Gigs in December

So it happened that Cockpit did 2 gigs in December to date, where Johnny Danger could test-run his new stylish bling pants:

2 Dec: The Allied Showdown Gig at Home Club was good fun! Kum sia OMS for giving us the chance to play. Review is here:

http://omslovesyou.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-allied-showdown-by-tri-music.html#more (Kind words indeed, Wei Shan. And yet again some epic pictures from Thomas.)

4 Dec: Cockpit does "*Scape Rockz @ North West" at Senja-Cashew CC. Our thanks to *Scape's Marcus Wong for this one. It was a pleasure to play with the legend-(wait for it)-dary Plainsunset and the lovable superband Tuzi. Also, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan was there too! Cockpit does grassroots baby woot!

Lastly, our heartfelt thanks to those who came down for us! xoxoxo

It's possible that we will be doing one more gig this month for the road. Please continue to check our facebook page, www.facebook.com/wearecockpit for the latest news of the band, including upcoming gigs (chances are they will be posted there first).

Other than that, I'm glad to be back in Singapore after a week. My flight from Hanoi got delayed due to bad weather, otherwise I would have been back yesterday night. Merry Christmas indeed.

Rock on. You guys are the reason why we do what we do.

-PF

Identite Gig Summary - 22 Oct 2010

It was a day of rock camaraderie at Home Club, forming friendships new and renewed in celebration of Home Club's fourth anniversary of their resident indie event Beat!, also called Identite. According to their website, "(Identite) is an ode to the duo – Ginette Chittick and Joe Ng," the club's mainstay DJs. "Identite have decided to bill two bands to start the night rolling: A rigorously fun and talented metal… band Cockpit to represent BEAT!’s rock and roll status and Singapore’s all time favorite band, Plainsunset to match BEAT!’s friendly and lovely demeanor."

Cockpit thanks Razi for the opportunity to celebrate this anniversary and play alongside Plainsunset. Also, our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who turned up to see the band, with special mention to "Cocklets" for their endearing presence, having been with us since the beginning. Hardcore Cocklets can be identified from their headgear, which is usually yellow and in the shape of a bird's head:


Sick photo taken by Thomas Tan. More of his awesome work can be found at http://www.flickr.com/people/photoperplexed.

-PF

*Scape Confessions - Summary

On 17th September, Cockpit was given the chance to have intimate interaction with both old friends and new at *Scape Lab, as part of their “Confessions” series of gigs. These shows, organized by the non-profit organization, aim to spark interest in the local music scene by providing an additional platform for the Singapore band circuit to rock out. And rock out we did, a-la usual Cockpit fashion. We thoroughly enjoyed all the bands that played before us too, especially the Misfit Ramones, although I was too busy laughing at the title of their hit single “Your Breasts are Big (I’m Gonna Sue You)” to pay enough attention to the song itself. More information on *Scape can be found on www.scape.com.sg. As the band just found out that day, they have a pretty kick-ass retail/F&B wing called Social Retail Colony too. The next Cockpit gig in the agenda will be one at Home Club in celebration of its fourth anniversary of Beat!, one of their resident events. More details to be up in due course, but it is understood to be held on October 22, and that we will be playing alongside Plain Sunset on the day.
-PF

Cockpit - Baybeats 2010 Summary

An early light drizzle failed to deter our fans, close friends, fellow musicians and tons of curious, crazy and drunk people who have come yesterday to the Cockpit Baybeats set. The flight crew is indeed grateful for all your support =).

Though the list here isn't all-inclusive I'm sure, Cockpit would like to thank the following who have helped us in the Baybeats journey: WAGS Karen, Sarah, the Baybeats sound crew, Licia Sucipto, Amanda Ling, Daniel Sassoon, Kevin Matthews, Run Neon Tiger (we're so touched by them seriously), Inch Chua and Willy Tan.

Yes yes we know that such thanks is usually reserved for CD album acknowledgements and grammy award nominees. We'll get there, but here in Cockpit we usually give ourselves sufficient time to practice.

Moving on, do look out for more exciting gigs from us.


- Psyence Fyktion

Podcast Interview with SMU

Some clips from a podcast interview that we did today with the beautiful Adeline Goh, Director of Programming (News) for SMU Broadcast & Entertainment.

Happy Birthday Singapore!

Cockpit wishes everyone a Happy National Day! Happy Birthday Singapore!

It's a public holiday, so do yourself a favour and chill just a little bit more. Just for today.

In the whole spirit of things the Flight Crew will also be taking a break by listening to classical music for a change. Like Yngwie Malmsteen.

Pre.Beat - A Summary

The date of 6 August would mark one remarkable event in the Cockpit chronicles.

Johnny Danger channeled, inside the chaos of Home Club, the Gods of Metal to bring the Elements, Thunder, Lightning, Stone and Fire.

They were to bring the message of Rock to the masses.

The Gods were not blind to the limitations of a human body, and offered to the Elements vials of Red Bull, of which, among them, Psyence Fyktion most readily accepted.

Bassmaster Sludge was sung songs, in celebration of his being spawned, for an infinite number of times till 2 minutes to midnight.

At the end of the set, the Collapse of Uncertainty certainly collapsed from all the wrath that was brought upon them.

And then the madness ended, with the Elements, Thunder, Lightning, Stone and Fire, lightly buzzed with fermented wheat beverages with a dash of hops.

But they STILL looked like they played magic cards all day.

-recorded by Psyence Fyktion

Recordings

The Cockpit Flight Crew have been laying down tracks for 3 more songs of which we're in the midst of finalizing. A picture speaks a thousand words. I give you 5 thousand :



The Collapse of Uncertainty gets VIP treatment with 3 laptops all for himself.




A Eureka! moment...




... in resolving a grounding problem.




Vocals sound more sanitary when you record them in the toilet.




I don't know how to comment on this one.

PF

Odelay

This ancient manga was recommended to me by Sludge. I'm still barely halfway through, but I think it's a very motivational piece of japanese work for the passionate music-lover. This is the synopsis:

"For the first 14 years of his life, Yukio Tanaka has been one heck of a boring guy. He has no hobbies, weak taste in music, and only a small vestige of a personality. He yearns for an exciting life, but his shy, and somewhat neurotic personality make him his own worst enemy. Little does he know that his life will be forever changed when he meets Ryusuke Minami, a wild and unpredictable 16-year old fresh from America, who happens to be in a rock-and-roll band named after his Frankenstein-like patched dog--Beck."

Hope you like it. The link is here:

www.onemanga.com/beck

PF

In Memory of Ronaldo Giovanni Padovan (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010)

Rest in Peace Ronnie James Dio. You in your own way have taught the Cockpit Flight Crew the meaning of rock. Death might have claimed you, but METAL WILL NEVER DIE. \m/

Wat Wee Do Twodeh

Cockpit lays down tracks for one of their newer songs, Death on the Airways (DotA) in a sea of cables, axes, moogs, pedals, and one crappy laptop.



The dueling doesn't stop at the guitar solos: Johnny Danger and Psyence Fyktion can now body-surf with the fans, being fueled by the awesomeness of the Line 6 Relay G30 wireless transmitters!

Baybeats Auditions 2 Videos

Videos courtesy of Ryan T.


Cockpit - Death on the Airways (DotA)

Cockpit | MySpace Music Videos


Cockpit - Crystal Ball

Cockpit | MySpace Music Videos


Happy Labour Day everyone!

PF

Cockpit May Be Getting Some Temporary Gear Upgrades!

Sludge is looking to get some GROWLER action going on!
Psyence Fyktion is probably going Indiana Jones and be an EXPLORER!
Johnny Danger is patriotic and staying with SG!
The drummer is sad..

Cryptic?! Its like our lyrics!
Cockpit salutes Mr Orville for creating the company we have come to love! Middly meeee!

Lazy Sunday

Hi Guys:


Just felt like updating you on a lazy sunday afternoon. I searched "Lazy Sunday" on youtube out of curiousity of where my mood will bring me and, guess what, there's like this, totally rad song called Lazy Sunday by The Lonely Island. So Beasty Bois y'all: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuXhGLveY7o

In terms of what Cockpit has been up to, we have been very busy writing new songs and coming up with new ideas (the songs are getting faster and faster! Speed does kill!~). Concurrently, we would also be doing recordings of all the material that we have so far. All this while we settle on our A&R stuff (eg we just recently finished a real awesome photoshoot session, also discussions with various gig organisers and endorsers). So yeah, we've been a little bit occupied of late.

For those who weren't there at the last Baybeats Auditions, we will be uploading videos of our set on our facebook and myspace in the next coming weeks. If you're wondering why there's only one song in our profiles right now, it's because we are almost obsessive in our pursuit of quality. We could upload a whole bunch of rough recordings that we have done, but they sound like bootlegs (which isn't bad BAD imo, but I think you get what I mean). Don't worry, we're really working on this!

In the meantime, stay cool and metal.

Rock on
PF

Geek Fotographi FTW

Bryan Soon has kindly sent us the photographs that he took during our little performance about a week ago, risking his physical wellness in the face of a mini-mosh pit that day. And he was still nice enough to pass us these in full DSLR glory, of which the full set can be seen in our facebook page or myspace. Cockpit recognizes courageous acts of such and gives them their due respect.

More awesome gig photos of his work can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bryansoon/sets/72157623649808197/. Really, our pictures are small change (Bryan no offense, I mean it in a good way).


Psyence Fyktion

Not Enough Crystal Balls? Get them at Baybeats 2010!

Corporate announcement:

In an unprecedented, almost public endorsement of their stupidity on stage, the Baybeats Judges of Rock have announced that Cockpit is to perform for Baybeats 2010, which will be held on August 20-22.

Cockpit is indeed happy and overwhelmed with this news, because prior to this announcement they have always thought themselves to be the only crazy ones. Now it seems that, at long last, they are not alone.

Cockpit is sincerely appreciative and grateful to their friends and supporters who have come down to mosh during the second round auditions in the intense Sunday afternoon, and to every single Soul of Rock who sang "Crystal Ball". There will be a bigger riot waiting for you.

Cockpit does Baybeats 2010 Round 2 Auditions....

... at the Esplanade Outdoor Theater, on 28 March 2010 (Sun) from 1-2, alongside 3 other bands The Zozi, Waiting for Nothing and Blind Meets Mute. We will have a 15 minute mini set for this. Be the first to hear our new songs, "Crystal Ball" and "Death on the Airways (DOTA)" for your rocking hard feel good time.

Baybeats Auditions - 2nd Round

Cockpit has made it past the first round of the Baybeats Auditions, and they will be participating in the second which will be held on 28 March 2010, at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre.

As our performance will be for audition purposes, this set will be relatively short. But of course, we always welcome your support. There will also be 15 other diverse bands playing alongside us so I'm sure it will be a day of sonic awesomeness. Plus the view of the Singapore River there is quite nice LA. We will firm up more details for you when we get them.

On the A&R front, our friend Karen has upped her street cred (again!) by designing our cool band logo. Talks on band merc are on the way! Thanks to her we have also taken some pictures of the first round of auditions, release date tba. Kudos to the guys at Studio Fifty Seven who have hosted this event, notably Isaac who has been very welcoming. It's a really nice place, even if you're not there to jam. Their facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/STAGE-57-PRODUCTION/274693735911.

Psyence Fyktion

Did I Tell You How We Began Choosing a Band Name?

Kudos to Karen for the excellent idea, though we didn't choose any of it in the end and took the name that WX suggested -.-

Psyence Fyktion

Audition

Cockpit has been selected for Baybeats Round 1 Auditions.

The Need for Speed

As I'm typing this I'm listening to Speed King by Deep Purple. Many songs have been written about life on the fast lane in general. AC/DC's Highway to Hell and Larc en Ciel's Driver's High come to mind. For our newly (properly) recorded single, "Speed Kills (and So Do I)", the motivation has been road rage. In other words, my way or the highway. Listen to it here: www.myspace.com/wearecockpit.

This song took the span of two full days to record. Miking up the drums for the Collapse of Uncertainty was seroius business man but it was all worth it in the end! Sludge has had extensive experience in the recording process and Johnny Danger spent days learning the art of EQ and fine tuning the tracks that we laid down.

While the rest of the band was hard at work, I tried to make myself useful by taking some videos:





More recordings should be on the way (albeit at a slightly leisurely pace) so we'll continue to keep you posted! =)

Psyence Fyktion