Finally got a little time to catch up on this past weekend’s ISA. I know Ted just posted the link to the 3294432 photos from Shinobi Studios, but I thought I’d do a quick photo dump of some of the highlights, and also say some well deserved thanks…

THANK YOU TO FAR*EAST MOVEMENT, who without them, there would be no ISA. I wonder if people really understand, this whole ISA thing was literally done by the 3 of us sitting down with the 4 of them and creating this show. (Ok that may be over simplifying because we had a LOT of help, that’ll come later). But really, these guys are so hardworking, so true, and so humble themselves that it has been such an honor and privelage to work with them. And for them to look at us the same, equally means so much to us. The night before the show, it hit me… this was our THIRD ISA concert in the past yr (the first one was 9/7/08 so we just made it). From LA, to SF, back to LA… it’s been an incredible year. 3?! that’s not normal, haha. I really don’t know how we did it. which leads us to the next section…

Thank you to 4C the Power for putting on great workshops that we were so glad to take part in. For helping us give back to the community. For being the hands and feet for ISA by finding volunteers and volunteering yourselves. It means so much to us. Support like yours is really what keeps us going.

Thank you DIANA and LINDA for being the masterminds. This time around was soooo much easier on us and FM all because of your hardwork and diligence. Trust us, it doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. You girls are the true stars of ISA before all of us.
THANK YOU, THE FANS AND SUPPORTERS. How did we pull of 3 major, sold out concerts w/in one single year? Yeah, a lotta hard work on our part, but ultimately because you guys bought the tickets. You guys told your friends and spread the word. You guys were in the crowds and online cheering for us. I don’t know if we’ll be able to do another three concerts this coming year, but for sure there will be more ISAs, bigger, better, and outside of CA we promise…haha, as long as we have you out there to fill up the seats and help build this movement.

Alright, enough of the mushy stuff… here are some select photos I went through for all the lazy busy ppl who didn’t wanna sift through the bazillion pics from Shinobi. THANK YOU SHINOBI STUDIOS for your AMAZING work. Your photos truly stand out and give ISA the imagery that propels it forward.

THANK YOU to our HOSTS, Tom Ngo and Lydia Paek. Tom, you are the truth. Period. Lydia, you are such a natural and your personality really brightened the theater. Hope to work with you more!

Clara Chung our JCP Breakout Performer contest winner opening the show with an original song of hers! We drove her to the concert in a limosine.

Then GLP took the stage. They sang some 90s covers which gave them super cool points right off the bat.

G is for Gabe Bondoc! His style is so awesome.

L is for Leejay, the beatboxer of the group who did some crazy stuff…plus he could dance really well as he showed off at the end of the show.

P is for Passion. He was at our last ISA in SF. So good to have him back.

Kina Grannis graced the stage next, singing a couple of her songs. I think the whole theater got chills. She’s sucha sweet girl… who you miiiight be seeing in a future WF short! oops, leaked.

Quest Crew was up next and…they were just phenomenal.

Victor Kim doing the unthinkable.

There’s a reason we put Quest right before intermission. It’s because no one could follow them. They had the whole audience on their feet, and this is just halfway into the concert!! I’m so glad we were able to bring them back this year… we had them at the first ISA, before they were the ABDC champions! So proud of them.

KevJumba took the stage next. Yup, in the flesh. The crowd went crazy for him and his antics.

Tom and him did a little skit, looks like they’re getting angry!! haha. In the back you can see Derrick…he’s the one that made the amazing ISA trailer. We flew him in from Seattle as our way to say thanks. Kev brought him on stage as an added bonus.

David Choi, what else can I say that I didn’t already. Did you read my last post. I still get a little emotional when I watch the clip of him performing and everyone sings along.

And to close out the show the way no one else can…the one and only Far*East Movement. I can’t believe how far they’ve come in just the past year. Since the first ISA, they’ve done some amazing things. Song top 4 on the radio, national mainstream radio play, performing at Powerhouse with BEP, Pitbull, and JAY-Z! Truly a blessing to see them still so humble and driven.

KevNish

J-Spliff

Prohgress

They brought everyone back out on stage for the finale song “Girls on the Dance Floor” and everyone was just rockin out and celebrating on stage. It was truly a grand finale to the whole night. For an even more indepth look at the concert and what happened before and after, check out FM’s recap. 

Oh yeah…and these guys.

Mission accomplished. This was a loooong post. I’m spent. One last Thank you. This past week has been epic. …to be continued.