Chiat Place, Still Road and Joo Chiat Road near the junction of East Coast Road, that most of the restaurants and gourmet eateries can be found. Private Affairs, Smokey’s, Everything With Fries, Astons and Wahiro Japanese Restaurant are just a few examples.

Walk down Joo Chiat Road in the other direction, toward the junction of Geylang Road, and a good number of Malay stalls can be found, such as Hilal Indian Muslim and Hjh Maimunah Restaurant. A comprehensive directory can be found at Joo Chiat’s community website www.myjoochiat.com.

Joo Chiat, then, is somewhat of a rarity in Singapore’s food scene. How many areas will offer a $2 plate of wan ton noodles next to a $100 champagne brunch?

Do you eat at Joo Chiat?
	A lot, I love the place!
	Now and then
	Hardly
	Never
	Where is Joo Chiat?
Free polls from Pollhost.com

When the circus came to town: the Sentosa Buskers Festival

Here in Singapore, free acts like those at the Mosaic Music Festival and Baybeats never fail to draw crowds. But what about busking? When was the last time you stopped to watch a busker perform instead of just dropping a fifty cent join into their tip box?

The first ever Sentosa Buskers Festival ran from 27 November to 5 December 2010. It featured a total of ten acts from around the world performing at various locations around Sentosa Island.

Contortionist Rani Huszar (Australia)

Magician/comic/zerba pants wearer Magic Brian (USA)

Combining various circus-type art forms was a trait shared by many of the performers. Australian Rani Huszar's mix of contortion, comedy and a bit of belly dancing made her a hit with the crowd. Magic Brian from the US combined his comedy with some classic magic tricks and lots of audience participation, which always adds to the entertainment value.

Musical act The Famous Unknowns...

Guitarist Carlos Vamos (the Netherlands)

Dulcimer player Lindsay Buckland (Australia)

The least “oddball” act were The Famous Unknowns, a duo comprising dulcimer player Lindsay Buckland from Australia and guitarist Carlos Vamos from the Netherlands. The only musical act at the festival, the pair were impressive nonetheless, Buckland with his creative use of the American folk instrument and Vamos with his skillful two-handed tapping playing style.

One frustrating occurrence was that the names of the acts may have been inaccurately provided. During his shows, Magic Brian kept saying that his name was Nigel, and the Famous Unknowns were labeled the Great Unknowns on the information brochure.

Also, when TWG attended the final day of the festival, the schedule had been changed. This was not reflected in the brochure given out or the signboards on display, so the only way to know which acts were on when was to keep going back to the information counter to check.

As long as the foibles are sorted out, TWG recokns the Sentosa Buskers Festival has potential as a local arts event. Its trump card was, of course, that it did not cost a cent. In fact, visitors stood to win $1,000 by taking a whacky photo with their favourite act. If the orgainsers continue to bring in unique performers, the event could build on the fair following it has gained from its first edition.

More photos and information can be found on the event's Facebook page.

TWG RATING: 6/10

Hello!

Welcome to The Weekend Guerilla (GUH-REE-LUH, not gaw-ree-lah). As the name suggests, this news blog is all about lifestyle and interest-piquing stories, covering music, movies, food and other things you might want to read on a lazy weekend.

Watch this space for more updates. Tranquilo :)