Farewell WordPress

So after my previous posting, I noticed that WordPress had been sending me notifications to renew my domain for MutuallyAwkward.com. And I just didn’t want to renew it. I’ve been pretty unhappy with WordPress’s site design options for a while now, especially with the fact that I have to sign up for their premium plan to do simple things like change my fonts.

You know what? I can do it all for free on Tumblr. I’ve started using Tumblr earlier this year, first for hosting Like Like Zine‘s website and then later on for the podcast that I co-host. I love how they look. And I want to enjoy blogging, writing stories, posting travel stuff, etc on a site I am completely happy with. So after blogging here for 5 years, I am moving this blog for the second time ever.

If you’d like to still keeps taps on me, you can check out the blog’s new home here: Rewind Tapes. I’ll still keep my WordPress account open since I am subscribed to other blogs that I like and for commenting, but for now on, my posts will be at the link above.

Cya there! Or if not, then like around and stuff!

~Vince

Smegma Riot @ The Live House

 

Smegma Riot

 

Last weekend, after living in Hong Kong for over two years now, I FINALLY participated in a legit mosh pit. The gig was at The Live House in Mong Kok and featured three bands, one standout being the awesome Hong Kong band Shepherds the Weak, whom I had seen at Hidden Agenda a few weeks prior at my second ever metal show and the night stealing Italian China-based punk band Smegma Riot. Their set was something I seriously needed and left me realizing how much I miss going to these kind of shows on a weekly basis. I will definitely keep a mental note to look out for more of their gigs in the near future.

Mental note: summer is coming. I’m wearing shorts next time.

 

Fifth Annual Riot Grrrl X-Mas Carnival Benefit Show @ The Smell

 

It had been ages since I had been able to walk through the doors of The Smell and finally being able to on December 26th was literally the best late Christmas gift. Besides meeting up and catching up with friends, I got to see Heller Keller headline the night and had as much fun as I always do at their shows. They are the best and it was amazing finally seeing them perform again after almost two years of just hearing them in my iPod (fucking Heller Keller mosh pits). Another band that performed that night were Anus Kings and I am a bit obsessed with their folky sound sound now.

Best night.

 

 

Veronica Falls (late post)

 

Yikes. The subject of this post is over a month old but dang it, it was a good gig and I’m up late writing so here it is now.The same collective that put up the Best Coast show prior to this, Songs For Children, brought British kind-of-but-not-totally-twee band Veronica Falls to Hong Kong on November 12th. I pretty much enjoyed their entire set and felt they gave off a bit of a Dum Dum Girls vibe. As great as they were, the most memorable thing about the gig was the venue’s gas leak, which threw the entire crowd and the band into mini coughing fits. Before the promoter told us what was happening, I couldn’t figure out for the life of me as to why my asthma was suddenly acting up. Though the promoter suggested ending the show early, the band thankfully decided to press on until the end of their set. Best humans.

 

 

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/57709288]

Best Coast in Hong Kong

 

The state of Mutually Awkward’s music section is just sad. From once being the guy who went to 2-3 shows a week to going to zero in almost three months almost made me want to throw myself in front of a speeding mini-bus. Luckily, Best Coasts’ arrival in Hong Kong during the end of October really kicked off me getting back going to gigs more frequently and I’m happier to say things have been better lately. I was really excited and happy when I initially found out that they would be coming to Asia and like I expected, their gig was both intensely fun and bittersweet. It was bittersweet in that they pretty much brought California itself to my friend and I as we both suddenly felt ourselves caught up in homesickness during their set. I also felt a revelation of sorts while watching their gig. Seeing Best Coasts’ Bobb Bruno performing again made me remember seeing his solo act several times in 2008 back when I was still a student. I especially remembered one of his gigs during one rainy evening at The Smell where he performed to a small crowd with most of us sitting cross-legged on the floor or on the sofa. That night was special then and it was again special now. Seeing him 5  years later in as part of a mega famous band made me realize how much things have changed in such a short time.

 

Bethany Cosentino.

Bobb Bruno.

 

Before this set, I was already a fan of Best Coast but with them coming to Hong Kong and in a way restoring my soul after a depressing and difficult month (more on that later) and also really bringing the comforts of home along with them, they will forever be a band that holds a special place in my heart.

 

 

 

Moses Campbell – “Drop D”

 

 

One of the best bands from back home have a new album and a new music video of a long time favorite tune. I loved watching it and can’t wait to hear the new stuff. Fucking yessssssssssss.

 

 

Wan Chai Folk Review

 

 

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written about a gig on Mutually Awkward (November 2012!) though I’ve still been going to shows. Hopefully, with the new design, I’ll remember to keep this part of the site more frequently updated. I’ll start right now: Last weekend some friends and I checked out the Wan Chai Folk, a gig showcasing some of the folk scene here in Hong Kong.

Song of the Week: Running Away

 

I heard this awesome track when I reached the end credits of Bob Byington’s hilarious movie Registered Sex Offender during my sick weekend a few days ago. It completely reminded me how awesome and amazing The Polyphonic Spree are. They are just full of good feelings and have a spark to them that few bands can match. Unfortunately, I can’t find this song to purchase anywhere and it’s staring to drive me nuts! This is a song I must own. In fact, the entire Fragile Army album is something I’m really pining for currently. Gah!

 

 

Three Years Ago

 

In 2010, I was listening to The Weepies’ album Be My Thrill like crazy (and thinking a lot about RG and her smile at the same time). Though its not my favorite of all their albums, it’s still damn good. While revisiting some of their songs and music videos tonight, I stumbled upon a music video from that album that I never knew even existed! I really love it when things like this happen – it’s like discovering a cool piece of treasure that has been hiding under your nose for a long time now. This has made my night.

 

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/23516419]

 

And Now For Some Nostalgia

 

 

 

My music taste always changes every few years and for anyone who follows this blog, they can easily assess the kind of bands I listen to (usually falling into the alternative/indie genres). But when I was a teen, my ears were attracted to a much different sound: I was a hardcore hip hop head with an affinity to early-to-mid-90s east coast acts. Though acts from that time were already considered old-school by the time I was a teen, groups and rappers such as A Tribe Called Quest, Gangstarr, Wu Tang Clan, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Digable Planets, The Roots and similarly sounding acts like Common, The Pharcyde and the Hieroglyphics were all my favorites.

I revisit this era of my life with today being the 19th anniversary of Nas’s album Illmatic. As I write this, I am listening to the entire album for the first time in years and I cannot believe how fresh it still is. Modern rap music tends to sound outdated really fast but Illmatic is one of those pieces that stand the test of time. A little early when I was hearing Nas’s intro to N.Y. State of Mind, I smiled to myself as I was reminded of the epicness that awaited me.

“Straight out the fucking dungeons of rap…”