The odds were against me making it to the debut NYC show of Indonesian pop superstars White Shoes & Couples Company -- the rain was unrelenting, I had a full-blown cold and fever, my energy was near zero and the Phillies game was going to go on (what an amazing game. I figured if this band flew half way around the world to play in front of 100 people, I can suck up my illness and make it over to Brooklyn. The end result was my favorite band I saw during the week that was not part of my Joe's Pub show.
White Shoes and the Couples Company might have a hidden time machine somewhere because they might have travel from 1966. You can take those countless post-punk 80s revivalist techno bands and I'll have my one Asian pop band.
To say the show was crazy fun would be an understatement. You have a unique band full of positivity, a group of Indonesian natives going nuts and music that you just don't see often in these parts. Even Sondre Lerche was smiling throughout the set.
The setlist:
- Super Reuni
- Brother John
- Tentang Cita
- Sabda Alam (Ismail Marzuki cover)
- Topstar
- Today Is No Sunday
- Ye Good Ol' days
- Roman Ketiga
- Windu & Defrina
- Aksi Kucing
Somewhere among the Magic Numbers, Cibo Matto and the Archies lies White Shoes & The Couples Company. Entrenched in 60s bubble gum pop, the music leaps from the stage in bright colors and hip retro kitsch. Their self-title debut album is on the Minty Fresh label, who specialize in international pop bands.
While their album can come off as a little subdued and easy-going, their live show is high-energy, happy smiley good time. When lead singer Aprilla Apsari came out twirling an umbrella, you knew it was going to be different and special. Even though five of the six members could get U.S. work visas, the band's sound was full, spunky and had incredble bounce. They got a temp guitarist who dressed like Rudy from Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
Their popular song, and a good intro to the band, "Tentang Cita" feels like an anthem for Up With People, with it's sunny harmonies, sweet lead vocals and funky guitar line. They included a cover from Indonesian hero, Ismail Marzuki, which I'm sure his music is in all of your iPods. According to Wiki, Ismail Marzukiwas an Indonesian composer and musician who wrote a number of popular patriotic songs during the country's early post-independence period in the 1940s and 1950s. They saved their best song for last, "Aksi Kucing" from their new EP, which lends the audience into meowing on cue (see the video below). The song also features an extended drum solo that was dynamite.
As you can see with the pictures, the band dresses the part, meaning they all look like good will ambassadors for the Indonesian Tourist Bureau. It was rather cute how they all loved being on stage for the first time in New York (they'll also visit D.C. and L.A. on this trip). Numerous times, they pleaded the crowd to buy merch so that they could get home.
So let's hope you all get to see the White Shoes crew on their next visit to New York. They are too much fun to be ignored.
Awesome! I didn't expect to see from the show so fast! Thank you so much!
By the way, they're also coming back to San Francisco on Sunday, November 2nd at 330 Ritch and a day before they're playing at Apple store in downtown San Francisco.
Posted by: | October 27, 2008 at 12:03 AM
thanks for review the photos. I really love white shoes and the couples company.
Posted by: ceria | October 27, 2008 at 04:15 AM
thanks for review the photos and video. I really love white shoes and the couples company. unfortunately, Saleh couldn't come.
Posted by: ceria | October 27, 2008 at 04:25 AM
Much respect! Glad to hear the tour started with a bang... :)
Wish we were there but we're cheering you all on from Indo!
Peace...
Posted by: Lakota Moira | October 28, 2008 at 04:04 AM
we love white shoes and the couples company. proud of you guys!!
Posted by: richandgrace | October 28, 2008 at 12:14 PM
a long come journey,..till the end,...JAKARTA SAY THANX,..
Posted by: tigis | October 28, 2008 at 09:24 PM
HEBAT!!!
Posted by: samuel bagas | October 29, 2008 at 11:21 AM
aksi kucing,,meong-meong..that nice song
Posted by: Octora b | October 29, 2008 at 07:45 PM
salute for white shoes and the couple company:) awesome!!!
Posted by: idealita | October 29, 2008 at 10:21 PM
meeeeeyooooong!
Posted by: wimo bayang | October 30, 2008 at 09:56 AM
biar bagaimanapun ale tetap yang terganteng..!
Posted by: mokipremanpasar | November 01, 2008 at 03:40 AM
you guys make my heart out but my make ears sits very close next to me.
TEPUKTANGAN YANG KERAS DARI CIKINI!!
pelan tapi pasti bos..
Posted by: music from equator | November 02, 2008 at 01:46 AM
nice nice nice
Posted by: blankon | November 03, 2008 at 03:38 AM
NICE NICE NICE
Posted by: blankon | November 03, 2008 at 03:39 AM
..jakarta so proud of u guys...
Posted by: whyRawk | December 24, 2008 at 11:10 PM