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The Vinyl Word

Peace sign burns. PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES

There was a lot of "naluwan ho haiyan" going on at the Hoping for Hoping peace festival last weekend, but the high point of the event turned out not to be Aboriginal singer Kimbo (胡德天) and was instead the usual suspects on the local rock and festival scene.

The bands who got the mountainside herb garden hopping in Kunlun, Taoyuan County, were The Deported with a hi-energy set, an artful Chicken Rice (雞腿飯) and a perfectly poised Red-I and Bukake Posse, who will perform next Thursday at Luxy's new live night out.

Earlier, when the peace circle got going around dusk, Aboriginal singers Dakanow and Family started the groove with a largely extemporized performance that lulled the crowd with melodies and made it take notice with the occasional howl.

For those not acquainted with peace circles, this one involved holding hands and circling at increasing speed toward the center, as in an Aboriginal dance. The mantra "naluwan ho haiyan" was repeated as the circle got underway.

Red-I and Bukake Posse perform at Hoping for Hoping. They will be the first act at Luxy's new live night out on Thursday, starting next week. PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES

We learned from the sleevenote of Kimbo's seriously good album In a Flash that this phrase has no meaning, but is used by all indigenous Taiwanese as a musical phrase that, according to Kimbo, "is the very source of our music."

He was my pick of the bands before the event, but as it turned out he was in and off like a selfish lover, leaving you wanting more.

Otherwise all was sunny in the herb garden. There were plenty of stalls to keep people amused when they weren't looking at the bands and there was a great atmosphere. The oft-repeated line was, "It's better than Spring Scream, less commercialized."

Dancer from Milk spreads the love in Kunlun. PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES

As for those cynics out there who were saying, "I bet it won't happen and they will keep all the money they make for themselves, bloody hippies," it can be revealed that around NT$85,000 in profit was made from the two days of events and this will all be going to peace related charities. Detailed accounts will be posted on the Web site hopingforhoping.com.

The other gig of note last weekend, at Fusion in Tainan, was intended to be a celebration of producer Lee Yu-huan's (李雨寰) work -- in collaboration with Taipei's DJ Edmund -- but it all turned sour when gangsters started lobbing beer bottles at the DJ booth. Apparently the organizer got fined by the police and pissed at a DJ, so the party was shut down early.

Edmund, who was not in the DJ box at the time, said, "It was terrible, one of the worst gigs I have ever played. ... I will never play there again."

Safe in Taipei this weekend there will be an MoS bikini party (again, free entry for the girls wearing very little), with the first-team roster of DJs Buff Wise, Damian Saint, Andrew V, Damian Yu and Tony. Tomorrow, our local hero DJ @llen will be on the decks. Jody Wisternoff from Way Out West will be playing a DJ set next week.

At Luxy, Koncrete Jungle presents Iron DJ, plus special guest Chozie, with the monthly drum 'n' bass/breaks faceoff. Saucey and Coffey will also be playing. Tomorrow, it's back to the 2F old-skool days, with a remix party, featuring Daryl, Joe Ho, J-Six, Reason, Vertigo, and Xiao Hei.
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