Taike sells out

Taichung (台中) and taike (台客) take center stage this weekend when MC Hot Dog, Wu Bai (伍佰) and a clutch of other local favorites tear it up at the T.K. Rock Streetvoice Festival (台客搖滾嘉年華) for an expected crowd of 30,000 to 50,000 people.

After the success of the Taike Rock Concert (台客搖滾演唱會) in August last year at the Taipei International Conference Center it was only a matter of time before the taike roadshow headed south. The two-day event beginning tomorrow takes place at the Taichung National Concert Hall (台中市國家音樂廳預定地). In addition to 15 top-ticket local bands there will be lesser known acts, record stores (where you can buy TK's Rock Collection (Taichung Special Edition) 3CD album set), taike culture stands, fashion and accessory stalls, cosplaying areas and food outlets. Many of the local heroes who made the first show a hit are back, including Chang Chen-yue (張震嶽) and his backing band Free Night, joke rapper Joy Topper (豬頭皮), Machi (麻吉) and Bobby Chen (陳昇). Cyndi (王心凌), Cheer Chen (陳綺貞), Alex To (杜德偉), Mayday (五月天), WonFu (旺福), MYRS (米兒絲), Legonic Trap and The Chairman (董事長樂團).

The minor acts will take to the stage from 2pm to 7pm and the headliners will perform from 7pm to 10:30pm. Taike has gone commercial in a big way this year and everyone wants a piece of the action. Big-name companies are backing the event, including 7-Eleven (from whom you can buy tickets), Ford motor company and Wave radio. Interestingly, the Chinese-language Apple Daily newspaper which is based in Hong Kong, and Lenovo, the computer maker from China that took over IBM, are also supporting the concert. Surely some mistake? T.K. Rock representative Carol Chen said the two companies supported the idea of local culture. "They want to be friends with Taiwan."

"Taike is firstly the result of the poli-tical situation in Taiwan," Chen added. "The DPP has emerged these days and promoted local culture. Usually we copy US, European, Japanese and even Hong Kong trends. This government has helped people speak out. Localized culture is a good thing, it is right to be noticed for being Taiwanese and express our unique character." The term taike has been in use since the early 1990s and referred to someone who had a low-class attitude or style that was not fashionable. For instance, wearing sandals, trousers and even a shirt rolled up, was considered tai (台) -- as opposed to smart or cosmopolitan.

The term has been subverted and has gained street credibility over the years. It is now used to describe someone like MC Hot Dog, who is down-to-earth, wears baggy or hip-hop style clothes and is cool. Wu Bai and Bobby Chen are taike because they are seen as quintessentially Taiwanese.

Tickets are a bargain at NT$499 for the day and can be bought at most 7-Elevens. For more information call (0800) 612 168, or go to the Web site www.streetvoice.com.tw/taik/ and ask a Chinese-speaking friend to help translate. There is no information in English.

The Taichung National Concert Hall is at a newly developed area in a central part of the city, on the intersection of Huilai Road, Section 2 and Taichung City Hall North Fifth Road (惠來路二段&市政北五路交叉口), near a Shinkong Mitsukoshi. Organizers said follow the crowds and the massive, floating, green Matsu.

Note to wannabes: It's no longer necessary to chew betel nut in order to be taike, but it helps.