The result of the HK GBOB

1. Qui Hong

2. F.B.I.

3. Tai Tai Alibi

Well done to Qui Hong for winning the Hong Kong final of the Global Battle of the Bands. We are proud to say that we came second, followed closely by Tai Tai Alibi. Truly a great night for Hong Kong music, all 15 bands did an awesome job. The crowd was amazing... just wish we had a crowd like that for every band event here.

Thanks again to all of our fans and friends... especially all of those people who sang along with me to the 'save me's' and the 'fuck yous'... haha! Really great!

I didn't even realise it, but we were in the paper last Thursday. So, I thought I would put the article in this post so people could read it.

South China Morning Post Article
Let's Get Ready to Rumble:indie warriors take on the world
Adam Wright Oct 22, 2009

The name conjures up images of hairy metal groups in leather gear engaged in a fight to the death with axe-shaped guitars, but the reality of the Global Battle of the Bands is far more prosaic.

At a time when the quest for rock stardom has been reduced to video games such as Guitar Hero, the musicians taking part in this year's competition are mostly ordinary people with dreams of hitting the big time, with fame, fortune and a few groupies thrown in for good measure.

Those taking part in the Hong Kong leg of this year's contest come from all walks of life, from white-collar workers to a professional body-piercer. And now, after several months of heats, 15 of the city's best up-and-coming bands will be fighting this weekend for the chance to represent Hong Kong at the China final and, if successful there, the world final in London later this year.

The Global Battle of the Bands now involves 44 countries, including unlikely contenders from countries such as Kazakhstan, the Faroe Islands and the Dominican Republic. The competition was launched in 2004 with the aim of uncovering the world's best unsigned bands and has just two rules: no cover songs and no pre-recorded music.

Chris Bowers, a familiar figure on the local indie music scene, has been a vocal and visible face of the Global Battle since she was named the competition's China director last year, and brings to the job not only years of experience as a musician but also as the organiser of the Underground, a successful series of live music events.

"In the past six years of organising shows in Hong Kong, I have to say the quality of local bands is getting better," Bowers says. "One of the Hong Kong finalist bands has already been earmarked for a festival overseas and another band has an indie label interested in signing them. So although these two bands may not [win], by allowing themselves the opportunity to be seen by music industry people they improve their chances of overall success."

Although fairly modest spoils are up for grabs in the Hong Kong final - including HK$5,000 in vouchers for a local music store and a Gibson Les Paul guitar - a guaranteed shot at stardom awaits the overall winner of the global competition. Apart from US$10,000 in cash, the band will be offered studio time with a renowned producer and the opportunity to tour with an established act.

But at least one of those competing at the Hong Kong final has a far less romantic reason for entering. "The thought of winning a cash prize gets me salivating. It's been a while since I could afford to eat properly," says Li Xu, vocalist for the heavy-hitting finalists Gong Wu. "But it has been fun. Being in a competition makes you push yourself that little bit harder than a regular show. The best thing is only having to play two songs. In a high-energy band like ours, you get to give your two songs everything without worrying about surviving the rest of the set."

However, Li acknowledges the subjective nature of band competitions and says he believes music should not always be seen as a contest. "Some of the biggest bands in the world - without their name behind them - would be voted out of these kinds of competitions. What defines a great artist? Is it songs? Musicianship? Performance? It's hard to judge," he says. "But that being said, although we're definitely not interested in trying to prove that we're the best band here, it doesn't mean we won't try to win."

Other notable local bands competing this weekend include Qiu Hong - who won the world final of the much smaller World Battle of the Bands in 2005 - socially aware punks Live Fast Die, led by Ross Seizure of piercing/body art parlour Star-Crossed Tattoo, and pop-punk-rap outfit FBI.

FBI also entered the event last year and vocalist Cain McInerney says the experience has been positive in the sense it has made the band work harder on their music. "Plus, we get an opportunity to play our music to an audience who may have never heard us before, and hopefully get more fans," he says.

"This year we have worked on existing songs which were already up to standard, but have pushed the envelope to make sure that we get the most out of everyone in the band and make the songs sound fuller.

"Everyone wants to win, and a free trip to London would be nice. But the main thing is to promote our music to a world audience who wouldn't normally hear us."

The event won't help solve one of the main problems for Hong Kong's indie music scene - the lack of suitable venues - but it's a positive development, Li and McInerney say. "The only way we can improve the indie scene here is if we can get more people to support it, and move away from the more popular Canto-pop culture and embrace rock," McInerney says. "The competition is a good way to get international support for our local scene and get more local people interested in what's happening here."

Li says: "There are barely enough venues in Hong Kong that offer a place to help indie bands grow and that are also affordable for the local scene. But the competitionhas helped simply because it has given local bands another desperately needed platform on which to perform."

As Hong Kong is considered a part of China under the Global Battle's rules, once a local champion has been selected, they will go on to compete against the winners from the competition's other finals in mainland cities on November 7 at the Cavern in Lan Kwai Fong.

The winner of the greater China final will then be flown to compete at the global final at La Scala in London on December 13.

The bands competing at the local final this weekend were selected by a range of music industry insiders, media figures and scenesters and represent a cross-section of the state of our city's indie music scene.

For music fans, "these kind of shows are great because they're not so expensive and you're guaranteed to hear something special", Li says. "And if we suck, it's only 10 minutes of your time."

The final 15
FBI: punk-pop-rock with rap influences
Gong Wu: hard rock with force
Gun You: muscular hard rock
Live Fast Die: punk rock with social commentary
Nocturnal Rose: symphonic metal
OTO: reggae-influenced pop from Macau
Of Moths & Stars: energetic acoustic duo
Peri M: female-fronted power rock
Qiu Hong: catchy power metal
Senseless: Canto-pop meets punk/rockabilly
Shotgun Politics: high-energy pop rock
Tai Tai Alibi: solid rockers and Hong Kong finalists last year
The Corners: pop
Tie Shu Lan: hard rock with a message
Trash21: rock with attitude

Global Battle of the Bands Hong Kong Final, tomorrow, 9.30pm, Rock School, 2/F, 21-25 Jaffe Rd, Wan Chai, HK$100 (advance), HK$130. Tel: 9486 4648

Thanks to all the people who attended our heat for the Global Battle of the Bands @ The Melting Pot... if you weren't able to make it, don't worry because we past our heat and will be going into the Hong Kong finals. We will be joining an amazing line up of 14 other bands and it is going to prove to be an awesome night.

We are happy to be one of the alivenotdead official artists representing on the night alongside other alivenotdead bands like: Gong Wu, Tai tai alibi, Qui Hong, Trash 21 and Shotgun Politics.

We are really excited about making it through to the final and we hope that you can make it to the Hong Kong final to support us and to also support Hong Kong music. It is going to be a great night because you are going to be able to see so many great Hong Kong bands play. U are going to be spoilt.

So keep this date free!

23rd of October @ Rock School

21-25 Luard Rd and 93 Jaffe Rd, Wan Chai

In the meantime... enjoy this video from our heat (courtesy of The Underground & GBOB)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uHX_hLPiLM&feature=player_profilepage

Man Love!

FU!!!

Shout Out Charity Gig

Sorry this update is so late in coming. We did this show on the 13^th of this month. And I wonder why I lost my voice. Haha. This show was to raise money for the victims of the Taiwan 8.8 typhoon.

You may have been thinking what has been happening with FBI lately? Well, I went away back to Australia for a holiday and even weeks before that we had stopped practicing after we shot the stage-tube videos. We were all very busy with our private lives. So, I came back to Hong Kong and wanted to get back into practicing every week, but it was just so difficult for everyone to find time for FBI. So, the weeks leading up to the Shout Out Charity Gig we had maybe two practices. Not nearly enough to prepare for the show.

But, it didn't seem to matter. We were greeted by many music enthusiasts who were there to mosh, dance and generally have a good time. I was watching the band before us and I was in awe of them as the crowd were really getting into their music. I didn't think that we would have the same response for us. Most probably the entirely Chinese crowd would take a breather and hang out outside. But, no... they were waiting for FBI. They had heard about our on stage intensity and were eager to see our live set.

And we fucking rocked! Not because we are so great...(don't want to sound like we have a big head!) but, because we were fueled by the crowd and their enthusiasm. They were one of the craziest crowds we have ever played too. It was such an awesome feeling. I just want to share with you some of the crazy photos that were taken by the organiser Sabrina.

http://www.alivenotdead.com/sabrinaf Her and Malenie did a great job in organising this Charity event which was able to donate almost 5 grand after expenses. Pretty good for a girl still in college.

I hope we were able to make a difference!

Get out of my way!!!

Next time you will see F.B.I. will be at The Melting Pot on the 10th of October for the Global Battle of The Bands. We hope you can come down and support us!

Thanks

Cain and the rest of F.B.I.

FBI will be playing at around 7.30pm this Sunday. We hope to see some of you there!

所有門券扣除必要開支後全數收益將捐到紅十字會
All tickets sold expect necessary expenses would donate to red cross

Date: 13 Sept 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 4pm to 11pm (will be started on time)(準時開始)
Venue: Musician Area 樂人地帶
葵芳大連排道172-180號金龍工業中心3期7樓C室
Rm C, 7/F, 172-180 Tai Lin Pai Road, Kwai Fong
(Check out the video if you don't know how to get there)(如果不會去可以查看短片)

Bands:
Velvette Vendetta
http://www.velvettevendetta.com
Ghost Word
http://www.myspace.com/ghostwordhk
AMS
http://www.myspace.com/amazingmusicstaff
Scream For Silence
http://www.myspace.com/brokenframe2008
Amino Shower
http://www.aminoshower.com
Gong Wu
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gong-Wu-/49829103049?ref=ts
ToNick
http://www.myspace.com/mrtonick
FBI
http://www.myspace.com/firebirdinternational
Sexy Hammer
http://www.myspace.com/sexyhammer
Milkshake 7
http://www.myspace.com/7milkshake7

Tickets票價: $80 (advanced) $90 (walk-in)
介時將會有門票費用收集箱,不設找贖
Please tender the exact amount. No change will be provided for walk-in.

Advanced Ticket Reserved At:

Musician Area 樂人地帶
葵芳大連排道172-180號金龍工業中心3期7樓C室
Rm C, 7/F, 172-180 Tai Lin Pai Road, Kwai Fong

Creatures
旺角瓊華中心U17
U17,King Wah Centre,Mong Kok

For enquiry查詢:
91721266 Sabrina/ 64380733 Malenie

Please give a hand to Taiwan victims
請幫助台灣災民

The competition is now over and Linkin Park has 5 bands to choose from. Well done to all of the finalists. The final result is really suprising and good to see that some Hong Kong Indie bands made the top 5. Really wish that we had more votes than we had gotten, but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Sorry for sounding so pessimistic in the last blog, it's just because I was personally abit upset that it looked like we had so many votes and then had been penalised so badly, especially when there is a chance that some votes may have been legitimate. You never know.

So I apologise personally because it may not be the position of all the band members. I am just a whining little bitch and should use my own blog to bitch about stuff.

All of the bands deserve to be in there and we just have to work harder on our music so that we can increase our fanbase. That way we don't have to rely on friends to support us. That is the dream. But thankyou to all of our fans and friends who did support us. We do have a bigger fanbase than was represented in the voting, but unfortunately not enough of them use alivenotdead (or can be bothered to, haha).  Though, I know alot of people who have joined AnD just to support us. It is great. It is hard to believe that great bands like The Love Song and Chochuckmo have less than ten votes each. At least we scored what we did.

Cain

F.B.I.