“Go international”. You hear Indonesian artists say that all the time, but how often does it actually happen? And what does it actually mean, anyway? In recent years more and more bands have had the opportunity to perform overseas, but does it really count if the people you’re playing for are Indonesian diplomats, students and labour workers? And if the people who invited you to a different country are actually people from that country, would it be worth the trip and all the time, expense and energy you spent on it just to play in some crappy bar to a small handful of people who don’t give a shit about who you are?

But leaving aside the debate regarding who’s actually made it - as I’m sure everyone has their own opinion - I think anyone who has any common sense would agree that White Shoes & The Couples Company are closer than most to being an internationally-acclaimed Indonesian act. They’ve performed at influential music industry showcases such as SXSW and CMJ in Austin, Texas and New York, had their albums released in the U.S. and Japan, and played at festivals in Singapore and Hong Kong just over a month ago. Their renowned fans include Sondre Lerche, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and Kings Of Convenience (Erlend Oye is a huge groupie, and even covered White Shoes’ “Bersandar” when KOC last performed in Bandung and Jakarta).

And now they’re doing it again. This Friday they’ll be leaving for Cannes, France to perform at the first-ever Midem Festival, followed by a short tour of the Netherlands. It’s another opportunity for them to do what they’ve done well so far, which is represent Indonesia as a hotbed of excellent music, just waiting for more exposure to the outside world.

Unfortunately, opportunities like this don’t come cheap. If you’re a relative unknown - and let’s be realistic, that’s what White Shoes are in the overall music world - then you often have to use your own money to take advantage of those opportunities. And not being a band with major funding behind them, White Shoes always have to raise money to help pay for their journey.

Which brings us to earlier this evening, specifically the Tjikini cafe where White Shoes held an intimate show to help raise funds. Over the years, the cafe - formerly known as Cafe Au Lait - has been the site of many memorable White Shoes gigs, and it’s also within walking distance from Institute Kesenian Jakarta, where the band formed as students. So it was an ideal spot to put on a show.

Ideal apart from its capacity, that is. When I arrived, people were already standing on the pavement looking in because there was no room inside, even though it was only the opening band We Love ABC (White Shoes bassist Ricky Surya Virgana with his two children performing cute versions of indie rock songs).

Tickets for the gig were IDR 35,000 each, and I don’t know how much of the proceeds went to the band, but it was encouraging to see the place packed with paying customers.

And I was perfectly willing to pay, but somehow slipped through the door during the changeover between We Love ABC and White Shoes. Oh well. I found a spot just in front of the band and alternately stood and squatted by the piano, which Ricky played during the first part of the show: an acoustic set.

The acoustic set consisted of older songs from their self-titled debut and the Skenario Masa Muda EP, plus “Kapiten Dan Gadis Desa” from Riot: The Thusrday Riot Compilation (don’t look at me that way, that’s how they spelled the title). For “Bersandar”, White Shoes’ contribution to the Berbagi Suami soundtrack, they were joined on cello by Sisi, Ricky and keyboardist Aprimela Prawidiyanti’s daughter, before Sisi’s dad took over the cello for “Sunday Memory Lane”.

After the acoustic set, the band took a break while longtime friends David Tarigan and Ricky Malau hosted the fund-raising auction of White Shoes’ various iconic photos for album covers and other shoots, and a rare print of the original artwork created by vocalist Aprilia Apsari especially for the show. Some fun and furious bidding took place, with some items even reaching millions. Nice to see art being appreciated.

Auction over, the band returned and ripped into an all-electric set mostly consisting of songs from their latest release, Album Vakansi.

They certainly got the crowd going, especially this young lady dancing on the bar. Hopefully her fellow Caucasians in France and the Netherlands will have similar reactions.

At first this was the band’s setlist, but as the night went on, things veered from the script. After “Vakansi”, they added covers of Fariz RM’s “Selangkah Keseberang”, plus Brigitte Bardot’s “Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas”, presumably to help win over the Euro crowds. Then they dropped “Hacienda” in favour of “Topstar”, then played “Senandung Maaf” and “Roman Ketiga” by request, before closing with rousing renditions of their usual final two songs of late, “Aksi Kucing” and “Matahari”. Kudos to Sari, Ricky, Mela, guitarists Rio Farabi and Saleh Husein, and drummer John Navid for going the extra mile and soaking their clothes with sweat in the process.

After the show, everyone headed to the merchandise table to buy limited edition t-shirts, tote bags and posters. Having got in for free, I felt obligated to buy something and help their cause. The tote bags were already sold out, and so were the t-shirts apart from size S. After much consideration, I parted with IDR 100,000 and went home hoping that the t-shirt would fit me, otherwise I’d have to go on a severe diet. The verdict?

Not bad, if I do say so myself. Yes, it’s a bit on the tight side, but at least it’s not as bad as Ross Geller’s “Frankie Say Relax” t-shirt he took back from Rachel Green after they broke up in Friends.

All in all, it was a good day in Cikini. Good luck, White Shoes & The Couples Company! Make Indonesia proud! Again!

Acoustic setlist:

1. Runaway Song
2. Kapiten Dan Gadis Desa
3. Today Is No Sunday
4. Nothing To Fear
5. Bersandar
6. Sunday Memory Lane

Electric setlist:

1. Ye Good Ol’ Days
2. Masa Remadja
3. Senja Menggila
4. Kisah Dari Selatan Jakarta
5. Vakansi
6. Selangkah Keseberang
7. Tu Veux Ou Tu Veux Pas
8. Topstar
9. Senandung Maaf
10. Roman Ketiga
11. Aksi Kucing
12. Matahari

P.S. White Shoes & The Couples Company are still looking for sponsors and donors for their European tour, so if you’re interested in giving financial support, please immediately contact their manager Indra Ameng at +62818817548. To learn more about the band, click here.