STARTWO, FRIdAy 25 MARCH 2011

MuSIC

T17

Magnetic presence:
LA-based Asian
American pop outfit
Far East Movement
singer Kev Nish
tearing up the stage
in Singapore on
March 17.

Wired
movement
Far East Movement
got the crowd flying
like a G6.
By NIKI CHEONG
niki@thestar.com.my

HE Far East Movement (FM) crew had

just flown into Singapore a few hours
before they took to the stage at Wave
house in Sentosa Island, Singapore, on March
17. However, that didnt stop them from
giving a stomping performance at the beach
club.
Considering that the groups performance,
which was also part of the Far East Movement
Free Wired Tour, only started two hours after
the scheduled timing, that was quite a feat.
The hip hop act comprising Kevin
Nishimura (Kev Nish), James Roh (Prohgress),
Jae Choung (JSplif) and Virman Coquia (DJ
Vir) later explained that the organisers had
requested that they show up at 9pm.
Not that anyone really cared. Even as the
crowd was entertained by local radio DJs with
some games and trivia while waiting for the
show to start, the vibe in the place was one of
buzzing excitement everyone was ready to
party.
Of course, the whole beach club ambience
was the perfect backdrop for such an event.
While there were obviously some FM fans
who wanted to dress up slickly like their idols
(Far East Movement is also known for its
unique fashion sense), most people came in
Tshirts, jeans or shorts and beachfriendly
footwear.
Behind the stage was a huge wave pool
that was just so inviting, while right in front
of the entrance, there were beginner surfers
trying out the small surf pool. Add to this, the
sandy ground and gazebos serving snacks,
soft drinks and booze, this was promising to
be quite a party.
And what a party it turned out to be! When
the FM foursome and their band appeared, it
was obvious they were not dressed for the
beach but such was the energy of the crowd
that there could not be a better location to
host the event.
All this worked in Far East Movements
favour, of course, considering that most of
Asia would probably only know them for two
of their hit songs, the Billboard No.1 hit Like A
G6 and Rocketeer, the second single from their
third album Free Wired.
The act kicked off with Girls On The

Dancefloor, arguably its first hit. This was a

smart move as it got the crowd pumped up;
the next few songs were not familiar to most.
Still, you cant really go wrong with good
dance beats at a beach party the guys could
really get their groove on. The group also
brought along a guest performer Kayla Kai
to spice things up a little.
Kai seemed a bit awkward at the start
(perhaps she wasnt sure what to expect from
a Singaporean crowd) but settled in nicely by
the time they performed White Flag, the song
she featured in on Free Wired. Lets forgive her
for waving a white towel during the song.
Jokes aside, the fact is that Far East Move
ment didnt really need any help. Incidentally,
its the first time that the group performed in
Singapore.
Granted, it is a group of Asian Americans
with the words Far East in their name but who
spoke and acted like they grew up in the Bronx
(they actually grew up in Los Angeles). But that
didnt stop them from relating to the crowd in
a far east country, through their dance beats
and their moves.
Right from the getgo, the threesome (DJ
Vir was on the decks) were moving around
the stage with such vibrancy to challenge
some of the best hip hop acts.
Naturally, the crowd went crazy when the
group hit the first bars of Like A G6, but this
was also an indication that the party was
gradually coming to an end.
When the song that followed was
Rocketeer, everyone knew that the set was
over despite the fact that the group had only
been on stage for just over 45 minutes.
The crowds recognition of the groups hit
songs aside, personally, I felt the best
moments were when Far East Movement
covered and remixed hit songs from other
artistes, including dance outfit Duck Sauces
version of Barbra Streisand (cleverly adding
the groups name in the lyrics at the end of
the song) and the bridge from Gwen Stefanis
Hollaback Girl.
By the end of the night, the crowd was
really flying like a G6 pun truly intended
as the boys from Far East Movement threw in
a few other surprises such as when Prohgress
surfed the crowd and DJ Vir, after the amaz
ing encore, took off his top and pants and
dived into the wave pool behind the stage.
It was a perfect ending to a beautiful night
at a beach club.
n Far East Movements Free Wired is released
by Universal Music Malaysia. Each purchase of
the album comes with a free shutter shade.