Reported by Malique E-mail:
Admin Notes: All images published here have no relation with the accompanying text. Sorry for inconvenience. I’m frustratingly wake him up but Malique still unconscious from his dreamy journey in Taman Ria.

The GoodFest is (considered to be) annual sacrament of show organized by GoodGuys Entertainment, an event organizer founded in April 2003 carries mission somewhat like music is an universal language covers all race, religion and nation therefore we will blah blah blah.

GoodFest 2 houses cross extreme genres performers from punk, hardcore, power into death metal for long hours of musical torment in cozy venue surrounded by lake-view garden area. This was a second event as sequel of first successful gig (BugJet wasn’t born yet at that time) done in September 2003 with 6 guest stars (Stepforward, Seringai, Bad Mono, Burning Inside, The Miskins) and supported by 13 featuring bands sharing the bills. The 8 hours festival claimed has reached 500 ticket sales.
BugJet invited to cover the event and we sent Malique as single fighter to report the horde of battlefield crusaders in Taman Ria Senayan.

The girl after the gate
I was told by my Boss i.e. BugJet admin (Fuck him, I gotta go alone because he’s buzzing about other job he should accomplish, perhaps pimping gay bands concert) to come hasten to the venue at 3.00PM. Stuffing the gadget required to execute my duty seamlessly at the speed of flashlight, I run to the Wizards moshpit arena at no precise time. It’s a bit difficult to locate the venue. I arrived there at 4.45PM.

The venue lies in peacefully in the lake view area of Taman Ria Senayan complex. It’s a good place with fresh scene suitable to detox probably after 9 hours of metal torture. Rushing to the GoodGuys squad, I was reporting myself as BugJet Reporter to get a free Press ID pass.
“May I know your Press ID Sir?” a GoodGuys staff endeavors at his generosity.
“Errr… don’t have one yet. I’m a freelance amateur non-professional journalist from BugJet media. I have a citizen ID instead”, I replied in shiver voices. Then the squad laughs out loud. (Fuck, my boss said my citizen ID is can-do-all card).
“No Sir, we can’t treat citizen ID as press ID. All Indonesian citizen can be journalist then!” one of them replied with cynical face. My blood boils. I insisted in higher voices almost yelling, “Just tell your boss named Aryo he has deal with my fucking boss to let me in with this goddamn citizen ID!” The squad mumbles with themselves then finally gave me a black wrist-ring as an identification of invitational guest.

Yeah GoodGuys are good. My blood cooled down to frozen and melted with welcome messages conveyed by a PR lady named Ayu, damn she’s good-looking girl I confess. What a memorable greets GoodGuys has arranged. She does also explain the regulation for journalist guest. After enchanting short session with Ayu, I proceed to the arena.

Welcome to The Wizards
It’s dark venue with minimum illumination. The light keeps smallest amount only to spot mixing console and the stage, which is pretty decent size around 3x6 meters.  The architecture of the building refers to multi-purpose auditorium with no special acoustic treatment designed for music hall. This raises an echoic problem but will be diminished drastically when the crowd fulfills the arena (human is good absorber). Upon arrival, I just met few people there, around 30. No seat provided but the air conditioning is a big plus though it’s not as cold as North Pole.

On the background stage, the GoodFest symbol (looks like united nations logo isn’t it) displayed at dark background. No gimmick or other waste accessories installed. The only downside I saw was the ground clearance between stage and the floor. It’s only 1 meter or more allowing fanatical fans crushing the stage and creates chaos with ease. 

My impression on sound system was excellent. Considering Rp20,000 (less than US$2.5) entrance fee, you’ll get decent sound guaranteed to please eardrum to avoid fatiguing for long period of hearing torment. The instrument levels were balanced. Guitar, bass, especially drums sounds were splendid. Really punch out through the bones presence its clarity. Overall sound quality was far better than the event on GOR Bulungan (Hitam-Hitam on-stage) I attended few weeks ago.

The crowds of festive enthusiasts were energetic and appreciate the shows really well. Their moshing, headbanging, slamdancing actions during the tenure of the performers supply the relentless psyche to the event.