Contemporary
Legacy Taipei, located in a former warehouse at Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts. Tomorrow, It features duo concerts by Mando-pop songstresses Bai An (白安) and Jia Jia (家家).
■ Huashan 1914 Creative Park (華山1914), Center Five Hall (中五館), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號)
■ Show starts 8pm
■ NT$700. Tickets for the venue’s concerts can be purchased at ERA ticketing outlets, online through www.ticket.com.tw, www.legacy.com.tw and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Up-and-coming female rap/hip-hop artist Miss Ko (葛仲珊) performs tonight at The Wall (這牆), Taipei’s most prominent venue for indie rock artists. Post-rock veterans Sugar Plum Ferry (甜梅號), We Save Strawberries (草莓救星) and 8mm Sky (八厘米天空) take the stage tomorrow. Later on, Peter Van Hoesen from Belgium headlines the Smoke Machine’s third anniversary party that also includes DJs Petstov from Chile and Taiwan’s Diskonnected. On Monday, the venue hosts a New Year’s Eve party featuring 14 bands and 4 DJs including Flesh Juicer (血肉果汁機), The Tic Tac, Hi Jack and Mary Bites Kerry (瑪麗咬凱莉). Wednesday’s show includes Acid Marie (微酸瑪莉), Miss Go!, and Ark (阿克樂團).
■ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1), tel: (02) 2930-0162. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ Shows start 8pm (Saturday’s electronic show begins at 11:30pm)
■ NT$800 tonight, NT$600 tomorrow, NT$1,000 for late-night show, NT$500 on Monday and NT$200 on Wednesday. Tickets for shows, with discounts on advance tickets, can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw. Tickets for the Smoke Machine’s party are available through walkieticket.com as well as 7-Eleven ibon kiosks and FamilyMart (全家) FamiPort kiosks
Indie rockers Insecteens (昆蟲白) and noise band She Bang A (死蚊子) perform tonight at Underworld (地下社會), a small basement club and a favorite indie rock hangout in Taipei. The venue hosts the 4th installment of the animation-oriented party entitled Otaku Attack tomorrow, featuring DJ Fish, Physical Chemical Brother (理化兄弟), idolm@ster and 3R2. Later on at the Motown party, the venue’s shareholder and Fu Jen University professor Ho Tong-hung (何東洪) performs with a troupe of indie big-names including Sonia Lai from Go Chic, Randy Lin (林志堅) and Da Shi Xiong (大師兄) and Ah-kai (阿凱) from 1976. Sunday’s show includes She Bang A and Baimi Zhadan (白米炸彈), or “white rice bomb,” a band formed by a former member of anarchist punk band LTK (濁水溪公社). New Year’s Eve party lineup on Monday includes 88 Balaz, 1976 as well as DJs Floaty and Dizzy.
■ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1), tel: (02) 2369-0103. On the Net: www.underworld-taipei.blogspot.tw
■ Shows run from 9pm tonight and on Monday, Otaku Attack party starts at 2pm and the Motown party at 11:30pm tomorrow, 8pm on Sunday
■ NT$300 for all shows, except for the Motown party costing NT$150 and NT$500 for New Year’s Eve party
Tonight Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area, hosts all-girl indie band Destroyers (擊沉女孩) and pop punk group Gogorise (美好前程). Indie folk singer Enno Cheng (鄭宜農) and pop outfit Come on! Bay Bay! (來吧!焙焙) perform tomorrow.
■ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號), tel: (02) 2362-5494. On the Net: www.witchhouse.org
■ Shows 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 for music shows is NT$300
It is time to dance and groove tonight at indie rock club Revolver with DJs Katrina, Zo, A-Tao and BB. Tomorrow’s roster includes Kid Millionaire, Dr. Reniculous Lipz, Skallyunz and DJs Subtle and Robi Roka. New Year’s Eve celebrations are joined by Funky Brothers (放客兄弟), Forests (森林), Roxymoron (羅西是魔人), SkyCruiser as well as DJs @llenblow and Shorty.
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678
■ Shows start at 10pm
■ Entrance is NT$300 tonight and tomorrow, NT$500 on Monday
Taiwanese American pop singer Lara Veronin (梁心頤) are scheduled tonight at Riverside Live House (河岸留言西門紅樓展演館). Amis singer-songwriter Suming (舒米恩) appears tomorrow, followed by Aboriginal group Lan Shin (嵐馨樂團) on Sunday. On Monday, indie rockers Guntzepaula (槍擊潑辣), Arkmen (阿克曼樂團) and Overtone join hand to welcome the new year.
■ 177 Xining S Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧南路177號), tel: (02) 2370-8805. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ 8pm tonight, 2pm tomorrow, 8:30pm on Sunday and Monday
■ NT$400 tonight and on Sunday and Monday, NT$200 tomorrow. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Skyline Jazz Trio appears tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言), followed by Mando-pop singer Hsiao Hung-jen (蕭閎仁) tomorrow. On Sunday, it is pianist and singer A-Chau (阿超). It is a jazz fusion night on New Year’s Eve featuring guitarists Lin Cheng–ju (林正如) and Yan He-pang (嚴和邦), bass player Lu Hsin-min (盧欣民) and drummer Eiji Kadota.
■ 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), tel: (02) 2368-7310. On the Net: www.riverside.com.tw
■ Shows start at 9:30pm tonight and on Monday, 9pm tomorrow and on Sunday
■ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$350 on Sunday and NT$500 on Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.riverside.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
Blues Vibrations perform tonight at Sappho de Base, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly jazz shows. Ska band Skaraoke are scheduled tomorrow.
■ B1, 1, Ln 102, Anhe Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市安和路一段102巷1號B1), tel: (02) 2700-5411. On the Net: www.sappho102.biz
■ Shows start at 10:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$300
Folk group Pink Haze takes the stage tonight at A House, a venue dedicated to a cappella and with a focus on classical, jazz and world music. Pop singer/songwriter Iris Lin (林綾) takes the stage tomorrow.
■ 18, Alley 5, Ln 107, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市復興南路一段107巷5弄18號), tel: (02) 2778-8612. On the Net: ahouse.vocalasia.com
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ NT$350 tonight and on Sunday. Tickets can purchased online through www.walkieticket.com. Admission includes one free drink
Veteran rockers 13 (拾參樂團) and Love Manana (愛的大未來) appear at Pipe Live Music, an up-and-coming venue for indie music and parties. It is the release party for Sommossa’s EP tomorrow with post hardcore outfit Daybreak Scream (破曉之聲), Ki Lai (奇萊) and Contrary Think (逆思) also playing. The venue hosts a cosplay party on Sunday featuring DJ chippe from Japan. It is a night of trance spun by DJs Krro and Clavo X on New Year’s Eve.
■ 1, Siyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市思源路1號), tel: (02) 2364-8198. On the Net: www.pipemusic.com.tw
■ Shows start at 8pm tonight, 1pm tomorrow, 4pm on Sunday and 10pm on Monday
■ NT$400 tonight and on Sunday, NT$350 tomorrow and NT$800 on Monday. Tickets can purchased online through www.walkieticket.com
Acclaimed Aboriginal singer Samingad (紀曉君) performs every Thursday at EZ5 Live House, which hosts Mando-pop singers backed by a live band every night. Other highlights include Mando-pop songstress Julia Peng (彭佳慧) on Tuesdays and male crooner Shin Lung (辛龍), who performs every Saturday.
■ 211, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段211號), tel: (02) 2738-3995. On the Net: www.ez5.com.tw
■ Shows run from 9:45pm to 12:30am
■ Entrance fee (includes two drinks) ranges from NT$600 to NT$850, depending on the performer
On Fridays at Italian restaurant Capone’s, Taipei Swing holds dance socials with live music from electric blues band Bopomofo (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ). On Saturday, drummer Abe Nbugu Kenyatta leads a band playing music from his hometown of New Orleans. Iris sings “romantic chansons” Sunday nights and on Wednesdays, it’s Latin music from guitarist Roberto Zayas. Duo Blurrs Bros perform blues and American songbook tunes on Thursdays.
■ 312, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段312號), tel: (02) 2773-3782
■ Live music from 9pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm to 10pm on Sundays and 8:45pm to 10:45pm on weekdays
■ On Fridays, minimum charge of one drink. On Saturdays, minimum charge is NT$300
The Wall (這牆) programs regular live rock shows at Kaohsiung’s Pier 2 Arts Center (高雄駁二藝術特區). Tonight’s roster includes rock veterans 1976 and Hush!. Mando-pop singer Xiaoyu (小宇) plays tomorrow. On Monday, the New Year’s Eve party lineup include grunge outfit KoOk (庫克樂團) and pop punk band Fire EX (滅火器).
■ 1 Dayong Rd, Yancheng Dist, Greater Kaohsiung (高雄市鹽埕區大勇路1號), tel: (07) 521-5148. On the Net: www.thewall.com.tw
■ 7:30pm tonight and tomorrow and 5:30pm on Monday
■ NT$400 for all shows. Tickets for all shows, with discounts on advance tickets, can be purchased online through www.thewall.com.tw and tickets.books.com.tw
A few weeks ago I found myself at a Family Mart talking with the morning shift worker there, who has become my coffee guy. Both of us were in a funk over the “unseasonable” warm weather, a state of mind known as “solastalgia” — distress produced by environmental change. In fact, the weather was not that out of the ordinary in boiling Central Taiwan, and likely cooler than the temperatures we will experience in the near-future. According to the Taiwan Adaptation Platform, between 1957 and 2006, summer lengthened by 27.8 days, while winter shrunk by 29.7 days. Winter is not
Taiwan’s post-World War II architecture, “practical, cheap and temporary,” not to mention “rather forgettable.” This was a characterization recently given by Taiwan-based historian John Ross on his Formosa Files podcast. Yet the 1960s and 1970s were, in fact, the period of Taiwan’s foundational building boom, which, to a great extent, defined the look of Taiwan’s cities, determining the way denizens live today. During this period, functionalist concrete blocks and Chinese nostalgia gave way to new interpretations of modernism, large planned communities and high-rise skyscrapers. It is currently the subject of a new exhibition at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Modern
March 25 to March 31 A 56-year-old Wu Li Yu-ke (吳李玉哥) was straightening out her artist son’s piles of drawings when she inadvertently flipped one over, revealing the blank backside of the paper. Absent-mindedly, she picked up a pencil and recalled how she used to sketch embroidery designs for her clothing business. Without clients and budget or labor constraints to worry about, Wu Li drew freely whatever image came to her mind. With much more free time now that her son had found a job, she found herself missing her home village in China, where she
In recent years, Slovakia has been seen as a highly democratic and Western-oriented Central European country. This image was reinforced by the election of the country’s first female president in 2019, efforts to provide extensive assistance to Ukraine and the strengthening of relations with Taiwan, all of which strengthened Slovakia’s position within the European Union. However, the latest developments in the country suggest that the situation is changing rapidly. As such, the presidential elections to be held on March 23 will be an indicator of whether Slovakia remains in the Western sphere of influence or moves eastward, notably towards Russia and