F.T.T. were next on the bill ,but for me this band were the highlight of the show,even though Transnoodle played a great set. The band are Po Kei (vocals,guitar),Jonathan,(guitar),Donald (bass) and Edmund (drums).In Po Kei the band have a charismatic lead man and their rhythmic pop,rockabilly style set soon got the audience jumping.Po Kei had great rapport with the audience and was a highly energetic frontman.The band are influenced by 80s /90s guitar bands and they play in a driving rock style very similar to the Strokes but with a lighter feel and the band obviously loved playing their set almost as much as the audience enjoyed jumping about to it.The band started off in top gear and kept going in a fast rocking set with songs like 'Let Me Go','Opinion','I Feel Fine' as well as some new material,including a song about the singer's motorbike'Ride With Me!.Donald the bassist told me at a later gig that the band have lots of songs.Lets hope the band are playing again soon at Underground or elsewhere so that we can hear some more!
Luxury have been playing together since 1998 and have one EP as well as several other recordings .The band are Leong(vocals),Hang (guitar),Kee (bass) and Simon (drums).They opened their set with a fast-paced song with jagged guitar,followed by a radioheadish song with downbeat vocals and melancholic guitar accompaniment.Next song was more upbeat with a driving beat,fuzzy,distorted guitar and ,some great hooks and a big chorus.By this time the band seemed to really be getting into their set and finished their set with a rocking song with a garage band feel..
Headlining were Transnoodle whose brand of ska/punk really blew the crowd away.Just think Madness/Pogues Hong Kong style! punk mixed with reggae won over the the crowd.The band eased into their set with a bluesy version of 'Port Royal' with some Beefheart type gravelly vocals from Josh and excellent backup from lead guitar,rhythm,bass,drums,trumpet and saxophone!With songs like 'Ferry Pier' and 'Hong Kong' ,'Poh Wah Yuen'(assisted by a guest appearance by the guitarist of Very Ape,Hong Kong based Japanese rockers),"Down the Deli' and the band's feelgood,infectious ska punk mixed with reggae soon won over the audience who were jumping,dancing and generally having a great time!
