Grasshopper say they're on a mission to lift Hongkongers out of their gloom amid the economic downturn. The flamboyant Canto-pop band - comprising Calvin Choy Yat-chi, his brother Remus Choy Yat-kit and Edmond So Chi-wai - will return to Hong Kong Coliseum tonight for the first of seven concerts that they promise will lift our spirits. 'Due to the financial crisis the atmosphere is very depressing and we hope to create a platform for people to relax and have a great time. Many Hong Kong people are too materialistic and they pay little attention to mental health,' says Calvin Choy. 'If we worry all day about the future, we will neglect our health and friends. That's why our concert this year is titled 'Grasshopper Right Now in Concert'. It is very important to live in the moment.' To help create a party atmosphere, a dress code will be in place for the gigs: audience members are asked to wear red. 'The idea is to turn the Coliseum into a sea of red because to Chinese people the colour represents good luck and fortune,' Choy says. Slick dance routines, flashy costumes and elaborate staging are Grasshopper trademarks and Choy says this time they will push the envelope further by combining state-of-the-art visual effects with sharp choreography. The band won rave reviews for their live performances over the past few years and have since developed their own 'Grasshopper live gig culture', which refers to the crowd dancing throughout their concerts. 'Since 2005, whenever we take to the stage, people naturally stand up [to sing and dance]. We are very happy because in the past local concert-goers were usually more reserved,' says Choy. 'Maybe because we have been around for some years, we have some classic up-tempo songs in our repertoire that can easily strike a chord with the audiences, reminding them of the times we [the band and the fans] grew up together. 'Also, I guess nowadays people need a chance to vent their emotions and exercise.' Grasshopper's energetic and professional stage performance is something of an anomaly in the Canto-pop scene, and Choy attributes the band's longevity and success to the tough early years that paved the way for a well-rounded performing career. The trio first got together to enter TVB's New Talent Singing Contest in 1985 and they were then signed as late singer Anita Mui Yim-fong's support act. When the trio won a recording deal with Polygram and released their eponymous debut in 1988, they worked almost non-stop, putting out an album every few months and doing round after round of promotion. 'That was an advantage because then we had many opportunities to perform live on stage. When we released our first few albums basically we had to tour around all large and small venues - from schools, shopping malls, parks to universities - across Hong Kong,' says Choy. The band also had to do everything themselves, from costume design and hairstyling to makeup. For some smaller concerts they even had to take care of the stage, lighting and sound effects and deal with sponsors. 'We can still put on our own makeup in 10 minutes if we have to,' says Choy. This is in stark contrast to today's artists who have an army of image consultants, publicity specialists and stylists behind them. 'Nowadays the artists' managers and promoters are overprotective, treating artists like they are a rare species,' he says. 'Compared with them we learned a great deal more when we started.' Choy says Grasshopper will keep going as long as Hongkongers need high-quality stage and music entertainment, adding that the group will do its part to make sure people continue to respect Canto-pop. 'We use our music and performances to educate people, although it will take a long time for people to respect music again,' says Choy. 'Technology has changed and people are used to getting free stuff on the internet. But they must understand that there's no such thing as a free lunch and soon no one will be willing to invest in singers and music. In the end there will be no more quality music.' Grasshopper Right Now in Concert, tonight-Wed, 8pm, Hong Kong Coliseum, 9 Cheong Wan Rd, Hung Hom, HK$100-HK$400, Urbtix. Inquiries: 2866 8262
