Darge Tour Korea Fall 2011 !!!

                      Special guests TBA *from Japan!

Nayoung says: Top ten gigs!!!!

Some so-called “old punk dudes” often say punk gig nowadays is not good enough compared to 70’s or 80’s but there is no way I can go to shows in 70’s or 80’s. I respect classic band but I think it is lame just to soak from the nostalgia and make light of all the active bands playing these days. As you may see from my travel diary and gig report, I like to see many bands that are new, old and the one I really like. Therefore, I would like to write about the best live TOP 10 so far!! First of all, I am more like emotional person rather than analytic person who really try to criticize everything. I don’t like the band merely based on music. So my top10 might look crappy but what the fuck, who does even give a shit?

10. KOMATOZ at Play Fast or Don’t 2010]
Actually KOMATOZ are one of the reasons I went to PFOD. I loved them so much when I listen to their records and read their interview on some Czech fanzine. I was so impressed by their idea and attitude so I even translated their interview in Korean for my personal blog. So there is no doubt I was super excited to see their live!! They played very early I think around 1 or 2PM. It is super early for the festival because many people must be recovering from the prob the worst hangover in their life from last night haha. But I was in front row and enjoy their entire shows (even sound checking)!! They play like metal punk style and it was so good. Even though there aren’t many crowd compared to other band due to early time, the atmosphere was epic. I think I will have plenty of chance to see them in future because they are very active and tour all the time! One day I hope they tour Asia too.

9. Systematic Death at The Know (Portland)
I think it was around 2008 they toured US. I was in Portland for my summer vacation and had chance to see them in Portland. I had never seen any Japanese hardcore band at that time and it was my first experience to see Japanese hardcore band. How weird is that? I live in the country which is the closest from Japan and had never had chance to see Japanese bands? Anyhow it is the fact. It isn’t very long time that i started to listen hardcore, punk music so I had little knowledge. Anyway, I was blown away to see their live and thought I need to go to Japan for the first time. Their live was full of energy. I felt like I was being charged like battery haha. And the atmosphere was awesome too. It was free show so lots of punks came to the show. I am kinda got used to see punks now but at that time It was just new experience just to see punks gathering in the same place. Strangely, I saw them 4 or 5 times after this show (of course in Japan) but I didn’t get to me like this one. They might have played better in Japan but like I said, I am not the person who says “They played suck this time” “they played better than last time” type of person. NEXT!

8.VIVISICK in Tokyo (Destino Final Final show)
Ok.. I heard about VIVISICK when I was in Brazil in 2007. There is a Brazilian band I really liked called Mukeka Dirato. I was hoping to see them in Brazil but what a shitty timing! They were touring JAPAN at that time. I was buying some records and then found the records they split with VIVISICK. Actually, when I first listened their records, I wasn’t that impressed. They are good but not FUDIDO!! territory. Anyway, I got to see their live when I was in Tokyo for the Destino Final tour, and I was like so shocked. SOOO GOOD!! They know exactly what they are doing and I couldn’t stop smile during whole show. After this, I always try to see their gig when I go to Japan. They are animal on the stage. Fucking INSANE!! You must see their live and meet them too. Totally punk minded super nice guys!! I hope to see their live in Korea before I die.

7.DESTINO FINAL in Gifu,Japan
Destino Final from Spain! I always loved Spanish punk bands so it is hard to miss these awesome Spanish d-beat monsters. I was pretty hesitate between Destino final and Extreme Noise Terror + World Burn to Death but I decided to go for this show. Consequentially, I was lucky enough to catch the both shows but even if I hadn’t’, I made really good choice. The venue was located in Gifu and it has been my favorite city since then. There is small venue looks like European squat and the show was held there. Everyone goes insane all the time and all my friends were made total chaos! I am so glad I got a chance to see them. I now certainly know it is very hard for me to see them one more time. I am going to play Destino Final and Invasion 12” right now.

6.AGE in Varning Montreal Fest (Montreal)
OK! One of my favorite Japanese bands ever!! I really liked their music when my friends first introduce AGE and I liked them even more the fact that they are from Niigata. I know this sounds kinda silly but some time I have some kind of special affection for certain area, city bands. Its my thing let it go. I saw them many times in Japan usually in Tokyo but for me the best of their live was at Varning. I mentioned about this horrible event occurred to me at that time in my previous post but luckily I could see them in live. AGE..What a great band!!! I really hope I will see their gig more and more!! I will make a short weekend trip next month to Niigata. Unfortunately AGE is not playing but I am so stoked to visit Niigata and see Blowback. Why all niigata bands so kicking ass? It is Mystery indeed.

5.DARGE at HUCKFINN,Nagoya,Japan
I think Darge is definitely the band Ive seen more than 10 times HAHA!! I go to Nagoya so many times to hangout with these guys. Super nice, totally open-minded punk attitude, hate bullshit more than anyone.. just totally awesomeness. I first met Rafael (Bassist) in person in 2009 when I went to Nagoya to see Hellshock. Since then, we’ve became very close friend so I started to go to Japan so many times (and I will visit Nagoya again next month) BUT I don’t like Darge just because they are good friend of mine. Their music is brutal as fuck. They changed their music style recently and it is even better than before. Fast, Dark, Brutal and powerful. It is insane. The one more thing I love about them is they are very active. Who doesn’t respect active band?? These guys are always doing this and planning, organizing that. It is totally awesome. They are still planning lots of things for this year. So you must keep your eyes wide open.

4.FY FAN (in Korea)
Ok, FYI, the country called Korea where I live may not exactly the place you want to live if you like punk and hardcore music. Many people whining about this but hey! It is brutal truth. Korea is very close to Japan (about one and half hours from Japan by flight) so you might think it would be similar.. WRONG!!!!!!!! Anyway, in 2009, Swedish band called FY FAN invaded Korea. I can’t still believe they actually came to Korea just to have a good time playing show. I helped their Korean tour and it was so much fun. They made long tour starting from Korea to Australia at that time and I wanted them to enjoy every moment while they are staying in Korea. They played 3 times and it was very brutal and insane shows. Everyone went nuts. This is so understandable since it is extremely rare for some good bands from oversea come to Korea so people must be so impressed by it. Kojang who runs this blog with me remembered this show as the best show he’s ever seen in Korea at that time. I really hoped this will be seed for inviting many bands who are touring Asia region but unfortunately it is still hibernation mode. They currently stop playing temporarily but you can check their ep. Man.. such a good memory!

3. HELLSHOCK in PDX
HELLSHOCK!! I love this band so much! I really like stenchcore so I must like this band haha. I first saw them when I stay in Portland in 2006 and love them so much since then. You know..Sometime you have some feelings for some bands that dragged you into new music. For me, Hellshock is the one. When I first saw them in punk show in Portland I was so impressed by their live and started to listen all the punks from old to recent one and collecting a vinlys. So of course Hellshock is very special band for me. I try to catch their live once in a year and it seems to work so far except last year. I went to Montreal but shitty travel agency fucked all this up so I couldn’t get to see them even though I flew to Montreal haha. Well maybe this year I hope I can see them. I think many people in Korea started to listen hellshock and stuff so I hope next time they tour Japan they could stop by Korea as well. It makes me smiling just to think that happened in future.


2. Hibernation at PFOD
Hibernation!!!!!!! Who doesn’t know Hibernation is awesome!? They are probably the biggest reason I went to Czech last year. I was hesitating some of festivals around the world and when I saw this flyer Hibernation from Greece playing? I was like “ I am so fucking going to Czech!!!”.
I have only listened to their records so I was so curious what it is like when I actually see them. I was blown away when I see their live. Of course there was no disappointed at all. I have to admit that I appreciate their live so much because Hibernation is the band which is really really hard for me to see unless I go to Greece. Maybe even if I went there, It would be still hard to catch their show because I think they don’t play that often. Even though there was lots of good and big bands played at the festival, my favorite was Hibernation (maybe Counterblast too? hahaha)!!! I know I probably wouldn’t have chance to see them in my country but if you have chance (especially those who lives in Europe), please check them out!


1.TRAGEDY in PDX
I assume that recently tragedy became so huge and there are many extremely ‘cool’ people feel like it is not cool to like famous band and shit but whatever. I am not really happy with people those who make fun of people who like tragedy and listen their records as newbie poseur shit. Anyway, I love Tragedy like many people do and I can say they are one of my favorite bands. I can’t still forget the night in 2006, I saw them in small punk venue in Portland. It was some kind of local festival and I saw the tragedy for the first time. Their live was good enough making me deeply moved. I can’t go to Portland or Europe every year to see them but I always eager to see their show. You know I feel like my heart is tearing apart when I see they play in like US or Europe because I know I am not able to see them there hehe. So.. Tragedy is top 1 best live I’ve ever seen so far!


I feel so bad I couldn’t include more bands(like Counter Blast, Deviated Instinct, E.N.T) I thought live was fucking awesome but I am already exhausted to right this much stuff in English. I hope this list changes soon!! That means I will see more good shows from now on heh. For the person like me who lives in wasteland for diy punk and hard core music, South Korea, it is really hard to see good bands from all over the world and even local one. I fully understand people in Korea always bitching about there are lack of good band and touring band but I think sometime it is good to travel around the world and meet new people and see the band you liked from long time ago. Seeing new things can be inspirations and It can be good motivation to start to do something for my local scene.

Punk Trip to Taipei and Kuala Lumpur (Feb,2011) Part 2!!!

Here I come!! Kuala Lumpur!!! I went through immigration. I think most of immigration officers are fucking cunty cunt shit but KL one was different!! I am not being shallow bitch here but fucking my officer was the most handsome officer I’ve ever met in my travel history(maybe just for my taste??). And he was totally smiled at me, winked and asked sort of private questions puhahahhaha!!! I was almost about to ask when do you get off your work kkkk

After the immigration, I took an express train to KL Sentral Station. When I looked outside, it was very exotic and I could feel the hotness through the window. I arrived at Sentral station and waited for Jeo to pick me up. I was very glad that he actually came to the station even though he must be very busy to prepare the gig!!! We took a cab to the venue. KL looked pretty developed city and there are many different races. I knew Malaysia has many Muslims but I was surprised to see the Arabic letter on sign. At this point, I thought I made really smart choice to choose KL over Japan because I love to see and try new things :D

When I get off the cab and entered the venue, there was second culture shock!!!! It was like big restaurant and at the end of it, there is entrance door to the live club. When it comes to the punk venue, I’ve always expected some basement club located in seedy area of the town. WRONG!
Anyways, there was quite a lot of punks were hanging out, eating food. I was introduced to some local& Singaporian punks and chatted little while.. Man..I was very v~~ery tired.. I shouldn’t have drunk that much last night in Taiwan. And the weather!! I don’t want to bitch about the weather (It is stupid) but I am extremely weak at hot weather. And of course it was very hot in Malaysia haha! So I probably drank millions of ice tea (actually I needed beer so much).

Well..I met this girl named Ebit and she knows like everything in Korea!! Hahahah We had chat about Korea and cultural things.. It was very surprised to see foreigner knows about Korea so well even though they live in other part of the world. Maybe K-POP actually is advertising Korea somehow heheh. My Japanese punk friends are asking about KARA and my Taiwanese punk friends mention about Girls Generation’s legs thing hahahahah!! But it is way better than listen the name Kim Jung Ill or do you really eat dog shit whenever I said I am from Korea.

The show was supposed to start at 4PM but it didn’t get started around 6PM. Haha I don’t like punctuality when it comes to gig so it was cool. I looked through some merch table and bought couple of tapes. I wanted to buy some tour t-shirt and records but they sold all their stuff in Japan. There was only XS size of tour t-shirts left. I can’t even put my arm into those tiny shirts.

I respect my Malaysian friend’s life style and would like to do the same when I am staying their country BUT I couldn’t resist drinking beer HAHAHA!!! So I started to drink a beer, before first band geen naam starts to play. Not many people were during the live but I try not to miss any bands when I go to punk gig. They were actually good!! Total metal punk attack!!!! I was overly excited to see a band playing in Malaysia though hahah.

After them, it was Kathgor. They are not really my cup of tea but I have to mention about the female vocal. I usually don’t like female fronted bands because of scratchy high pitched voice. It makes my nails hurt (you know the sounds nail scratching on to the black board shit). But vocal of Kathgor??? She knows what she’s doing!!! Brutal as fuck!!!! I loved her voice so much BAGUS!!!

After Kathror, I drank again..again..and again~ haha. There are couple of people were drinking at the bar (not many!!). They were interested in talking to me cuz I am from different country so we had some funny conversation. Of course they were very nice and friendly. They offered me a drink. Like I said, I even sell my soul for free beer hahahaha!!! If it weren’t for Jeo, I would have been done so much embarrassing shit like I always do.
He saved my skin. Thanks Jeo!!

Anyway, I kinda don’t remember what the next band was. It was either Atomic death or Kahroshi
(Sorry, I have serious memory problem. My brain is kinda like swiss cheese now).
But I will write Atomic Death first haha!!! They played brutal Thrash!! They are sooo sooooooo good!! I was overly excited while their show haha!! I think I heard their split CD will come out next month?
Check them out!!!! Actually Atomic Death was my favorite band of this night.

Next band was Kahroshi (sp?). SHIT!! This band plays dark and heavy-moody-crusty 3 combos!! My favorite kind of music hehehe. They covered Hellshock too. Anyway, I didn’t know Malaysian punk scene or music before I came here, so I was very surprised to see a lot of interesting bands. I heard punk scene around SE asia is burning now but to experience is beyond my expectation! I feel so lucky to make this trip.

Finally, it is Nuclear Death Terror! Of course they played great and atmosphere was epic!! It was like a storm you know from start to the end. There was no rest hahaha!! Fucking Brutal!! But I have to tell this, I didn’t go to Malaysia JUST to see NDT. If international band comes to some place, I have better chance to see more awesome local bands and crowd and even band from another country because it is unusual event. That’s all. I was kinda sick and tired of hearing “Are you here for (band name)?”

Last band was Lifelock from Singapore. They play raw d-beat punk! It is always good to listen raw as fuck d-beat!! They were actually pretty awesome. I can’t wait to hear some stuff from their music. What did I do in Singapore?? Haha I doubt I go to Singapore anytime soon but If I have a chance, I will def check out more Singapore bands.

Ok, the show is officially over but there will be after party!!
I was talking to many people outside of the venue, and ran into Hisham from SMG. I’ve never met him in person but my Czech friend gave me his contact. Surprisingly he gave me bunch of split tapes!! How nice he is?? I checked them out when I got back to Korea and they fucking rules!! SMG seems very active band as well. I respect active band!! Pure Brutal Grindcore! Awesome!!!

Picture time..Say good bye time..Then we went to Jalan Allor(sp?). It is basically the street has full of restaurant outside. I love this kind of atmosphere!! I feel more comfortable eating outside then inside kkkkk Our table was full of the nicest local punks(Jeo,Atomic Death members,Tumin). We talk so many thing and eat yummy food. Sambal Sauce in my blood!!!!:D Why Malaysian food is so good?? I will miss this. Malaysian punks are extremely nice and friendly. They first seems to be shy but after we talk little bit more, they are very friendly. They even made fun of my accent hahahha.

Even though I didn’t drink that much as usual, I was extremely tired so I had to crash somewhere. Epiana drove us all to Jery’s record shop and I passed out immediately.. My first day in Kuala Lumpur was very intense and fun..I already started to miss these things while I was writing this diary.

Much Respect to all Malaysian Punks!!!

반란( 反亂) cover Siege:

No rants today. Just great Korean thrashy hardcore; Stop Kor. 기피자!

Thanks to Yi JuYeong

Varning from Montreal

It was around September when I decided to go to Montreal for the Varning from Montreal fest.
I saw the pre-flyer from someone’s blog and totally thought I must go this show no matter how. I used to studied in Portland and have some very special affection for PDX bands in general. So I usually try to see the bands from Portland at least once in a year and try to buy many new releases from PDX. Anyway, other than Hellshock and Tragedy is playing, there were so many great bands I would be dying to see. So I waited my pay-day (It seemed to take fucking forever) and bought a ticket to Montreal right away!! I was already so excited.
My friend introduced some of MTL punks and I’ve been contact with them before I go to MTL. They’ve been very supportive and kind!!


Finally, the day has become November 3rd (Wednesday). I was at the office and couldn’t concentrate on work at all. Like in my mind I was already in the plane drinking beer like whales.
However, things get fucking screwed up. Ok, my flight was supposed to leave at 18:30 at least my e-ticket itinerary said that. When I was at the airport at 17:30, all ticket counters were shut down. I was so fucking shocked and head to the air-canada’s office right way (you can never imagine how I felt at this moment. I almost peed myself haha). After I had a conversation with them, I found out that the flight schedule was 17:30 and the flight has already left with 200 passengers (oh it should be 199 passengers except me). The reason why this shit happened is that my stupid travel agency failed to notify me the changed schedule and I missed the flight. And there was no flight to Canada next day so I had to wait for another day to fly to MTL. That means.. I was going to miss 2 nights of the fest. To make matters worse, the flight ticket to montreal on Friday was sold out so I might not even fly to Canada. It seemed like there was nothing I could do on that day. So I went to bar and drink too much gin&tonico with rage..fury..ect. I kept saying that ‘ fuck.. I should be in fucking plane watching stupid movie by now!! ‘ I couldn’t sleep until 6AM cause I was so angry and nervous. It is very rare that I cannot sleep with emotional reasons.


Next Morning, I got up with horrible hangover from last night and called to travel agency right away. They said it is totally my fault that I didn’t re-confirm the flight schedule so they are not responsible to do anything for me. Also they said I should pay for no-show penalty if I wanna get a refund. I was so fucking pissed off after hearing this. Every word what they said was so ridiculous and just bullshit. I couldn’t let them fuck around me so I used my annoying customer skill (It includes swearing, yelling, threatening, I want to speak to your manager shit..ect..). I gotta tell you, it wasn’t an easy fight even though I am kinda expert to make phone operator annoyed.
They said, there is no flight ticket to MTL available tomorrow so you will have to choose another date which will be after the fest or you can refund your ticket. I obviously didn’t want to refund my fucking ticket cuz I was eager to see this varning fest soo soooo bad. I almost gave up when they took a firm attitude until 4PM. Hey..7hours.. MG-43 mouth.. ain’t that easy.


I think that the old saying “If you want something really really bad, the wish will be come true is somehow working! When I was exhausted and gave up my travel, I got a phone call from AIR CANADA saying they found a seat on the plane departing tomorrow. I got this call around 5:30PM. So close. I was so happy and relieved even though I was going to miss 2 nights of the show. And I got back my appetite again!! haha I was just so happy.


Actually I am fully aware that I am to blame for this event, because I didn’t go to the airport 2 hours before the flight schedule. I don’t know what is wrong with me but I just can’t do that.
I guess I am natural born slacker. I am overly generous to myself. Shit.. Sometime I really hate myself haha. I still go to the airport only one hour before the flight even after this shitty accident.


Anyway luckily I was able to go to Montreal!!

-Nayoung (November 2010)