It is a good time to be involved in the S-ROCK scene. Interest in the scene is definitely growing as the media gives it attention it properly deserves. More releases, more gigs, more open mikes, more bands, more venues…more, more, more! In the last two weeks, I managed to witness two launches – first, by Another Sunday Afternoon and last Friday, by Obedient Wives Club. These bands are very different in terms of musical approach and execution but share the same passion, talent and ability to touch and thrill true-blue music lovers. Also worth considering – the fledging outfits that opened viz Victoria Street and Rocketswan, interestingly enough, both female-fronted! Exciting times, indeed.
S-ROCK: ALIVE & KICKIN’ [LIVE REVIEWS]
JOSE JAMES – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [NEWS]

Very smooth vibes going on here. Check it out!

Pop-punk sextet Wonder Years is playing at TAB on 28th September. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet ($35 Presale, $45 at the door), you might wanna avail yourself of this fantastic OUT OF SCHOOL promo.
Get all your friends together and buy 3 Pre Sale tickets at $30 each + poster!
N.B. Single Pre Sale Tickets still at $35 + poster.
Tickets are available on ApeSnap, Inokii, & Straits Records
http://apesnap.com/event/thewonderyears
This is what’s in store for you punk kids! C’mon!!
TAB 2ND ANNIVERSARY

NEW HEIGHTS: LIVE AT TAB

YouTube sensations New Heights perform in Singapore on July 7, 8pm at TAB. Ticketing information at www.tab.com.sg.
Check out the interview with Chris Kwak at TODAY.
Stay tuned for a New Heights ticket giveaway soon.

Hey my fellow SG music fan, are you getting jaded by the numerous musical offerings coming our way at breakneck speed? Well, even in these congested gig times, the recent announcements of concerts by two UK acts has caught the imagination of the music punters here.
First up, TAB Singapore is hosting Welsh singer-songwriter Gruff Rhys – best known as the frontman of iconoclastic band, Super Furry Animals – on Friday, 29th April. More details here.

Also, in August, Greenhorn Productions are bringing Northern Ireland band Two Door Cinema Club to the Esplanade Concert Hall on the 11th. RSVP at Facebook.
Definitely two gigs not to be missed.
LENKA: LIVE AT TAB

On April 19th, Epic Records will release Two, the follow-up to Lenka’s self-titled debut album. But before that, Singapore fans will be able to catch the “saucy Aussie” live at TAB on Saturday, 26th February 2011 at 7pm. Tickets and other info available here.
CHARLES J TAN – LIVE IN SINGAPORE

Charles J Tan is a folk-pop singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. Tan is Australian with roots from Singapore and has just released his album, The Pelham Sessions and is currently on tour to support the release in Singapore and Asia. His next show is on 31st Jan 2011 at The Esplanade, with a two month long residency at TAB Singapore to follow in February and March. Admission is free.

Review of The Pelham Sessions to come.
So what’s happening at TAB in Jan 2011?
Artist-in-Residence
4th – 8th Jan: Boots Factor (http://www.bootsfactor.com/)
11th – 15th Jan – Jim Wolf (http://www.jimwolf.com/)
18th – 22nd Jan – Brett Young (http://www.brettyoungmusic.com)
25th – 29th Jan – Stacy Clark (http://www.stacyclark.net/)
More info at www.tab.com.sg
ROX – LIVE AT TAB

Hard to believe that UK neo-soul singer ROX is a mere 22 year old. She sang like a veteran at her tidy showcase at TAB on 5th November. Her self-assurance is amazing and even though she was backed by only one guitarist/keyboard player, that did not stop her from grooving like she was backed by a full band. Whether handling dance numbers or ballads, ROX delivered them in the same manner – much aplomb.
JAMIE DRAKE

JAMIE DRAKE When I Was Yours (Self-released)
This LA-based singer-songwriter reckons that music and songwriting is in her genes, bequeathed to her by her late father. Which probably accounts for Drake’s classicist country-folk-roots approaches. Her songs are deceptively simple but they do contain that mystical quality us music writers like to call “soul”. An indefinable sense to discern art from commerce.
ROX

ROX Memoirs (Rough Trade)
It’s always incredible to me (in a good way) when I come across a young artist whose influences and inspirations lie in music that is not part of their generation. English singer-songwriter Rox (AKA Roxanne Tataei) has based most of her vibrant music on “old school” soul/R&B and in that way is akin to other English retro-soul singers like Amy Winehouse and Duffy.
POWER OF POP INTERVIEW – ROX

How did you get started with music?
For me it all began at a very young age. I started singing at home and then my grandmother started bringing me to sing in church.
ROX – LIVE AT TAB

Rox (aka Roxanne Tataei) is a rising soul/pop artiste nominated for this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards and will be making her South East Asian debut at TAB on 5th November 2010, just two days before the awards ceremony in Madrid.
AN HORSE – LIVE AT TAB

It’s been more than three years since Singapore Day in Central Park – since that first visit to Wala Wala and meeting Kewei for the first time. Now, Kewei has released her debut album and is touring on a regular basis! And she’s not the only one…
POWER OF POP INTERVIEW – AN HORSE

This is the transcript of the phone interview I had with An Horse’s Kate Cooper, which I turned into the TODAY article, which you can find here.
DION ROY

Dion Roy rolls into town tomorrow and will begin his week long residency at TAB. Whilst we await his arrival, let’s take a quick peek at music that Dion has released thus far in his short career.
DION ROY @ TAB

Dion Roy is a young, emergent singer-songwriter – based on NYC – with an album (2009′s Gallery) and an EP (2010′s The Nearest Light) to his name thus far. His original repertoire consists of modern pop-rock with folk inflections but always with an infectious hooky appeal. Still rather raw but Dion’s potential is not in doubt.
Dion will be in Singapore and performing at TAB as its Artist-in-Residence from 21st to 26th September. Power of Pop hopes to interview Dion when he’s in town so look out for that.
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53A

S-ROCK band, 53A, launches its new album – Settle the Kettle – at TAB on 1st September. Sara Wee talks to us about the album and the launch.
53A
It’s good to see that even though the powers-that-be continue to marginalize the S-ROCK scene, S-ROCKers themselves strive to “do it themselves” to get their music out there! So kudos to 53A who will be launching their debut album – Settle the Kettle – on 1st September. Details below.
RYAN CABRERA @ TAB
Last night’s TAB launch party was filled to the brim with invited guests as we dined on TAB’s wicked food menu (set out buffet style – I particularly enjoyed the ribs) and free flow (for 2 hours, I was a good boy and had three glasses of apple juice). Well, you see, I had to set a good example for Debra and her friend, Cheryl. Or something like that.
TAB
TAB is a new music bar situated at the end of Orchard Road. As strange as this might sound, TAB is a musician’s dream. So instead of making the bar counter the centre stage of the venue, the performance stage occupies pride of place in this unique venue. What about the bar counters? They are on opposite sides of the stage in the corners, out of sight, but serving a distinct functional purpose. With a spacious hall that gives you sufficient leg space for adequate comfort and strategic positioning for the excellent sound coming from the stage.
In between the two nights of SINGfest madness, I spent a chilled out evening at TAB with Rachael Teo, listening to Angie Mattson. In her hour-long set, she played songs that I could properly relate to – based very much on the country-folk-blues that I myself indulge with most of the time. It’s obvious that Angie is the consummate pro, watching her utilizing her iPhone to provide percussive backing on a couple of tracks was inspiring and her guitar playing is note perfect. This lady has played a lot of gigs, for sure!








