You don't know what it's been like...seeing someone like you.

So the red dragon has landed in Kuala Lumpur, bringing with it one of the best bands in my world - Stereophonics.

The countdown for me was as such: from March when I found out they're playing in Singapore sometime late April; I was praying, hoping they'll decide to drop by lil' ol KL. And early this month we got the news - they are indeed coming!

I was ecstatic, and bought the tickets on the very first day it came out..which is probably unnecessary for people living in KL since nobody rushes out to buy tickets for these kinda things. I'm sure on the day of the show many tickets are still left unsold - in a way that's a blessing, the crowd was just nice and not too horribly packed that you can't breathe. I mean, KL Live is quite a small venue, but can pack in quite a number...and being crushed in a crowd is terrible.

I remember the recent show there, Placebo's show, the dude in front of me had really bad BO I almost died. Plus I was pushed around coz some sad fuck wanted to video the entire fucking show and bloody pushed me so he could go to the front to put his stupid camera up the entire time. Jakun sonofabitches; they make me digress.

OK, back to the show. Being kiasu as I am, I wanted to arrive there early so I can plant myself right in front of Kelly Jones. But I supposed it's not meant to be because despite faking a trip to the gynae, bugging my husband to finish his recording early to the point of almost causing a massive fight, we still left home at 7.30pm. And guess what? The genius organisers opened the door at 7pm - probably for college kids and people who work til 5pm (got ah?).

And as soon as we arrived at the venue, instead of going in we had to wait for friends to arrive as well. As I watch other people walk in, I imagined my sacred spot in front of Kelly Jones taken up and felt all stabby and witchy. At 8.10pm we finally got in and surprise surprise, it wasn't that packed. For a band of its stature I was quite surprised to see that it's not as packed as it should be. Maybe kids nowadays prefer whatever is in the local radios top 40 selection.

But who cares? More fresh air and space for the rest who're there, yes?

After listening to some DJ spin countless numbers of indie and rock songs (couldn't they get a band? a local band that's relevant?), Red FM Breakfast Show announcers JD and Dilly went on to either rev up or annoy the already impatient crowd. I knew from the Facebook event page that the band will come on at 9.30pm but that night the clock felt like it was moving especially slowly.

Speaking of Red FM, I was quite disappointed that as the "official radio station for Stereophonics Live in KL" they hardly played the bands songs and also, I dunno if they wrongly announced the date / timing for Kelly Jones interview with them. I swear to god the evening rush hour announcer said he'll be interviewing KJ on Tuesday during rush hour. I drove like a grandma and took the long way home and got treated to Justin Bieber and pop trash instead.

Back to the show, after an hour of waiting, Stereophonics finally came on to screams and shouts and loud cheers and stupidly grinning faces (that includes me). After some hellos to a screaming crowd in his weird accent, Kelly Jones opened the show with a track from their latest album Keep Calm and Carry On titled Live n Love.

For me KJ's lyrics are not easy to memorize except for some choruses, so for many songs you don't get a lot of people singing along, which is fine, because I'd like to hear KJ's voice in person! Among the tracks that the band played were A Thousand Trees, Pick a Part That's New, I Got Your Number, new song Could You Be the One? which is pretty good, The Bartender and the Thief and my favourites Mr Writer, Maybe Tomorrow, Superman and Have a Nice Day and everyone's favourite singalong and the closing song Dakota. Kelly Jones growling vocals were drowned out by the crowd during that one.

At the end of the night, I've never felt happier, lighter in the heart (I'm serious, don't snort) and glad I never got to smell anyone's terrible BO and die from self imposed asphyxiation. Verdict: The band is legend, Kelly Jones is awesome and a sweetie (He said, Thanks for coming!, I mean, Hello thank YOU for coming mister!), the sound could be better but I ain't complaining, the crowd is relaxed and great fun, it wasn't a dry party and hey, it's their first time here and they gave us deprived KLites a great show to remember.

I hope they come again next year and the year after that and so on; like I told my friends last night, I'll keep coming back even when I'm an old lady and Kelly Jones start to sound funny. Hmmm maybe then I'll get my sacred front spot.

Note: Pictures stolen from me friend Donna, who has a better, clearer camera. Damn.