THE CARDS?

Culture
UPCLOSE:NOWHERE BOYS
Cinematic rock band
Nowhere Boys (from
left: Fisher Kan, Nate
Wong, Van Chan,
Kenneth Angus, Hansun
Chan) released an
eponymous album last
month. They talk to
Adrienne Chum about
their music and the
inspiration behind their
new album.
HK Magazine: How did you come up with your name?
Van Chan: It was from a movie called “Nowhere Boy,” about
John Lennon’s youth. There was one scene that left a big
impression on me: John Lennon was reading a porn magazine
in class, and he got caught and sent to the principal’s office. The
principal said to him, “John Lennon, you’re going nowhere.”
But he turned out to be a genius. That kind of matched our
characters as well—we’re sort of nobodies. No one really knows
us, but we come together to make some good music.
HK: Besides movies, where else do you get
your inspiration?
Nate Wong: Comics, cartoons, other music, books, basically
everything that we come across. Things that are more dramatic.
HK: You’ve got five people in the band. Does the
creative process get complicated?
VC: Fisher and I start a new tune, a basic form like chords
and melody, kind of like a demo. Then we just add on top of
each other’s recordings. We like to work out the details before
coming together. When we get together for rehearsal, everyone
pretty much knows their parts, so we’re pretty efficient.
HK: Do you ever fight when you put the songs together?
NW: It’s honestly never happened. We all respect each other’s
take on the song. There might be things I would change, but
I wouldn’t think that I could come up with a better guitar part
than Ken, you know? We all feel the same way about each
other’s parts.
HK: What was the hardest song on the new album
to make?
NW: “Rhapsody.” It’s very complex. It wasn’t hard because
it was long, it just had a lot of parts in it. But we have a new
one, “New Beethoven” that’s been harder. It’s a song about
Beethoven, and we’re trying to figure out how it’s supposed
to make people feel. The first version felt like a lecture
about Beethoven—but we wanted it to be fun, too, so in the
arrangement and the lyrics we’ve gone back and forth on that.
HK: What would Beethoven think about it?
NW: That’s what we’re trying to figure out! Well, he’s supposed
to like it—it’s not supposed to piss him off. But we’ll see.
HK: How has your music changed in the latest album?
NW: It’s more focused. We decided that it would be about
hyperreality. The first album didn’t really have a theme, besides
that they’re all crazy songs. Now there’s a theme that directs our
songwriting and it’s more developed. And it’s objectively, clearly
better. For our next project, we’re trying to get more funding to
put together an even better album.
HK: How would you describe your music to people
who haven’t listened to you?
VC: We play cinematic rock, so we’re definitely dramatic,
like a soundtrack. It gives you pictures. Everybody likes movies,
right? You go to movies to get a different vibe, to enjoy
yourselves, and to have fun. That’s what we’re about.
NW: But it’s not supposed to be soundtrack music—the
song is the movie.
Support Nowhere Boys on their next project at musicbee.cc/
project/nowhereboys.
Arts Festival
2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/
Architecture (Hong Kong)
Wonder how Hong Kong and other cities
will develop in the future? Check out the 2015
Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture (Hong
Kong), showcasing interactive installations and
innovative ideas by 60 international exhibitors
all about the future of our urban conurbations.
Through Feb 28 . Kowloon Park, Haiphong Rd.,
Tsim Sha Tsui. Free .
Classical
Flute Recital
by Kenneth Weiner
Have a flute-ful night with
Kenneth Weiner, accompanied
by pianist Lai Bo-ling. The
duo will present classic flute
sonatas by Bach,
Reinecke, Hüe and
Demersseman.
Jan 17 , 7:30pm .
City Hall, 5
Edinburgh
Place, Central,
2921-2838 .
$80 from
urbtix.hk .
Guzheng Recital by Qu Yun and Sun Zhuo
Inaugurating the Nan Lian Garden Music Series,
guzheng virtuosi Qu Yun and Sun Zhuo are
staging a duo recital inside the serene Nan Lian
Garden in Diamond Hill. It’s an out-of-Hong Kong
experience, where you’ll listen to classic guzheng
music while gazing at a picturesque Chinese
garden. All it needs is a bunch of guys doing kung
fu in the background. Jan 23 , 2:30pm . Xiang Hai
Xuan Multi-purpose Hall, Nan Lian Garden,
60 Fung Tak Rd., Diamond Hill, 2329-8811 .
$240 from urbtix.hk .
Bach—The Six Brandenburg Concertos
Harpsichordist Benjamin Bayl plays and directs
this performance of all six of Bach’s Brandenburg
Concertos in one go, alongside the Hong Kong
Philharmonic. It’s Brandenburgtastic! Feb 5-6 ,
8pm . Concert Hall, City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place,
Central. $180 -480 from urbtix.hk .
Comedy
Danny Bhoy
Get your yuks ins with Indian/Scots comedian
Danny Bhoy at the Udderbelly Festival. Originally
from Edinburgh, the comedian brings his warm,
observational humor to the city. Bhoy oh Bhoy...
Jan 20-21 . Central Harbourfront Event Space,
9 Lung Wo Rd., Central. $435 -523 from
hkticketing.com .
Russell Howard
One of the UK’s hottest comics, Russell Howard
brings the funny to the Udderbelly Festival. In
2011, he became the youngest comic ever to
sell out London’s largest arena. Expect the same
here, only the venue’s quite a lot smaller. He’s
famous, but he’s not Eason Chan. Jan 21-23 .
Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Rd.,
Central. $595 -683 from hkticketing.com .
Musicals
Opera
The Ring Cycle Part 2 – Die Walküre
Richard Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle saga continues
with “Die Walküre.” In the second part of the
opera, our hero Siegmund is being pursued by
his enemies when he comes across the beautiful
Sieglinde... Performed by the HK Phil, directed
by Jaap van Zweden. Jan 21-23 . Concert Hall,
Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui.
$280 -880 from urbtix.hk .
The Met: Live in HD: Verdi’s Il Trovatore
Opera buffs, assemble. The New York
Metropolitan Opera brings the 10th season
of the Met: Live in HD to the SAR. The season
commences with David McVicar’s new production
of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore,” with star soprano Anna
Netrebko as the heroine Leonara, a Spanish
noblewoman who sacrifices her life to save the
gypsy troubadour she loves. Try not to cry your
eyes out... Jan 16 , 4:30pm . UA Cityplaza, 5/F,
Cityplaza, 18 Taikoo Shing Rd., Quarry Bay,
2584-8500 . $180 -210 from hkticketing.com .
HK PICKS
Theater
Close Up
An intimate show with four acrobats that brings
the act real close. Physical, beautiful and intense:
And that’s just us in the audience. Jan 19-31 .
Central Harbourfront Event Space, 9 Lung Wo Rd.,
Central. $385 -523 from hkticketing.com .
A Concert of Chaozhou Music
Wondering what Chiu Chow (aka Chaozhou in
Putonghua) music sounds like? The Hong Kong
Chiuchow Music Ensemble is here to fill you in.
This part of southeast China has a distinctive
musical style, with unique instruments including
Chaozhou gongs and drums. It’s cultural and
then some! Jan 30 , 8pm . Yau Ma Tei Theatre,
6 Waterloo Rd., Yau Ma Tei, 2264-8108 .
$120 -180 from urbtix.hk .
Jersey Boys
Currently playing in London’s West End and
on Broadway, this smash hit musical tells the
remarkable story of 1960s group Frankie Valli &
the Four Seasons—four boys from the wrong
side of the tracks who became one of the most
successful, most falsettotastic groups in music
history. Apr 13-May 1 . Grand Theatre, Cultural
Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui.
$395 -1,095 from lunchboxticketing.com .
Briefs
The larger-than-life Briefs boys are in town for a show that’s ballsy
enough to make your eyes pop and jaws drop. The extravagant and
acrobatic boylesque combines comedy with nudity—the two best
things in life, right? Jan 26-30 . Central Harbourfront Event Space,
9 Lung Wo Rd., Central. $355 -443 from hkticketing.com .
22 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2016