leavenband.blogspot.com

Thursday, August 23, 2007
Need a good jam?

Hey brothers and sisters of Leaven...

I've been thinking. We haven't had a reason to jam, nor a place to play for a few months now, and it almost seems that Leaven isn't Leaven anymore. But I know this isn't the case, coz as soon as there's a gig, I know we'll all be back in gear again.

I know the I myself have been busy with things, namely, Jubilate, my personal life, and work. And I'm sure all of you have been busy too, with 'A' Level exams, Army, Poly, weddings, family.

What I wanna say is that, if any of you wanna jam, and would like my presence there either to teach, to listen, or to simply jam, I'll always be there if you ask. Please don't feel like I don't wanna jam with Leaven anymore (if you feel that way lah) coz I am always up for a good jam.

I know of a good outdoor place where we can 'tong' jam (acoustic), where our dear percussion boys can beat their drums as loud as they want, and our singers can 'shout it from the mountaintop' so to speak. Details as follows:

Bedok Reservoir (Bus 65, 66 from Circuit Road, Bus 22 from Upper Paya Lebar)
Sheng Shiong Supermarket Carpark, Level 5

It's really a good place for practice, only drawback is that there isn't a power-point so amps are out of the question. It's openair, no roof, so it overlooks the reservoir. Nearest HDB block is 200meters away, so sound levels are no issue. Really. I jam there so many times, middle of the night also, police come, police go. Serious. It's cool and windy, and if it rains, there's a sheltered area any of you could use.

So far, this is the best free outdoor, non-public disturbing place I've found. Here's one avenue some of you can use for jamming, hanging out, just making music and learning the main thing in an outing, where you can learn from and with each other.

I guess that's all I have to say for now. My main purpose is to let you know that 'jamming', not practice, is the key to becoming a better player, and a better band. And that I'm there as your reference and guide, and as a fellow musician, anytime you ask for it.

Cheers Leaven. =0)

Clifford@1:48 PM | 1 comments |

Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you actually understand what you're speaking approximately!
Bookmarked. Please also visit my site =). We
can have a hyperlink alternate agreement among us

My homepage ... how to get rid of acne scars [statejournal.com]

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2014 at 3:52 AM

Post a Comment

Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Leaven P&W Charts Updated

Ok, charts updated with all the songs shortlisted for the PW Session. Get them from the link on the right.

Ok go practice.

Clifford@11:07 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Sunday, June 17, 2007
7 Jul - SS Praise Event

Hello.

We need to start practising for the 7th July event soon... I mean, NOW! We are less than two weeks into it. It'll be our first performance in SS since the establishment of Leaven and it is our chance to shine and showcase what wonderful talents we have developed over the past half a year.

Fudge has selected a list of praise songs for the event, not exactly the most ideal list but Cliff & I are arranging to meet up with him over the week to discuss proper.

Need to know however, who will be involved in this gig coz from my last understanding, Randall, Zac and if not wrong, Fonz will be having their exams next weekend (i.e. 25-29 Jul). I also need to inform all of you: Please be prepared to have Fudge as the Praise leader for the gig. From our last compromise, he said he wouldn't mind coming down for practice and rehearse with us.

So... TAG AND LET ME HEAR FROM YOU!

Unknown@8:42 PM | 1 comments |

People should read this.

By Anonymous, at November 12, 2008 at 4:03 AM

Post a Comment

Friday, May 11, 2007
Update in upcoming plans

There are some changes to the Confirmation Camp gig. In short, they are in need of a simple praise and worship team who is versatile and experienced in "praying over" and to play impromtu songs. Right now, none of us are able to do it.

Hence I pulled the band out of it, and ask them to look for another team to do it. Another reason is that I think you guys will have problems with logistics. Going there is one thing, but to bring everything by ourselves is another thing, especially since that guy in charge is quite an amateur when it comes to camp, I don't think I want to risk another 'canteen operation'.

But all of you can volunteer to be facils, it would be fun for you. But most importantly, by participating in the camp you would be able to see how the pw team does it. Just in case we have a chance to do a camp in the future.

As for practices, we will carry on. Since we have no gigs upcoming other than the tentative campfire, we will now concentrate on learning new songs and go through the old ones. Especially since we did not adequately learn the songs we were playing recently.

It will be a good time to build up our pw repertoires so that whenever there are any opportunities to play for mass, the band is ready.

Likewise, build up the pop repertoire so that there are any opportunities to play for any gig, the band is ready.

It is no secret that the band is not ready, for any form of gigs.

Nick!@12:59 AM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Thursday, May 3, 2007
Gigs can ALWAYS turn out bad...

Let me tell you about my own self-experiences in gigging.

I tell you this: in ALL my gigs, we are NEVER ever, fully prepared for any gig. No amount of preparation will get you 100% ready for any public performance.

BUT.

It's all in the SONG.

The song.

Yes boys, the song.

It's about knowing the song.

Me, Kazaaa, knows ALOT of songs. Yes? Agree? Good.

BUT. Does kazaaa know ALL the different parts to all the songs he knows? Chances are - no. I don't. Normally, it's the bridge that I won't know. But that's cool. See ah, for me, as long as I KNOW the song, I'll put EXTRA effort only in the bridge parts of the song.

Coz the rest of the song is repetitive. Normally lah. Serious.

And that's my point. Point is about practice. I think we're all very busy people, with very little time to practice, which is ok. We're not a pub band who performs every night for hundreds of people.

BUT.

We do have monthly objectives, yes? And we have practices that last really, really long. The thing about this is, there is only so much we can learn during practices, no matter how long we're willing to stay.

And that's exactly what happened for the last gig. We used the practice time to learn songs, and work out stuff. Which was really anybody's fault, coz I came out with the songs last minute. My fault la!

But we need to take a step back and ask ourselves - could we have done more? If I knew all the songs already, and I was waiting for the charts from Clifford, then would the practice have gone faster? Would we have covered MORE songs? Would we have sounded better?

Chances are, NO. The sound system was crappy. I blame that alone for making us sound terrible. But combine that with the fact that we weren't THERE as a band yet. Chords were off, rythyms were out at times, and singing was out of sync with the band at times. Then we'd have a really, really scary sounding band.

All I'm saying is, if we had done our homework, then we could deal with ANYTHING else that comes up, against us. You haev to expect that we'll be playing in really crappy places at times, with terrible acoustics, and bad microphones etc. Always prepare for the worst, it's what you have to expect when you gig, dudes.

But nonetheless, I think we did an ok job that day, except for those ladies who kept coming up to us and telling us to quieten down. You think we CD player ah? KNN.

I remember seeing people singing along, and smiles around as well know? And you know what? That made the gig good for me. I stood there the first time, with you guys, and I can proudly say that we're Leaven. Coz this is about entertainment. If just ONE person likes the song we're playing, while the rest ignore us, I'll focus on that one person. Coz that's what we're up there for.

So keep it up, people of Leaven.

Have a good choir session at St Stephen's on Sunday kay! I'm going to Phuket!

Clifford@5:13 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Monday, April 30, 2007
Debrief of Pop gig

Pop gig didn't go as well as we all imagined. I believe its basically due to 2 reasons.

1) We got complacent and didn't practice as hard, putting in lesser effort. And the songs are harder cos of the more intricate parts like solos and licks and the pressure of wanting to sound like the original form.
2) Sound system wasn't good, thus we got affected by people's comments.

But to me, I think it's a learning experience for us. We learn how to perform and learn how to be on stage in public. We learn how to notice everyone's and learn how to adapt. That to me is learning something.

What we have to learn individually, like singing and playing on our own instruments should be done individually at private time. When we come together, its to learn how to be a band. To react and to adapt.

I think everyone did well enough, perhaps there is not enough time to learn so much. But nonetheless, I see major improvements. Esepecially Zac's ability to sing. He has improved drastically. Zac you might want to choose songs that are within your range, so that you don't have strain your voice, cos songs in your range you sound really wonderful. Very proud of you.

Randall, you have great talents at times and yet you sound like crap at times! I know its hard to keep up when you have school work and all. So you got to find a way to do some learning or at least listen to the songs in your mp3 so that you know all the songs and learn with Aloy. With little practice now, you are almost there, I'm sure you will pick up if you have a little more time.

Aloy, don't say you have peaked. Some people are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them. You are the band leader of a band that wants to be great. Do you think Clifford and I spend so much time in this band just to play play? Surely not, you need to learn as much as possible so that we can be better. Remember what I said? 2 years from now, we will have an album. So let's do it.

Bass and drums, you 2 have been wonderful. Continue to keep up the good work. But please voice out more. I know you are quiet by nature and seldom share your views and thoughts. But this band belongs to all of you as well, and I need you to share with me your thoughts so that I know what you are thinking. I believe you have issues or suggestions that are important.

So can we have more open-ness? Let's talk more and communicate our thoughts more. I know sometimes all of you wonder where this band will take us. I too have that confusion. But since we have performances coming up, then we just let God decide for now. There's no need to look too far off, just each gig at a time.

Nick!@9:30 AM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
T-Shirt Part III

Clifford@12:25 AM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Monday, April 23, 2007
Logo?

Ok here's how the logo will look on a T-Shirt. I tried in both white and in orange. Anybody with other ideas, please tag =).

And here's the logo, in full size:

Ok go.

Clifford@2:59 AM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Wednesday, April 18, 2007
New Directions

Dear Leaven-ians....

I have chosen to leave Holy Spirit with effect from end of the month. To summarise, the church is looking for a permanent youth worker and I'm not willing to take the risk with them cos I don't think they can pay me enough.

Anyway, we have a situation now.

1) We need to shift out our equipments
2) We need a place to practice
3) We need to have a church to go mass for
4) We need an audience to play for

Now we have a solution. Somehow God works His ways...

As you all experienced on Easter Vigil, the mass was horrible cos the choir was horrible. And it was hot and uncomfortable. However, what happened was that all of us sat together for a mass for the first time in the last 8 months.

The solution is to go back to Saint Stephen, for the following reasons.

1) We can all go mass together again, especially for those who stopped going.
2) We can help the choir and boost up the morale of the people.
3) Its near everyone's home, easy for practices
4) The place will be air-coned from this week onwards
5) We continue our mission to bring pw music to the people

Thus, from this sunday we will go to the 10am mass. But please be mindful of the following...

1) We are there to be part of the choir, to inspire the dead church again
2) We must not act like attitude bunch, at least in the beginning :P
3) Start being courteous to the people
4) Be focused to the goal which is to stay together to serve the church. We must overcome the hostility people may have initially cos we did leave.

Please tag for any comments or thoughts you may have.

Nick!@11:55 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Wallpaper!

Ok I made wallpaper so that you'll ALWAYS think of Leaven when you at your computer. BLEH!.

Clifford@3:46 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Check it out.....

ok just dabbling....

Ok Go.

Clifford@12:14 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Logo?

Hi dudes...

Logo. Look. See. Comment.

Kaz. =P

Clifford@12:35 AM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Monday, April 16, 2007
A Little Leaven

Found this site during a Google search for 'leaven band':

www.alittleleaven.com

Check it out.

Clifford@4:32 AM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Monday, April 9, 2007
Random Revelation

Guess who?

Unknown@12:52 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Friday, April 6, 2007
Lenten Vigil 2007

Clifford@5:40 PM | 0 comments | Post a Comment

Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Pics, New TLLOM and Fonz

Hey dudes and dudettes,

I honestly thought that today's practice was good. A few things to brush up on, but you guys managed to pull through pretty smoothly. And you should hea yourselves from the centr eof the room lah. I don't know how to say it. You gotta hear it for yourselves. The sound is lovely I tell you.

Also, I edited TLLOM (This Little Light of Mine) in the charts, to change the key to G. Please, please, please go download and learn it. Fonz, I'm especially counting on you for this gig. Remember, the bass leads people into the parts of the song, so just be confident to play THE note. And remember, if in doubt, always play the root note of the Chord. You'll be great lah.

Ok, finally got some time to do band photos. Hope my pics do you all justice. I picked the most garang ones lah. Enjoy: