Gwen Stefani Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur concert 2007, I came, I saw, I converted
Way before the concert, I came to know about it via Gallivanter who is a one stop entertainment news provider for us here in Kuala Lumpur. I was never planning to go nor was I excited to go the first time. Since this was a gift for my wife and mother in law, I went with the intention to accompany them as well as to check out the other ladies crowd. I’m more of a rock concert or other than pop kind of person. At least that’s what I think.
Anyway, the show was supposed to start at 8:30pm. We made a move around 7:30pm++ to give some extra time for getting lost or stuck in a jam. I went to Bukit Jalil stadium before for the Rentak Asia concert a few years back. But of course I can’t remember the actual way there. We made it around 8:00pm++ , paid the Rm1.50 parking fee and parked our car as close as we can to the staircase to the stadium area. Traffic was not really heavy yet. Once reaching the Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, I noticed the crowd was pretty large near the entrance. One obvious thing you will see is the ‘HOTLINK’ (Malaysian phone network provider) logo everywhere. There were booths selling Gwen Stefani T-shirts (but they don’t look interesting). If I am not mistaken there were priced between Rm80-Rm100++? I did saw posters sold for Rm20.00. At the time I only had like Rm25.00 in my wallet, so I decided to save the money for mineral water or something. 
Booths outside the stadium
The entrance were very well organized. There was this huge cylinder-like air filled pillars to indicate where you are supposed to enter. (You can see your ticket price with the Block and seat row numbers on it). The line for the second cheapest ticket (which we had) seems to be the longest. While waiting in line, it was really interesting to see the type of crowd going for this concert. I can see quite a few middle aged ladies, some of them were clad in ‘tudungs‘. I can see kids with their parents or aunties and uncles too. There were some gals who were dressed pretty close to what Gwen would wear for her overseas concert. But based on observation, I think we have more ladies tonight.
Waiting in line
The presence of police, FRU’s (Federal Reserve Unit) and St John ambulance were quite visible. I’m not sure if they will have a chance to watch the show as well. As we enter the main gate, all bags were asked to be opened. The security and some helpers were checking or were trying to check everyones bag to ‘ensure’ no one is bringing any cameras or video cameras.
They took good care of us
All outside drinks were not allowed. So anyone who’s holding any bottles or drinks have to leave them behind before getting into the stadium. Once inside the corridors, the first thing you see is food. There were folks selling some finger food and drinks as well. Good idea as well I think.
No Gwen Stefani signature dish…
We went in around 8:25pm++ to find our seats. Since I bought one extra tickets later, the seating sequence was not in sequence anymore. So I sacrificed myself and took the ticket. Mother and daughter can sit together.
Our gate
It was almost 9:00pm and there was no sign of the band getting ready. I still see sound checks being done and crew tuning guitars for the band and testing the mics etc. The crowd in the stadium was not that many yet at the time.
Crowd yet to fill the expensive seats
Our seating position is roughly on the right hand side of the stage. The view should be nice from here. I won’t say it’s far. You can still get nice good details from this distance. I also saw some VIP tables and some tables that looked like Press tables? I can see them having notebooks, papers to sribble and some books too.
VIP seatings
Just when you want to say “oi, what’s going on?”, all the lights were turned off. Pitch black. Everyone went wild. I can hear very loud shrieking sounds. Yep. Girls voice when combined can be used as a deadly weapon. 
Even the English girls seating next to me went bonkers. It started with some dancers playing police and thief. Then the guitar intro of her famous song played over the radio every other day started. The crowd went even crazy after that. When they started the ‘woohoo, yehoo’ thing I thought the whole place was going to crumble! Gwen came running with her dancers.
If you look real hard, you can see her nice shoes
I noticed that she was wearing this thin, black tights. She wore it throughout the show. She did change to a white one as well. But most of the time she looks decent. I’m pretty sure this has a lot to do with those bodies who did not want her to reveal too much body. (Got the drift? ey ey…?)
The setting of her concert is quite simple but it does serve the purpose. I like how they have different visualization for every song that she performed being displayed at the center of the screen on the stage. Her dancers were awesome too! They are all a mixed bunch. Some came from Okinawa Japan and other parts of the USA as well. She introduced every single dancers towards the later part of the concert. Same goes for the musicians.
Look closer
She had 6 musicians. Every single song was played live by this fantastic bunch. 3 guys were playing keyboards, although the other 2 black guys played the brass section too. 1 guitarist. I like his style. He uses a Fender Telecaster and another guitar I failed to recognized. Can’t seem to see what amp he was using though. But I thought I saw part of the amp name as”…cat”. The drummer was awesome! However, the bald black lady who played bass for Gwen is wicked man! She can sing very well too. They all can harmonize beautifully too.
Notice those lights? They are mobile phones, cameras and stuff.
Do you know that Gwen Stefani has families here in Malaysia from her husband side? Yeah. She announced it. Cool. Maybe I should invite them to my house for some Ribena or something sometime soon… One thing that I thought was funny is that, I saw this group of ladies carrying some banners that says ‘banana’. I’m not familiar with her songs. Only when she started singing that particular song, did I realize it was part of the song lyrics from ‘Hollaback (girl)’. 
Overall if I were to sum it up in a few words, I would say the concert has all the fun-filled moments, great crowd participation, good choreography, great dancing and make up, awesome music, colourful, full of zest and worth the money. Of course I was hoping she could have wore something like what you see on MTV? I enjoyed myself tremendously anyway. I think I kind of dig Gwen now.
All of a sudden, the crowd filled up the stadium..
Other blogs on this concert I manage to find:
Runwitme
**********************Updates***************************
Some of the pictures contributed by Brian On
I WAS THERE!!!
All I can say is the RM385 ticket is worth every ringgit!!
I whizzed into the arena in less than 5 minutes…
The view was SUPERB!!
Had amazing shots of her…
Wish I could upload some for you…But have no idea how to do so…Do tell!!
Well, if you want that is, and do not mind photos taken by a poor photographer…
Hehehhe…
My seat was way back but when she started the concert, I rushed to the front!!
HAHAHHAHA!!!!
Fyi, I made a conclusion and it’s — Malaysian crowd is WAYY crazier+wilder+louder than Singaporeans…
I was at the Christina Aguilera concert in Spore but the crowd was just ok..
Wished someone could have accompanied me..I went there alone but it’s not that it’s my 1st time diong so…
Wow… nice concert… wish to be part of it… kesian lah Sabahan here.. just watch poster and listen from the radio only
but i guess. if the ticket priced like that… i think i wait for Bon Jovi lah…
You went to the concert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ENVY youuuuUuuUuUuuUuU! I adore Gwen Stefani…I wanted to go but I can’t fit in my tight schedule. Dang!!! Thank you for thanking the pics and done some coverage for us. How old is ur mother in law? She digs for Gwen as well? Coolness!
Hi! Great coverage of the concert! Gwen rocks! I was there too….I managed to get some “decent” Gwen pictures. Pls feel free to visit my blog. Comments r appreciated.
http://runwitme.blogspot.com
B- Oh, so that was you lar..I saw one crazy dude with this camera jumping up and down! He he.. anyway, it was really fun eh? Really worth it. I love the band man.. hey if you want, e-mail me your photos at kaystanford@gmail.com. I will put it here and give credit to you of course
PaPa- If Bon Jovi come… that will be fantastic!
Sharon- I’m sure there will be other opportunity for you. My pics sucks anyway, all from the phone camera. My mother in law? I think she’s already 50+ by now. She really enjoyed herself. But if you met her you might just can’t tell (must be the Amway supplements?)
Runwitme- Pretty cool huh? Sure thing. I will visit your blog for sure. You got tea and biscuits?
Ratu Syura- Ade deh deh… kesian bah anak ni. Next time lah we go together-gether ok?
geez… you know wat? i also dun have this plan to go at first, and i think that buying the cheapest ticket will do, and i regret it all over the time now…
gee…
u sit quite near. U18, one of my friend was there too..
gee, i want the picture if u don’t mind, can u send me?via mail?
thanks..
and now i’m a gwen fan
dez.i.are- Those pictures? You can’t even see any glimpse of Gwen. You sure you want it?
is that all you got? hehe.. mine is worse though.. then it’s OK. .haha
AHHHH! I want the pics! I want the live shots of her T-T i went there and i was sitting waaaay behind [ cheapest ticket ler, what to do =\ ] i wish i could have taken pictures………
Anyway! DUDE! You see that picture of the hotlink booths? The one where there are 3 girls standing and one older man? That’s me and my friends and my friend’s father LOL! bloody coincidence, eh? XDXD
wowww.. sure looked like fun! lucky you
kesian syura.. kempunaaan.. tapun gambar only. 
Jinneh- The most important thing: You were there!!! Oh..that was you har.. he he cool. You looked happy.
Shemah- Siok oh… macam di KK!
Well, I sent you the pics… Hope you don’t mind the poor photography skills…
Fyi, the merchandise — The posters and the stickers are RM20 each… The tee is RM80 each… I managed to buy the poster and the sticker but the tees, I was too late… The sizes left are L and XL which are ridiculously enormous!!
And I don’t recall me jumping up and down… HAHAHAHA!!! But I WAS the first one to rush to the front when Gwen came out… I leaded everyone to do so… hehehhe… My seat was wayy back.. The last third row of Arena A… Btw, it was the last ticket available that I bought… Arena A was all sold-out!!!
One more thing, you know Lilian Too… She was there too… I saw her… She was sitting at the middle row…
lol you know which one i was? haha
B- The pics were cool! Way better than mine like a zillion times! Llian Too was there huh?I wonder if she chose a Feng Shui seat?
Jinneh- Of course I don’t!
HAHAHHAHA!!!!! Well, we can’t choose the seats… It’s sold accordingly… Eg. The sell the tickets for the 1st row first from left to right then when the 1st row is all sold out, they proceed to the next row…
Anyway, glad you like the pics!!!
=)
NEW pics added! Thanks to Mr Brian On!
gee… the pics are georgeous….
thanx a lot, hope u don’t mind I put it in my blog too. thanx.
well, I managed to get the sticker and the small size tee. it’s M(10) it’s for my sister. haha
Wow, ramainye peminat Gwen di sini… bah baguslah
BESTNYA KAMURANG!!!!!!!!!
Beyonce Knowles live in Malaysia??!!
Would you go?? I know I will…
But she’s been banned like Gwen??
Click here to check it out:
http://dlisted.com/node/14208#comments
And this link too…
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=114&sid=1228380
I was there too….. it was great. The RM175 people must be very lucky. At least they got to shake Gwen’s hand and fiddle her hair. Arrghghhh.
endroo G- Yeah man. I was at 175 but she did not come by our side. I would sell one of my finger on e-bay after touching her..
wow..lots of gwen fans!..Gwen Stefani rocks..when will she come to kksabah?