Social Discourse of Disquiet ( 하프&데저츠&피드더보츠 보도)

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Social Discourse of Disquiet

Club MC Rocks Humun, Saturday April 23, 2011

Posted by dougstuber on April 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Club MC put on a very good rock and roll show with Harp, the Deserts and Feed the Boats rocking the Rathskeller-styled underground concrete venue, for smoke-filled, beer lubed rockers aged 15 to 60. The bands were good and got better, as the night went on, each drawing its own crowd, each filling the ears of KPOP-weary westerners and punk-loving Gwangjuvians alike.

Harp started things off with a precision that sparkled past the fact they’ve only been together for four months, and the brand-new drummer (Jang Ick-Tae) who is 15, yes 15 years old pounded out rock-tight beats, which bassist Chung, Haeng Rang augmented with tight patterns and occasional improvisations. This rhythm section bookended the age spectrum, while keyboard player Lee Eu Jin (it was easy to tell she is a former music major at Honnam Sinan University) flew up and down arpeggios so well, at first I thought she just punched the arpeggios switch on her synthesizer (lie the Who did for Baba O’Reilly), but, NO, she played them out. A slight case of nerves and tuning dilemmas was quickly dispelled, and the dancers smashed through to the front to enjoy the set.

Harp’s rocking English-language songs got the crowd started, and then The Deserts (as in Gobi and Sahara, not Tiramisu and Baked Alaska) moved the tempo up a notch with a tight mix of covers, and a tasty original called “Sunrise” which was like Radiohead meets the Cure and Pink Floyd and they go out drinking with the Clash. After six or seven rounds they write a song and transfer it through the brain-trust of the Deserts, and “Presto” it appears in yes, Gwangju, at a club (MC) that is new to the Humun scene. MC’s first attempt to move from Spin/Dance nights to rock, SUCCEEDED. On nights with no DJ or live music you can drink in peace there, far away from the drunken giggling that pervades the beer, chicken and soju joints in Humun.

The Deserts are Andrew Vlasblom (Keyboards, backing vocals); Kenny Megan (rhythm guitar and stunt guitar; Matt Laplant (bass); Michael Paul (lead guitar and vocals); Ramsey Kyles (drums). There were well-rehearsed, and able to mix styles fluently, while keeping the house rocking. When they broke into jams all members except Vlasblom were in head-banger dance moves (you don’t want your keyboard player to dance too much any, right?) and it’s been a while since such a fun night was available for “those who like to rock… (AC/DC) we salute you.” In fact, Paul was playing a GT, the same guitar Angus Young made famous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DC Wikipedia claims Back in Black is the number one selling album by any band. I think they meant any band from Australia, but I may be wrong.

One key to the Club MC night was a mix of great music and no cover charge. Word of mouth was decent about this show, and if the owners can find the talent, then this place could easily become another venue for live rock. A stage should be considered, but NOT before the club reduces the amount of space behind its bar by 50-75%. I was only a bartender for three years, back in my university days, and I only toured the east coast as a bass player and back up singer for 15 years, but I can safely say I NEVER saw a joint with too much room behind the bar that could hold a candle to Club MC for wasted space. Ah, but Humun rocked, one show down hopefully many more to come.

Mind you, this is the same Humun that the now petering-out Club Nevermind started in, and had to move from, some eight years ago. Nevermind was also attempting to get Chonnam National University Students to go out to hear live music, but that failed so miserably (maybe he didn’t serve soju eh?) that it moved down near Memi Art Space and Dae In Market, and closer to three high schools, and sure-enough in its day drew high school students and some westerners to shows like Jang Gi Ha.

Ah, but Club MC was PACKED by the time Feed the Boats hit the stage. Their singer has a way of drawing a LOT of female fans, and the new drummer Dan, famously of BettyAss and every other band that wanted the best drummer in Korea, now makes Feed the Boats strong enough to tour ANY continent. How dare I say that? Well, after 35 years of shows, and 20 years playing them myself, I’ve rarely seen a singer come so far so fast, and now that she’s a wailing punk diva, this band is here (and hopefully OVER THERE) to stay. John’s “interesting” guitar, and solid bass playing round out what is BY FAR Gwangju’s best band, and one that hopefully already HAS taken on the HongDae club scene in Seoul. By God I was too tired from dancing to interview Feed the Boats, and now, having forgotten a few names, I just have to report that they are better than ever, draw crowds to the hinterlands (for many Humun is little more than a one-night-stand land and vomitorium for amateur drinkers after midnight) and so those who work in the rest of town find little other than Tequilaz to blow cab fare on, until, with the luck and grace of all that is Easter-like, Club MC hosted this live music, its first reappearance in oh so many years.

Were there a lot of university students in attendance? No. Was the place a 50-50 mix of westerners and Koreans, well let’s say 70-30, but still, the Korean fans did come out, as did the professorial group, a small but well-acquainted gathering of regular-sized ladies, and men, ranging form pure Yankee nerd to African to genuine punks. Well, just my type of diversity. It was the chair dancers that stole the crowd scene. A pair of Korean ladies in the back and a couple of Native English Speaking stool dancers who towered above the ecstatic, nearly fainting, gaga-eyed adorers of Feed the Boats.

It was a hoot to have a camera along, I was not the only one…

Rock on Club MC, can you do this once a month now? Once a week!?

원문 출처:http://gicjournal.wordpress.com

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