Wilde Style makes an impressive return to town
By Paul Franks
JAKARTA (JP): Australian band Wilde Style made an impressive return to the local music scene when they opened at B.A.T.S. Bar at The Shangri-La Friday night.
Booked to play a three-month season after five months at Desperado's in Surabaya, Wilde Style were quickly into the groove in their first performance in Jakarta since 1995.
The six-piece act, featuring Lino Ettia, Arthur Le Fleur and Francoise Hoshun on vocals, Adam Roach on lead guitar/keyboards, Jason Hopman on bass guitar and Joe Licciardello on drums, took to the stage jumping.
The emphasis was on partying and it didn't take long for the crowd to get into the swing of things.
From the opening song, an uptempo version of Prince's 1999, Wilde Style emitted an energy and enthusiasm that was quickly absorbed by an appreciative audience.
A tightly choreographed dance routine added spice to the entertaining performance. Le Fleur cartwheeled across the stage as the band belted out Fresh Prince/Jazzy Jeff's dance song Boom Shake.
The band's 12-song first set contained a musical variety which included reggae, dance and rock.
Following the break it opened with Gloria Estefan's Turn The Beat Around. The powerful vocals of Francoise Hoshun were complemented by the tight-knit backing band.
The second set contained covers including Fools Garden's Lemon Tree, Roberta Flack's Killing Me Softly and the Toni Braxton hit ballad Unbreak My Heart.
But for the many locals at B.A.T.S. the highlight of the second set was two Indonesian songs, Kuta Bali and Bawa Daku Pergi (To be with you).
Vocalist Francoise said the band had five songs which they sing in Indonesian.
"It's very important to learn the local language," she said. "It helps you to earn respect."
If crowd response was any indication respect had been earned.
The final set was a mix of high energy rock and dance songs interspersed with the occasional slow ballad that gave both the crowd and the band time to recuperate from the energy-sapping action.
The band belted out Bon Jovi's smash hit, You Give Love a Bad Name, before finishing with Fun Factory's Celebration.
The final song was an appropriate ending to the three-hour performance and judging by the crowds response the band looks certain to enjoy a successful stint at B.A.T.S.
Together
Vocalists Lino and Arthur have been together in the entertainment industry for the past twelve years. They started performing in the early 1980's as dancers and appeared on various TV shows, in commercials and at a number of nightclubs beginning in the state of Victoria before venturing nationwide.
Francoise joined the duo four years ago and since the addition of band members Adam, Jason and Joe the band has been performing at venues in both Asia and Australia.
The band had a two-month stint at the Jakarta Hard Rock Cafe in 1995 before playing for three months in Beijing, China.
B.A.T.S. Bar and Restaurant Manager, Randal Linhart, said he heard of the band's reputation last year and flew to Surabaya to watch it perform.
He immediately offered Wilde Style a three-month contract.
Although currently only playing covers, the band has written several songs which it hopes to soon record.
"We've got two original songs, Could it be Love and Standing on Top, which will be released hopefully later this year," Ettia said.
"We really want to get out there and play originals but covers pay the bills," Francoise said, adding that the music scene is full of bands trying to get a recording contract.
"We're working hard towards it," she said.
"One day we'll get that lucky break."
Judging by the band's debut performance and the crowd's appreciation that lucky break should not be too far away.