Talking about monsters! Try CeeJay's for size!

Well, apparently, it's gonna happen at 9.30pm, next Thursday, that's the 9th of April, at not-so-brand new CeeJay's, the nightspot formerly known as Crown Crystal Cafe on Jln 11/2, the road directly opposite University Hospital, Jalan University, PJ.

Waddya get when you take one really black bird always known as Bala (recogisable by his sparkling smile) and marry him to one bald wildman (or should that be a wild baldman) called Jerry Felix, this one recognisable by his worn and weary drumskins.

Why, a full-scale thunderstorm by an standards, of course. Call it by any name you like - whirlwind, tornado, tsunami, hurricane, earthquake, general election! - but what you get (for the price of a few beers or black drafts, mind you) at CeeJay's next Thursday is a band led by these dark-eyed, fire-breathing monsters.

Jerry and Bala are storm legends, each in own right. Jerry, who hails from from whoknowswhen, began his career drumming with The Falcons with bassist and conguero Jerry Ventura and some other young Indian fellows. After blowing Malaysia away, they headed west and conquered Europe where they stayed for many years and finally even sold the rights to the Falcons name before they returned and started performing here again for a few years.

Jerry then went on to further heights forming Made In Malaysia with Paul Ponnudorai and Allan Perera. Jerry also spearheaded a band that backed a high-spirited, precocious imp called Jac who went on to become Malaysian Idol Jaclyn Victor.

Bala, on the other hand, started his jig at an infamous hideout called Streets Connection before he was spotted by the Balachandran brothers who thought it would be a great idea to invest in a pub for the blackbird. It was and the said nightspot called Online still stands on Jln SS20/10, Damansara Kim, PJ.

After cashing in his chips, way back when, Bala flew to the Maldives and spent some years there entertaining everyone he could in his own, inimitable style, before making his kampung kumback.

CeeJay's, owned by Christopher Joseph, opened its doors last Friday, the 27th of March with young, upcoming rockstars Shoelace Untied, led by brothers Christopher Ross and Brendan James (sons of New Straits Times journalist Errol de Cruz) and Mark Poh on drums and Som Semm on guitars. Pretty mean, this group is, what with a repertoire that includes the Beatles, Coldplay, Creed, Elvis Presley, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joan Jett and Don McLean. Now, we're told that a singer named Amanda may soon turn this quart into a quintet.

Other featured acts are Pieces of April with Tom Rizal Jones (Sunday), Colin Janssen (Monday), Alvin Fletcher (Tuesday), Retro Edge (Wednesday), Os Pombos (Friday), and a new setup called Jay's Cee Band with Alvin (guitar), Clinton Fernandez (keyboards), Matthew Charles (bass) and Sivam (drums).

With this new nightspot up and running, the places that face stiff competition are Talking Heads (a few doors away) and CJ's old haunt, Ol' Skool Bistro (down the road across the highway on Jalan Gasing). Peeped into Talking Heads, some nights ago, and saw a lonely waiter practising pool and waiting for his apllication to CeeJay's to be processed.

Calvin Guneratne at the Jln Gasing hotspot is beefing up his lineup with top club circuit trio Albert, Vijay and Badar on Friday nights, replacing Os Pombos who're now relegated to the Wednesday slot, something CJ quickly took advantage of.

Albert is the consummate guitarist who, having developed his own style of playing bass, rhythm and lead guitar simultaneously, is also a great original vocalist. Vijay topped the Carlsberg pub contest, some years ago, with his soul-stirring vocals and not looked back since. Hism latest feather is a double-stint with ethnic fusion group AkashA at Backyard Pub and KLPaC, last month.

Badar is the long-standing percussionist who after some decades of honing his art is now AkashA's multi-percussionist and aspiring konnakoleiro.

Other acts at Ol' Skool Bistro are Vernon and Fats (Monday), Southerners (Tuesday), Strollers (Thursday), Zarsadeus Brothers (Saturday) and Small Stones (Sunday). The interesting here is that the Sunday band also has a veritable Tom Jones specialist in Thomas William who, besides gyrating like idol, also does some really great covers of the Eagles, Elvis, Engelbert and Frank Sinatra.

If you have interesting to add, please post your comments here or email themusicdetective@gmail.com.