Live review from Post-Halloween Rock Show:
1. 黑被窩
2. 壞了的文青
3. 之所以這樣
4. 煩惱將我炸掉
5. 祝君安好
6. 不透明坦白
HiBye – 將鼓棍向上拋．把耳機甩下來！
視覺動物，HiBye最先吸引我的是他們一身時髦造型，配上官方「EMO ROCK」樂隊定位簡介，令人期待這一男一女組合會帶來怎樣的Emotion！以最近流行的說法來概括他們set up時予人的形象，頗肯定施春（Vocal & guitar）是個I人、Magg Chu（Drums）是個E人！
沒有過多hyper開場白，HiBye直接嚟料。打頭陣的一首歌，前奏取樣自地鐵離站時的「嘟嘟聲」，仲要係我搭開嘅綠色線，哈哈，好感度上升。至到男聲入場——咦…..咁細聲嘅？講返啲客觀因素先，細場玩LIVE，音響設備（耳機、mic、喇叭）有問題係常見事，甚至唔出問題先係少見；而「肉眼可見」地，施春當時應該陷於這些設備問題之中，枝mic跌埋落地嗰隻。But this is what LIVE about！HiBye好快調整返狀態，耳機聽唔清人聲，彈彈下甩埋？So what！施春一聲「OK LET’S GO！」任由耳機掉下，投入演奏；一鼓一結他，要嘅嘢夠晒！呢個畫面，的確幾搖滾嘅！
施春唱腔偏虛，似有以氣聲堆疊情緒，下秒隨時screaming爆發之意，而Magg作為和聲，聲線則相對厚實低沉，男虛女實配搭不同於常見男女組合；這唱法在耳機聽固然有feel，但在LIVE中就要小心人聲不要被鼓聲蓋過，或許是當日音響使然，加上些許咬字唔清晰，的確有段時間聽不清歌詞在唱甚麼，這點就略為可惜，因為感覺HiBye的歌詞應該頗溫柔的。
然而HiBye的表演力仍足以牽動觀眾情緒！他們有善用台上的空間，施春大幅度地把玩結他，郁嚟郁去，應該是本身都有一、兩嘢招牌動作吧；而露出drummer face的Magg亦有將鼓棍向上拋的看家本領，觀賞性十足！化上粗眼線、輕歌德風打扮（應該可以這樣歸類?）的Magg as一名鼓手，形象本身就相當鮮明，打鼓時感覺幾自在輕鬆，幾charm！一鼓一結他有默契地引領觀眾進入高潮，深刻的畫面是Magg的鼓在後段加速，而施春則面向Magg合上眼快掃chord回應，兩人有種血脈賁張的connection在其中，不知施春張開眼後望到Magg又在想甚麼呢——可以說的是，HiBye有傳遞到他們那種柔中帶勁、情感真摰的Emotion給觀眾！
-劉海亮
Live review from 20th Anniversary Festival Day 1 星期五:
1. 之所以這樣
2. 壞了的文青
3. 寂寞城市需要一種病
4. 正能量日日鏟屎
5. 煩惱將我炸掉
6. 不透明坦白
Duo HIBYE is a very stark contrast to the other band (Senseless) I was tasked with reviewing for the night, though that’s not a bad thing. Coming in during their sound check, I was intrigued at their set up and the myriad of futuristic, swirly sounds the guitarist had displayed already; dreamy like chorus driven dreampoppy/shoegazey overdriven guitar, with finely polished backing tracks triggered by the drummer, though I can almost certainly say the drums were played live, as she looked like she was 100% in the music and could feel it completely.
The band’s sounds spanned a wide range, songs such as 之所以這樣 and 煩惱將我炸掉 having a dreamy, indie-emo-rock feel that made me think of HK’s previous indie rock legends Silhungmo or Emptybottles, songs like 壞了的文青 and 寂寞城市需要一種病 taking more creative turns, the former having esoteric, confusing but interesting timing and riffs, and the latter including some inspiring beatbox-y interludes by the singer, whilst the song 正能量日日鏟屎 had a jazzy, mainstream cantopop feel (similar a bit to Gareth T’s sound), and 不透明坦白 being a modern sounding cantopop inspired ballad, you could tell this duo loved making whatever music they felt like and felt totally comfortable with just doing what they wanted for their own sake and not anyone else’s. Seeing as these guys were on for the later part of the night, it was the perfect set to chill down to, right after the emotional bass-rap-drum set of Darthreider and The Bassoons, HIBYE’s sound is equally as heart wrenching, at times angsty, at times crooning, but all the time passionate. If you are into avant-garde, experimental ‘art noveau’ type sets such as those displayed by KYVLE, then you’ll love HIBYE.
–SHERMAN LEUNG
