Old kids on the block

The band 1976 is a popular favorite with Taiwan's "artsy" youth and has released four albums since 1999. They are scheduled to release their latest album on July 20, and re-launch their second album, Direction (方向感),which was ranked in the top 10 albums of 2000 by many local media. They have long been popular at local "live houses" and in the build-up to this event, they will be playing at Riverside Cafe tomorrow 9:30pm and be giving a free concert with other alt-rock favorite Deserts Chang (張懸) in front of the Eslite bookstore on Dunhua South Road (誠品戶外廣場) on Sunday at 7:30pm.

Started in 1996 when they were college students, three of the four members of 1976 are now pushing 30 but they are not embracing their role as a not-so-young alt-rock band. In fact, lead singer and song writer for the band Raykai Chen (陳瑞凱) says that the style of the band is probably even younger than it was 10 years ago.

Although they've been around a long time, 1976's music still has wide appeal among young audiences. "Their music is like a mark of my youth," said Rita Hsieh (謝光萍), 24, a loyal fan since she was 17.

"Our fans range from 15 to 35. I believe we can reach a wider group of people than other bands," Chen said.

Chen is a charismatic figure on the stage, in contrast to his somewhat earnest everyday demeanor. His tough on-stage image, smoking and drinking during the silence between songs, enhances his appeal among his young female fans.

Chen has long been dissatisfied with his appearance. "If I were taller and more handsome, I could have been a member of an idle boy band," Chen said. "Good looks are absolute. ... Anything can be changed and improved, except your appearance."

In addition to his own singing, Chen was also elected as a judge for this year's Golden Melody Awards, among other music contests, and like many other local artists, has traded on his celebrity to enter the hospitality industry.

His coffee shop Kafka on the Shore (海邊的卡夫卡) consciously differentiates itself from chain-cafes like Starbucks. The music fits with the alt-rock theme, as does the decor, with its shelves of literature, indie-music CDs and regular schedule of indie music performances. As befits a cafe named after a book by Haruki Murakami, a great favorite of the "literary" youth who constitute a large part of 1976's fan base, the film version the Murakami novel Tony Takitani premiered here.

Another attraction is the coffee, for Kafka is co-owned by Yu Yung-kuan (余永寬), owner of the cafe Norwegian Wood and Taiwan's very own Java guru.

For Sunday's concert Chen will be joined by long-time friend Deserts Chang, whose debut album My Life Will..., launched in June, is currently topping local Mandarin music charts. 1976 will also be playing a selections from its new album.

Notes:

● Kafka on the Beach is located at 2F, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244號2樓). Call (02) 2364-1996.

● Free performance on Saturday 7:30pm at Eslite Dunhua South Road plaza (誠品敦南店戶外廣場), 245, Dunhua South Road, Sec 1, Taipei (台北市敦化南路一段245號).

● 1976 will play at the Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) on Sunday, B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd, Sec 3, Taipei (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1). Tickets for the show are NT$350.