Looking to an alternative to the typical Saigon music scene? On Sunday, July 28th, the Onion Cellar will host a night of Japanese-dominated indie, progressive rock and electronic music ranging from single acts to group performances.
The Onion Cellar is a Vietnam-based independent organization that aims to promote alternative music and films to the local audience - and ultimately to inspire them to go on their own exciting adventures in sounds and visuals.
Here’s some additional info on the acts:
KK Null
Focusing on the outer territories of electronica, KK Null creates intense, clashing waves of noise, structured electro-acoustic ambience, broken down rhythms, scattered pitch sculptures (for installations), droning isolationist material which could be described as ‘cosmic noise maximal/minimalism’. In the early 90 s he gained world-wide recognition as the mastermind, guitarist and singer of the ′progressive hardcore band ZENI GEVA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8XeXvAkHTM
Zeni Geva
One of Japan's more eccentric and intriguing extreme music exports ever since the late '80s and the '90s, self-professed progressive hardcore duo ZENI GEVA fuses elements of death metal, hardcore, industrial music, noise rock, progressive rock and avant-garde music, gaining no small underground recognition in the process while getting described as ‘Motorhead meets King Crimson’ and recording/collaborating with the legendary studio engineer Steve Albini (who has been producing records for all sorts of luminaries of alternative music: Nirvana, Pixies, MONO, Neurosis, Slint, Shannon Wright, Melt-Banana, etc)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QynxROe4CM&feature=youtu.be
Ruins Alone
Ruins plays a unique form of manic and twisted progressive rock. Bandleader/drummer/singer Yoshida credits such diverse influences as progressive rock stalwarts Magma, Pink Floyd, Gong, King Crimson, Yes, classical composers like Chopin, and traditional throat singing from Tuva. Though these influences often come through in the RUINS sound, there is no mistaking RUINS for anyone else. Many RUINS compositions employ odd time signatures, sudden tempo changes, and passages of heavily processed noise. Vocals are meant to be nonsensical (and that's how they sound) and are usually improvised, as are portions of the songs. The overall sound is chaotic yet precise, noisy yet harmonious, catchy yet repelling, frenetic yet disciplined.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlJZeJqwisg
COCC
A Saigon-based indie/psych-rock trio whose amazing debut album “6 Gi” (2011) deserves much more recognition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrCmOdrrGtg&feature=youtu.be
Striped Cobra
A Japanese band in modern day Saigon. 5 musicians – 3 males, 2 females. Instruments: guitar, saxophone, cello, keyboard/vocals, drums. Influences: the guitar player’s main influences are hardcore punk and ska hardcore, the saxophonist’s: swing jazz, the cellist’s: the Japanese singer songwriter KAN, the keyboardist/singer’s: anarcho punk and a legion of riff-oriented bands – Captain Beyond, The Stooges, Merciful Fate, the drummer’s: all jazz giants, also – John Cage.
The show will take place at Darts Club (224A Pasteur, HCMC) and is organized by the Onion Cellar. Tickets are available from the venue from July 6 – July 26 from 6pm. Presale tickets will cost you VND150,000. VND200,000 at the door. Free drink included.
