VISITORS TO LAST November's Rockit Festival who were disappointed by the 11th-hour withdrawal of US rockers Brian Jonestown Massacre were amply compensated with a wealth of Hong Kong talent.
Chief among the impressive local lineup were a band turning as many heads for their imposing stage performance as for their rambunctious rock. Call them S-I-Q or call them 'sick', SiQ should one day be called stars.
Taking to the stage with a look that can best be described as (Red Indian) brave - pyjama bottoms and garish face and body paint, reminiscent of Irish oddballs Virgin Prunes, but fun instead of glum - the band appeared to win over all who witnessed their funk-punk-fuelled set.
Consisting of Ting (26, bass), Bao Zha (almost 30, guitar), Gary (30s, drummer) and, at 21 the baby of the band, vocalist Shum (it's first names and informality with these lads), SiQ have been together for three years. 'But actually doing stuff, it's been only a year or a year and a half,' says Shum.
I'm sitting in the plush surrounds of Langham Place, talking with three of the SiQ boys (Gary has work commitments, a recurring obstacle where rehearsals and gigs are concerned) and Brandon Ho (aka MC Ghost Style), the producer of the album they're in the process of recording and head of Rebel Studio, the label on which it will be released.
'Gary and Ting have been together for years,' says Shum. 'They were in other bands before. They decided to start another thing and I got to know them through the internet. We started looking for a guitarist and had this guy called Tony for a while, but that didn't work because of work commitments.' After trying a few other six-stringers, the band took in Bao Zha, a friend of Gary and Ting.