From NY

[astroman]

I found this site a week ago and posted around a bit already. I guess I glossed over the introduction forum. Well here it goes now.

I was living in Taiwan for about 14 months and following the independent music scene there. Actually, I was working as an English as a second language instructor and just prefered going to rock concerts and festivals. Since coming back to NY in April I made a website documenting my experience going to shows and meeting bands. You can check out pictures and read my articles at:

http://www.freewebs.com/islandofsound

In doing this project I have several goals in mind like giving exposure to these bands outside of Taiwan and eventually getting them to play in the US or other places abroad. I also hope to dispell beliefs by foreigners that think that Taiwan music is the same uninteresting saccharine pop they hear every day on the radio and MTV by highlighting some of the creative and thoughtful underground bands I had the chance to see.

I have a degree in anthropology and linguistics and I use some of that knowledge when writing, but I try not to make quick inferences to explain cultural nuances I couldn't understand. So many foreigners do this and it's ear grating. I treat this project as an outsider looking in and basically record my experiences in a journal style manner.

I'm also heavily into the underground music scene in Japan like People's Records, the Back from the Grave scene and the Benten Label/Sister Records bands. I've seen Mono and I'm going to check out girl band Afrirampo in couple of weeks in NYC. I also got to see several Japanese bands in Taiwan, the most memorable being the 5678's truly the last great Rock n Roll band.

Well that's about it for me, I also like a lot of other music, movies and books. Yeah, so enjoy my website.

[Meki]

Cool site... There's so much info! I like some the the electronic sounds. Like Digihai. And you are in the state that I love... Are you in NYC? Anyway, welcome to YW and I hope you enjoy! ^_^V

[hooligan]

What are some punk bands you like here? I'm into punk myself, but lately, it's been moving along the darker and more politically minded punk rock.

Welcome to yw.

[astroman]

Hey thanks for the welcome,

I'm actually in upstate NY about 1 1/2 hours from the city.
Meki, I'm glad you like Digihai, they don't have a website, but like most pages on my site there is a link to a sister-site in Taiwan called Rockacola where you can download mp3s. If you like electronic music, check out Nylas. They have a more mellow trip hop/downbeat vibe.

As for punk, Fall of this Corner is a screamo/harcore band (think Refused) that's been around for a while. They're pretty innovative.

Da Gi Shiang (DGS) are also cool. They really started out as pop punk, but they've leaned more towards political expression and emo sounds as they've gotten older. They have mp3s on Purevolume. and a dvd available from College Town Records.

Semi-con and Children Sucker are in their scene as well. The former being more pop punk and the latter being local folk rock inspired punk.

B.B. Bomb is a girl punk band that recently got signed to Japan's Einstein Records.

Heavy Smoker is pretty dark with scratchy vocals. The kids are only 17 or 18 and the lead singer is Japanese.

There is an ex-pat band called The Deported (US, Canadian, French, Taiwanese members) They have this political hardcore side to them. and their website has a lot of info. www.thedeported.com They also recently toured South East Asia.

Consider the Meek is another ex-pat band. Lead singer Kev Lee of Australia is busy with animal rights issues, pressuring chain stores to carry vegan friendly items and protesting the government for their lack of aid to elderly on Taiwan. He also runs his own record label called Leek Records (www.leekrecords.com) and Consider the Meeks CDs are available from Asian Man Records. Leek Recs also has a comp called Serious Leekage with local Taiwan bands mixed with punk bands from other coutries like Propaghandi, The Dwarves, Frenzel Rhimb, King Ly Chee and Dynamite Club.

But, what constitutes a major problem for the local punk scene is mandatory military service (18 months, I believe) which all males must go through after college. So many of the bands I know have just started to grow into their style, but are threatened by this. In fact a lot of them really dread the prospect and have done things like self-starvation or trying to get certified as metally ill to get out of it. Members of Semi-con, Children Sucker and Fall of this Corner are facing this fact of life right now. Some bands, like Fall of this Corner, decide to quit others try to keep it going like Semi-con who are putting out an ep soon. But it's hard to keep in practice while in the army and it's not like they have the time to play shows on their break. So many musicians slow down and then don't feel like picking it up again. Military Service has affected every band on my website (barring the expat bands, of course). Well, you asked about punk bands on Taiwan and I just felt like I should give you the basic jist of the situation as I see it. Hope you can check out some of my recommendations, Hooligan.
Peace

[tapestrybabe]

Hi...

[astroman]

Yeah, I'm glad you guys could check out my website.
I know there is a large population of Taiwanese/Chinese students on Yellow World that might be curios about independent music on Taiwan and the struggles that the bands face, so I hope they can check it out. It's an open site so, anybody for a love of indie rock is more than welcome to take a look.

Peace,
Marty Shane