SquareCircles

Next stop - Penang Islang Jazz Festival

2009-11-28T08:36:00.003+08:00

Hi, folks, we're all geared up to take the fringe stages of the Penang Island Jazz Festival on Dec 5-6. The times are ...

Dec 5, Saturday - 3.45pm-4.15pm, G Stage at G Hotel lobby
Dec 6, Sunday - 4.30pm-5pm, Bayview Corner at Bayview Hotel lobby (Batu Ferringi)

Our full CD is still in progess, so we can't release it as planned for the festival. However, we will be giving away 50 CDs containing our first single, New Dance, and a few demo jams.

Here's the link for other performances:

Penang Island Jazz Festival

See you there.

SquareCircles' warm-up gig before Penang

2009-11-20T07:38:00.000+08:00

We'll be performing at Cloth & Clef on Nov 26, all details in the poster, ahead of our gigs on the fringe stages of The Penang Island Jazz Festival (Dec 5/6).

SquareCircles at JAMFest 209

2009-10-08T07:43:00.002+08:00

SquareCircles will do a 30-min set at Backyard Pub's JAMFest 2009, which runs every Wed in October and November.

We're on Oct 14, Wednesday, 2009, 9.30pm
Venue: BAckyard Pub, Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur.

No Black Tie

2009-09-17T07:45:00.001+08:00

We had a rocking time at No Black Tie last night, thanks to those who turned up, you gave us the vibe! .... video clips to follow in a few days ...

SquareCircles on MySpace ...

2009-09-14T13:21:00.003+08:00

Here's the link ... we're building it bit by bit ...

http://www.myspace.com/squarecircles2008

SquareCircles at No Black Tie, Sept 16

2009-08-15T07:48:00.004+08:00

Event: Time Out: On The up
Date: Sept 16
Time: 9pm
Venue: No Black Tie (03-2142 3737), 17 Jalan Mesui, Off Jalan Nagasari, Off Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur
Price: RM20. (RM10 with printout voucher from www.timeoutkl.com)

Featuring:
- Singer songwriter NightlightSK with his comedic lyrics.

- Two-piece act Dizzy & The, made up of one poet and a classically trained pianist.

- Electro rock/pop band Tenderfist.

- SquareCircles.

Some updates on SquareCircles
- We have a couple of new songs, and after this gig, the band plans to lay down tracks for a possible EP or whole album.

- SquareCircles will also be performing at the fringe stages, for the Penang Island Jazz Festival in December.

Next gig

2009-08-10T00:40:00.002+08:00

SquareCircles' next gig is set for mid-September, at a popular venue in Kuala Lumpur. Stayed tuned for details soon.

Touchwood - 2

2009-03-09T08:06:00.002+08:00

Alright, that's another one over and done with, we had fun and did the other bands. Thanks to the Norton 500, SquareCircles, Mili'z and Otam for making it happen, and being so generous. Also thanks to Cloth & Clef and Ethaya, Ann Marie and all who turned up.

Touchwood - 2 ...

2009-03-08T13:16:00.001+08:00

"Touchwood" - 2 ... tonight!

"TOUCHWOOD" ... the 2nd one ...

2009-02-26T19:30:00.002+08:00

"TOUCHWOOD" - 2

... Where the music isn't too loud. Acoustic and semi-acoustic artistes with attitude.

Venue: Cloth & Clef, 30 Jln Changkat Bukit Bintang, KL
Showtime: 8.30pm, March 8 (Sun), 2009
Entrance: RM10
Contact: 03-21433034 / 012-3045235
clothandclef@gmail.com / squarecirclesmalaysia@gmail.com

THIS IS A NO-SMOKING EVENT!

Featuring, MILI'Z, OTAM, NORTON 500 & SQUARECIRCLES

MILI'Z
Formed in 2006, Mili'z is the brainchild of two ambitious songwriters- Michelle and Ling. With a wide collection of sounds, the band also consists of lead guitarist Adil, violinist and cellist, Rohnie, bassist Timothy, and Stephanie on the drums. Playing their own repertoire that revolves around the genre of alternative, pop, rock and acoustic music, Mili'z is set to satisfy the appetite of audiences who appreciate originality and enjoy tuning into sounds that will enchant the mind as well as provoke the soul.

OTAM
Ahmad Rostam Bin Abdul Rashid, 28, known as Otam, honed his singing, songwriting and guitar-playing craft when he was studying in Canada. He lived there for six years before returning to Malaysia to be part of the local music scene. His day job is in the hotel industry, and he loves to jam at other times.

NORTON 500
Chris Felix, Domarcas Meta and Edward Gomez of Norton 500 endeavor to provide anyone who cares to listen with musical snippets of life in motion, love and death (resurrection is, as yet, not on offer). They are currently in the midst of recording their debut release, the tentatively titled the Parallel Lines EP, which they hope will do even better, commercially and critically, than Blondie's similarly-titled third album. The world waits with bated breath.

SQUARECIRCLES
SquareCircles, formed in late 2008, is a geometrically-challenged, semi-acoustic band from the Klang Valley. They play mostly original material, and some covers, in whatever style they feel like playing, serving up the blues, folks, surf, funk, roots and country. They'll take any gig that'll take them. So far, no known photograph of the band exists.

"Touchwood" (2)

2009-02-16T23:00:00.004+08:00

We're on to the second edition of Touchwood.

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009
Venue: Cloth & Clef, 30, Jalan Changkat Bukit Bintang,
Kuala Lumpur.
Entry: RM10
Important: NO-SMOKING NITE!

Featuring: OTAM, NORTON 500, MILI'Z and SQUARE CIRCLES

The gig

2009-01-25T08:39:00.004+08:00

It all went down pretty well; despite the CNY holidays ahead, we had a reasonable crowd ... Zubira warmed them up, Norton 500 kept the spirits flowing, SquareCircles did their unpredictable stuff, the acoustic Soft Touch wowed them and Julian Mokktar blew 'em away with his sheer artistry. Thanks to all that came and others who helped out.

We like to thank these excellent people for making "Touchwood" happen and seeing it through:

All the bands
The management of VR1 (for letting us use of the place)
Ann Marie (for the organisation and ticketing)
John (for the flyer art)
Lohan (for keeping it flying high)
Lemang Music (for having Hassan Peter Brown)
Geraldine Loh of Rock Unite Inc & Julian (we owe you both)
Wong Lip Kee (for being the impromptu soundman)

Another edition coming up ...

"TOUCHWOOD" updates

2009-01-21T20:19:00.002+08:00

Guess what, JULIAN MOKHTAR, Malaysia's legendary bluesman, has agreed to play at short notice ... gracias, Jules.

Sam Ponnudorai had to pull out, reluctantly, for personal reasons.

"Touchwood" 2009 - the first one ...

2009-01-12T10:32:00.005+08:00

"TOUCHWOOD"
... Where the music isn't too loud. Mostly acoustic, from veteran and new talents. To make you listen.

"TOUCHWOOD"
Venue: VR1 Cafe, Block A, Damansara Intan, Petaling Jaya
Showtime: 9pm, Jan 24 (Sat), 2009
Entrance: RM15 only
Contact: 03-7729 4255
Featuring the legendary SAM PONNUDORAI, MARKIZA & PETER BROWN, NORTON 500, ZUBIRA & special guests SQUARECIRCLES

SAM PONNUDORAI
They say all he needs to entertain are a nylon-string acoustic guitar and a microphone. He's the one and only recipient of the 1990 MUM Best Musician’s Award. He's performed regularly in various pubs and hotels in the Klang Valley, Kuantan and Penang - you can catch him at the Little Penang Sunday Market once a month these days.
Sam plays mostly the blues and a little other stuff. The likes of Ray Charles, Jose Feliciano, BB King, James Taylor, etc, etc, are all up his alley, and then, there are his own songs.
Sam performs mostly with just his guitar, a nylon-stringed thin body acoustic electric which has seen better days, and his custom made Gibson Les Paul Jr.

MARKIZA & PETER BROWN
Peter Brown aka Hassan and Markiza are the husband-and-wife team that have been writing music together and performing for over two decades. Hassan has released a number of solo works, gong back to the 1970s, while the duo have also recorded under the guise of Passion (two albums) in the 1990s, and more recently, Soft Touch (one album). They have an independent label, Lemang Music.
Currently, Hassan is putting songs together for another solo album, and he and Markiza have been writing and performing new songs about the environment, refugees and the threat to the planet.

ZUBIRA
Zubira is a singer/songwriter/guitarist whose music is a fusion of old school and modern rock, blues, alternative and pop. His debut album, Like Never Before, was released under his own indie label, Zeztone Productions.
He has worked with indie film producer/director Linus Chung in a local Chinese movie, A Note of Love, for which he wrote two new songs. His single, Never Mine, from the debut album, was also featured in the movie.

NORTON 500
Planes, trains and automobiles get you where you want to go; but really, only a motorcycle can offer one mobility as well as romance and yes, death on two wheels... Oh wait! This is supposed to be an introduction to Norton 500, the acoustic side project of The Dolphin Conspiracy's Edward Gomez and Chris Felix, NOT the motorcycle!
Edward and Chris endeavor to provide anyone who cares to listen with musical snippets of life, romance and death. True, you don't get the wind in your hair, dust in your eyes, soot on your new white shirt and flies in your face; but perhaps, that's just as well.
Norton 500 are currently in the midst of recoding their debut release, tentatively titled the Parallel Lines EP, which they hope will do even better, commercially and critically, than Blondie's similarly named third album.

SQUARECIRCLES
SquareCircles, a relatively new, geometrically-challenged, semi-acoustic band from the Klang Valley formed in October, 2008. They play mostly original material ... in whatever style they feel like playing, with elements of the blues, folks, surf and country. They will play for money, or hope to, some day. Until then, they'll take any gig that'll take them. Their songs are about songs about songs about ... oh, just come and listen!

FOR THE RAWK DAWGS VI

2009-01-05T23:55:00.001+08:00

And SquareCircles is barging in for 30 minutes ...

FOR THE RAWK DAWGS VI

2009-01-04T08:00:00.002+08:00

Our first gig for the new year will be opening for the series For The Rawk Dawgs, now in its sixth edition.

Starring retro rockers Cats In Love, folk rockers Soft Touch and alternative rockers Stonebay
Featuring guest artiste SquareCircles

Date: 10/1/09
Showtime: 8.30pm
Place to be: VR1 Cafe, Block A, Damansara Intan, PJ
Admittance: RM15 only
Tel: 03-7729 4255

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T10:15:00.003+08:00

Best wishes for the New Year ... more music, more gigs, more fun, we hope, to banish all our troubles ...

Mostly, best wishes for good health and a peace of mind.

Coming up ...

2008-12-31T10:53:00.001+08:00

SquareCircles will be playing a couple of gigs in the coming weeks ... eyes on this page for the details.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T08:48:00.002+08:00

Here's to a good day ... Merry X'mas to all.

Party, party ... (more pix)

2008-12-22T08:14:00.007+08:00

A SquareCircles member jams with R.S. Murthi

We did another gig on Friday, Dec 19, at a private function ... a friend was celebrating his 50th birthday. Good too see our song, ISA Blues, get such a positive response ... if you're wondering what the song is about, come to our next gig. :)

The party was held at The Nerve, near KL's Heritage Row ... and those jamming included Carbolic Smokeballs, poet/songwriter Meor, Kamasutra, R.S. Murthi and others.

More pix soon.

In the works

2008-12-13T08:26:00.003+08:00

SquareCircles is organising a gig ... tentatively, on Jan 24, 2009, venue being decided. Highlight of the gig - the return to KL of .... SAM PONNUDURAI .... check back regularly for more details. Also, an acoustic edition of the legendary SOFT TOUCH.

Just a serious idea ...

2008-11-15T10:51:00.001+08:00

I'm looking to form a pool of acoustic-electric singing-songwriting acts, for showcases and other gigs.

Can be solo, or band. Instruments can be a mix of acoustic and electric, but preferably no drums. Percussions are fine. This way, it's easier to do gigs almost anywhere, with easier set up and controlled volume.

Must be original material. No music or language boundaries, anything goes, so long as its your own stuff in the language of your choice.

email me at bassraptor@gmail.com

More pix from VR1, For The Rawk Dawgs IV

2008-11-12T00:01:00.007+08:00

Can you hear us, then? Sujesh (right) and Lohan.

Angry and snarling, that's Sujesh

You want me to what ...??? Yeah, Lohan on resonating slide guitar

Krishna on tabla ... serene

Yes, I know my bass looks big ... Kevin, always smiling.

A nice set, then ...

All pix above by Joseph "JLo" Loh

2008-11-09T00:42:00.002+08:00

So, it went down pretty well last night at VR1 ... here's the first picture ... more to come later. From left, Lohan, Sujesh, Krishna (tabla) and Kevin ...

About our music

2008-11-05T01:08:00.006+08:00

Gig: For The Rawk Dawgs IV
Date: Nov 8, 8.30
Venue: VR1 Cafe, Damansara Intan, Petaling Jaya
Entry: RM15

Someone asked me what sort of music we play .... well, a bit of this and a lot of that ... you might think we're a country band, and then you might think we're a psychedelic folk-pop band, and then again, you might think we're a fusion act or blues outfit. Any which way you try to label us, you're probably just one or two songs away - or removed - from the truth.

Our songs, all our own, are about the times we live in, and sometimes, times past ... irony, sardony, parody ... these are words we like!

Our guest set this Saturday will comprise five songs, one of them instrumental. At the time of writing, I've decided to plug my nylon-string guitar into a chorus pedal to mask the horrible ineptness of my playing. Lohan has decided to use an electric guitar for most of the songs because he "heard it calling in his head." Kevin will stick with acoustic bass, electrified (the bass, that is). Krishna's tabla, we will amplify beyond all proportion with microphones, for the gig (details below).

If you shout and sing with us, perhaps a good time will be had by all. Me, I'm looking forward to hear those rippling dawgs that come on after we're done and packed.

FOR THE RAWK DAWGS IV (3)

2008-11-04T17:16:00.003+08:00

We'll be starting on the dot, so ... be late and you've missed us!

FOR THE RAWK DAWGS IV (2)

2008-11-03T11:49:00.001+08:00

FOR THE RAWK DAWGS IV

2008-11-01T21:28:00.002+08:00

Featuring retro rockers CATS IN LOVE, indie darlings DESERTERS and heartland blues hounds UBIE.

Also, opening guest appearance, SQUARECIRCLES

Date: Nov 8, 2008Time: 8.30pm (on the dot)-12.45am
Venue: VR1 Cafe, Block A, Damansara Intan (a few doors away from San Francisco Steakhouse), PJ
Entrance: RM15
For more info, contact VR1 Cafe - 03-77294255

So what is SquareCircles doing with the rawk dawgs? Good question ... come see us to find out ... we'll be there, too.

Still no pix .... sorry ....

Happy Diwali 2008

2008-10-27T10:12:00.005+08:00

Happy Diwali to all Hindus the world over ... let's continue to hope for the light to guide us always.

The story, for now at least ...

2008-10-25T23:56:00.000+08:00

A word or seven about SquareCircles:

Don’t get us wrong, we’re really not a “political” band! But events of 2008 have forced politics into the lives of all Malaysians.

So and thus, how could we possibly prevent political topics from insinuating themselves into our songs? Ultimately, we just rode the tsunami, took our observations of life as it is in Malaysia these days ... and put them in our songs.

We’re not a protest band, heck no, we’re too intimidated by the very thought of doing anything that requires getting the attention of the man. We figure, though, that things are worth a laugh or two, so that we all don’t get too carried away by events.

The serious battles for freedom of expression and human rights, we’ll leave it to conscientious journalists, activists and NGOs. We just want you to pay us for having our bit of fun, because this is what SquareCircles is all about.

If you have fun, too, consider it money well spent.

Why an acoustic band, you ask? Well, Bob Dylan had a good start with this, for one ...

SquareCircles was formed in October 2008, and comprises Sujesh (nylon-string guitar, vocals), Lohan (steel-string guitar, dobro, Malboro, backing vocals and foil to vocalist), Kevin The Loon (acoustic-electric bass, backing vocals, wicked chops) and Krishna (tabla, invisibility cloak).

We’re not sure how long this will last, and if it does, how regular the line-up will be ... all we can say is, if you see us perform in the future, then we’re obviously still around.

Our first gig is on Nov 8. Stay tuned for details. And a photo or two. Till then, ride with the wind.