A sort of NGO fest is happening this Saturday, courtesy of the Frinjan gang in collaboration with Gen-S, which aims to educate the youth on current socio-political issues and voting rights but not forgetting to bring on the rock, which they do with an impressively varied line-up of acts including Akta Angkasa, Couple, Harmacy, Khottal, Liyana Fizi, Monoloque, Massacre Conspiracy, Partimelovers, Tilu and loads more, with 24 acts in total.

Event starts at 10am on Saturday, 23rd July 2011 at Kompleks 3K, Jalan SS13/1, Persiaran Kewajipan, Subang Jaya (map to the venue HERE). Admission is free. Check out the event’s Facebook page for more info.

A while back we posted Harmacy’s new single “Ku Cari” and finally they’ve come out with a 4-song EP (or CD single, which is what they’re calling it), also titled ”Ku Cari”, which also includes their old radio hit “Riuh” (which if we’re not mistaken was only available in the Kami soundtrack CD previously). The 2 other tracks are also in Malay, and display their undisputed love for 90′s American indie rock a la Sebadoh, Dinosaur Jr and Pavement.

Always an enjoyable listen, these Ipoh boys have definitely evolved from their earlier tag as ‘Muck Jr’ (some of them are indeed real brothers with people from Muck). Have a listen to the 2nd song on the EP, “Hey Halusinasi”, below and don’t forget to check them out on Facebook and Myspace.

This weekend is turning out to be an embarrassment of riches when it comes to awesome looking gigs, as another one is set to happen in Ipoh rock city this Saturday, courtesy of the Bodysurf Music gang, with not just one, but three bands from neighbouring Singapore in the form shoegaze stars Stellarium, The Guilt and The Zozi. Opening the show would be our favourite stoner rockers Chewbacca,  post punk faves Partimelovers, Harmacy, The Hollows, Suka No. 23, Mohd Jayzuan and many more. So if you’re up north this Saturday, this shouldn’t be something to pass up.

Show starts at 2pm on Saturday, 30th April 2011, at Rainhouse Studio, Taman Ipoh Jaya, Ipoh. Admission is RM15. Check out the event’s Facebook page for more info.

After a long absence, indie gigs are suddenly turning up like buses this weekend, with another one (with a pretty outstanding line-up of bands, we must say) happening in Tampin this Sunday. Headlined by Singapore’s international shoegaze stars Stellarium, with more than able support from homegrown noisemakers Akta Angkasa, Ipoh jangle pop and shoegaze heroes The Hollows, Harmacy, The Fridays and lots more, this is definitely one gig that will definitely live up to its name as Noise Pop.

Show starts at 1pm on Sunday, 1st May 2011 at Seventh Heaven Gig Hall, B17/18 Tingkat 2, Tampin Square, Tampin, Negeri Sembilan. Admission is RM12. Check out the event’s Facebook page for more info.

After Wayang Rabak #1 which happened about 2 weeks ago, the good people at Projek Rabak is back with another event called Chill-lah #1. This inaugural instalment will have a sort of discussion on what ‘indie rock’ means, with hardcore indie rock fans from Ipoh like Kujoy (of the bands Muck and Chewbacca) and Amir Tajuddin leading the discussion. Also part of the programme will be readings and acoustic performances from Riduan A. Dullah, Seyn, Amir Fazel and Haziq Pratama, and there will also be a preview listening session of new songs from Ipoh indie rockers Harmacy and Shizuka.

The event starts at 1pm on Saturday, 5th March 2011 at Menora Tusyen, 222A & 224A Jalan Bercham (next to BSN Bercham), Taman Ria, Ipoh. Admission is free. Check out the event’s Facebook page for more details.

With the unofficial dormant status of both Muck and Free Love, it seems that it is now up to Harmacy to carry on the torch for that 90s style American indie rock sound in Malaysia. Although they’ve also been awfully quiet in the past few years, they’re now finally back with a sweet, brand spanking new single called “Kucari”. Further cementing their infectious fusion of Dinosaur Jr guitar noise with the sweet melodies of Swedish indie pop a la The Drowners, The Wannadies and their ilk, this song will probably get them to the heights they once achieved with their hit “Riuh” a few years back.

Listen to the song below, and don’t forget to check them out on Myspace and Facebook.

This quartet is one of the very few around that are still paying tribute to their influences, bands that indie rock enthusiasts only grew up listening to. Hailing from Ipoh, Perak, Harmacy is one band whose music will take you on a trip back to the early 90s and have you reminded of the dirty lo-fi sounds of American indie rock legends like Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, and The Pixies.