A Real Break?

It has been 101 days (coincidental) since we last had a gig together as 3:45. Although it's the hols, everyone seem busy too esp KL. I was pondering about what I've done (not the song) for my hols and I realised that I couldn't really revise my work because music is on my mind all the time. Paramore would just loop in my head while I'm attempting to read some chemistry. And that simply sucks. Maybe Kl has a point afterall...that he doesn't want to commit to gigs. I guess studies should be everyone's top priorty afterall, esp for next year. I'm kinda sick of agreeing with people who goes "Aiya fail lah...don't care lah". I guess it's really time to stop pushing for gigs coz I don't think I can balance my passion for music and studies. Tried and tested for one year already.

Maybe it will be a real break from now on afterall.

WOOOOOOOOOO...I just realised it's 3:45 birthday!!!!

Updated post:
GUYS! WTF. WE'RE ONE YEAR OLD!! I JUST REALISED WHILE I'M TYPING THIS MOTIVATIONAL TALK! What a year.

Original Post:
Yo the band leader is here to give motivational talk again. I'm glad things are progressing quite fast nowadays. I was impressed by everyone's efficiency in learning songs (and learn them good). In particular, Daniel, for being able to fit into the music so well within such a short time (2 jamming sessions!). I particularly love Can't Take My Eyes Off You. :) How we managed to conquer it so fast. It just feels great to be back on track again. I really appreciate everyone's effort to make time for jamming despite our own crazy schedules. I really didn't expect everyone would agree so readily to jam on the 16th again especially when Dan has YLTC the next day (and a nagging mum :( ) and KL is supposed to have a date :P

It's a great start but sure there's room for improvement. I think it's time to analyze the songs we have been doing. Turn up and volume and listen for details. Because it's the small details that make a big difference. Details like when to play/when not to and the little guitar parts which complements the keyboards. Meanwhile Bass and Drums should be working on our flawless coordination. Vocals need to be more hardworking on the harmo aspect. Unfortunately, the harmo is still not RN08 standard yet :(

Work hard guys! For RN09 and any other gigs in the future. 3:45!



PS: Currently, my mind is bursting with ideas to remix the songs we're gonna be trying / tried before like Boston :D But ZL is not responding to my call for him to do some remixing at my house D: And oh...we need a new blog skin for a new year!

Going back to our Roots

It has been a long time since we last jammed together. I've decided to type this post because I want you guys to know that the 3:45 is not dead, yet. In case you guys haven't given a thought about it, I think our currently line-up is v shaky. And we're no longer as united as before. It's time to get back together this holiday. Yes, amidst our busy schedules.

With the depature of minh, I've not much confidence in progressing towards songs that are of higher difficulty than Rock Night's. I suggest we go back to our roots. I hope to include Li Rui back in to play keyboards again instead of adding any other outsiders. It has been tried and tested that outsiders don't work well...In addition, since we're all of the same standards, it's easier to progress together as a band.

With LR, I suggest we stick to easy to handle and songs with piano tunes like Coldplay and revive our Rock Night and old tracks like It's my Life and Built to Last using the keyboard. It might need abit of experimentation to get the things right...so it might take more than a mth or so. That's the first step to stabilizing ourselves.

Bear might now have to go lead guitar and keyboards will do the rythem.

I also suggest that Kh and Kl go invent a unique way of presenting yourselves instead of just meddling with harmonizing only so we can make a 2nd vocalist to our own advantage. You guys would have to work them out.

Guys this hols is our chance. Grab it before the A level monster comes. Lets create a never-tested way of doing things. Things might just turn out v nicely.

Hi long time since I posted.

Even though the YEC gig didn't turn out to be what I expected from 3:45 + OHM, I recognise their efforts to salvage the ever decreasing high-atmosphere in the Hall.

So these are the videos of their performance. Sorry that I don't have Supermassive Black Hole cos my camera ran out of memory.

Hysteria




Starlight





Time Is Running Out

The Rainbow after the Storm

Yesterday we had one of the most disastrous opening ever. I shaln't elaborate more about it or point fingers at anyone because there's no point crying over spilled milk. After I came out of the stage, I told myself that I've tried my best to work on the recovery. I don't know if anyone could understand, but it was so hard to tell myself to get back on track after the opening song. Yanwen said that I look as if I could drop my sticks anytime and walk off the stage. And I think that's pretty true. I was rushing to end Hysteria very badly. But after the first song, I told myself that since the first song is screwed, I just needed to play my best for the next 3 in hope of a recovery. And I did. Much thanks to Yi Sheng for encouraging me all the way and keeping me on after the disastrous start. And much thanks for the encore from the crowd which gave us a chance to show a better "Hysteria".

But I guess yesterday performance wasn't a total failure. I felt that we managed to work our way back for the 3rd, 4th and 5th song (3:45 coincidentally) despite the tremendous drop in confidence level. And that's whats most important ain't it? Haha.

We've also managed to take back many learning points through this peformance. I guess it was a bad choice to do 4 tough MUSE songs right from the start given only 1 week of preparation time. Even though Zhi ler, bear and I started playing MUSE since the start of the year, Paul and Wen Song didn't have enough time to prepare sufficiently. Hence, naturally, we were not sufficiently prepared for a recovery in case of a screw up. I found out too that for once, Zhi Ler actually felt insecure over the performance. But we neglected our insercurities and went ahead with the performance thinking that everything would turn out fine. Bad choice. I guess we were just too over-confident after a successful Rock Night. Year End Celebrations (YEC) has finally revealed our immaturity towards music.

I think we can gain the most experience only through a failure. As a young band, We've still much to learn. I hope you guys will still be there for us after YEC because we need you guys to make a next performance successful. And to those who didn't managed to watch our Rock Night performance, I hope you guys will still believe that Talentime and YEC are NOT our best performances.

We're not giving up.

(Ring ring) Do I hear Gigs???

Hi All! 3:45 is alive and kicking again after Rock Night! Promos has certainly took a toll on all of us but now we back! Better than before. Here are some of the details on Year End Celebrations (YEC) and our Open Day gig (3:45 w/ guest drummer North). Digital posters will be posted up later upon receive.

YEC

What: Just a party at night for everyone to have fun. Includes band performances from us and Captain Caleb. Probably gonna be having some dance party and moshing going on. So do come and rock and roll with us!
When: 10th October 2008, 6.30pm-9.30pm
Where: NJC Hall
Who: 3:45's Zhi Ler, Sze Kiat, Wei Shuen and One Hot Minute's Paul (guitar/backup vocals) and Wen Song (Vocals)
How much: 10 bucks (5 for tickets and 5 for credits)
Playing: Supermassive Blackhole, Time is Running Out, Hysteria and Starlight
Why: Because you are fucking gonna have fun.

Open Day

What: Event for NJC to seduce parents with young kids
When: 18th October
Where: Venue to be confirmed at a later date
Who: 3:45 (minus Wei Shuen) and Guest drummer North
How much: FREE!
Playing: Acoustic (Songlist to be confirmed at a later date)
Why: To watch a different side of 3:45

It's a pity Kah Lok won't be able to make it for YEC and Kah Han would be watching us from the pit. But anyway...Do come and show us your support and lend us your voices. Also, it will be the first time I'm emceeing for our band....so please respond enthusiastically! =)

Cheers!
Wei Shuen

Just some Sunday Afternoon Blabber

I was looking through all our blog posts just now and I was shocked we actually have 46 posts in total. It was really interesting to look through our 1st jamming recording videos, all the complains (by me yes....) about stage dynamics and proficiency and all our desperate songlists. But I'm glad all these have became the past. Rock Night was really a major turning point for us. Somehow...overnight, we managed to solve all these problems and our lack of confidence onstage.

Not sure if you guys remember. Last time, before auditions, I would get all sick and stressed out and we would just screw up our auditions and performances. But now, I dare say I'm raring to go for performances. And I'm sure it's the same for all of you guys. Song choice is also less of a problem now that everyone is taking up initiative to learn new songs by themselves and Kah Lok ability is getting more and more powderful.

However, I feel that our band can and should go much further. I suggest we start experimenting and writing songs from now on. Starting with the acoustic guitar. Composing and covering songs are just 2 very different things. Because the former requires much much more passion and time. It's hard to force people to spend time doing so. And even harder (or nearly impossible) to instil passion in someone who doesn't feel much love for music. It's hard to describe what is passion but if you have it, you certainly can feel it. For me, I would think of music and performing almost all the time. I would generate guitar tunes in my head and lyrics to fit them even though I know nothing about playing the guitar nor can I sing (well). My feet tap automatically to the groove and sometimes I would fantasize I'm matt bellemy.

I ain't going to force anyone to do the same thing ever since the previous unsuccessful attempts. I've learnt that if you have the passion, you have it. No excuses. Ultimately, I hope the band can spend some time during the hols to play and jam music. But whether or not the band follows suit, I'm sure I'll be jamming and experimenting stuff throughout this hols.

Think about it guys. I'm off to buy bass pedal with ZL. =P