Mirrorball at Onyx
Life in Colombo goes on admists bombs and assorted detruitis, and that’s a good thing. I certainly feel shit about all the displaced in Muttur and the families of the LTTE terror victims but Sri Lanka is a fun place and I don’t think it’s right to let that go. There was a year before the checkpoints and all where everything was just daisies and you could see how fun the town was. There is literally something happening every night and my vow not to drink on weekdays has been changed to ‘don’t drink on Mondays’. Even that is tough, err. Anyways, I’ve been taking more photos than writing so here are a few things I went to and the photos. It’s also a list of the upcoming stuff of which I know.
Jerome Concert
Jerome at BMICH
Mr. Speldewine has been making a tear through Colombo – Inn on the Green, Dutch Burgher Union and on semi-permanent display at Barefoot Gallery. Speldewine is fun to say. I pronounce it like Shpartacus. He is a lovely man and in better shape than me, though he does tell me weird conspiracy theories. He has a gold standard taste in music and once made Mo turn off John Legend cause it was scaring the old ladies. I’ve been to a couple shows, including one at the BMICH. Or behind the BMICH, like. There were prolly like 5-600 people there and a lot of hot birds though I honestly don’t notice so much anymore. I mean, I notice but… It was organized by YesFM and a couple sponsors who the girl kept repeating over and over. Elephant House – ‘Puts the Pop in Your Pants’ and Rockers Chips – ‘La Toasta Nostra’. Or something like that.
Jerome went off stage and the lovely Natasha was singing when the speakers conked. This is the second concert I was at where this happened and it makes me twitchy. They took a break and the crowd mulled about while Jerome paced. In 10 minutes the speakers were fixed and the show went on. Anyways, the show was good, though Sri Lankan audiences are kinda sheep. The only show I’ve seen real dancing at was the Glen Terry/Boney Fields one. Anyways, nice show. One thing I’d add is that the concession food was freaking excellent, had a lovely chicken shawarma.
Anil Balasuriya Album Launch
Chaturika opening. I think we’re distantly related
Che on guitar
Anil Balasuriya over Tracy’s shoulder
I really liked the Anil Balasuriya concert. People say he can’t sing or whatever but I think he’s a good songwriter, musician, and most importantly, leader. A lot of people shit on Aadhil of the Brass Monkey Band but at the end of the day these guys write the songs and pull things together to make a band. Anyways, I really liked the original songs but the covers got a bit boring. I wish they’d just played originals. I’m having a listen to the album now and hope to review it. Anyways, the band was really good, especially Aslan on bass and the guitarist Che. There was an opening act of young bloods which was also cool. The speaker blew half way through and made me twitchy for the rest of the performance, but before that the mood was great.
Ayesha’s Wedding
Ayesha and Zafir cutting the cake
Went to this wedding briefly. It was Muslim, so there were like 18,000 people in the Hilton. No parking even. Actually I think the number was like 1,500. You walk in and there are tons of proper men seating amongst men outside. I walked into the actual room which was full of much more colorful women and kafir. The bride, Ayesha, was sitting on the stage while the parents and husband did the traditional paperwork elsewhere. Then some kid read from the Koran, I ate some biriyani and left. Congratulations.
Ayesha’s Wedding Photo Gallery
Stand-Up and Brass Monkey Band
The new Swinly watching Dias stand up
There was a poorly promoted Brass Monkey gig at H2O, partially to introduce Swinly’s replacement who is actually quite beautiful and good. Her voice is very rich and more jazzy and I think it works. They shoulda just promoted better, no one heard of the gig. There was also stand-up by Dias, Mendis, and the Navigational Rat. That was my favorite part and what I really came for.
I think my favorite joke was Dias’s, which went something like – ‘Sri Lankans don’t know how to queue. If you go to the petrol station and wait in line someone will always cut you off. Now, you don’t want to horn or raise a fuss cause you never know. The guy in the Pajero might be some Minister’s son, while the cops are, of course, cops, and that guy in the trishaw… he might be the mayor of Colombo’.
Dom’s Parties
Little Sebastian pointing out something to his dad
A young Dominic Sansoni
Then there was Dom’s birthday party and book launch over two weekends. At the birthday party I was sipping scotch and soda with some regularity and waiting for H to show. I was talking to my sister’s friend and I thought it might be a good idea to go on the dance floor. Then, being the metrosexual and open-minded guy I thought it might be fun to dance with one of the more openly gay men in Colombo. Anyways, he feels my bum which is a little odd but I’m kinda OK with it cause it’s funny, like. Then he comes round the other way and I feel hands running down my chest, which is getting kinda sketchy, but before I can do anything he’s got two hands on my balls and he squeezes, hard. Now everybody’s laughing at me and my balls really hurt. I had to go sit down for 5 minutes and I didn’t feel right in the morning. So that didn’t work out well.
Lovely party though. Dom gave a little speech and then we had some cake and I woke up in the morning and couldn’t put a sentence together. Great party. Then there was the book launch, at which they served an arrack sour, which is an altogether lovely drink. Arrack, passion fruit juice (methinks), and sprite. Quite good. Dom again gave a speech which was sweet cause everyone stopped talking, walked closer, and I think he kinda choked up while thanking everyone down to the color seperations. One of the kindest and humblest and most truly accomplished men I’ve ever met.
Incoming
- Timmy had a book launch today which I woulda gone to but I were working on stuff and have a zit the size of Satan’s balls. I think it was the launch for the Sinhala and Tamil versions of his tsunami kids book, ‘The Big Wave’.
- I’m supposed to do something Friday and Saturday but I forget what except that I’ll get to see her
- Electra’s in a contemporary and modern dance production called ‘New Directions’, choreographed by Chandri Pieris. THat’s from August 11th-12th at the Wendt
- There’s a Label’s wine tasting sometime. I don’t plan on spitting it out. I thoroughly embarrassed myself at the Jack Daniel’s party so let’s see how this goes
- Scrabble. I enjoy playing Scrabble. I will probably do it again
and those are the events for this week.
Yeah how come the promotion was horrible on the bm scene at the waters?? bloody seri lankans know how to party.. but only a few ones know how to throw parties.. what to do yar.. siri lanka.. love it too much to leave it! lol
‘show’ is important ( esp. shows that rest of the country enjoys not just ‘colombo’) , this is going to last as long as ltte in its present form lasts. no point is being glum all that time.
That shot of Dias performing with part of the audience captured is super. Awsome colors. Anymore from the gig?
Some under the H2O tag, flickr.com/photos/indi/tags/h2o
interesting of the past, anythin more happenin other than whats been mentioned on notes. and i’ve been recommended about the bloggers meeeting, be kind of to tell me when that is…?