Bule bands...
 

Why oh why oh why do some places in Jakarta persist in using western bands.

I went it BATS and CJs this week (with my wife) and both featured absolutely crap expat bands murdering music with gay abandon. CJs was the worst and I have ever heard!

A trip to Top Gun (on my own) featured a fantastic local band who really got things bopping. Oscars is shut at the moment but they had some great local bands over the years (anyone remember the Indonesian Elvis impersonator?).

Why do Indonesians look down on their own talent and think to have class they have to have a 15 piece UK band in matching outfits and two girls up font?

Re: Bule bands...
 

No one seems to come on here you know! All the Brits are still getting over BWA fashion show on Saturday night.

I liked the bule bands at BATS actually, had some good ones at Eastern Promise too. Don't forget it's nice to have them if you live near any Kampung and get Indo music every weekend blaring from dawn til dusk :-)

Re: Bule bands...
 

LOL - I know what you mean - dangut 24x7!

I wouldn't mind if the expat bands were any good. Most seem terrible.

Never liked EP, or De Hoi, or any of those South Kemang bule bars. Too many trades who thought they were important because they had a driver and a maid.

Did you ever go to Bugils? That was my favorite place in the whole world for a long time. Dump of a location though -Taman Ria Senayan Hitlers bunker (with that awful ship thing)...

Re: Bule bands...
 

Don't think I ever went there, loved EP - could walk from Dharmawangsa and could have chunky chips with Chicken Tikka Masala. Haven't found anywhere in this country to have curry & chips :-(

Re: Bule bands...
 

Curry and chips :(:confused: oh please... yech yech yech

Re: Bule bands...
 

Forums are what you make of them. If a few of us start posting on here regularly, it will attract the google searches and it will grow. Depends if you want it to, I guess.

Re: Bule bands...
 

True BB.

As I'm in here I'll just say curry with chips and smelly kippers before I leave.:p

Re: Bule bands...
 

Hi BEVS, I didn't know this was your patch, hehe. Aaah kippers :wub: I like kippers.

Re: Bule bands...
 

I am out of Jakarta again for now, but it looks like I will either be there for 2-3 years on a posting, or make regular visits for work - possibly from a base in Bangkok.

From a marital perspective Im not sure which is more dangerous. :D

I really do like Indonesians, despite them sometimes driving me nuts. And even when the do drive me nuts they flash that smile and suddenly the delay doesn't seem important, and its time to sit down and chat.

I certainly enjoy Indonesian bands - they can be very talented and sadly very unappreciated. I make a point of sending the band beers when I hear them playing in bars, because I don't think they get paid a lot.

Re: Bule bands...
 

I'm based in Sydney at the moment but always have a quick look on the Indo board to see if anyone has anything to say (lived there for 5 years) :)

Re: Bule bands...
 

Couldn't agree more....my genre is jazz and I'm amazed at the local jazz available in Indonesia.

I was in Ryoshi Japanese Restu in Legian a couple of weeks ago and heard the best jazz ...the singer looked Manadonese and, by her command of English, had clearly spent time abroad. She was outstanding and would be a star anywhere else, not just singing in a Japanese Restu. for a few Rps and a drink from us.

The problem, as I see it, is in marketing....some of those more commercial bands seem to need a producer like Simon Cowell etc. to promote themselves. The music quality is there but the presentations are lacking.

Re: Bule bands...
 

Bugger - I was in Legian a couple of weeks ago and walk past that place several times - isn't it near the Bintang Supermarket? If I had known we would have joined you!

Someone once took me to Black Cat many years ago for a great evening.

Re: Bule bands...
 

yeaahh! Black Cat next to Red Square is one of our haunts....can't stand the Creole food though.....much prefer kippers, or mushy peas.

Black Cat is for sofisticats...that's why I sneak in a couple/three bottles of my cheap Aussie screwcap plonk. I sign the tab for corkage for one bottle and swop the bottles when no-one sees.
I can afford to pay and I'm not sure they even care, but it makes me feel like a teenager again.... when we used to pull those kinda stunts and think we were cool.:thumbup: