There's no such thing as a free lunch...Or is there?

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It's official. The next president of Indonesia is former army general Prabowo Subianto. Quite how the next five years will pan out is anyone's guess but hopefully the foreign pundits who always bring up his dodgy human rights record will be proven wrong. Nonetheless, on policy making, Prabowo's popularist move to literally offer the poor 'a free lunch' every day of the week does not augur well for the future. Such a policy - if it ever came to fruition - would cost a phenomenal amount of money and likely lead to huge inefficiencies (food waste) and poor incentives (make people lazy). Another concern is Prabowo's strong nationalist bent. Thus, in the possible event that he finds himself with his back against the proverbial wall in the face of stern economic challenges, there is a big chance that he will simply scapegoat foreigners. But he will have to be careful. Construction of the new capital city, Nusantara, for example, is highly dependent on foreign in

Rumkicks kick off Indonesia tour with a spectacularly short gig!

Holy smokes! The all-girl South Korean punk band the Rumkicks are doing an Indonesian tour! And their first gig is at Star Kemang in Jakarta!  WTF! This is quite a coup for the owner Mark as overseas bands very seldom tour Indonesia (can you imagine the bureaucratic issues that need to be overcome?). 

I’d never seen a punk gig in Indonesia. So there was no fucking way I was gonna miss this one. The Rumkicks are pretty popular too. They recently toured the UK and have featured in the legendary British music rag, the NME. They even sell their tunes on Bandcamp to reach an international audience.

The punk community in Indonesia, while not large, is very close. So news of this gig was going to spread like wildfire, that’s for sure. There was gonna be a big crowd. We’d have to get their early.

The promotional poster for the gig features a trio of bands, led by the Rumkicks of course, supported by a couple of Indonesian bands: The Desire and the delightfully named Glen & The Vicious Boys.

We arrive early but the small venue is already packed out. One dude to the left of me has brought his pet snake and a few guys are sporting a colorful mohawk. 

punk at Rumkicks gig kemang

The Desire got the party started and they did a good job at that.
 
But things really take off when Glen & The Vicious Boys take the stage. They reel off some real stormers and the atmosphere is really buzzing. The punks are dancing like maniacs. Tables are getting knocked over. And beer bottles are being sent flying. Someone with a broom sweeps up the mess. Meanwhile, the Rumkicks are still hanging around backstage having their pictures taken with fans. I get one as well. 

I am an antichrist
I am an anarchist

Holy shit! Its Anarchy In The UK! Glen & The Vicious Boys are whipping the punks into a frenzy. This is memorable stuff indeed.

But things are not alright outside. We are told there are many parked motorbikes blocking the road and they need to be moved. And not only that: there are still about 150 irate punks without tickets mulling around in the streets most probably thinking how the fuck are we going to get inside to see the gig?

Not a great situation really. 

Mark is looking anxious. “That was the most crazy night that this place has ever seen”, he would go on to say. “And never again will I charge only Rp40k to get in including a free beer.” Hahaha. Punks always know a good deal when they see one!

It’s crossed my mind that the two exit doors are nearby. Just in case. They may be needed. And luckily, I’m not pissed either.

Then finally, after what seems an age, the Rumkicks take the stage. Hurrah! The crowd is going mental. This is gonna be their first gig in Indonesia. Go for it girls!

Well, they manage 2 songs in around 2 minutes and 46 seconds (see the entirety of their performance in the video below). Then there is a pause. Someone is whispering into the lead singer’s ear and the Rumkicks disappear. They have done a proverbial runner! I can hear a police siren and the gig is over!



Punk gigs? Don’t you just love em?!!!!

Links:
Star Kemang (great place for all sorts of gigs from punk to metal, blues etc)
Rumkicks

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