Shenzhen Underground 1

24-04-09

Big thanks to everyone that came out and supported our first Underground Shenzhen show. You have proven that Shenzhen will support live, original music. Every performer that took the stage enjoyed performing for such a great crowd and exciting atmosphere. We look forward to future events. It has been a long time coming, the next won’t be as far off.”
Leon


shenzhen1u009.JPG

shenzhen1u001.JPG shenzhen1u002.JPG shenzhen1u003.JPG shenzhen1u004.JPG shenzhen1u005.JPG shenzhen1u006.JPG shenzhen1u007.JPG shenzhen1u008.JPG shenzhen1u010.JPG shenzhen1u011.JPG shenzhen1u012.JPG shenzhen1u013.JPG shenzhen1u014.JPG

0755 (Shenzhen 深圳)

What a great way to start Underground’s 1st show in Mainland China! 0755 kicked off the event with a great reggae set in Mandarin to warm up the audience… and it certainly went down well. The band was tight and was quite successful in capturing the pop reggae ‘feel’, vocalist inclusive, even though the last song was more in the style of beat (Merseybeat) than reggae (and no less pleasing – the guitar hooks were spot on). If I have any complaint about this band it was the fact that it only did 3 songs. In their defence, they were called in at the last minute. All in all, a band worth keeping an eye on and I look forward to seeing them play a longer set.
Thlayli

shenzhen1u035.JPG

shenzhen1u021.JPG shenzhen1u022.JPG shenzhen1u023.JPG shenzhen1u024.JPG shenzhen1u025.JPG shenzhen1u026.JPG shenzhen1u027.JPG shenzhen1u028.JPG shenzhen1u029.JPG shenzhen1u030.JPG shenzhen1u031.JPG shenzhen1u032.JPG shenzhen1u033.JPG shenzhen1u034.JPGshenzhen1u036.JPG shenzhen1u015.JPG shenzhen1u016.JPG shenzhen1u017.JPG shenzhen1u018.JPG shenzhen1u019.JPG shenzhen1u020.JPG

Tank Warehouse (Shenzhen 深圳)

The band described themselves as a rap metal band and their attitude certainly lived up to that description. The band started its set with a Limp Bizkit cover, followed by another, then another. In fact in its 4 song set 3 were covers and only the last song was original – someone must have omitted to tell them that Underground is about original music. That aside, the sound from the band was not entirely unpleasant considering both the guitarist & drummer were introduced as jazz/fusion musicians. The lead vocalist had a good stage presence and the band played together well. For the style of music it plays it could probably use more aggression – fatter guitar, bigger drums.
Thlayli

shenzhen1u037.JPG

shenzhen1u039.JPG shenzhen1u040.JPG shenzhen1u041.JPG shenzhen1u042.JPG shenzhen1u043.JPG shenzhen1u038.JPG shenzhen1u044.JPG shenzhen1u045.JPG shenzhen1u047.JPG shenzhen1u048.JPG shenzhen1u049.JPG shenzhen1u050.JPG shenzhen1u051.JPG shenzhen1u052.JPG shenzhen1u053.JPG shenzhen1u054.JPG shenzhen1u055.JPG shenzhen1u057.JPG shenzhen1u058.JPG shenzhen1u059.JPG shenzhen1u060.JPG shenzhen1u061.JPG shenzhen1u062.JPG shenzhen1u063.JPG shenzhen1u064.JPG shenzhen1u065.JPG shenzhen1u066.JPG shenzhen1u056.JPG shenzhen1u046.JPG

Tai Tai Alibi

A well known and much liked band from Hong Kong, Tai Tai Alibi was an excellent representative from the SAR and certainly raised the bar for the rest of the evening. Opening with Lost In You, the band definitely captured the audience’s attention through the ensuing 20 minutes with its set of melodic guitar rock. As expected from a band which, among its credits, opened for Manic Street Preachers, the band was tight and at ease, and delivered their music well. The music was well crafted and captivating and had the audience swaying and foot-tapping away, and excellent response from the crowd for the band’s Shenzhen debut, which, up to that point, was quite subdued.
Thlayli

shenzhen1u068.JPG

shenzhen1u069.JPG shenzhen1u070.JPG shenzhen1u071.JPG shenzhen1u072.JPG shenzhen1u073.JPG shenzhen1u074.JPG shenzhen1u076.JPG shenzhen1u077.JPG shenzhen1u078.JPG shenzhen1u080.JPG shenzhen1u082.JPG shenzhen1u075.JPG shenzhen1u081.JPG shenzhen1u084.JPG shenzhen1u085.JPG shenzhen1u086.JPG shenzhen1u087.JPG

Prizm (Shenzhen 深圳)

This Shenzhen based Filipino band received a warm welcome from the audience which suggested that it was well known in this neck of the wood. Despite its hard rock appearance, the band did mainly a set of soft rock ballads which went down really well with crowd. As expected of from any Filipino band, Prizm were made up of sound musicians who know how to make music… well. The highlight of the set for me, ironically, was a cover song, Bohemian Rhapsody, a song which should not be attempted without due care and consideration as well as lots of practice – all of which the band obviously did and the result totally mesmerised the audience.
Thlayli

shenzhen1u108.JPG

shenzhen1u088.JPG shenzhen1u089.JPG shenzhen1u090.JPG shenzhen1u091.JPG shenzhen1u092.JPG shenzhen1u093.JPG shenzhen1u094.JPG shenzhen1u095.JPG shenzhen1u096.JPG shenzhen1u097.JPG shenzhen1u098.JPG shenzhen1u099.JPG shenzhen1u100.JPG shenzhen1u101.JPG shenzhen1u102.JPG shenzhen1u103.JPG shenzhen1u104.JPG shenzhen1u105.JPG shenzhen1u106.JPG shenzhen1u107.JPG shenzhen1u108.JPG shenzhen1u109.JPG shenzhen1u110.JPG shenzhen1u111.JPG shenzhen1u112.JPG shenzhen1u113.JPG shenzhen1u114.JPG shenzhen1u115.JPG shenzhen1u116.JPG shenzhen1u117.JPG shenzhen1u118.JPG

Bolt Action (Shenzhen 深圳)

Judging from the audience response when the band started playing, the Shenzhen based expat band and China finalist of Global Battle of the Band 2008 was well known among the regulars at Jin Bar and proceeded to bowl over the audience with its brand of funk rock complete with shredding guitar and funky bass somewhat reminiscent of a combination of Billy Idol and Nirvana. The band delivered a big sound with a good stage presence which, combined with it’s uptempo music provided a great finale to a great debut Shenzhen Underground show.
Thlayli

shenzhen1u119.JPG shenzhen1u083.JPG shenzhen1u067.JPG

Above photos © Copyright 2009 by Angus Leung
Poster by Wain

Be Sociable, Share!