In the end, I took my ass over to Kwun Tong in time to see the last couple of songs by the opening act, Innercore. I used to work in the music industry -- which I know doesn't necessarily mean that I have good taste in music -- but my standards for live acts are quite strict. (Yes, I'm that person standing in the centre-back with their arms crossed and no expression, although for heavy metal shows, I tend to dance around a bit once I've warmed up.) I've seen how much work ought to go into a performance, and I've seen really fantastic ones given in the worst locations with an audience of five. I know it takes a lot of balls to get up onstage, but if musicians really want to make a living out of performing, they have to do their damnedest to put on a good show.
Innercore didn't really do it for me. I could see the skill and talent, but the energy wasn't there. In fact, I thought the band had more energy afterwards crowdsurfing and moshing during 顛覆M's set. What was really lacking, I thought, was conviction. Musicians really need to have conviction when they're onstage: that they're the embodiment of metal, of hip hop, of rock, of pop, whatever. Otherwise, you can't command the crowd.
Fortunately, 顛覆M put on a really fantastic show. Here's a picture of them setting up. It's been a long time since the music biz, but I still get a little flutter of nerves whenever I see this.
I took a video of the beginning of the set -- yes, the stage is dark for a reason and the lights come up later, don't worry. I really like how they combined folk elements -- the throat singing and traditional Mongolian instruments -- really seamlessly with metal. Some of the songs had an almost-cheerful folk beat and rhythm but overlaid with really dark, heavy guitar. The set was really vibrant and full of energy, the band really worked together to get the crowd pumped up. A ffew improvements could be made here and there with regards to movement onstage, but generally, the band did well.
I stood next to the band's manager the whole time, and I noticed that the band would occasionally look at him for reassurance or to see if they were doing okay. I thought that was rather sweet and a good sign for this band. I chatted with the manager a little bit afterwards, and he seems like a guy with a lot of common sense.
Anyway, please enjoy the video and do support this band, I think they're just marvelous.
In defiance of menstrual fashion, I decided to wear a white shirt dress. I thought it would be funny to dress like this for a metal show but some possibly-lost expat showed up in a suit, of all things, so I wasn't the most incongruously-dressed person there, after all.
Yes, the newspapers have returned! Sorry I had to do this type of mirror picture, but I had the damnedest time setting up the camera.
I'd planned to wear the leopard print faux fur cropped coat that I got at DNA Galleria, but the weather turned out to be too warm. Isn't this coat just divine? It's got a rather 1940s cut, with wide, three-quarter length sleeves and a swing back.
*edited to add: the coat cost HKD260, which is around USD30. A fair price, wouldn't you say? On the cheap side, even.
I'm also wearing a silver rosary that I made. It took me almost a month to finish it since I made everything by hand, tsk.
