There is one year, a couple music lover, Leo and Liz Sinatra, decided to stage a concert in their shop in Batubulan and only 48 hours before the show was due to begin, the local banjar informed them that there was no way they could accommodate 1,200 "guests" in their street. Within two days, a new location was found, the equipment set up, the re-printed posters and the underground communication system in Bali working at warp speed, the crowds came, the bands played and splendid time was had by all.
forward a year, and this time round things were very different, as I discovered when I arrived on the site, north of Denpasar. Located in a huge enclosed field which now contained a giant stage (with large video screens on each side), the police and security present in abundance, and a phalanx of pop-up stalls selling refreshments and band merchandise this was not amateur hour.
St. Lucas Fest 2, Capital Rock in 2014 was the kick-off!
Catching up with the organizers, Leo and Liz Sinatra, who both looked remarkably calm, was an absolute pleasure. This couple bubble over with boundless energy, enthusiasm and talent and love for music knows no limits! This year they managed to raise more concert and perhaps better than the previous year (if possible). With the success of this incursion there is no doubt that Rock in Capital will be around for many years to come.
I snuck out a little warung to catch a dinner, as the night before was definitely going to be busy. Returning an hour later, I understood that the prediction Liz was there because there was barely enough room in the car park at the crack of my bike! Queues stretched now the way back to the entrance, with customers eager scrabbling to get inside before one of the great groups of the night, Superman Is Dead, began their game.
Making my way through the crowd, the place was jumping with JACKKNIFE Blues in flight, belts some of the best - call it country rock - I've heard in a while. The organization of the scene was impeccable with a five-minute break between acts, where a small army of roadies dressed in black came down, get a broadband and next on listening and up.
With little fanfare, one of the largest groups of Indonesia took suddenly the scene and they certainly did not disappoint. Here is a group that has come a long way since they formed in Kuta in 1995. This is Superman Is Dead (SID), and finally I had the experience of seeing them live. With several albums under their belt and tours the United States and Australia, the Kinks at the beginning of their sound had all but been eliminated.
This was a flawless and tight together and judging by the crowd knowing all of their words, they have lost none of their attractiveness star; they certainly deserve their place as one of the best in the country. Their early inspiration came from the American band, Greenday and eight, in my humble opinion, now they far exceeded their mentors.
What I liked this music festival is that even with a comprehensive measure such as the CIS, they are not the deed of title, and after extraction with a whole, there were many more to come, even if the fill their shoes going to be a tough act to follow.
No, Double Black, rockabilly / rock band based in Melbourne were flown in specially for this concert. Composed of Travis Demsey, Matt Black and Jason Skewes, this was a first for the Bali music fans to get a taste of their rock / punk down under.
It took a few numbers for the crowd to fully appreciate what they saw, but her throat seized and giving the crowd all we could see was a couple of thousand fans Bopping concerts pace exuberant! Jason Skewes antics with bass, amazing guitar riffs of Matt Black and drum rhythms beating Travis Dempsey even bring Ramones most die-hard fans to the ecstasy.
Maybe it was sheer modesty that kept the late entry of Sinatras Suicidal step (after all, he was the organization of Leo Sinatra concert that brought together), but they were certainly worth the wait! I had the privilege of seeing this band in the first St. Lucas Concert in 2013 and if anything, these guys were better second time. The guitar playing was sublime Leo Sinatra and tight play of the band was the one that once again raised the crowd to a virtual frenzy. Continue to look out for this talented group of guys because there's no doubt that we will hear a lot more of them.
But see ten bands in less than eight hours, those who came in got their money. There is no doubt that Rock in Capital will become a permanent fixture on the concert circuit Bali. He deserves because it was a sensational night.
If I am asked to return next year, I'll just have to gatecrash!