SoundBase Festival 2009 - Acoustic Band Competition - FINAL
Event Review
The SoundBase Festival - Acoustic Band Competition marks its 10th Anniversary with special guest performances by folk-pop sensation Chet Lam, singer Deep Ng and 2008’s champion band Supper Moment on December 15, 2009 at the Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre. Since its inception in 2000, the Festival has grown and developed, while remaining true to the initial vision to share great music and pave the way for up-and-coming musicians. The final round is full of gift-like surprises, staged by 18 independent acts across a wide range of genres. All bands played their hearts out, vying for beautiful instruments, cash coupons and well-deserved recognition.
Securing themselves in the top spot with “We Know Better”, Pope George and the Cardinals feel surprised to receive the Gold Prize. As members of the band are foreign expatriates stationing in Hong Kong and various cities throughout Mainland China, whenever there is a rehearsal call, these musicians would travel to their headquarters in Guangzhou, just to meet and practice. But it’s time and effort well spent, for the band’s down-home charm, rich harmony vocals, violin improvisation and Blues/Country-style guitar playing will keep the judges and the audience completely engaged over a long period of time. Speaking of the band’s sonic personality, much credit should be given to guitarist and Best Individual Performance Award recipient Christopher Martin. His bend-filled playing style and bottleneck effect resembles the octave tones and warbles of a blues-harp, cutting thru the mix well.
The winner of Silver Prize and ‘CASH’ Best Original Song Award is Maps, a synonym with ingenious, assured song-craft. “The Harder Times” makes inquiries about the choices one makes in life. Still in their early twenties, this guitar-piano pair, brimming with confidence, has debuted unofficially for five years. Fluent in the language of music, they used pedal-point technique to bring extra tension to the tune, which could be imagined as a stylistic metaphor of their inner struggles. Verse and chorus sections are spaced with silence, a clever approach that provides the ultimate answer to their music’s natural calling. Their blend of vocal isn’t the purest, yet it is the yin-yang, mesmerizing and complementing quality that keeps Maps on the first honor roll with an A average. If they sang the phone book, that would sound incredible also.
Bronze prize’s winner 老樹 is a troupe of eight musicians who bring party atmosphere to the show. Capturing the pulsation of Salsa and surge of Tango, their luxurious percussion section convert the medley-like Canto-pop material into a percussion fiesta. Their intensity of energy, interaction with the house and showmanship exhibit some of the traits of acoustic performances.
Solid from start to finish, co-winner of Best Individual Performance Award, David Shurr could possibly be one of fastest rising singer-songwriters. Original number “Wide Awake” is crisp and a little brooding tune delivered with Shurr’s patient, comfortable and not tormented voice. Fruit Basket’s music speaks to the human condition and describes the joy, humor and other emotions associated with being and existence. To summarize, “Wide Awake” felt like the perfect opening chapter from a sprightly talented group, which is not that far from being an established item.
This annual event attracts enthusiastic instrumentalists, singers and songwriters from all walks of life. If you are in search of new music to whet your jaded appetites, this festival would be a good place to start.
Reminding baby boomers of the spirit and good times of Woodstock, Of Moths & Stars shimmered with a quiet intensity and glows with the hippy, moody Rock warmth. Auntie Elephant’s rapturous version of Rubber Band’s anti-suicide song “天台飛人” was electric and encouraging, while entries such as FR and 木結狂熱 are branching out, offering innovations that depart from typical stomp-and-strum hootenanny. FR, a temporary and experimental pair formed by a Rock acoustic guitarist and a beat-boxer, presents their Rock & Roll inspired piece in its most elemental form, fueled by the beat-boxer’s heavy percussive elements. 木結狂熱’s unusual pastiche and creative attempt to mingle the subtleness and finesse of a Pipa (the half-pear-shaped Chinese instrument) with cool Flamingo guitar-strumming will surely give you ideas for your next musical brainstorm.
Think you've got what it takes to be a finalist? Write down the melody that you’ve been humming on your way to work, brush it up, and start planning for 2010’s competition. Whether you are a student who is eager to express your views about a heated issue, or a troubadour searching for an opportunity to progress, the experience of playing to the SoundBase Festival’s very enthusiastic crowd will pay dividends.
•Francis Fu |
