(中文版在下面) A weekend extravaganza of gigs arranged by Hong Kong supergroup Fds/4eva packed the city’s leading bands together, and turned out to be life affirming and a damn good time as well. Arriving for the Sunday evening show fairly hungover, I already had an inclination it would be a night etched in the memory. The social from the previous evening of 假日貞操Virgin Vacation, Clave, Fds/4eva was very encouraging (MOSH PITS?), so tucking into a Tsingtao, my hangover improved and the night got underway.
First up, Science Noodles, offering a journey into dream pop and shoegaze with elements of country and jazz, followed up by a truly incendiary set from R.I.D.D.E.M, who are obviously shaping up to be one of the best live acts to ever emerge from the Hong Kong underground.
Blending everything from Sublime/Incubus style surf jams to Dub reggae, Neo-soul, Trip Hop and Jazz funk, with clever covers to boot, R.I.D.D.E.M are showing the type of energy, talent and form that should be propelling them to international class status. Much of that has to do with the band’s tight vibes, the star power of front lady Reggie Yip, and the fact they just look like they are having a tonne of fun.
It was about time to sneak out for some more beer, and when I arrived back to the venue, Keanu Ho was performing magic (At an indie show?! Well why not?), and he absolutely blew the venue away with this repertoire. I think every show will need to have a magician from now on.
Last, but certainly now least, Fds/4eva came on and from the outset owned the stage. Consisting of Tin,龍成,Tomii Chan, Thomas and Teeda, all of whom are well known in indie circles, the band’s blend of jazz, funk, blues, rock and rare groove style jams pretty much immediately started a mosh pit and dance floor that didn’t stop until the very end of the show.
In the current atmosphere in Hong Kong, people need something to believe in, and much like the recent performances by Serrini at Star Hall, this weekend by Fds/4eva provided just that, inspiring devotion that translates into heart-warming and life affirming group experiences.
A combination of on stage charisma, quirky and hyper local marketing, catchy hooks, performance chops and pure energy took over. What makes Fds/4eva stand out is serious music (referencing the likes of Roberta Flack and Chick Corea) with a disregard for looking cool – the boys get their shirts off and wear bunny ears, seem to absolutely not give a fuck, and have the kind of fun that throws me back to Dan Deacon shows at Clockenflap. They also work hard hustling merch, selling tickets and manning the doors – they know their fans – it’s refreshing to see.
The crowd lapped it up; they needed this. In times when the world seems to be falling asunder, a weekend like the one provided by Fds/4eva makes you believe that you might be able to stay another day.
Fds/4eva同城中band友開騷
過去一個週末，香港樂隊天團Fds/4eva聯同城中band友，打造出一連串充滿活力兼難忘嘅精演表演。星期日晚，仍然醉醉哋嘅我可以話係未出發先興奮，事關我喺social media睇到前一晚嘅post，有假日貞操、Clave同Fds/4eva（有人玩mosh pit！），口碑相當唔錯。我一支青島落肚，成個人即刻醒晒之後就興致勃勃咁入場，準備癲返晚！
當晚打響頭炮嘅係Science Noodles，佢哋將dream pop同shoegaze加入鄉村同爵士樂嘅元素，成功炒熱氣氛。跟住有R.I.D.D.E.M帶來爆炸性十足嘅樂曲，呢對樂隊明顯一年比一年進步，漸漸成為香港地下樂壇歷年來數一數二出色嘅樂團。
R.I.D.D.E.M帶來首首勁歌，而且風格多多，由類似Sublime同Incubus風格嘅衝浪音樂到dub reggae、neo-soul、trip hop、jazz funk嘅樂曲都應有盡有，亦有cover幾首經典歌曲。以樂隊作品嘅power、驚為天人嘅才華同鮮明嘅形象，R.I.D.D.E.M絕對有潛質成為國際巨星。緊湊嘅節奏、星味十足嘅門面Reggie Yip，再加上勁玩得嘅性格，佢哋打出名堂應該指日可待！
玩完上半場，係時候鼠出去隊返兩支啤酒。一返到會場，我就見到何煒麟Keanu喺度表演魔術。雖然係indie show，不過搞吓氣氛又如何？Keanu嘅表演搞到大家㷫烚烚，講真，每次開show都加插個魔術環節，其實真係諗得過！
壓軸出場當然係Fds/4eva。五位喺獨立樂壇享負盛名嘅成員Tin、龍成、Tomii Chan、Thomas同Teeda一上台，氣場就震懾全場，佢哋使出渾身解數，爵士樂、funk、blues、搖滾、rare groove等歌曲通通毫不吝嗇，台下觀眾亦聞歌起哄玩mosh pit，舞池上個個都樂而忘返。
喺香港宜家呢個新常態之下，人們所追求嘅係一個信念。前排Serrini喺九展Star Hall開show，引起同路人共鳴，而Fds/4eva 呢個show則有異曲同工之妙，振奮人心之餘，亦為觀眾送上一絲溫暖。
Fds/4eva氣場過人，宣傳搞笑又夠貼地，音樂catchy唔在講，每次表演亦充滿energy，不過講到樂隊最引人入勝嘅地方，就係佢哋可以擺脫自己光怪陸離外表嘅束縛，認真製作音樂（感覺類似Roberta Flack 同 Chick Corea）。成員赤膊戴住兔仔耳，唔理旁人目光享受自我，感覺就好似返到去Clockenflap睇Dan Deacon嘅表演咁樣。佢哋為推出周邊產品四圍頻撲，就連賣飛同整道門都係自己一腳踢。佢哋連fans都會去認識，如此認真嘅態度，喺呢個年頭真係買少見少。
觀眾十分受落Fds/4eva呢個show，喺呢個支離破碎嘅世界，一個咁樣嘅表演，或者就係大家撐落去嘅動力。
Drunken master 