Jakarta rock fest smells like teen mayhem

Jakarta rock fest smells like teen mayhem

By Jason Tedjasukmana

JAKARTA (JP): "Its my birthday," announced an excited Dave
Grohl, the founder and frontman of the Foo Fighters. But the
band's performance on Jan. 14 marked something much larger than
just the passing of another year.

The Jakarta Pop Alternative Festival witnessed the rise of a
new generation of Indonesian concertgoers and an untapped
potential for music promoters the world over. Thousands of kids
turned up for last Sunday's gig featuring the Foo Fighters, Sonic
Youth and the Beastie Boys as well as supporting local acts
Netral, Nugie and PaS.

"It's an honor for us to play here in Jakarta and we hope to
make it back someday soon," muttered Thurston Moore of Sonic
Youth to a thrashing crowd of sun-baked fans at Plaza Timur
Senayan.

As members of New York's noise vanguard in the early 1980s, it
is not surprising that Sonic Youth is among the first
"alternative" acts to break onto the Jakarta scene. Though now
signed to a major label, Geffen's DGC, Sonic Youth continue to
defy convention, crafting seminal pop tunes laced with grinding
guitar feedback and the gritty vocals of Moore and bassist Kim
Gordon.

Feedback

The group sparked the eager crowd into a frenzy with tracks
off its latest effort Washing Machine before segueing into
singles from its last three last albums. Eric's Trip, Bull in the
Heather and 100% kept the vibe alive, as did the gamelan samples
so artfully inserted between tunes.

A highlight was the Youth's performance of Teenage Riot, which
Moore insouciantly dedicated "to the cops" occupying the
perimeter of the stadium. Toward the end of the set, however,
the enthusiasm of the hook-hungry crowd waned as Sonic Youth
drifted into its characteristic interludes of Marshall amp
experimentation and Steve Shelley's trippy tangents on the drums.

No teen spirit was lost with the Foo Fighters, the first of
the American headliners to take the stage. Coming off their
successful eponymous debut and heavy rotation of their I'll Stick
Around video, the band's arrival on stage was like an overdue
visit. As the long-time anchor of the power-trio Nirvana, one
would expect the need for adjustment to Grohl's new position in
front of the drum kit. Instead, his transition to lead vocalist
and guitarist could not be more natural, nor a better means to
release his power chords and charisma.

Grohl's sway over the crowd was as plain as the day was hot.
As soon as the group struck the first chords of This is a Call,
bodies began floating over the undulating crowd, eased along by a
few helping hands, and fists. Heat stroke and mayhem in the mosh
pits were claiming one victim after the next as the Foo Fighters,
who take their name from a World War II term for UFOs, ripped
through one hour of infectious grunge-lite rock 'n roll.

As the band wound up its performance, flames sparked from near
the stage -- not from the lighters of a crowd wanting more, but
from the birthday cake produced by fellow band members and well-
wishers. Grohl had turned 27 and was savoring the sweet taste of
success.

X-ill

Like their New York brethren Sonic Youth, the Beastie Boys'
major label status has also done little to mellow the group's
party-on spirit. After Licensed to Ill, their 1986 release on Def
Jam, sold more than five million copies, the Beasties became one
of the most successful rap acts in history. How does one cope
with the pressure to follow up such a success?

"Sell half a million copies of your next album," Adam Yauch,
alias MCA, told The Jakarta Post in typical Beastie humor.

Despite entering the Billboard charts at number 1, the punk-
funk trio's last effort,Ill Communication, met with less critical
and financial acclaim. The Beasties are currently putting
together their next album, but they wanted to fulfill a long-time
desire to play Asia before returning to the studio. After a few
days of beachcombing in Lombok, the group was ready for Jakarta.

The funky flute sample of Sure shot ushered the Boys onto the
stage and into some of their best-known tracks from Ill
Communication and Check Your Head. Boasting the afternoon's most
elaborate set-up -- including turntables, bongos, keyboards and a
stand-up bass -- the band powered through a set of hardcore jams
and funked-out soul instrumentals.

Though best when they were mike-in-hand, the group finished
with a thunderous rendition of Sabotage and a special appearance
by Dave Grohl, who seized the microphone for one last bark at the
moon. "Terima kasih," repeated Adrock as he and the other Beastie
Boys said thank you and farewell to a crowd of exhausted teens.

Alternative

After a week of the worst floods to hit Jakarta in 20 years,
the six-hour outdoor festival was blessed with great weather and
no major incidents along the lines of Metallica's performance
three years ago, when riots flared and cars were set ablaze. The
show unfolded like clockwork and all doubts surrounding the
popularity of alternative pop here were put to rest as the sun
set over the mosh pit.

So what's so special about alternative music? And just what
makes it "alternative"?

"Alternative music is viable commodity," answered Dave Grohl,
summing up today's marketing credo of both the music and video
industries.

Grohl should know. While groups like R.E.M, U2 and the Cure
had already crossed over successfully from college radio to the
mainstream in the late 1980s, Nirvana's release of Nevermind in
1991 shattered all expectations and sold more than seven million
copies.

The meteoric rise of Nirvana from Seattle's tiny Sub Pop label
to Geffen Records helped pave the way for dozens of indie bands
hoping to capitalize on their generation's boredom with classic
rock and heavy metal. In short, an alternative was in demand.

Given the cruise-ship castaways that normally play in Jakarta,
the Jakarta Pop Alternative Festival offered a lineup comparable
to Lollapalooza, the multi-band, freak show phenomenon that tours
the United States annually. Rumor has it that similar bands are
destined for Jakarta, which is welcome news for restless youth in
search of an alternative to the city's mushrooming megamalls and
bad action flicks.