Underground fans are an eclectic bunch, just like the bands that play there.At Underground 54 we had everything from rap to britpop with some numetal too.Maybe we didn't love all the bands but we had a chance to find out more about the new indie music scene in hong kong.Often the opening acts here ease us gently into the main show.Not this time with Leo37 ,a young Canadian rapper full of energy ,charm ,an amazing gift for improvised lyrics with the help of 2 turntables and a microphone.
Leo 37 and Hazden
At the start the crowds were barely arriving and he moodily yelled something about it being 'livelier at his grandmother's'.However as the place began to fill up ,and his song/rap 'Move It!' got us going the place started to come to life.Leo was like a combination of Kanye West with the funk of LLCool J .In fact he was so good that he was asked to do an end of show encore with Hazden!
Leo 37 live at Club Cixi
Hazden at Underground 54
Hazden were for me the best band of the show and judging by the number of hits from the Youtube videos of the show lots of other people thought so too.Faye has a great voice that can easily glide between Cocteau Twins - like aetherial and Siouxsie - type menace.I think the songs ranged from subjects as wide as surfing and suicide and her vocal style fitted well with the fuzzed - out ,slightly punk sounds of Cheong on lead guitar,Yiu on rhythm,Lun on bass and Lok on drums.This band were also so good that came on again at the end of the show!It's amazing that the band only formed a few months ago-I'd love to see more of them.
Hazden live at Club Cixi
Zoundz at Underground 54
Next on was numetal band Zoundz who besieged us with some raw heavy sounds,anguished vocal yells from Ivan,high volume fast guitar from Frankie,David and Wil and crashing drums from Ray with a whole range of influences from to Korn to Incubus on display.
Zounds live at Club Cixi
I guess Chris and the Underground crew thought we might need some more soothing sounds to show that indie music can be melodic as well as noisy.Enter Skindeep.The band are experienced and have a smooth,polished sound but still maintain some darker elements like bands they cite as influences,Del Amitri and The Killers as some of the song titles might suggest like 'No One's In','Leaving','Twist of Fate'.The band had some good britpop style songs and a rocking sound.The band are Nick (vocals,guitar,keyboard),Mike (lead guitar,vocals and Brendan (drums).
Skindeep at Underground 54
Sexiest band in hong kong might be stretching it more than a little when you think about all the other local bands ,most of whom could equally claim that title!
David Bowie Knives at Club Cixi
Still the Knives had a pleasant sound and their songs like 'She's The One' (fortunately not a Robbie Williams cover!) Nice Problem' and 'You Want Me' ended the evening on an upbeat indierock note at least until the endshow when Leo37 and Hazden gave us some freestyle jamming and rapped(!) up another Underground.
Hazden at Club Cixi
