Outtakes
Take two for Hyper
Hyper is one DJ we thought we'd never see back in Hong Kong again after he ended up in jail during his previous visit for the Summer Love Music Festival - hands-down the worst-organised gig this year.
The British DJ and producer, whose real name is Guy Hatfield, had just taken to the stage of the outdoor festival in Tuen Mun in July when police stormed the gig, which had not received the required permits from the government departments concerned.
Organisers had also not arranged work visas for the international guest DJs, so Hatfield was arrested, thrown in jail and threatened with a three-month sentence. After 36 hours in custody, police decided to drop the charges and let Hatfield go - but with a very sour taste in his mouth.
'Although it is generally accepted in the industry that authorities turn a blind eye to DJs needing work visas - everyone I know goes in as a tourist - I was actually guilty, so [a jail term] was a very real possibility,' he recalls.
We're pretty sure all necessary paperwork will be in order when Hatfield returns for a December 6 show at Tribeca in Wan Chai's Renaissance Harbour View Hotel. Tickets are HK$220, or HK$280 on the door.
Better late than never
Although Kraftwerk will be stealing the show next Friday night, an enterprising bunch of musicians are taking advantage of the bleepmeisters' early finish with a late-night rock show for those craving some more action.
Due to start at 11pm - giving punters enough time to trek back from the AsiaWorld-Arena - the gig will feature post-punk outfit The Yours, newcomers Mammoth and the mighty DP (left), who are still riding high from the release of their EP last month.
The hairy metal duo will appear fresh from a performance at the Hanoi International Music Festival and this is likely to be their last show in a year that has seen them evolve into arguably the city's heaviest-hitting live act.
It's on at the Fringe Club in Central and tickets on the door are HK$100.
Leung's latest hits a high note
Followers of local alternative music have learned over the years to sit up and take notice whenever Alok Leung becomes involved in a new project.
One of the city's most consistent and challenging artists, Leung is a former member of influential acts Slow Tech Riddim and Pillow, and as boss of Lona Records boasts a catalogue of excellent releases from artists including himself, The Yours and Wilson Tsang.
Leung's latest project is A Roller Control, and the electro-disco punk tracks released so far on their MySpace page represent a significant departure from the noisy, shoe-gazing sounds of his work in recent years.
It's upbeat, catchy stuff, and the outfit will be making their live debut at HK Live! next month alongside Parisian electro-rock band This Is Pop and local shoe-gazers Unixx. The Fringe Club gig starts at 10pm and tickets are HK$100.
