THE letter from correspondent Karin Chong (South China Morning Post, September 11) is symptomatic of what was wrong with the Wan Chai Music Festival when it was first suggested that cover bands would be excluded. I am co-owner of The Wanch and, for the last five years we have put on live local bands which include both the so-called ''indie'' bands and cover bands, including my own, ''The Henries''. Quite frankly, I can't abide some of the ''indie'' bands and find their music to range from the okay to downright awful. Most of them do not have enough of their own material to play for a full evening and thus they must have another band to support them. The changeovers are disruptive and annoying. Compared with that, cover bands like AWOL are generally very professional, set up early, start on time and even play some of their own original numbers. I nevertheless continue to support and promote ''indie'' bands as I want The Wanch to be seen as the real Mecca of live music in Hong Kong where all types of pop music are given a chance. I do not seek to impose my own preference. Some years ago a bar in Kowloon tried an ''originals only'' route and it closed after six months. I would call that bar a ''dinosaur'' as it is now extinct. I am well into my forties and thus I should be narrow-minded and intolerant, unfortunately it is Miss Chong, who I suspect is a lot younger, who is so. I hope she gains wisdom with age. HOWARD McKAY The Wanch
