KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Malaysian pioneering indie rock band Hujan marked their 20th anniversary concert with a historic milestone at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil last night. 

The Hujan XX: 20th Anniversary Concert, organised by Icon Entertainment, saw around 17,000 Hujan fans, better known as Raingers, filling the stadium. This cemented the band’s name in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) for ‘Largest Audience for a Single Indie Band Live Concert’.

Icon Entertainment’s founder Iman Tang, announced this during the halftime break of the concert along with representatives from MBOR. 

And that is just the tip of the iceberg – the almost four-hour show saw the group dishing out 45 of their greatest hits from their discography, including tracks from their self-titled debut album to their 2020 Pelangi dan Kau EP. 

The concert also featured a slew of surprise guest artists appearing on different tracks throughout the night from Yuna to Fynn Jamal to music maestro Datuk M. Nasir.

Several notable local artists were also in attendance to celebrate Hujan’s anniversary, including pop stars MimiFly and Aina Abdul, with rap legend Malique also rumoured to be on the guest list.

Despite the slew of celebrities appearing at the show, Hujan – which comprises frontman Noh Salleh, guitarist and composer AG Coco as well as Azham Ahmad (Am) on drums and Izzat Uzaini on bass – made the concert feel like fans were back at their late 2000s gigs. 

However, this time around it was held in a much larger venue, offering a bird’s eye view of at least five mosh pits running simultaneously. Watching AG Coco channel his rockstar persona on an ‘X’-shaped stage was truly a spectacle like no other.

The guest list

The anniversary concert’s biggest highlight was undoubtedly its star-studded guest roster. 

The surprises began early during the fourth track Pelangi dan Kau, featuring rapper Loca B and singer Amir Masdi, followed by a poignant appearance from singer-poet Fynn Jamal on Pijak Hatiku. 

Audibly stunned cheers filled the stadium when Yuna joined the band for Di Kala Bulan Bermain Biola backed by a four-piece string section which stayed on for several more songs. 

The collaborative energy continued when Loque (of Butterfingers and MonoloQue band) emerged for Rantai Rasa. 

“Truth be told, Hujan wouldn’t exist without the Selamat Tinggal Dunia album by Butterfingers,” Noh shared onstage, honouring the Butterfingers’ album that inspired the band’s inception.

Pivoting away from their melodic pop anthems, Hujan injected raw adrenaline into the stadium as they resurrected their Sang Enemy era – a heavier, post-hardcore and metalcore phase that initially stunned listeners when the album dropped in 2012.

To bring that aggressive studio sound to life, Hujan enlisted a powerhouse lineup of local heavyweights – Joe (The Padangs) joined for a blistering rendition of Mana Mungkin, followed by Ijam (Restraint) on Bila Kau Jatuh, with Modread guitarist Fahmi backing them while wearing an eye-catching, Murakami-esque punk skeleton mask. 

The sonic boundaries blurred further on Ke Selatan, which featured Singaporean rapper Akeem Jahat, DJ Uno of Pop Shuvit, and a welcome return from former Hujan keyboardists Hang Dimas and Boyo.

The night’s star-studded guest list culminated in a historic final act after Hujan returned to their classic rock roots alongside Datuk M. Nasir for a performance of the fan-favourite anthem, Kembara.

The maestro’s distinct, masculine baritone soared through the venue on the iconic line, “kembara kita masih jauh” (our journey is still ahead) just as the Raingers unveiled a giant ‘Happy Anniversary’ tifo in the heart of the standing pit.

The ball drop

Aside from the slew of surprise guest artists, record-breaking attendance and an energetic showcase throughout the night, Hujan – or more accurately Noh, in a very ‘Noh’ fashion – casually interacted with Raingers, even trading jokes and memories with them during some of the interludes. 

One of the casual conversations involved Noh poking fun at the older generation of Raingers, some of whom are now married with kids while also thanking his father, Salleh Ibrahim, who was present at the concert. 

“My dad is in the VIP section – hi Bapak – it’s magic that I came from his b***s, thank you so much Bapak,” Noh said cheekily.

In a more tender moment, the frontman also gave a special shout-out to his doctor, who was in attendance, thanking him for delivering his baby daughter late last year.

Jokes aside, Noh also repeatedly extended his heartfelt gratitude to all of their fans who showed up at all their concerts and shows throughout their journey while admitting they were surprised by the 17,000 in attendance while crediting the night as a celebration of Raingers instead of Hujan. 

“Maybe not so much for Hujan as a whole, but for me personally, I survive on gig money.

“It’s the money you spend on tickets that keeps me going. 

“My entire journey with Hujan has been built purely on your love and grace, so thank you so much,” Noh said. 

The Hujan XX: 20th Anniversary Concert saw the band bring out some of their iconic tunes that left Raingers singing their hearts out to tracks such as Pagi Yang Gelap, Mencari Konklusi, Aku Scandal, Kotak Hati, Lonely Soldier Boy and many more. 

They ended the night with one of their most politically charged tracks Ludah Amerika which concluded with the release of huge inflated ‘Icon Entertainment’ balls bouncing across the standing pit along with a fireworks display. 

Although this might be Hujan’s last big concert for the time being, Harian Metro previously reported that they are working on a new album, but details are being kept under wraps for now.