The three days every year that indie kids, music lovers and fans of free things waits for -- Baybeats!

Sponsors keep the event free while the bands and the fans keep it rocking; this is the biggest platform our local talents have for massive audiences, collaborations and with international acts and getting the respect they undoubtedly deserve.

The first day of Baybeats 2010 kicked off in a most fitting way -- with Fishtank, one of Singapore’s long-running bands. Joining them to open the Chillout stage was Techy Romantics from the Philippines, who kept hoards of fans and passers-by alike enthralled with the sweet sounds of their synth-pop.

Leading the way for audition bands in the Powerhouse was Cockpit, who always live up to their reputation for rocking and slightly bizarre gigs -- if you missed them, find them, and watch them.

Duxton Plains followed shortly after, connecting with the crowd both with music and humour, which lead to the quote of the night. “If you’ve lost your innocence, good for you. If you haven’t lost your innocence, it’s ok, try again.”

Over at the Arena, Trella finally got their 30 minutes of fame at Baybeats, preceding Malaysian band Car Crash Hearts who could teach everyone a nice lesson: that Singaporeans and Malaysians can all be best friends and rock out together.

One eagerly awaited collaboration on Baybeats Day 1 was one of Singapore’s alternative forefathers Typewriter with Jon Auer of The Posies and Big Star fame -- dream come true for Typewriter who have been fans of Jon for years, and a pleasure for everyone who witnessed this class act.

Some super-slick guitar riffs reminded the audience of why Typewriter has continued making music for as long as they have. Patrick Chng, known by the band (and pretty much everyone who follows the local music scene) as the Godfather of the local music scene, and the boys had a grand time with Jon, complete with teasing and comfortable stage presence that can only come with experience.

The only downer to the night was the ill-timed fireworks that caused an unnecessary distraction at Marina Bay, just across the river. While Jon performed a personal, heartfelt solo on acoustic, celebratory fireworks of some sort kept erupting. If that wasn’t bad enough, the smoke from the fireworks, due to proximity, flooded the Arena, threatening to interfere with our annual three-day free alternative festival.

It was heartening, and a good indication of a bright future of the scene, that every person in the Arena kept their eyes on Jon Auer the entire time, oblivious -- or choosing to ignore -- to the fireworks that were exploding.

It would seem that the Singaporean music audience, kids and old timers alike, have developed -- with the musicians -- into a much more sophisticated crowd than they are given credit for.

Ignoring bright, shiny, loud fireworks to see one man and an acoustic guitar says one thing about us -- you can give an alternative to the kids, but you can’t take the Alternative out of them.

On to Baybeats 2010 Day 2!

Singapore Kopitiam's Baybeats 2010 Photo Gallery

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