Tainan's expat funk infuses Taipei

The Mooks, a band of expat English teachers that's been perfecting itself in an apartment studio in Tainan for the last seven years, is ready to explode onto the Taiwan scene and potentially conquer the world, according to promoter Donald Eubanks.

SARS or no SARS, they play at Huashan Music Cafe tomorrow night along with three other bands and a pair of Tainan DJs making their first Taipei debuts.

The Mooks have modeled their style on funk esoterica and old school rock-the-party jams. Though they've recently performed with well-known expat acts Milk and the Smoking Cones, this is their first time headlining.

Opening up will be Scott and Lily, a boyfriend-girlfriend duo of classically trained musicians who put vocals over a three-stringed electric bass tuned like a French horn.

They're followed by the local Taiwan band Relax One (輕鬆玩) and an expat bluegrass ensemble called Ass. Once the live music is finished, DJs Two Hands and Oddjob take over until the party winds down.

Admission is NT$350 with one drink included. The Huashan Music Cafe (華山音樂館) is located at 1, Sec 1, Pateh Rd, Taipei (台北市八德路一段1號).