If anyone is interested, our 2009 picks are here and our 2010 picks are here.

Shawn Despres
1. Kopchangjeongol with Eshe @ Yogiga on March 6
2. Amadou and Mariam @ Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) on July 29
3. Juck Juck Grunzie @ Badabie on August 20
4. Apollo 18 @ Dragon’s Den (New Orleans, USA) on March 21
5. Warpaint @ Fuji Rock Festival (Japan) on July 31
6. Te’ @ Ssamize Sound Fest on October 2
7. Groove All Stars @ Green Plugged Festival on May 15
8. TV Yellow @ Strange Fruit on June 12
9. Sunday Losers @ Dooriban on April 30
10. Choock Choock Band @ Live Club Ssam (Ssamzie Space) on January 22

Jon Dunbar
(shows listed by date)
1. Skasucks, 100 Blossom Club, Return Bois, Shellback, Chadburger, Find the Spot, Brothers of the Hole @ Dooriban on April 2
2. Hellking, Brothers of the Hole, Chadburger, Shellback, Sink to Rise, The Geeks, Find the Spot @ Badabie on April 16
3. Sink to Rise, Bamseom Pirates, Vicious Bomb Juice, Cal Bones, Shellback, Warpath, No Control, Sex Boys, Find the Spot, Christfuck @ Dooriban on May 21
4. Spiky Brats, The Tremors, No Control, Midnight Smokin’ Drive, The Swindlers, …Whatever That Means @ Club Spot on June 16
5. Mookimookimanmansu, Bamseom Pirates, Kuang Program, Stretching Journey @ Kuchu Camp on July 31
6. Find the Spot, Billy Carter, The Essence, MR27 @ Kuchu Camp on September 4
7. Darge, Sad Legend, Day of Mourning, Gukdo, Find the Spot, Terrormight, Scumraid @ Badabie on September 17
8. Skasucks, Burning Hepburn, The Swindlers, Captain Bootbois, Spiky Brats, Nachopupa, Stoned, Raise a Flag, Tabloid Play, Proud Hammers, Rollings @ Club Spot on November 28
9. The Geeks, Things We Say, Pariah, Find the Spot, No Excuse, Last of the Diehards, Combative Post, All I Have, Seoul Mothers, No Turning Back, As We Let Go @ Club Crack on December 3
10. Billy Carter, Pornatarium, Cunttlefish, Guk-Do, Dokkaebi Assault, Paryumchiakdan, Attacking Forces, Chanters Alley, CalBones, Scumraid, Captain Bootbois, All Kids Make Mistakes @ Club Spot on December 31

Dain Leathem
(shows listed by date)
1. Crying Nut @ DGDB on February 13
2. Ska Wars @ Club Ta on April 30
3. Serengeti @ Green Plugged Festival on May 15
4. GoGo Star @ Green Plugged Festival on May 15
5. The Koxx @ Jisan Valley Rock Festival on July 30
6. Yellow Monsters @ Jisan Valley Rock Festival on July 30
7. 10 cm @ Jisan Valley Rock Festival, July 31
8. Seoul Electric Band @ Club FF on November 11
9. Mogwai @ Ax-Korea on November 30
10. Galaxy Express @ Club FF on Dec 31

A lot of venues are going to be competing for the best Halloween party this year. However, my money’s on Club Spot, who are hosting the third annual Still Alive Halloween Punk Party. If you show up in costume, it’s only 10 000 won.

Though according to Jeff, the promoter and lead vocalist of …Whatever That Means, “wearing a Misfits Jack-O-Lantern t-shirt, name tag with someone else’s name on it, writing “BOOK” across your face, and other lame crap like that…..these are not costumes.”

Bands:
…Whatever That Means (90s Punk)
The Geeks (Hardcore)
Burning Hepburn (Ska-Punk)
SkaSucks (Ska-Punk)
Captain Bootbois (Oi Punk)
Midnight Smokin’ Drive (Bluesy Garage Rock)
Black Leather Lagoon (Korea’s only Cramps tribute band)

Outside, there will be events loosely connected with the show. There should be pumpkin carving, and members of the Jungang Hansik tour will present the Andong Soju Taste Challenge, where you can compare quality Andong Soju with the convenience store stuff (while supplies last).

Some pictures from last year:

…Whatever That Means

Skasucks

RSVP on Facebook

Broke in Korea is Korea’s longest-running English-language zine (as well as a defunct, related message board). With a couple issues out every year, it showcases what’s going on in the underground.

This issue features more bilingual content, with interviews with Rux, Billy Carter, Find the Spot, Hong9, NoControl, Vad Hahn of Yamagata Tweakster/Amature Amplifier/Stretching Journey, Midnight Smokin’ Drive, and Scumraid. As well, there are CD reviews, comics, and a travel diary of a voyage through Korea’s heartland by some of Korea’s most absurd foreigners, as part of a food tour.

This time, the zine is being released at Club Crack this Saturday at 7pm, where eight of Korea’s best underground bands will take the stage. Among the acts are Billy Carter, Midnight Smokin’ Drive, Find the Spot, and Hong9 (drummer of Captain Bootbois), who you can read about in the zine. They’re also joined by the Patients, Skasucks, Shellback, and Black Leather Lagoon.

RSVP here. Stop by, pick up a zine, listen to the bands, and drink until the subways open.

Badabie was located by the bridge over the train tracks (well, the former train tracks now), in a quiet part of Donggyo-dong. Although the gentrification and coffee-ification of Hongdae has now spread pretty much all the way to Shinchon, back in 2004 Badabi’s location was a real dead zone, and it was to overlook. It is not the nicest venue in town or the biggest, but over the years a lot of great bands passed through there.

Sadly, though, Badabie’s owner was recently diagnosed with some kind of brain tumor and needed some expensive surgery — not the sort of thing a Hongdae club owner usually budgets for. The surgery appears to have gone well, but now there are a lot of bills to pay, not to mention having to deal with the continual rent hikes of Hongdae these days (I think he hasn’t paid his rent in quite a few months).

So in a great show of solidarity, 137 indie bands and eight clubs are getting together for 10 days of shows to help out Badabie, in a series called “Badabie Will Never Die“. Most of the top indie bands in Korea will be playing, often in venues much smaller than you would ordinarily find them, so it is a great chance to catch a lot of music … not to mention help out a good guy and Hongdae institution.

Tickets go on sale Sept. 8 and cost 20,000 won (I don’t know if that’s per show, per day, or what exactly… but I’m trying to find out).

Thurs., Sept. 15
Badabie – 7:30
Juck Juck Haeseo Grunzie, Bunabi, Poe, Hwang Boryung Band, Crying Nut
V Hall – 7:30
Goodbye Sea, Savina and Drones, 10cm, Icy Cider, Galaxy Express

Fri., Sept. 16
Badabie – 7pm
Flat Out, Electric Eel, Bamseom Pirates, 99 Anger, National Pigeon Unity, Ankle Attack, Apollo 18
C Cloud – 7pm
Becks And Josh, Seokjoon, Green Face, The Finn, The Freaks, Nabimat, Rubin

Sat., Sept. 17
C Cloud – 4pm
Jang Folk, Hado, Timirho, Beautiful Days, 9 and the Numbers
C Cloud – 7pm
Line 9 Interchange, Kim Mok-in, Jeff Park, Victor View, Sogyumo Acacia Band, 3rd Line Butterfly

Sun., Sept. 18
Yri Cafe – 5pm
Yang Chang-geun, Solsolbuneun Bombaram, Hajji and Seoul Seagull, Sohee, Manggakhwa
AOR – 6pm
Swimming Doll, Murmur’s Loom, Tenderlign, The Quip, Daydream, Vidulgi Ooyoo

Mon., Sept. 19
Badabie – 7:30pm
Erang, Boochoolaamaa, Broken Money, Yamagata Tweakster, Ash Gray, Dear Cloud

Tues., Sept. 20
Rolling Hall – 7pm
Midnight Smoking Drive, Oh Ji-eun, Joaseohaneun Band, Kafka, Huckleberry Finn, Telepathy, Gate Flowers
Badabie – 8pm
Hawaii, Modeun Gayageum Jeong Mina, Hi Mr. Memory, Jang Jaein

Wed., Sept. 21
Club Ta – 7pm
Black Bag, YNot, Kim Master, Choi Go Eun, Que Bosta, Jokkareul Rose, Chang Kiha and the Faces
Badabie – 7:30pm
Kim Sujin, Surisurimahasuri, Mujeungryeok Sonyeon, Yozoh, Uju Hippy, Son Ji-yeon

Thurs., Sept. 22
Badabie – 7pm
Devil E So Marco, Baekja, Nangman Yurang Akdan, Jo Taejoon, Big Baby Driver, Selli Selli Sellinneu, Jeong Mina and Haegeum
Yogiga – 7pm
Dorin, Namu Band, Hoegidong Danpeonseon, Anakin Project, Sai, Sato Yukie, Taehiyeon

Fri., Sept 23
Badabie – 7:30pm
Number Nine, Javo Island, Siberian Husky, The Moon, Tacapi, Ally Spears
C Cloud – 7pm
Raccoon, Shin Jae Jin, Scarfish, Neutbom, Oh Soyoung, Lee Janghyuk

Sat., Sept. 24
C-Cloud – 7pm
Tumyeong, Morrison Hotel, Park Hyeri, Jeong Yeong-geun, Party Story, Ravie Nuage
Badabie – 6pm
Spiky Brats, Couch, Dokkaebi Assault, Style Live, Combative Post, Vicious Glare, 13 Steps, Kicks

Sun., Sept. 25
Club Auteur – 4pm
Unique Shadow, Citi M, DK, Soul, Lee Han-choul
Club Auteur – 7pm
Seo Yeong-do Band, Ha Hyeon-yong Band, Renata Suicide, Jae, New York Fish
Badabie – 6pm
Dringe Augh, Desert Dolphin, Ironic Hue, Brocolli You Too, and more
Yogiga – 6pm
Slow Baby, FE, Guten Birds, Pavlov, The United 93, No Control, Pigbit5

You can learn more about the shows at Badabie’s website. And if you understand Korean, there is this video to explain more:

This Saturday night (September 3), Seoul belly dancer Eshe and her Navah and Mahadevi troupes will be presenting a new non-verbal, belly dance drama called “La Mer” at their Nirvana Nights Vol. 3 event.  “La Mer” is an hour-long production and boasts 10 dance scenes, all of which will be performed to the music of Korean electro-pop musician Jellyboy.

Jellyboy is the solo moniker of Dae-inn Kim, the bassist for lauded local rockers Apollo 18.  He released two fantastic solo albums, 2005’s “Everyday Trouble” and 2007’s “They Dream Daydream Everyday,” before starting to play with Apollo 18 in 2008.

Eshe starred in Apollo 18’s “Orbis” music video and has performed several times with the band.  She was aware of Kim’s Jellyboy past, but she didn’t hear his solo stuff until earlier this year.

“Out of curiosity one day I Googled Jellyboy and found his ‘Infant Song’ video on YouTube,” Eshe says.  I asked Dae-inn if he could send me the track and he did along with an unreleased song called ‘Dancing Hell.’  I danced to both tracks at Apollo 18’s US tour fundraiser in February.

“When Apollo 18 got back from playing in the States, I asked Dae-inn about his other Jellyboy music.  He’s so shy and so humble.  After much cajoling, he reluctantly played me some more of his stuff.  I loved it all!”

Completely imagined by Eshe, “La Mer” is the tale of a family of mermaids and the encounters they have with other sea creatures and a group of Sirens.  It’s the third belly dance drama she’s produced.  Previous shows have featured a wide range of songs from around the globe.  But once she heard Jellyboy’s music, she knew that she wanted to make something only using Kim’s tracks.

“Jellyboy’s work has such a wide range of emotion.  At times it’s delicate, fresh, and innocent.  Other times it’s raging, inconsolable, and dark.  For a dramatic story, I couldn’t have asked for better music.  Dae-inn’s a genius.  I feel so lucky to know him, and to have access to his talent.”

Kim is quick to admit that he never envisioned his Jellyboy music being used in a belly dance show.

“I had no interest in belly dancing before,” he shares.  “But that changed the first time I saw Eshe’s dancing.  I love Eshe and everything she does.  I feel truly honored that she, Navah, and Mahadevi will be dancing to my music.”

Like everyone else, Kim will see “La Mer” for the first time on Saturday night.  He’s got an early concert with Apollo 18 at Culture Station 284 that day and will be quickly making his way to Theater Zero right after he finishes playing.

“I can’t wait to watch the show,” Kim says.  “I want to feel my music in Eshe’s dancing and feel Eshe’s dancing in my music.  I think that it’s going to be a really fantastic experience for me.”

Kim’s main focus right now is Apollo 18.  The trio are keeping him plenty busy having toured in the US, Japan, and Taiwan already this year.  They’ll soon be releasing their new “Gogol” EP as well.  Although Jellyboy has been put on the back burner, Kim’s alter ego is far from dead.

“Right now I’m trying to make the best music I can with Apollo 18,” he says.  “I’ll make more music as Jellyboy sometime in the future.  I don’t know when it’ll happen, but I definitely want to play as Jellyboy again someday.”

Nirvana Nights Vol. 3 takes places on September 3 at Theater Zero in Hongdae.   In addition to “La Mer,” the event will also include belly dancing from Farasha (from Tokyo), Jimin Park, Eunji Park & Top Belly, Aly Kate Mewse, Maha Bamaarouf, and Maya & Ana.  There will be a hooping performance from Kali Deno & Vanessa Barbee, and jazz and K-pop dancing from JK Pole & Dance Korea.  Gwangil Bae, Riol Kim, and Doyon Ha will play a short live music set.  Wilfred Lee and Alison Hjelseth will be doing live art.  The show starts at 8:30 pm and tickets are 20,000 won.  For more information, head here.

The Korean underground scene is starting the fall season off with something big: NYHC veterans Sick of It All are heading to Korea in celebration of their 25th anniversary and the release of their album “Based on a True Story.” The band is doing a short East Asian tour in only Korea and Japan.

Backing them up will be accomplished Korean hardcore bands the Geeks, Johnny Royal, and Burn My Bridges. The show starts at 7:30pm on Friday, with the headliners set to take the stage around 10pm, so if you can’t get to Sangsang Madang in time for the start of the show, there’s still more to look forward to.

For more information and to book advance tickets, click here.

The organizers of the R16 B-boy competition asked me to mention that there are also going to be free b-boy workshops next week, after the competition, on Monday and Tuesday nights at the Letzdance studio in Apgujeong.

Monday’s class starts at 8:30pm and features lessons by Cico, Pelenzinho, and Hong10.

Tuesday’s class starts at 7pm and features lessons by Rox Rite, Taisuke, and Hong10.

I don’t know if anyone who frequents the Gig Guide is limber enough to enjoy breakdancing classes, but I thought I would pass along the info, just in case. As I said, classes are free, you just need to register. If you are interested, please email bennywjdgusgml@hanmail.net

Good news, everybody! One of Hongdae’s most active live clubs is shutting down! Wait…isn’t that a bad thing?

“It’s regrettable that we’re losing this venue and cultural place,” says Hwang Kyungha of No Control, “but we came out victorious.”

Dooriban is a kalguksu restaurant next to Hongdae Station that has been involved in a struggle with GS Construction, who have plans to raze the area and build overtop. But finally, an agreement has been reached.

“After 531 days of struggle, we won,” says Jo Yakgol, another member of the sit-in, who joined after he was evicted from his own home in Yongsan.

On 8 June, the owners of Dooriban, Ahn Jong-yuh and her husband Yoo Cherim reached a compensation agreement with GS. The deal was signed at a public ceremony attended by Mapo police and government officials, which guarantees that GS will honour the agreement or face a fine.

“This is victory and we feel sad,” says Jang Pyha of Bamseom Pirates.

The fate of Dooriban has been set. “We gathered for the urban renewal but we got what we want, the owners got what they want,” says Pyha. Pyha has been heavily involved in Dooriban’s struggle, creating Independent Musician Cooperation to support the sit-in, and give bands an affordable place to practice and have shows.

“We have been trying to create a commune-like atmosphere where everyone is welcome,” explains Jo. “The commune-like atmosphere gave us strength to maintain the struggle. And the enemies, the construction company, knew about it, and so they had to close the deal with us, otherwise you know, they know and we know and everyone knows, that the sit-in struggle will continue until we get what we want.”

“We fought against something to get what we want,” says Pyha, “but now we achieved it, so there’s no reason to gather anymore in this place.”

“The money’s not important,” admits Jo, “but they paid enough money to open a new Korean food restaurant in this neighbourhood.”

With a reasonable resettlement package, Dooriban can afford to move into a new building. The new location is going to be near Hongdae main gate.

“But that’s just a noodle store,” says Pyha.

“I don’t expect to see its current cultural role continue,” says Hwang, “but it was a beautiful combination of art and social issues that will be stamped in our memories forever.”
“We can’t gather like now,” says Pyha, who has made much use of the third floor event room and the second floor sleeping room. ”We can’t do that, so that’s sad.”

“I want to continue doing public performances with Dooriban,” says Vad Hahn of Amature Amplifier and Yamagata Tweakster, “but the land price and housing price and monthly rent are too large, and it is impossible. Dooriban is a kalguksu restaurant first. If it is possible to get a building with a performance space, it would be good.”

According to Jo, Yoo Cherim (though I really couldn’t tell who he was gesturing at) plans to open a new club to maintain the momentum Dooriban has built up. Also, the Independent Musician Cooperation has begun managing a new club, DGBS, at the Korea National University of Arts campus.

This small victory for Dooriban is a major victory for all people in Korea who face eviction with unfair compensation. It’s also the end of a short but golden era in Korean underground music.

Dooriban’s final show will be held over two days, from Saturday to Sunday this weekend. The band list is long, so look it up in the listings or visit their Daum page.

(reprinted from Broke in Korea #12)

Broke in Korea is Korea’s longest-running English-language zine (as well as a defunct, related message board). With a couple issues coming out every year, it showcases what’s going on in the underground music scene.

This issue features interviews with long-lost all-girl punk band Nonstop Body, as well as Bamseom Pirates, Tremors, Christfuck, Dokkaebi Assault, and Mr Headbutt (Daegu). Also interviewed are Dr Stephen Epstein, the man behind the 1999 Korean punk documentary Our Nation, as well as Patrick Rodgers, a pranic vampire, about his visit to North Korea last year. There’s also an article on the closing of Dooriban at the end of this month.

The zine also covers urban exploration, with articles on Yeonpyeongdo, the abandoned amusement park Okpo Land, and the bitter rivalry between Korean urban explorers Yangbantal and Seonbital.

As well, there are music reviews, crosswords, comics, and top ten lists.

The zine will be released at 11pm on Saturday night at Club Spot. Entry is 7000 won, and you can see live performances No Control, Midnight Smokin Drive, Tremors, and Spiky Brats.  Stop by, pick up a zine, listen to the bands, and drink until the subways open.

By Shawn Despres

Last month Mark wrote a post about bellydancer Eshe gracing the cover of May’s Groove Korea and starting her own bellydance studio in Hongdae.  This weekend Eshe is holding a two-day party at Hodge Podge in Hongdae to celebrate the opening of her Dream Dance Studio.

ESHE & ORGELTANZ

Eshe and her student troupes Navah and Mahadevi will perform on Friday (June 17) and Saturday (June 18).  Both bashes will see the stunning sirens sharing completely different dance routines and tunes.

Each night will include some very cool special guest performers as well.  Friday will have urban freestyle dancer Thomaz C and live percussion from former Orgeltanz djembe player Gwangil Bae.  Starry-Eyed, 9 and the Numbers, and Sunkyeol drummer Duck will do a DJ set.  Kingston Rudieska vocalist Sukyuel will DJ, too.  Duck is currently recording with indie rock bands Starry-Eyed and Sunkyeol and he’ll play at July’s Rainbow Festival with 9 and the Numbers.  Ska act Kingston Rudieska are also scheduled to appear at Rainbow Festival and they’ll play at the Jisan Valley Rock Festival and the Busan International Rock Festival this summer.

NAVAH

The lineup for Saturday is equally strong.  Gwangil Bae will be jamming with bouzouki player Yannis. Aly Kate Mewse will bellydance. J-Path, DJ Jun, and Apollo 18 bassist Jellyboy will all take turns spinning tracks.  J-Path has opened for the likes of Goldie and Roni Size and has performed at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, the Jisan Valley Rock Festival, the World DJ Festival, and Global Gathering.  DJ Jun has appeared at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, the Jisan Valley Rock Festival, and the World DJ Festival, too.  Post-hardcore act Apollo 18 will release a new album this July through highly regarded Tokyo indie label Zankyo Record.  Next month they’ll also play at the Jisan Valley Rock Festival and Japan’s famed Fuji Rock Festival.

Tickets for each night are 10,000 won with one free drink.  Friday’s show begins at 8:45 pm and things get started at 7:45 pm on Saturday.

Hodge Podge is located on the same street at FF and Club Ta.  The closest subway station is Sangsu Station.  Go out exit 1 and walk towards Hongik University.  Turn left at 7-11.  Hodge Podge is in the first building on the right.  It’s on the third floor, above Club Evans.