Underground 78

Wooohooo! What a fun night this was! Starting with Jingan we had a high quality live music showcase, with top notch singing from everyone! Thanks to the audience who cheered and clapped and thanks to The Melting Pot & Zane for hosting this night’s event. See you all again very soon!
love Chris B x

Jingan Young

The evening got off to a strong start with singer-songwriter Jingan Young. Hong Kong born and raised but just returned after years abroad, Jingan’s got a really nice voice and plays acoustic guitar well. The four original songs that she performed all seemed to be directed at former lovers and her one cover, K.T. Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” mixed in well.
Spike

Sway Dog

The next act was Hong Kong band Sway Dog, singing in Cantonese, but this power trio was about as far as you can get from Canto-pop. I heard a heavy Brit-pop-punk influence in their sound, ranging from the Jam up to Blur. Their mix of covers and original songs had an appealing ragged edge. Sway Dog is a veteran band, having played more than 100 gigs since their launch, and you can tell these guys really enjoy playing together.
Spike

Life in Motion

Third on the bill was local band Life in Motion and I’d gladly pay to see them again. Mango and Leo met in design college and their artistic background clearly influenced their sound, which struck me as something that would slot in nicely next to the Cocteau Twins, but given a unique edge from Leo’s evocative harmonica. Zoe, their lead singer, is a small girl with a sweet smile and an unexpectedly powerful voice. This was their second appearance at Underground and I’m looking forward to their third!
Spike

Quasar

The final act was Quasar. This was the second time I’ve seen them live and all I can ask is, “How is it that Sanjeev Gurung isn’t a huge star?” This native of Nepal is the full package – stage presence, an amazing classic rock voice and epic story songs that draw you in and demand your attention. The three members of Quasar (a fourth recently dropped out to return to university) don’t look like they’re in the same band, but their tight sound tells you otherwise – as a former bass player myself I really enjoyed Ben Bair’s melodic bass lines. One of the songs they played, “So Let It Be,” will be featured on Underground’s second CD compilation, coming out in May.
The four acts on the bill played four very different styles but the one thing they all had in common was that they are tremendously talented and deserving of a wider audience. And I can’t wait for Underground 79!
Spike