Obligatory Monday Afternoon Post-Concert Post - 140706 @ Club FF

[Sorry this is short, or hey! You get a break! This was a long weekend, I just worked 8 hours after sleeping only 4 so this isn't the best review but... I will be seeing most of these bands again anyway...]

Club FF is billed as "The most authentic indie experience in Hongdae". I always know I can expect to see some great bands I HAVE heard of and some great bands I haven't heard of, and I do love that. Being that I love every sort of music, it's like a dream come true to constantly filter in new bands with new sounds. [The crowd on Fridays and Saturdays often turns me away, only because it is so packed it can be hard to get up close, although admittedly, Korean crowds are a bit more forgiving than American, and so while you wouldn't push your way to the front here, you could still get a pretty good vantage point if you are willing to suffer some ear damage from standing underneath a monitor, where the crowd is usually less dense.]

Bad Romance_#

I hate being late. I really, really do. Being that I live at the far end of Incheon from Hongdae, and it takes at LEAST an hour and 15 minutes by bus or subway to get to Hongdae, I REALLY have to try hard to be on time. I leave my house 2 hours before I want to be somewhere, and yet magically I always seem to be late. Most especially this bothers me when I am on my way to a show and get there halfway through the set of a band I've never seen but end up really liking. This was the case on Sunday afternoon with Bad Romance. While I love all kinds of music, it's probably been noted that I lean more towards the heavier, alt-rock, with lots of bass and male vocals. Romantic-type music isn't usually my first choice and so when I find something I like, I figure there must be something there. Bad Romance has a soft, airy quality that lulls you into a perfectly content mood, with vocals that suit and bring you just to the edge of longing... Perfect for a calm Sunday afternoon after a long weekend.

Obligatory Monday Afternoon Post-Concert Post - 140705 @ Salon Badabie

Salon Badabie is a small venue very close to the front gate of Hongdae University. I had been here once before to see ironic HUE, and although I had initially planned on going to a different show, I really wanted to see something different and new. I can happily say I was pleased with the last-minute decision to come to Badabie instead.

Additionally, while I am often the only non-Korean at the shows I go to, this was a new height for me. The last time I was at Badabie it was packed. This time.... not so much. I'm pretty sure when I walked in, the ten people in the crowd all went "헐....." ...which in this case is the Korean equivalent to an awkward sigh in America. At least in a larger or more full venue I can hide a bit and not have my white-ness be a problem, but here... I was standing right out in front, making it awkward for everyone. But I enjoyed the show, and everyone really gave their best. Fighting!

써커스밤 - Circus Bomb

My first impression of Circus Bomb was pretty much like this: "Whoa. Rad. Like it. Love it. I totally made the right decision to come here." And it went up from there. These guys have a musical sound that initially seems like a cross between late 90's rock [ala Linkin Park or Staind], but then slides into a bit of blues, while adding some punk elements as well. Additionally, I can honestly say, their show is a bit of a circus. The guitarist being ALL over the stage, pretty much doing acrobatic stunts. As I was editing photos from the show, I thought to myself "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE???" ...and THAT my friends, is the sign of a great performance.

Welcome to the circus that is Circus Bomb:

Obligatory Monday Afternoon Post-Concert Post - 140704 @ Freebird 2 - Big Bird

Note, at this concert, I was right in front of the bass monitor for most of the night. Unfortunately [or fortunately!] a lot of the video I shot is quite bass-heavy. This isn't really a problem, except sometimes it drowns out the vocals. So... apologies.

Space papa

In a perfect world, Man, Space Papa and WHOwho would have a show together. While having similar qualities, this really would be an ideal show. Fans of each band tend to be fans of the other two. And these same fans are the type to show up early, grab a spot by the stage and hang out all night. The same fans to pore over every lyric and know them by heart. I don't blame them. Space Papas interesting and dream-like guitar riffs and beautifully simple lyrics get the crowd moving and singing as one. I want to say EVERY song of Space Papa is a crowd favorite, but maybe it is just such an ideal combination of great band, great music, and great fans.

You can see even here that right from the start of their sound check, the crowd gets pumped up for the show. Oh these fans.

Obligatory Monday Afternoon Post-Concert Post - 140628 @ Club FF and Freebird 2 - Big Bird

HumanRace

I'm really glad I decided last minute to stop into Club FF before heading to Big Bird, as I got a chance to see HumanRace for the first time, and I was really impressed! They have a great BritPop-type sound [they did a cover of The Killers' "Human"], while still keeping a very Korean style to it. I found them in the same vein as Space Papa [a new favorite], and Man [as much of an 'old' favorite as I can have, for as short as I've been here]. Something I really enjoy is seeing musicians loving what they are doing... you can see that with this band -- especially the bass player. He was pretty much smiling from start to finish and that is pretty much as endearing as anyone can get for me. Wish I had taken more video. Loved them, can't wait to see them again!

Obligatory Monday Afternoon Post-Concert Post - 140621 @ Glastonbury

Most people don't have the backstory, but Glastonbury is a bit of a special place for me. It was wonderful... and painful... to go back there. However, it was completely worth it to see this particular group of bands.

Julia Dream

Well, look, I might be a bit biased, but this is my favorite band. They are just amazing live. I have never seen the leader talk so much.... perhaps it was because Glastonbury is special to him too, or the giggling elementary-school girls there (the daughter of one of the musicians came with some of her friends), but regardless, this was the best performance I have seen by them yet. I love seeing musicians really loving what they are doing -- this really shone through for Julia Dream this show. It's tough to decide which video to singly post for you... My favorite song is (arguably) Dance Music, but the solo in 가위 was pretty much amazing...

Dance Music:

가위

Obligatory Monday Afternoon Post-Concert Post - 140614 @ Club FF

Show started later than usual, and as such, I was disappointed about not seeing Telefly, as they are definitely one of my favorite bands right now. Next show.... 

Space papa

First time seeing these guys and they didn't disappoint. Really enjoyed their music... has some obvious Radiohead/Brit Rock influence... There is no doubt SeungMin is completely IN to what is happening, and that always makes me enjoy a performance more.

Dive to Blue

Why Korean Indie?

 “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” ― Albert Einstein

All my life I have lived and loved music. I believe it has been the most powerful motivational force in my life.

As a child, I cycled through instruments. Starting with piano, because we had one in the house. Then flute, because my sister played in band. I begged my parents to switch and started playing saxophone. Then I tried guitar... ...and failed. And singing... ...and gave up. I had this belief that if none of these instruments came to me easily, I just wasn't talented enough to play. I thought, everyone I hear on the radio must be just gifted. I didn't understand all the hard work, dedication and love that went into it. I just knew that music touched me, and I worked my whole life to find a way to be close to music.