OR from Shy Kick Apple/Fire Ex talks about VFTS

This article originally appeared in Chinese on the Megaport Association website.

Voices From The South: S.K.A./Fire Ex Guitarist OR

Two years ago I got an unexpected phone call from a Chinese-Canadian guy who said in unclear Chinese, “Hi, I’m Don from FYI South, I want to interview Shy Kick Apple for the magazine.” During the course of the interview, we drank a lot of beer. In addition to discussing Shy Kick Apple, we told him about other bands and the underground scene in Kaohsiung. Don’s reaction was one of amazement; he rightly believed that the indie scene should not be like this. Afterwards, whenever S.K.A. had a show, he would almost always be there. Each time I would see him his first words to me would always be “Hey OR! Beer?” Over time, everyone got to know more and more about this new friend with whom we could practice English and drink beer.

One day I got a phone call saying Don wanted to make a documentary about Kaohsiung’s bands. This news made me feel both nervous and excited. Finally, more people could get to understand Kaohsiung’s music scene. Even if just a little, that would be just fine. Our surroundings are not like that of the north, so it’s easy for us to become idle. Because of this, we all know we must work a little harder.

Once, Don came from Kaohsiung to Dan Shui to film Fire Ex. It was only a minor thing, he needed a sound recording to use in the film. When we finished our show, I saw him sitting alone at the side of the stage looking dejected and angry, smoking a cigarette. I asked him what was wrong, he said the sound recording was corrupted and it couldn’t be used. He blamed himself over this little thing, and he felt that he made a mistake. I also blamed myself for not paying attention to this matter and helping to avert the mistake. After I consoled him, he immediately threw all his equipment bags on his back and walked off into the sunset to return to Kaohsiung. Watching him walking away, I almost cried. But of course, in his hand was a bag of beer…

This documentary not only shows Kaohsiung’s bands, it also shows his care and love for us. I often think that maybe we’re not important people, but we definitely make up a page in Kaohsiung’s history. Thanks to this documentary for capturing these bands for posterity. So, see you at MegA on the 18th. I hope everyone can have some drinks, enjoy the bands and the movie. If you happen to run into Don and have a drink in your hand, don’t be shy and say to him “Thanks and Cheers!”

Sam from Fire Ex talks about VFTS

This article originally appeared in Chinese on the Megaport Association website.

Voices From The South: Sam Yang, lead singer for Fire Ex

Never before has there been a person who possesses such an earnest attitude towards Kaohsiung’s music scene. We all love Kaohsiung and love our bands as a matter of course. However, there’s a guy from Canada, a guy who at all times can produce a bag of beer, who picks up a digital video camera and with great conviction tells us that he too loves Kaohsiung and its bands. Furthermore, he tells us he wants to carefully document the scene, and let the whole world see it.

At first, we all thought this wouldn't be such a difficult task. But after watching him and a couple of friends working hard filming every single performance, and arranging and filming band interviews, we slowly started to think that is not so easy after all.

One day, Don called me up and said “Join Us lost all the sound recording files, can I come film your show in Dan Shui?” I told him that this was only a small-scale performance, and it was not too convenient to get to the location of the show. Nevertheless, he still decided to come. Below the setting sun in Dan Shui came the man carrying two bags of equipment and a bag of beer. He came all the way from Kaohsiung. Immediately, my esteem for him went off the charts. The degree of importance he attached to this project far, far exceeded my imagination.

Folks in Kaohsiung haven’t really said thanks to him, so I want to tell you, Don, you’ve done an excellent job. We all admire you and want to thank you. On the 18th, let’s party! We wanna get you drunk!

As for what changes or influence this documentary will bring about, I don’t even want to take a wild guess. After all, I’m not a professional movie critic. I do hope that we can look back at this precious movie again and again when we’re old. I also hope it can let more and more people know about Kaohsiung rock music. Of course, if Don can make a bit of money from the movie, that would be good. At the same time, I hope the film will carry the sounds of all of our bands’ laughter throughout all of Taiwan.

Video of the Trimester!

Given the languorous frequency at which we post videos, the title is more or less accurate! Here's Fire Ex from June 28, 2008 at Join Us. Tell all your friends!!

All's Quiet on the Inner-City Front

Slow month for activity, November is. Fire Ex will not be touring/performing for most of the month, as they have dedicated this time to songwriting and songwriting only. KoOk will be performing at Join Us on the 15th along with several other bands, but other than that, Kaohsiung will be pretty quiet. We are currently arranging further showings of "Voices From The South" for the month of December, both in Kaohsiung and around the island. There are tentative plans for a screening at Shu De University, and also Womb Bloc has contacted us about arranging a screening/live show featuring some of the bands from the film. A college in Taichung has also inquired about arranging a showing there, so we have a busy month ahead!

Live from MegA, It's... Maho!

Finally some live footage from the premiere of "Voices From The South", October 18 at MegA in Kaohsiung. Here's Maho with a brief clip of their song "Unwilling". This footage was shot by Alex Williams, who also did some camera work for the documentary. Thanks, Alex!

Thanks, Kaohsiung!

The screening at MegA on Saturday went off without a hitch, with a very sizable crowd in attendance. All 5 bands played brief but inspired sets, and the film seemed to be well-received. Taiwan's cable news channel, SET, was on hand to film the event, and ran a story Saturday night on their newscast about it. We will hopefully have some photos to post here from the day's proceedings, but in the meantime, we are busy arranging further screenings of the film. A few universities in Kaohsiung, and one in Taichung, have already expressed interest in on-campus showings of the movie, but we are holding out to make sure that live band performances will be included. After all, the whole point of the film is to publicize Kaohsiung's awesome bands!

Thanks to all the folks who came to the show, and made it a success. The bands really do appreciate your support!!

Megaport Website-More Info Here!

The Megaport Independent Music Association marks their second year of co-operating with The Kaohsiung Film Festival by co-sponsoring the premiere screening of our film. Here's more detailed information from Megaport's site , albeit in Chinese, about the day's events and the film itself.