It was pandemonium at KL Tower in the heart of the capital last Saturday when more than 6,000 fans crammed into the crowd space right underneath the tower to watch Indonesia’s Dewa live in concert. I thought my Mrs and myself could be the oldest couple in the crowd. Good to see that we have a few other senior fans as well.Without contest, Dewa is the greatest rock group to come out of Indonesia in the last decade. Those million-selling albums Bintang Lima in 2000 and Cintailah Cinta in 2002 tell only half the tale of this enigmatic band – renowned for trailblazing music, outspoken politics and the occasional brush with controversy.
In Malaysia, Dewa’s adulating devotees (or baladewa, the band’s official term of endearmenr for its fans) have come to rival any in the region, with the popularity and impact of their most recent albums winning over lifelong Malaysian fans.Dhani, the band’s founder, cemented his reputation of being Dewa’s creative catalyst and ringleader in concert as he alternated between singing lead vocals, enthralling the audience on his favoured keyboards and keeping time on the acoustic guitar. Along with
Once and mysterious lead guitarist Andra Ramadhan (who was Dewa’s Joe Perry to Once’s Steven Tyler onstage), it was this triumvirate that kept the crowd transfixed throughout Saturday’s show. Anchored by bass player Yuke and dr
ummer Tyo Nugros, the robust Dewa showed why it was a band synonymous with sold-out concerts.One thing to note: The venue sucks... how could you put thousands of screaming fans on that small piece of shit in front of KL tower, and the stage is too damn low. Pity those cewek pendek who can't see the band.
