Print

Mail

wiki links

The Vinyl Word

``The king of cool'' Lim Kiung. PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES

Clubland and gangsters go together like spirits in a cocktail. Usually they mix well and are good fun but occasionally they combust, as was the case last weekend when the manager of Sonic Lemon on Zhongxiao East Road was shot dead early Monday morning.

Local media reported that a group of Four Seas (四海幫) gangsters went to the bar but refused to pay for the table they had taken. They were therefore asked to leave, refused to go and were ejected by security. Fair enough, you might think. Not so. Five hours later when the place was closing eight gang members went back and shot the 26-year-old manager Chu Yen-liang (朱宴良). One of the gang members was caught at the scene and six turned themselves in on Thursday. Which left one likely suspect at large as of press time.

Xiao Ge (小哥), a friend of mine who is a self-described "good gangster," says he would have put money into a club if he hadn't started a pasta bar because it's a cash business. He enjoys drinking and socializing and he would never have to worry about girlfriends. "They would be queuing up for me at a club if I owned it."

For your information: Bacchus: B1, 12 Songshou Rd, Taipei (台北市松壽路12號B1), in the Neo 19 building next to Warner Village. Luxy: 5F, 201 Zhongxiao E Road, Sec 4, Taipei (台北市忠孝東路四段201號五樓). Nowhere is at 1, Ln 60, Xinsheng S Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市新生南路3段60巷1號).

He never pays to get in at a nightspot because this would entail a loss of face. This means that he can only go to other clubs owned by friends or former business partners. If he was to go to another bar or club, then he would have to get a free table, otherwise he would lose face. His comment on the shooting was that the Sonic Lemon manager should have known better. So: give face, make peace.

Back to the music and back to Bacchus tonight with "Point Breaks." Local DJs Noodle, Dr. Who, Saucey and K Fancy will mix it up with MC Headspinnah and some breakdancers. Free with a flyer and NT$350 otherwise. While we're at Bacchus, check out the house and midweek action on Wednesday, when it's free for the girls and NT$250 for the rest.

The pick of the weekend takes place at Luxy tomorrow with Tensegrity Promotions taking over both rooms at Luxy with "Sides of the Trax," featuring hybrid sounds from old-school hip-hop DJ Judonomi, who comes from Kansas City and plays in South Korea. Mr. Fudge from Canada will be adding breakbeat and house. Daryl, Marcus Aurelius, Noodle, Michealphonic, J6, Coffey, The Sundance Kid and KK will be supporting. Tickets cost NT$700, or NT$400 before 11pm.

The Vinyl Word: Former pop star and now the king of cool, Lim Kiung (林強) will be playing his own brand of alternative electronic music (think ambient and interesting) tonight at Nowhere. He will be joined on the wheels of steel by Mr. 78 and DJ Chewie, from 8pm to 1am, and it will cost you only NT$150.
This story has been viewed 2280 times.