A baby named Nirvana...

It didn't seem crazy, to go clear across Java for one show. We needed a good spot to fly to Malaysia anyways. Arc Yellow, the only band I knew of the 27 or so playing, picked me up. It was a birthday party for a baby named Nirvana. The venue, a gigantic event hall. Huge. Sound bounced everywhere as 50 kids sat on the side of the stage. It wasn't until these ladies got on stage that the crowd got more involved. Members of Fleur / Sugar Kane. "Paranoid Android" and Silverchair covers.

 Dilla Sugar Sun brought some guitar abuse with their own tunes that reminded me of Alex White or Marissa from Screaming Females. So fun. Local booze flowed, and a clear local favorite were up. With that, finally kids launched themselves off the stage, into themselves, and the hard tiled floor. Nirvana covers aplenty. Dave Grohl should bring Foo Fighters for a few DIY shows in Indonesia. These kids seriously deserve it. What a great night. Thanks, Bogor folks. You're all too kind.

A full day in Jakarta proper, and we head to Malaysia for some hard noise.

Jogja, Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta. Jogja. Whatever you choose to call it, I already like it here. It's the only region in Indonesia headed by a monarchy. Indra Menus meets up with me. He's an archival nerd after my own heart, compiling a backlog of recordings I know all too well.

This is another important hub of noise kids, building synths out of Nintendo's, found and made objects, whatever they can make work. We walk around the central market area, and end at a coffee shop ran by his friend. The amount of dark spaces here that house expertly crafted products amazes me. You just have to know where to look. I finally meet Lintang Radittya, who makes something he calls the "Javanese Modular". Great conversations. Heavy week coming. 

Anca Manimau : A life on the road

Anca Hcs Manimau. In a tour diary last year, 大担 said it best : "This is his life. He has no home, no job, nothing besides his bands, an iPhone and backpack full of tees. When he’s not on tour he stays with friends and screens shirts, but mostly he’s on tour. While hardcore has begun to be more commercialized in Indonesia with big companies looking to sponsor events and booking agents carving out profit margins, Anca stays in the underground, DIY to the end, shows in practice rooms and skateparks, living off merch sales and appreciation for his hard work. Think of a really nice version of GG Allin, that’s Anca."

A few days left in Surabaya, and we head to Yogyakarta to see Indra Menus and crew. After that, Anca will take us around, tour style, on our way to Jakarta.

Batu, East Java

Batu. East Java. Finally met the infamous Anca Hcs Manimau! He lives on the road. The endless tour. D.I.Y warrior. 2 hours on an intense bus, and a short motorbike ride, leaves you here. Beautiful as hell.

We head to a small cafe. In the back, a small recording, practice, and gig room. You can cram about 10 people in there, and the rest watch from the entrance. Every show here has like a dozen bands on the bill. Hardcore, grindcore, punk. 3 song sets. By the time you get your bearings, it's over. That's insane to me, but it makes sense. Cram in as much as you can, and make for a very communal experience. 3 sets with female vocalists, a nice surprise considering I was told there wouldn't be much of that here.

Thanks, Anca. 

Klepto Opera in a Graveyard

Surabaya. Day one and we head to an old graveyard, tagging along with KLEPTO OPERA, a super unique psyche / grunge / noise act who've been going for over 15 years. They were shooting a video for a new song "Menggilas Dunia". Most of the graves dated back to the mid 1800's, and over 60% of them were dug up by looters. Though they're playing fierce for this band photo, they were ridiculously nice. Though it's Ramadan, obviously not everyone is fasting. A first warung meal next to a skate park that was ridiculously busy by the time we left. Tomorrow, a noise set on the streets. "Noise Bombing" : Round 1. Super glad to be here, Indonesia.