Twenty years is a long time for anything to last. There are marriages, friendships and certain political careers we could name that don’t have a hope in hell of persevering for even a quarter of that length of time. But for two decades, the Spring Scream (春天吶喊) music and arts festival has grown from one of the first showcases for underground bands playing wholly original music in Taiwan, to flirting with commercialism, to the present, when it has gone back to its subterranean roots, albeit it on a much larger scale than its early incarnations. It hasn’t come up without criticism, but you still have to tip your hat to organizers Jimi Moe and Wade Davis. Here’s hoping they have a bit of time over the course of this year’s event to check out a few bands. In no particular order, here are a few worth watching if you’re heading down to Kenting (墾丁).
When I See The Mushroom Cloud (蘑菇雲), today at 1:40pm on the Grass Stage
I first saw When I See The Mushroom Cloud back in January when they were part of the DEMO Record (疊墨唱片) tour package that hit Taipei. Vocalist Mako alternated between standing behind her synthesizer and singing to pacing the stage with microphone in hand and sipping from a bottle of wine. Her voice was at times ethereal, suiting the ghostly tones of the music. Then a full-on heavy metal chorus would kick in and she would trade in all things sultry for aggressive yells and shrieks. Think early Hole mixed with Kittie and a little bit of Tori Amos.
Photo Courtesy of VJ Dust
Funky Brothers (放客兄弟), tomorrow at 7pm on the South Stage
Funky Brothers have earned a reputation as one of the most dynamic and engaging acts in the Taiwan music scene over the past six years. The eight-piece ensemble mixes things up stylistically, taking influences from soul, R&B, disco and even jazz and reggae. Watching them live takes on a feeling that you’ve stumbled into a house party and a group of good friends, all with incredible musical talent, who are having a jam in the basement that threatens to blow the roof off the place. If you’re looking for a little bit of New Orleans in Taiwan, Funky Brothers will point you in the right direction.
88 Balaz (八十八顆芭樂籽), tomorrow at 8pm on the South Stage
Photo Courtesy of When I See The Mushroom Cloud
After the Funky Brothers leave the stage, stick around for the hardest working punk ‘n’ roll band in Taiwan, 88 Balaz. This is a group that reportedly played over 100 shows in 2013, an unheard of amount for most underground bands. Expect straight up rock ‘n’ roll coupled with a punk edge and a politically charged atmosphere. The band has been active in the Sunflower Movement (太陽花學運), performing for protesters at the Legislative Yuan, and will no doubt be ready to rage.
LTK Commune (濁水溪公社), tomorrow at 9pm on the South Stage
With the current political climate in Taiwan being what it is, it’s only fitting that one of the island’s earliest musical proponents of organized protest is playing Spring Scream this year. Closing in on the 25-year mark, LTK Commune plays a mix of rock, grunge and punk with a little taike (台客) flavor, with the lyrics being mostly in Taiwanese. Things can and do get weird whenever this band takes to the stage. Case in point: They once performed a live enema for the audience. Will Spring Screamers get a similar visual treat this year? We can only hope.
Mr. Dirty, tonight at 10:55pm on the Grass Stage
If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “You know what’s missing in Taiwan’s music scene today? Two-piece lo-fi noise punk,” then Greater Tainan’s Mr. Dirty is what you’ve been looking for. This is a band that combines Nirvana’s most jagged edges, the Butthole Surfers at their most punk rock, and more menace and danger than rightfully belongs in a two-man group. Singer/guitarist A-Jay stumbles like a fall-down drunk while beating mercilessly on his guitar, striking dissonant chords and wailing out caterwauling, purposefully off-tune vocals. Mr. Dirty is quite possibly the most anti-commercial band in Taiwan right now, and is not to be missed.
Scott Cook, tomorrow at 8:20pm on the East Stage
Canadian folk troubadour Scott Cook is back on his old stomping grounds, rounding out a near month-long Taiwan leg of a larger nine-month world tour at Spring Scream. Cook previously spent six years in Taiwan before taking up folk singing and world touring full-time in 2007. Now he’s on the road in support of his fourth solo record, One More Time Around. Stripped down, soulful, idealistic and warm, Cook will be bringing the good vibes.
B.B. Bomb (BB彈), tomorrow at 8:20pm on the Grass Stage
Greater Taichung’s B.B. Bomb plays a poppy brand of female-fronted punk that has endeared them to the local scene and taken them around Asia since 2003. Melodic and catchy, B.B. Bomb represents the lighter side of Taiwanese punk rock, but don’t let the harmonized vocals fool you. This is a band that means business. Their air-tight live performance speaks for itself.
Hang In The Air (盪在空中), tomorrow at 6:40pm on the Ocean Stage
Psychedelia, dub, indie. All of the above could be applied to Hang In The Air, and more. This is a band that keeps you on your toes, constantly shifting gears. One moment they’re delving into pop rock, the next vocalist Lai Wen-hsuan (賴文軒) sounds milliseconds away from going into full-on punk mode. From a purely stylistic standpoint, Hang In The Air is definitively one of the most intriguing and unique acts of the weekend.
■ Spring Scream runs until Sunday at Kenting Lighthouse National Park (墾丁鵝鑾鼻燈塔公園). One-day passes are NT$1,000, and a multi-day pass is NT$1,500. Bands play on Friday and Saturday starting at noon, with the final acts hitting the stage at 11pm. Nine stages will be scattered throughout the park grounds. For complete details in English and Chinese, visit: www.springscream.com.
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