Location: Webster Hall, New York, September 24.

A great live show is simple. Every awesome moment that you experience is not by chance, but a deliberate plan by the performers. That was apparent the moment the open band Wavves played. Known for their stoner style, in this show they sounded like they switched to a stimulant. When crowds start moshing to Wavves, the energy level is going to be sky high.

Speaking of the moshing crowd. Yes, I was in the middle. I was hit in the jaw twice, both times while trying to tie my shoes (note: where shoes without laces). Believe it or not, there is some resemblance of order in a mosh pit. If someone slips, he will get picked up so no one tramples him. Next time you are in such a show, try it sometimes.

As for the music itself, I have to confess something. Yes, David Comes to Life is a great album. But at the time, I hardly knew any of the songs, unlike when I saw Sleigh Bells as a fully educated fan.

No matter, MVP of that night was Fucked Up frontman Damien Abraham. Now there is the ideal frontman. There was maximum engagement with the fans during songs (He pointed the mic at me and shouted nonsense), charming remarks between songs. I didn’t even notice Fucked Up had 6 members. Abraham spent the majority of the show off the stage and on the floor. He could have played the album on an iPod and perform karaoke and all I want to do is get a chance touch his sweaty and hairy arms. And really, touching one’s musical heroes is all this is about, right?

So here’s to 2012 for another great year in music. I’m already booked for another show this weekend and I plan to do these write ups immediately after each show.

Fought my way into front and center, just in time for Alexis Krauss to crowd surf her rack onto my face. #winning.

— Sai-Kit Hui (@saikit) May 14, 2011

This tweet perfectly described the night I had at the legendary Stone Pony. In addition to that bit of fortune, it was also one of the best shows I went to this year. It’s amazing when you think about a group like Sleigh Bells, whose sole purpose is to blow out my ear drums and give me a seizure (I certainly showed the symptoms by the end of the show). The beats are coming from a laptops. Derek Miller’s guitar chords are straight out of Black Sabbath. Vocalist Alexis Krauss, while a decent singer, wasn’t doing much singing and spent most of the time chanting and doing inappropriate things to a Poland Springs bottle (This pleases me).

But really, I could care less. They made the most out of their limitations and turned into a pure adrenaline ride. The crowd, this time, was great. This show was the reason I got into watching live shows in the first place. But like a roller coaster ride, this was a really short experience. The set clocked in around 30 minutes. But I was ready for something grander. I was hooked.

Location: The Court Tavern, New Brunswick, November 6th

I’m a bad music fan.

Not only do I still not pay for music, as a concert attendee I can’t give my undivided attention to my favorite bands. This was the case when I went to see Screaming Bands, by far the most talented bunch out of all the show I attended this year. Maybe it was a tiny tiny venue (a bar basement) and the fact I easily made my in front of the “stage” (I had to get out of the way of equipment between bands), but instead of crazy fan mode I was in pondering music critic mode. Even the bar was open so it was no excuse to be so self-conscious.

I’m standing next to the videographer/photographer taking this. That’s why there’s no crowd shots of me. Honest!

However, for such a firecracker on guitars and vocal, lead singer Marissa Paternoster looks absolutely uncomfortable in between songs. For a band that headlines music festivals around the world, she looked pretty nervous trying to interact with her presumably hometown fans. One way to put it. When, she’s shredding “A New Kid”, she’s Joan Jett. When she’s answers a adoring fan’s declaration of love with a timid ‘thanks’, she’s Wednesday Addams. Maybe it was an off day or I really really looked too judgmental standing in the front row.

These are secondary concerns though, and I was lucky to see a great band in a small (and relatively close) venue.

In addition to finally supporting musicians with money, I started going to show to validate my taste in music. I want to believe that the bands that play my favorite albums are as talented or even more talented live than in a recording studio, to separate the Jack White’s from the Rebecca Black’s. So when Yuck perfectly replicated 90′s alternative (I’d be lying if I told you I knew what that meant, but I do love that sound), I had to hear them live. After driving through the worse traffic in America (North Jersey to Brooklyn in 3 hours!!!WTF!!!), I made it to hipster central, Brooklyn.

The Joy Formidable, reviewed in my last post, are defined by their live shows. Even their debut full-album contain singles that are extended version of their previous mini-album. They live and die by the execution of their live sets. When I saw Yuck, it was like I was listening to their album on shuffle. This was perfectly acceptable for me and the other hipsters in the crowd. Really, they’re ranked higher because they were more technically flawless and the crowd didn’t offend me.

Since I’m not gonna be spending mega bucks for these show, I don’t mind if I don’t see flashy visuals and background dancers. Also, while it’s possible that one can only be so pumped listening to 90′s-style alternative, I do prefer when bands display more stage presence in their shows. While Yuck didn’t lack stage presence, the next reviews contain bands that exude so much charisma that it elevates the concert experience to another level.

Namely, I go bonkers.

Location: North Star Bar, Philadelphia. December 12th.

Whirring (Live) by thejoyformidable

Here’s what should have been a perfect storm. There were no openers to suffer through. The venue is tiny. Even the dreaded traffic from my office to Philly was a non-issue. And yet, it’s ranked #5.

They were not bad. In fact, they were as awesome as I expected them to be. They didn’t sound like the Sound Cloud above, but still a solid performance. However, one fatal flaw almost killed the experience for me.

The crowd was lame.

North Star Bar is slightly larger than the bar adjacent. Still, I I go up the rankings, this not even the smallest venue. Since this was an all-age event, there were a lot of teenagers. But this particular crowd was about as pumped as Japanese tourists in a guided tour of MoMa. This was most obvious when The Joy Formidible decided to add a lot of pauses to it’s set. Let’s just say the water cooler in my office made more noise during this time.

This would have probably worked when they were opening for Foo Fighters in basketball arenas, but even Ritzy Bryan, the lead singer, complimented on our politeness. It’s a perfectly acceptable compliment at a 2nd grade dance recital, not a rock concert.

Nonetheless, I witnessed one of the better jam sessions of the year. If I had a few more drinks (all age show, so beer at the bar), I could have tapped into their energy and not be self-conscious. They turned ‘Whirring’ (my current ringtone) into a 10 minute drum and bass thriller, which finished out the show around 9.

Perfect for a work day.

Kelly Clarkson, same song, at a karaoke bar:

Ugh, why America? On the other hand, Fergie does look more like Axl Rose.

Some happy fun time happened here, or just a lot of smoking.

The previous guests looked like they had a heck of a time. No evidence of hanky panky, but they did use everything (as evidenced by the drain stopper) as an ashtray. I did not take this room.

Then in our actual room, I looked at some of the ‘minibar’ items available for their guests:

Non-free? Damn, could have used the clippers and the box of condoms... wait wuh?

What the hell is this?

Yeah, there were condoms and some sort of spray provided in each room. Not saying it’s a love hotel, but all signs point to it.

The moment that all but confirmed my suspicions about the place was the night I returned to the hotel. I went up to my floor and there was hotel security walking around and the smell of…. marijuana? Considering the sentence for drug possession in China is… death, that was unreal.

Victoria Regal is cheap, relatively luxurious, and right by the famous West Lake. If you can deal with the shady ass things that goes on at night, it’s great place to stay in Hangzhou. Just find that dude that will share his weed.

Currently hanging on this hotel’s weak wifi to place this dispatch. Basically, in Mainland China: Twitter, blocked. Facebook, blocked. My site, not blocked.

I will have a real update when I get back to the land of the free later tonight. And by that I mean back to Hong Kong. I will tell you this. You have come over to China to see for yourself. You won’t regret it.

I. Can’t. Stop. Playing.

It’s only been two days, and already I’ve lost sleep, put off my workouts, and became sedentary like when I was unemployed. I’m lucky I’m still getting to work on time, because I play in the mornings. Despite the glaring flaws in Black Ops, what drives me and millions of others into putting aside their social live and burn millions of man hours on this game.

I dread what happens when Treyarch start patching the issues.

It was getting dark. I spent most of the run hoping incoming cars can see me. When I got to the balloting area, I couldn’t read the district map because I had no glasses. I looked like I was gonna collapse. Could barely give my signature through my gloves. Didn’t really know who I voted for. On my way back, it was pitch black. Cars were swerving out at the last moment. Now I know how it feels to be a deer.

Lesson: don’t run in the dark. But it was worth it.