Upcoming
| The second edition of Vinyl Underground — Renaissance of LP (黑膠文藝復興運動), a 10-day feast of rock, pop, hip-hop, classical, jazz and electronic Long Play records begins today at Eslite Bookstore Dunnan branch (誠品敦南B2藝文空間) and runs through March 9. Eleven celebrated collectors have been invited to share their vinyl passions in an exhibition under different themes such as NYC Rock, Brit Rock in the 1980s, local singers’ LP debuts and the patriotic versus the banned. Forums on different subjects will be held by music luminaries such as critics Cora Tao (陶曉清) and Ma Shi-fang (馬世芳). Aboriginal musician Mama Panai (巴奈) will begin proceedings tonight at 8pm. Several indie bands and musicians, including Punk Hoo (胖虎), Kou Chou Ching (拷秋勤), 919 and Smoke Ring (煙圈), will hold free concerts on each day of the festival. On the Vinyl Underground’s last day, local DJs will join forces for a non-stop show from 1pm to 9pm outside the bookstore. ▲ Eslite Bookstore — Dunnan B2 Art Space (誠品敦南B2藝文空間), B2, 245, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市敦化南路一段245號B2) ▲ For detailed information on the vinyl event, visit www.wretch.cc/blog/eslitelp
|  Musician Chu Yue-hsin, right and award-winning album-cover designer Xiao Qing-yang are both veteran collectors of LP records. PHOTO: COURTESY OF ESLITE BOOKSTORE |
| Canadian indie-rock supergroup Broken Social Scene takes its unique brand of experimental/baroque-pop to The Wall in Taipei on March 11. The musical collective, which formed in 1999 in Toronto and now has nearly 20 members, not all of whom tour, has won four Juno Awards, including twice in the category of Alternative Album of the Year. Their music is marked by a combination of many different instruments and a chaotic production style and ranges from anthemic art-rock to obscure guitar noodling and psychedlia that’s reminiscent of US indie bands Yo La Tengo and Pavement. ▲ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information ▲ March 11 at 8pm ▲ NT$2,800 admission includes one drink. Tickets are available from the venue | 
PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES |
Theater
Avenue Q (喜樂社區) by Glorious Theater Company (耀演劇團) is based on the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name. The set and puppets are inspired by the children’s television show Sesame Street, but the themes are adult-oriented and address serious topics such as racism, pornography and homosexuality. The show, geared toward adults, includes full-puppet nudity.
▲ Performing Arts School 36 (表演36房), 156-1, Muxin Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市木新路二段156-1號)
▲Today and tomorrow at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲Tickets are NT$500 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Dubbed the first Broadway-style Hakka musical, My Daughter’s Wedding (福春嫁女) is based on William Shakespeare’s classic, The Taming of the Shrew. It tells the story of a successful career woman who is skeptical of love and fears marriage. Consequently, no man dares approach her because of her rudeness — except one, who tries to win her heart by unusual means.
▲ Jhongli Arts Center (中壢藝術館音樂廳), 16 Jhungmei Rd, Jhongli City (中壢市中美路16號)
▲ Today at 7:30pm and tomorrow at 2:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$900 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Dance Shoe 2008 (2008點子鞋), an annual ballet series by the Kaohsiung City Ballet (高雄城市芭蕾舞團), will feature Awakening, a new work by Kaohsiung-based choreographer Dominique Yen (顏鳳曦), Winter by Tsai Po-cheng (蔡博丞), Wing (羽翼) by Chang Ya-ting (張雅婷) and Ballet Fantasy (芭蕾狂想) by Kao Hsin-yu (高辛毓).
▲ Tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm
▲ Chihshan Hall, National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center, Kaohsiung (高雄中正文化中心至善廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
▲ Tickets are NT$300 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Taiyuan Puppet Theater Company (台原偶戲團) and Italian puppet master Massiomo Godoli Peli team up to bring young audiences the Italian Puppet Show Pippo. Emphasizing audience interaction, the performance takes a humorous look at family struggles in a rural Italian town.
▲ Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining N Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧北路79號)
▲ Tomorrow at 3pm
▲ Tickets are NT$200 and are available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
Classical music
Chinyun Choir 35th Anniversary Concert (青韻三十五音樂會) features the much-loved choir performing a program of Mozart’s Te Deum, Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and Rutter’s Birthday Madrigals, as well as two original works composed for this occasion.
▲ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲ Tickets are NT$200 to NT$800 and are available through ERA ticketing
The Beauty of Darkness — Wu Ya-hsin 2008 Piano Recital (黑色琴語 — 吳亞欣2008鋼琴演奏會) will see the US-based pianist perform a concert inspired by the works of writer Aloysius Bertrand (1807-1841).
▲ Tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲ Chihshan Hall, National Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center, Kaohsiung (高雄中正文化中心至善廳), 67 Wufu 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City (高雄市五福一路67號)
▲ Tickets are NT$100 and NT$200 and are available through ERA ticketing
Falling in Love With Nodame Cantabile: 2008 Eric Chen Piano Recital (愛上交響情人夢 — 2008陳冠宇鋼琴獨奏會) sees rising star Eric Chen (陳冠宇) from Tainan perform a program including Mozart’s 12 Variations in C Major, Ah vous dirai-je, Maman, K265; Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Number 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1; Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue; Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu in C Sharp Minor, Op. 66 and other pieces.
Tuesday at 7:30pm
National Recital Hall, Taipei City
Tickets are NT$400 to NT$800 and are available from ERA ticketing
Singing of Liudui — An Evening of Hakka Symphony (傳唱六堆 — 客家交響之夜), a concert by the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (長榮交響樂團) under the baton of Chen Hsu-hsi (陳樹熙) performing a series of compositions that mix Western and Chinese instrumentation.
▲ Tuesday at 7:30pm
▲ National Concert Hall, Taipei City
▲ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,000 and are available through ERA ticketing
Vasary vs NTSO (瓦薩里vs國台交), a part of the First Elite Exchange Series (國台交菁英系列), Hungarian conductor Tamas Vasary takes the podium before the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (國立臺灣交響樂團).
▲ Today at 7:30pm
▲ Jhunghsing Concert Hall, Taichung (台中中興堂), 291-3 Chingwu Rd, Taichung City (台中市精武路291之3號)
▲ Tickets are NT$300 to NT$1,200 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Solo Concert by Thierry Barbe (低音提琴大師Thierry Barbe獨奏會) will see the double bass specialist perform a program that includes Bach’s 6 Suites for Cello Solo No.1, Prelude; the first movement of Mozart’s Concerto for Basson; Bottesini’s Nel Co Piu Non Mi Sento Variations, Op. 23 and his own compositions.
▲ Tomorrow at 2:30pm
▲ Taipei National University of the Arts (國立臺北藝術大學音樂廳), 1 Xueyuan Rd, Beitou Dist, Taipei City (台北市北投區學園路1號)
▲ Tickets are NT$100 and are available through NTCH ticketing
Contemporary
The Wall (這牆) hosts alt-rock/nu-metal group Overdose tonight, along with rap/rock act Chang Jui-Chuan (張睿銓) and DJ Point. Alt-rock band Neon plays tomorrow. On Wednesday, it’s post-rock band Mosquilephant (蚊子大象), followed by Black Summer Days (黑色夏日), whose music is based on hard rhythm rock ’n’ roll mixed with blues and punk, and punk-rock band Random (隨性). Things get started early on Thursday with another round of Challenging the Fire (火焰大挑戰), a competition for (mostly) new and upcoming bands. Thursday’s entrants are Sunny Charlie, Mr Doris, The Lil’ Rockies, Fuzzy Logic, Penguin Loves to Eat Chicken Balls (企鵝愛吃雞肉球), Desecration, Lips and Lucky Q.
▲ B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call (02) 2930-0162 or log on at www.the-wall.com.tw for more information
▲ Shows start at 8pm, except for tomorrow’s, which starts at 8:30pm
▲ NT$400 tonight and tomorrow, NT$300 Wednesday, NT$200 Thursday. Admission includes one drink
THC, Taipei Hip-Hop Crew, performs tonight at Bliss. THC raps in English, French and Mandarin. Tomorrow, it’s Soma, a Taipei cover band that plays popular contemporary rock as well as popular songs from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, then DJ Rowback.
▲ 148, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市信義路四段148號), one block east of Dunhua South Road (敦化南路). Call Bliss at (02) 2702-1855 or visit www.bliss-taipei.com. For more information on live performances at Bliss, visit www.myspace.com/blisslivehouse
▲ Shows start at 10pm. Bar/kitchen open from 7pm daily. Ladies night Fridays; women get one free cocktail of their choice
▲ Entrance to the bar is free. Cover for the live music upstairs is NT$200
Performing tonight at Underworld (地下社會) are Dinosaur and Imagination, indie-electronica band Space Cake (太空蛋糕) and A Pei (阿焙), who sings ballads accompanied by acoustic guitar, harmonica and flute.
▲ B1, 45 Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路45號B1). Call (02) 2369-0103 or visit www.upsaid.com/underworld for more information
▲ Bands start playing after 9pm. The bar is open from 8pm daily, except Mondays
▲ Entrance for shows is NT$300 and includes one drink
ABS, All Blues and Ska, a blues-rock band formed by members of Wu Bai’s band China Blue, plays tonight at Riverside Cafe (河岸留言). Popular indie-rock band Tizzy Bac takes to the stage tomorrow. On Monday, it’s Open Jam Night, when anyone with an instrument to play or songs to sing can play a short set.
▲ B1, 2, Ln 244, Roosevelt Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路三段244巷2號B1), next to Taipower Building (台電大樓). Call (02) 2368-7310, or visit www.riverside.com.tw
▲ Shows start at 9:30pm
▲ NT$450 tonight and NT$400 tomorrow. Admission includes one drink. There is a one-drink minimum on Monday
Witch House (女巫店) features Aboriginal musicians Leo Chen (陳永龍) and Hsiao Mei (小美) tonight. See story on Page 14 for more information. Indie band Miss Silk Stocking (絲襪小姐) plays tomorrow.
▲ 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Road Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). Call (02) 2362-5494 or visit www.witchhouse.org
▲ Performances start at 9:30pm. Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist bookstore and large collection of board games open 11am to midnight Sunday to Wednesday; 11am to 1am Thursday to Saturday
▲ NT$300 entrance includes one drink
Singer/songwriter No Name performs his own originals plus covers of English and Chinese classics tonight at Living Room (小客廳).
▲ 3F, 8, Nanjing E Rd Sec 5, Taipei City (台北市南京東路五段8號3樓). Call (02) 8787-4154 or visit www.livingroomtaipei.com
▲ 10pm to 4am tonight
▲ NT$300 charge and NT$200 suggested donation
Event
Bring your used T-shirts down to Shida Park (師大公園) tomorrow afternoon as part of the V-Day Taiwan celebrations. The Clothesline Project is an opportunity for those who have witnessed or experienced violence to share their experiences by decorating a T-shirt for the clothesline. Later the same day, the 2nd Annual Mr Vagina Friendly Pageant will be held at Citizen Cane, beginning at 8pm. The free event will also feature drink specials, contests and a professional dominatrix. For more information about V-Day, Taiwan visit www.vdaytaiwan.org.tw (in English and Chinese).
▲ Shida Park (師大公園), Shida Rd, Taipei City (台北市師大路); Citizen Cane (國民), 67, Dongfeng St, Taipei City (台北市東豐街67號)
▲ Tomorrow at 2pm and 8pm
▲ Admission is free for both events
Exhibition
Touring Taiwan — Highlights From the (TFAM) Permanent Collection (台灣行旅 — 典藏常設展). The museum’s permanent collection for this year focuses on landscapes most representative of the country, revealing different ways to appreciate what is oftentimes viewed as tourist attraction through local painters’ eyes. Through the exhibition, visitors are also encouraged to study the artists’ transformation in creative concepts.
▲ Taipei Fine Arts Museum (台北市立美術館), 181, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 3, Taipei City (台北市中山北路三段181號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5:30pm, Saturday until 8:30pm. Call (02) 2595-7656
▲ Until Aug. 17
Infantization (果凍時代). Curator Zhang Qing (張晴) says the generation of Chinese artists born in the 1980s is “a gelatin generation of transparency and lightness, vibrant and free, sometimes blindly free.” Featuring more than 60 works by 41 artists, the exhibition presents examples of the creative potential outlined by Zhang.
▲ Museum of Contemporary Art (台北當代藝術館), 39 Changan W Rd, Taipei City (台北市長安西路39號). ▲ Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Call (02) 2552- 3721
▲ Until April 13
Your Turn to Tell — Exhibition on Hsia Hsia’s Poetry and Paper-cutting Art (換你說 — 夏夏剪紙與詩個展). A young poet and artist known for her alternative action art projects such as the stamp and capsule toy series, Hsia Hsia turns to paper-cutting this time, reviving the ancient handicraft with a poetic spirit the artist honed during her travels last year during.
▲ Booday Shop, 18-1, Ln 25 Nanjing W Rd, Taipei City (台北市南京西路25巷18-1號). Open Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 9pm. Call (02) 2552-5552 X11
▲ Until Thursday
To Paradises (來去新樂園). The exchange exhibition between Taiwan New Arts Union (台灣新藝) and Shin Leh Yuan Art Space (新樂園藝術空間) features works by seven local artists who employ different vocabularies to represent their inner paradises. Works on display include animation, sculpture, multi-media and video pieces.
▲ Shin Leh Yuan Art Space, 15-2, Ln 11, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市中山北路二段11巷15-2號). Open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 8pm. Call (02) 256-1548
▲ Until March 16
The 2008 Special Exhibition at the Lin Family Garden — Chrysanthemums for the Spring and Flower Arrangements (2008林園菊情花藝特別展 — 春菊迎春生花特別展). In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Lin Family Garden greets visitors with a colorful display of chrysanthemums in various shapes and hues.
▲Lin Family Garden (林家花園), 9 Ximen St, Banciao City, Taipei County (台北縣板橋市西門街9號). Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 2965 3061 X15
▲ Until Sunday
During the Japanese colonial era, remote mountain villages were almost exclusively populated by indigenous residents. Deep in the mountains of Chiayi County, however, was a settlement of Hakka families who braved the harsh living conditions and relative isolation to eke out a living processing camphor. As the industry declined, the village’s homes and offices were abandoned one by one, leaving us with a glimpse of a lifestyle that no longer exists. Even today, it takes between four and six hours to walk in to Baisyue Village (白雪村), and the village is so far up in the Chiayi mountains that it’s actually
Dec. 16 to Dec. 22 Growing up in the 1930s, Huang Lin Yu-feng (黃林玉鳳) often used the “fragrance machine” at Ximen Market (西門市場) so that she could go shopping while smelling nice. The contraption, about the size of a photo booth, sprayed perfume for a coin or two and was one of the trendy bazaar’s cutting-edge features. Known today as the Red House (西門紅樓), the market also boasted the coldest fridges, and offered delivery service late into the night during peak summer hours. The most fashionable goods from Japan, Europe and the US were found here, and it buzzed with activity
These days, CJ Chen (陳崇仁) can be found driving a taxi in and around Hualien. As a way to earn a living, it’s not his first choice. He’d rather be taking tourists to the region’s attractions, but after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the region on April 3, demand for driver-guides collapsed. In the eight months since the quake, the number of overseas tourists visiting Hualien has declined by “at least 90 percent, because most of them come for Taroko Gorge, not for the east coast or the East Longitudinal Valley,” he says. Chen estimates the drop in domestic sightseers after the
It’s a discombobulating experience, after a Lord of the Rings trilogy that was built, down to every frame and hobbit hair, for the big screen, to see something so comparatively minor, small-scaled and TV-sized as The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The film, set 183 years before the events of The Hobbit, is a return to Middle-earth that, despite some very earnest storytelling, never supplies much of an answer as to why, exactly, it exists. Rohirrim, which sounds a little like the sound an orc might make sneezing, is perhaps best understood as a placeholder for further cinematic
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