Punks, drunks and politics

The Say Yes To Taiwan (反中國併吞和平演唱會) one-day music fest returns to Taipei's 228 Peace Park for the fourth time tomorrow afternoon and evening, capping off with the first ever Taiwan performance by Frenzel Rhomb, one of Australia's most aggressive and consistently obnoxious punk units.

Other bands will include the familiar cute punk faces of Japan's Softball and nine local bands, including Tizzy Bac, Oi and Trigger. The concert is outdoors, runs from 2pm to 9pm and is free.

Say Yes to Taiwan has been held annually since 2000 on a Saturday around the 228 holiday, which commemorates the slaughter of more than 10,000 Taiwanese by Chiang Kai-shek's occupying army.

Even though it's a rock concert, the event takes on some political overtones. The focus is on Taiwan independence, which becomes more evident looking at the concert's Chinese name -- it translates literally as "anti-China annexation peace concert" -- or the concert's Web site, which is http://www.anti-china.net. Sponsors like Chimei Foods, the 228 Foundation and Koo Kuang-ming (辜寬敏) are known for pro-independence positions.

This year organizer Freddy Lin (佛來敵) will launch a signature drive in protest of Taiwan's entertainment media adopting "one-China policy" type terminology when referring to China and Taiwan. Taiwan's two music channels, MTV and Channel V, have both begun referring to China as "the interior" (內地) and Taiwan as "the coast" (海地), implying that the two nations are actually part of the same nation.

"They just want to get the right to broadcast in China, so they adopt the one-China policy, but it's ridiculous. China's never going to let them broadcast and they're selling out Taiwan," said Lin.

But by most outward appearances, Say Yes to Taiwan is just a free rock concert in a park, because after all, the music comes first.

When asked about the China-Taiwan issue, Frenzel Rhomb vocalist Jason Whalley replied, "Yeah sure, I support Taiwan ... actually we don't know that much about it. I guess we'll find out."

Concerts this weekend

Friday

Frenzel Rhomb, Softball and Oi will play in Taichung at 8pm at Nuno's Livehouse at 2F, 259 Leye Rd., Taichung (台中市樂業路259號2樓). Admission is NT$250.

Saturday

Say Yes to Taiwan (反中國併吞演和平唱會) will take place in Taipei at the 228 Peace Park from 2pm to 9pm. Scheduled bands include: Frenzal Rhomb (Australia), Softball (Japan), Tizzy Bac, Oi, Trigger (鈹機), Spunka, Maze (迷宮), Go Straight (前面直走), S.E., Niupichih (牛皮紙) and Kook. Admission is free.

A Say Yes to Taiwan after party with ABC Family, DJ A-Kai (阿凱) and Lin Chiang (林強) will take place from 9:30pm to midnight in Taipei at Zeitgeist Livehouse at B1, 122, Sec. 2, Chunghsiao E. Rd. (台北市忠孝東路2段122號B1). Admission is NT$250.

Sunday

Frenzel Rhomb and Softball will play in Taipei from 2pm to 5pm at Zeitgeist Livehouse. Admission is NT$250.