JP/Wasti Atmodjo

Decades in the music industry have fortunately not made 52-year-old Ketut Indrawan rigid and snobbish. With a big smile, he candidly shares how spiritual matters have spiced up his life.

Every morning he looks after his food stall, Warung Tresni, which sells typical Balinese food like porridge and tipat kuah, rice cooked in woven coconut leaves served with vegetables and Balinese sauce.

In the 1970s, Indrawan and four of his close friends formed a musical band called Harley Angels. The players were Manto (guitar), Dodot (keyboard), Nyoman Kabe (drums) and Bambang (vocals), while Indrawan played the bass.

His group, one of the oldest in Bali, won awards at the first Indonesian Rock Festival in Surabaya in 1984, organized by musical promoter Log Zhelebour. Indrawan and Bambang were named best bassist and best vocalist.

For Indrawan, music is life. But he has not relied on music alone to support his family. His legendary band never released any albums and performing from one stage to another never earned his band a fortune.

Now he derives all his income from Warung Tresni, set up in 2000 and jointly managed with his brother Made Suwarka. The eatery is located in the city, on Jl. Drupadi, Denpasar, north of Bali’s Governor’s Office.

Warung Tresni serves tipat kuah and Balinese porridge, with extra fried peanuts and popcorn. His warung also boasts betutu chicken cooked with hot spices and daluman ice with herbal-based jelly.

Although his assistants are trained to serve customers, Indrawan is also capable of preparing food as a cook.

“I used to be a celebrity on stage, but I remain a cook in the kitchen,” remarks Indrawan with a hearty laugh.

Despite its modest look, the stall has become a favorite hangout for musicians and music lovers in Bali. Veteran guitarist Ian Antono and a host of Indonesian rockers often gather in this cozy place.

Indrawan says these musicians are his contemporaries. Him and a number of Bali’s music old-timers, along with their fans, have now been reunited through the Bali Classic Rock Community (BCRC).

“When they visit Bali, we have a reunion right here, chatting about music and current developments. We exchange life experiences and jokes. We are united by rock music. And Tresni’s cooking is our main meal,” said Indrawan.

Indrawan’s community has organized events gathering hundreds of artists, musicians, attorneys and businessmen.

At a recent global warming event, Indrawan initiated a BCRC music show to highlight the importance of environmental conservation. Without a special stage, the program took place at Warung Tresni during the daytime.

“It was meant to save electricity as we raised the issue of global warming. But sorry, we still smoked [cigarettes].”

Marking the birth of his new musical band at the end of last year, Indrawan also held a concert comprising Bali musicians in the same restaurant. At the time, Indrawan’s group created Harley Angels Junior, a band consisting of primary school children under the instruction of Indrawan, Manto and other seniors.

On the occasion, Indrawan made an appeal to collect used books, reserving a corner of his food stall for a mini-library.

“Instead of accumulating used books and magazines at home, bring them here for everyone to read.”

Lately, he put together a writing course for children, inviting a senior writer and a limited number of trainees.

“I made this place available for this purpose,” he said.

Indrawan and peers don’t fret much about funding concerts.

“As a rule, when it comes to concerts, one of us will pay for the catering, another will prepare the sound system, and so on. On D-Day, an unexpected donation may turn up. But we spend it all and none is left for our club.”

For Indrawan, rock music may be hard, but he stressed, “We share the same feelings. Egoism sometimes pops up, but deep concern remains in our heart. Rockers are humans, as demonstrated by the lyrics of Seurieus [an Indonesian rock band].”

Indrawan and his friends also established an association called Bali Blues Island in February 2009.
“Let life be more colorful and have a different flavors.”

His penchant for cooking has not diminished his great bass playing skills. Indrawan accompanied by Manto’s slightly broken voice presented a harmonious blend of music recently.

“At our age, we just watch and give our support,” added Indrawan, who encouraged his son to form his own band.

“Just like preparing spices, when we have mastered music and let it run in our blood, we’ll find it easy to play at any moment. All we need to do is to warm up a bit to make our fingers flexible.”
He takes much pride in Bali’s musicians and musical scene.

“Now we have Superman Is Dead, Balawan, Krisna, and others. We’re proud of them all.”

Hoping that fellow musicians will foster strong bonds of friendship, Indrawan believes many more gifted artists will emerge from Bali in the years to come.

“And their life will hopefully be better than that of this tipat seller.”

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