Contemporary
Carnegies will host a Retro Revival Night tomorrow, featuring classic music videos from the 1980s projected on to big screens as well as music from that decade spun by DJ Hifive.
■ 100, Anhe Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市安和路二段100號)
Photo courtesy of Sein
■ Tomorrow at 10pm. Tickets are NT$300
Tonight’s performance by disco/grunge act No Party for Cao Dong (草東沒有派對) at Legacy Taipei, which hosts top Taiwanese pop performers and international acts, is sold out. Tomorrow it is Japanese instrumental duo →Pia-no-jaC←. On Sunday, post grunge group Black Dog Gang (黑狗幫) will take the stage. The lineup also includes grunge/Brit-pop band Arkmen (阿克曼樂團), hip-hop artists Chiu and Love (丘與樂) and indie rockers Nora Says.
■ 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)
Photo courtesy of Skaraoke
■ Show starts tomorrow at 7pm and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Admission is NT$1,200 tomorrow and NT$700 Sunday. Tickets available through www.indievox.com and at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks
Japanese J-pop band never young beach tours tomorrow to The Wall (這牆), a prominent Taipei venue for indie rock artists. Solo rocker Hung Sheng-hao (洪申豪) will also take the stage.
Photo courtesy of Elephant Gym
■ 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: thewall.tw
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Tickets cost NT$1,100, available online through thewall.tw
Photo courtesy of Mary See the Future
Punk and alternative rock are on the menu tonight at indie rock club Revolver with The Roadside Inn and Countervalve (逆瓣膜) and Japan’s Sein and The Devils & Libido taking the stage. Tomorrow the club will host two events. The first, beginning at 7pm, brings together punk, indie and black metal with Feed Pigs (餵飽豬), Bazooka, Accomplices (共犯結構) and Japan’s Crucem. Kelley, LeeLek, Walrussound and rgry will play electron rock and electro for the late party, which begins at 11:45pm. Sunday features acid jazz and pop rock with Rosy, Icy Ball (冰球樂團) and Wave Girl (游移少女).
■ 1-2, Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), tel: (02) 3393-1678. On the Net: www.facebook.com/revolver.taipei
■ Show starts tonight at 9pm, tomorrow at 7pm and 11:45pm and Sunday at 8:30pm
■ Admission is NT$400 tonight, NT$300 tomorrow at 7pm and 11:45pm and NT$300 Sunday
Hsiao-ying (夾子小應) of rock group The Clippers and reggae rock outfit Hang in the Air (盪在空中) will both take the stage tonight at Pipe Live Music, a major venue for indie music and parties. Tonyband (東尼大木) is also on the bill.
■ 1 Siyuan Rd, Taipei City (台北市思源路1號), tel: (02) 2364-8198. On the Net: www.pipemusic.com.tw
■ Show starts at 6:30pm
■ Admission is NT$700. Tickets available online through www.indievox.com, pipemusic.kktix.cc and at FamilyMart (全家) FamiPort kiosks
Five-piece band Poor House play a rich blend of rock, blues, swing and country tomorrow at Bobwundaye (無問題), a small pub in Taipei.
■ 77, Heping E Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市和平東路三段77號), tel: (02) 2377-1772
■ Show starts at 10pm
■ Admission is NT$300
Solo guitarist Vj Voon (溫偉杰) takes the stage tonight at Witch House (女巫店), an intimate coffeehouse-style venue in the National Taiwan University area. Tomorrow it is guitarist Chico (奇哥).
■ 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$350
Local reggae favorites Skaraoke will play their version of ska, Latin, jazz and swing tonight at Sappho Live, a late-night lounge bar that hosts mostly jazz shows. Tomorrow it is Fish’s Quartet (黃子瑜四重奏) led by Hong Kong-based drummer Huang Tzu-yu (黃子瑜). On Wednesday it is the Ikumi Koyama Trio with Japan’s Ikumi Koyama on piano.
■ 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.sappholive.com
■ Shows start at 9:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$200 on Wednesday
Indie rock band Mary See the Future (先知瑪莉) will play tomorrow at There Cafe & Live House (那兒咖啡), a venue for indie music in Taoyuan.
■ B1, 454, Fuxing Rd, Taoyuan City (桃園市復興路454號B1), tel: (03) 339-8819.
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$700, available online through tickets.books.com.tw and www.indievox.com
Bunun pop act Chuan Shih-huang (全世煌) perform tomorrow at TADA Ark (TADA方舟), a music venue located inside the Taichung Cultural & Creative Industries Park (台中文化創意產業園區) in Taichung.
■ 362, Fuhsing Rd Sec 3, Taichung City (台中市復興路三段362號), tel: (04) 2229-0989. On the Net: www.tadaark.com.tw
■ Show starts at 6pm
■ Admission is NT$400
Amis-Han Chinese ensemble Suana & CMO (蘇瓦那與CMO樂團) plays soul, blues and rock tonight at Taichung’s Forro Cafe (呼嚕咖啡). On Sunday it is guitarist Chico (奇哥).
■ 47, Jingcheng 3rd St, Taichung City (台中市精誠三街47號), tel: (04) 2310-1661
■ Shows start at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$400 tomorrow and NT$500 on Sunday, available through www.indievox.com
Japanese alternative hardcore group The Devil’s & Libido and alternative rock trio Sein will perform tomorrow at TCRC (前科累累俱樂部), a small venue for independent musicians and local artists in Tainan. Post-punk/blues combo Gentle Squid (烏賊紳士) will provide support. On Thursday, it is Thai rockers Houdini, who are on a cross-nation tour. They will be joined by Matter of Life (生活要事).
■ B1, 314, Simen Rd Sec 2, Tainan City (台南市西門路二段314號B1), tel: (06) 222 3238.
■ Show starts tomorrow at 8pm and Thursday at 7pm
■ Admission is NT$300 tomorrow and NT$350 on Thursday, available at www.indievox.com
Indie folk singer/songwriter Huang Jie (黃玠) take the stage tonight at Live Warehouse, a venue for indie music located inside Kaohsiung’s Pier-2 Arts Center (駁二藝術特區). On Sunday, it is six-piece jazz ensemble SiZhuKong (絲竹空爵士樂團), who took top honors in 2010 at 21st Golden Melody Awards (金曲獎) for Best Instrumental Album. Thursday sees the arrival of Australia’s thrash/death metal act Truth Corroded. Rock group Stay Wide Awake (彼岸曙光) and five member metal core act Body on the Party (屍體派對) will offer support.
■ 2-5 Dayi Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市大義街2-5號), tel: (07) 521-8114. On the Net: livewarehouse.tw
■ Shows start at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$1,200 tonight and NT$500 on Sunday and Thursday, available online through tickets.books.com.tw
Metal group Tony Band (東尼大木 ) will play tomorrow at Sound Live House (迴響音樂藝文展演空間), an independent venue for music performances and art exhibitions in Taichung. They will be supported by local punks Mad Dog (瘋狗) and indie group Iron Horn (宋德鶴).
■ B1-1, 429, Henan Rd Sec 2, Greater Taichung (台中市河南路二段429號B1-1), tel: (04) 2451-1989. On the Net: soundlivehouse.msmusic.com.tw
■ Show starts at 6pm
■ Admission is NT$400, available through www.walkieticket.com and www.indievox.com
Blues rock band The Strangers (異鄉人) will perform tonight at Paramount Bar (百樂門酒館), an indie rock club in Kaohsiung. Japanese-Taiwanese act Plan-D perform tomorrow. Japanese J-pop band never young beach plays on Sunday. Solo rocker Hung Sheng-hao (洪申豪) will be the opening act.
■ 70 Minzu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市三民區民族一路70號), tel: (07) 389-0501
■ Show starts tonight at 8pm, tomorrow at 7:45pm and Sunday at 7:30pm
■ Entrance is NT$400 tonight and tomorrow and NT$1,000 on Sunday, available through www.indievox.com
Local math rock band Elephant Gym (大象體操) takes the stage tonight The Goat Restaurant & Bar (山羊飯館), a music venue and restaurant in Pingtung. South Bad Boy will provide support.
■ 23-2 Hengnan Rd, Hengchun Township, Pingtung County (屏東縣恆春鎮恆南路23-2號), tel: (08) 888-0183
■ Show starts at 8pm
■ Admission is NT$300, available through www.indievox.com
Classical
Symphonie Fantastique (青春幻想曲) is a performance tonight at Taipei’s National Concert Hall by the National Symphony Orchestra with violinist Richard Lin (林品任), and conducted by Felix Chen (陳秋盛). Titled after an 1830 performance given by Hector Berlioz, the program includes his Symphonie Fantastique, Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Robert Shuman’s The Bride of Messina.
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$700 to NT$1,500 (NT$400 tickets are sold out); available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The Istanbul Symphony will give a performance tomorrow at Taipei’s National Concert Hall, with Aykut Koselerli on percussion, Burcu Karadag on the ney (flute) and Hakan Gungor on the kanun (string instrument), with Howards Griffiths conducting. The program includes Ottorino Respighi’s Belkis, Queen of Sheba and Fazil Say’s Istanbul Symphony
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$500 to NT$1,500 (NT$300 tickets are sold out); available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
On Sunday, French violinist Gerard Poulet will perform at Taipei’s National Concert Hall with the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Paul Tien-chi Lin (林天吉). A violin solo will also be performed by Su Shien-ta (蘇顯達) in a program that includes Edward Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, Mozart’s Concertone for two violins K190 Violin Solo and Brahms’ Violin Concerto Violin Solo.
■ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
■ Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,500 (NT$5,000 tickets are sold out); available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
The US war on Iran has illuminated the deep interdependence of Asia on flows of oil and related items as raw materials that become the basis of modern human civilization. Australians and New Zealanders had a wake up call. The crisis also emphasizes how the Philippines is a swatch of islands linked by jet fuel. These revelations have deep implications for an invasion of Taiwan. Much of the commentary on the Taiwan scenario has looked at the disruptions to world trade, which will be in the trillions. However, the Iran war offers additional specific lessons for a Taiwan scenario. An insightful
The problem with Marx’s famous remark that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, the second time as farce, is that the first time is usually farce as well. This week Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chair Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) made a pilgrimage to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) “to confer, converse and otherwise hob-nob” with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials. The visit was an instant international media hit, with major media reporting almost entirely shorn of context. “Taiwan’s main opposition leader landed in China Tuesday for a rare visit aimed at cross-strait ‘peace’”, crowed Agence-France Presse (AFP) from Shanghai. Rare!
April 6 to April 13 Few expected a Japanese manga adaptation featuring four tall, long-haired heartthrobs and a plucky heroine to transform Taiwan’s television industry. But Meteor Garden (流星花園) took the nation by storm after premiering on April 12, 2001, single-handedly creating the “idol drama” (偶像劇) craze that captivated young viewers across Asia. The show was so successful that Japan produced its own remake in 2005, followed by South Korea, China and Thailand. Other channels quickly followed suit, with more than 50 such shows appearing over the following two years. Departing from the melodramatic
Sunflower movement superstar Lin Fei-fan (林飛帆) once quipped that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could nominate a watermelon to run for Tainan mayor and win. Conversely, the DPP could run a living saint for mayor in Taipei and still lose. In 2022, the DPP ran with the closest thing to a living saint they could find: former Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中). During the pandemic, his polling was astronomically high, with the approval of his performance reaching as high as 91 percent in one TVBS poll. He was such a phenomenon that people printed out pop-up cartoon