Highlight
Up for a little slap and tickle this weekend? Dr Reniculous Lipz and the Scallyunz are having a release party for their first CD, Journey to the East, at VU tomorrow with guests Point 22 (.22) and New Hong Kong Hair City. Both Dr Lipz and the members of .22 have naughty lyrics that could be misinterpreted if you don’t listen carefully for the tongue-in-cheek (and other places) aspect to their message. They aren’t bad boys, they just sing that way. Lipz is a whiz with words, and .22 are veteran performers who put on a silly show with serious talent.
It’s an interesting lineup: hip-hop from the Doctor, a shot of alt-country and psychedelic rock from .22 and hair-curling rock-based funk with heavy metal saxophone from Hair City
See this Monday’s Taipei Times for a full story and surreal interview with Dr Lipz (aka Nick Sylvester) himself
▲ Dr Reniculous Lipz and the Scallyunz Journey to the East “seedy” CD release party with guests Point 22 (.22) and New Hong Kong Hair City
▲ Tomorrow from 10pm until late at VU Livehouse, B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02 ) 2314-1868 for more information
▲ Tickets are NT$250, which includes a drink and a CD
▲ On the Net: www.drlipz.com/index.html
▲ On Facebook: Journey to the East (under “events”)
Classical music
NSO Meet the Master — Heavenly Symphony (NSO 遇見大師系列 — 天國的音海) brings conductor Gunther Herbig, a protege of Herbert von Karajan, to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring two powerful works: Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 in C Minor and Toru Takemitsu’s Requiem. [See story above.]
▲ Today at 7:30pm
▲ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Brilliant Pipe — Paul Meyer & TSO (炫麗燦爛的笛音 — 單簧管大師保羅•梅耶與北市交) sees French clarinetist Paul Meyer perform with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (台北市立交響樂團) under the baton of guest conductor Heiko Mathias Forster. The program will include Richard Strauss’ Don Juan, Op.20 and Suite from “Der Rosenkavalier” Op.59 and Spohr’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra No.4 in E Minor and Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra No.2 in E Flat Major.
▲ Tomorrow at 7:30pm (Taipei) and Sunday at 2:30pm (Hsinchu)
▲ National Concert Hall, Taipei City and the Performance Hall of the Bureau of Cultural Affairs, Hsinchu City (新竹市文化局演藝廳), 17, Tungta Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市東大路二段17號)
▲ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Concerto de Los Angeles (天使の協奏曲首演) is a concert featuring guitar virtuosos from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan with Shingo Fujii conducting. The performers include Shinichi Fukuda, Liu Shih-yu (劉士堉), Kim Yong-tae and Yasuji Ohagi. The program includes arrangements for guitar duets and trios of works by Rossini, De Falle, Toru Takemitsu and Shingo Fujii’s own Concerto de Los Angeles for Solo and Guitar Orchestra.
▲ Sunday at 2:30pm
▲ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,200, available through NTCH ticketing
Theater
The president’s daughter is cast in the role of Juliet in Tainaner Ensemble’s (台南人劇團) humorous play within a play K24 (Chaos). The K24 Bureau of Investigation discovers that an attempt will be made on the first daughter’s life on opening night and tries to uncover the killer’s identity. This weekend’s performances feature the first two episodes from the six-episode series.
▲ Tainan Human Theater Factory (台南人戲工場), 3F, 85 Shengli Rd, Tainan City (台南市勝利路85號3F)
▲ Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$400, available through NTCH ticketing
Century Contemporary Dance Company (世紀當代舞團) uses dance to investigate the experiences and dreams of three generations of Taiwanese in 20, 30, 40’s Dream Fantasy (20.30.40之夢的進行曲). [See story on Page 15.]
▲ National Experimental Theater, Taipei City
▲ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$500, available through NTCH ticketing
The Little Matches Girl (賣番仔火的小女孩) by Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團), tells the story of a greedy grandmother who forces her granddaughter to work in a factory that makes matches. The girl befriends a little boy and together they discover that the matches are alive. One night, a disaster threatens the lives of both children and their match friends.
▲ Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧北路79號)
▲ Tomorrow at 3pm
▲ Tickets are NT$200, available through NTCH ticketing
National Guo Guang Opera Company (國立國光劇團) revises its Journey Through Hell (閻羅夢．天地一秀才), a Beijing Opera based on the classic Chinese novel of the same name written by Chen Yaxian (陳亞先). Guo Guang’s Wang An-chi (王安祈) transforms the original work into a sumptuous performance that emphasizes the philosophical underpinnings of the original.
▲ Tainan Municipal Cultural Center (台南市立文化中心), 332, Chunghua E Rd Sec 3, Tainan City (台南市中華東路三段332號).
▲ Tomorrow at 2:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000, available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
Tomorrow at VU Live House it’s Taichung’s Point 22 (.22), which plays “trash-can funk with some humorous punk,” one-man hip-hop act Dr Reniculous Lipz, who is celebrating the release of his new CD [see Highlight] and funk rockers New Hong Kong Hair City.
▲ B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02) 2314-1868 for more information
▲ Tomorrow at 11pm
▲ NT$250 entrance includes one drink
Tonight The Wall hosts garage-rock band Rabbit Is Rich (兔子很有錢), opening for Southern Taiwan punks Fire Ex (滅火器). Tomorrow is an ear-piercing showcase of metal with a lineup that includes Triple Six (666), Dizzy Butterfly (旋轉蝴蝶) and NMR. Nu-rock and nu-metal are the sounds on Sunday with Poguang Shefan (波光折返), Undersoul, Sideffect and Beright.
▲ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
▲ Starts at 8pm tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
▲ NT400 tonight; NT$500, NT$666 or NT$1,000 tomorrow (for more info visit www.rockclub.com.tw); and NT$300 on Sunday
Prog-rock band Microcosmos (小宇宙) takes to the stage tonight at Witch House (女巫店), followed by indie group Toy Camera (玩具相機), which consists of a keyboardist, guitar player, and vocalist. Hoklo-language musician Chen Ming-chang (陳明章) appears tomorrow night. Get there early as the folk icon usually attracts a large crowd. Deserts Chang (張懸), who once worked as the sound engineer at the venue but now plays to sell-out crowds on the alt-rock circuit, is scheduled to perform on Thursday night.
▲ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City
(台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For more information, call (02) 2362-5494 or visit
www.witchhouse.org
▲ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays
▲ Entrance fee for music shows is NT$300, includes one drink
The Riverside Cafe (河岸留言) presents two world-renowned acoustic fingerstyle guitarists: Jacques Stotzem of Belgium and Masaaki Kishibe of Japan. Audiences can expect intricate melodies, orchestration and virtuosity from these guitarists. Aboriginal folk singer Panai(巴奈), who recently released a new album, A Piece of Blue (那片藍), appears tomorrow night.
▲ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓). Call (02) 2368-7310 or visit www.riverside.com.tw for more information
▲ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and 9pm tomorrow
▲ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow
Dafu Jazz Trio takes to the stage tonight at Sappho de Base while Sukhena plays Indian and European fusion music tomorrow. The Sappho Jazz Band performs Tuesday, with an open jam afterwards. Appearing on Wednesday are acoustic duo T-Bone and Yasu and a rock duo Stoked Pokey. The T and T Jazz Trio plays on Thursday.
▲ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1). Call (02) 2700-5411 (after 9pm) or visit www.sappho102.biz for more information
▲ Performances begin at 10:30pm on weekends, 10pm on weekdays
▲ No admission fee
Pop and dance band Spider appears tonight at Tone 56 Live Bar. Tomorrow it’s house band Loaded, which plays everything from “rock classics to today’s hits.” Taking to the stage on Sunday is the Dana Wylie Band, which performs original material on piano and acoustic guitar, and David Chen and Conor Prunty, who plays acoustic blues and roots music.
▲ 1F, 56, Minquan E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市民權東路三段56號1樓), near the corner of Fuxing North (復興北) and Minquan East (民權東) roads
Call (02) 2517-3869 for more information
▲ Music shows go from 9:30pm to 12:30am tonight and tomorrow, and from 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Sunday
▲ No admission fee
Taking to the stage tonight at Bliss are emo-pop band Emotion Gate (情緒出口) and emo-punk group Full Count. Pop-punk band Abandoned Machines and punk band Random (隨性) play tomorrow night.
▲ 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號), one block east of Dunhua South Road (敦化南路). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or log on at www.bliss-taipei.com. For more information on live performances at Bliss, visit www.myspace.com/blisslivehouse .
▲ Tonight at 10pm and tomorrow at 8pm. Bar/kitchen open from 7pm daily. Ladies night Fridays; women get one free cocktail of their choice
▲ Entrance to the bar is free; NT$200 tonight and tomorrow for the music shows upstairs
Every Wednesday night at the Cosmopolitan Grill there’s a blues open mic, held by the Blues Society on Taiwan and hosted by Torch Pratt. All are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in on guitar, bass or drums.
▲ 1F, 218 Changchun Rd, Taipei City (台北市長春路218號1樓). Call (02) 2508-0304 or visit www.cosmo.com.tw for more information
▲ Wednesday from 8pm to 11pm
▲ No admission fee
Exhibitions
XFuns Gala ’08 X=Secret (放肆大祭X=Secret創作密碼). For the latest installment of the My Xfuns, the museum has invited China’s Daniel Lee (李小鏡), Nick Veasey, a leading art photographer from England, and Huang Hsin-chien (黃心健), who excels at digital sculpture. Also on display are toy figures created by a troupe of well-known Taiwanese and international designers.
▲ Museum of Contemporary Art (台北當代藝術館), 39 Changan W Rd, Taipei City (台北市長安西路39號). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am to 6pm. Tel: (02) 2552-3720
▲ Until Jan. 18, 2009
Visions — Gabriel Barredo Solo Exhibition (幻象 — 蓋伯瑞伯瑞多個展). Expressionistic and foreboding, the Philippine artist’s sculptures are collected and refurbished from the detritus of the industrial life cycle.
▲ Soka Art Center (索卡藝術中心), 2F, 57, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段57號2樓). Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11am to 9pm. Tel: (02) 2570-0390
▲ Until Dec. 14
All About Love — The World of Ting Shao Kuang (理想主義 — 丁紹光訪台作品展) features the latest paintings by the world-renowned Chinese painter as well as two large-scale bronzes and dozens of block prints
▲ Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Xinyi A9 Building (新光三越信義店A9館), 9F, 9 Songshou Rd, Taipei (台北市松壽路9號9樓). Open Sundays through Thursdays from 11am to 9:30pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 10pm. Tel: (02) 8780-5959
▲ Until Sunday
Sweeties: Celebrating 20 Years of IT Park (小甜心 — 伊通公園二十周年慶). IT Park is one of Taipei’s pioneering art venues and has long been a place where artists of different generations come to exchange ideas. In celebration of its 20th birthday, the gallery has invited more than 150 artists to present their works.
▲ IT Park Gallery (伊通公園), 2F, 41 Yitong St, Taipei City (台北市伊通街41號2樓). Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1pm to 10pm. Tel: (02) 2507-7243
▲ Until tomorrow
20th Anniversary Exhibition (回顧與前瞻 — 二十周年慶特展). Also celebrating its 20th birthday, the art center at National Tsing Hua University revisits the work of past featured artists including photographer Liu Chen-hsiang (劉振祥), painter Yang Ren-ming (楊仁明) and ceramicist Li Liang-yi (李亮一).
▲ Arts Center, National Tsing Hua University (清華大學藝術中心), 101, Guangfu S Rd Sec 2, Hsinchu City (新竹市光復南路二101號). Open Mondays through Fridays from 10am to 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm. Tel: (03) 516-2222
▲ Until Thursday
May 11 to May 18 The original Taichung Railway Station was long thought to have been completely razed. Opening on May 15, 1905, the one-story wooden structure soon outgrew its purpose and was replaced in 1917 by a grandiose, Western-style station. During construction on the third-generation station in 2017, workers discovered the service pit for the original station’s locomotive depot. A year later, a small wooden building on site was determined by historians to be the first stationmaster’s office, built around 1908. With these findings, the Taichung Railway Station Cultural Park now boasts that it has
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