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BACK TO TREND-SETTING '70s
Dec 31, 2004, The Malay Mail

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By Errol de Cruz

Penangite vocalist Suresh will be counting down to the New Year with his Artstream friends at Backyard Pub and Grill, Taman Sri Hartamas, KL, tonight.

For club-goers, it will be a much-awaited opportunity as the lusty singer has rarely been seen on the nightclub circuit these last few months, and the entertainment begins at 10pm.

Backyard publican Jerry Chong said that the pub would follow its usual policy of no cover or first drink charge; only an RM40+ tabe for a special full-course New Year's Eve dinner and a little gift for the ladies.

Liquor prices are up between 10 and 15 percent. Party packs will be given out at the door.

The theme of the evening is The Trendsetting '70s. So, if you're dressing up for the night, you know what to do. Guys, go ask your girlfriends or wives, or both, even.

Albert, Vijay and Bada are the star act for New Year's Day.

The Backyard has been an extremely popular haunt, recently, especially after the six-week Jairus Anthony JamFest 2004, an every-Wednesday musicfest that starred just about the entire who's who of the Klang valley pub circuit.

The series, a tribute to late pub artiste Jairus Anthony, kicked off with an acoustic guitar night, starring pub favourites Julian Mokhtar, Paul Ponnudorai and Rafique Rashid.

For Rafique, it was yet another gig on his comeback trail, and he made the most of it, doing his satirical takeoffs on several hits and misses.

Julian took the opportunity to strut his self-styled blues and rock specials, bottleneck steel guitar riffs and all.

For Paul's fans, it was a rare treat to see him in finger-picking element, a break from his residency at Singapore's Harry's pub and also his intermittent jaunts to other parts of the world, including Europe where we hear, he's just released an album of covers and maybe an original or two.

But that evening was only the start, as Jerry is wont to say. "If I had the slighest inkling of the overwhelming response to the Jairus musicfest, I may not have gone ahead with it," he laughed.

But, Jerry's only joking. This Jairus Anthony MusicFest 2004 is just the kind of thing he and wife Joan want Backyard to be known for -- the warm generosity and support of his clientele to the kind of music they stage, the super efficiency of his personnel, spearheaded by Justin Lee and Ram, and most of all, the ever-ready willingness of the musicians to make the event happen. And that's putting it mildly.

"It's the kind of thing that Jairus stood for -- inherent talent, raw performances and spontaneity," Jerry said. "The genre of music doesn't matter, and there are no music borders here."

"What's really fantastic is that we've unearthed some new acts, and that's what Wednesday at Backyard will feature from now -- new acts, young acts, aspiring songwriters and performers."

Once the JamFest began in October, the Backyard was never the same. Until then, its stage had been a platform for soloists, duets and trios and the occasional quartet, the stable including such names as Vijay and Albert, Viji and Fasy, Bala, Jericho, Two Hats, Minus One (Jairus' old gang), SWV and the like.

But once the JamFest got going, some real heavyweights and newcomers turned up to shine along, and this list included singer-songwriter Shelley Leong, pianoman Allan Perera, as well as jazzmen Lewis Pragasam and Greg Lyons who headed a mind-blowing jazz outfit.

The list was seemingly endless, and the Backyard customers came away having thrilled to the finest sounds the Klang Valley could offer.

For everyone at this Taman Sri Hartamas haunt, 2004 has been a great year and if the patrons, musicians, staff and sponsors have anything to do with it, 2005, will be just as great, if not better.

If you think that seeing is believing, the Backyard Pub and Restaurant is located at 28 Jln Sri Hartamas 8, Taman Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. No reservations required. First come, first served. Tel: 03-6201 0318. Alternatively, you could call Jerry at 012-201 6333 or Justin at 016-562 8578.

© News Straits Times Press Bhd

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