Subscribe
E-Paper
 |
| The entrance to Club FF in Seogyo-dong, western Seoul / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar |
By Jon Dunbar
Club FF has proven its staying power, 15 years since its opening in 2004. It's celebrating the occasion this weekend with three days of shows presenting some of the best of Korea's underground music scene.
When the venue opened, the area in front of Hongik University, known colloquially as Hongdae, was an artist community with a robust growing indie music scene. The years have not been kind, and the neighborhood's seen many live music venues rise and fall, including Club Drug, Skunk Hell, Club Spot and Club Ta, the latter which was located a couple doors down from FF.
Somehow FF has outlasted them all, establishing itself as a hybrid club-live music venue with a bit more of a party vibe. Perhaps it had more appeal than its competitors, as it was open to a wide range of rock genres, emphasizing quality rather than catering to a specific community.
"We love rock 'n' roll music and culture," Eddie Hwang, owner and DJ of FF, told The Korea Times. "Our focus is rock!! We try to have the best bands playing in our club!"
Hwang started working for FF 14 years ago. He took over ownership of the club recently.
Under his watch, the club has succeeded in attracting both local and foreign paying customers. It offers early-evening and late-night shows, and often a free cocktail hour. Hwang provides DJ sets highlighting rock and its many subgenres, standing out in a field of increasing electronic and hip-hop DJ clubs.
Although he didn't want to take credit for their success, many of Korea's best indie bands played shows at FF before breaking through, including Guckkasten, Hyukoh, Galaxy Express, DickPunks, Thornapple and the Black Skirts.
"We have a lot of history!" Hwang remarked.
Earlier this year, Carl Barat from the Libertines played an impromptu gig at FF. Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips also stopped by FF for drinks and dancing after one of the band's tours here. Swedish musician Jens Lekman is another big name that graced the basement club on one of his visits to Korea.
As the Hongdae area races toward gentrification and live music venues fall left, right and center, FF remains strong. But Hwang isn't complacent.
"Of course I'm worried," he said. "Young Koreans are less interested in rock and indie these days. They prefer hip-hop. On the same street as FF there are five clubs; four of them are hip-hop clubs! But I don't think this is just a problem in Hongdae ― this is happening in many places. I worry rock is dying!"
 |
| Joongshiki Band performs at Club FF during Zandari Festa 2018. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar |
Day 1, Friday, started early at 5 p.m. The bands performing include The Solutions, DickPunks, ska band Kingston Rudieska and legendary Korean punk band Crying Nut. After midnight, DJs take over, with DJ Eddie starting at 2:30 a.m.
Day 2 offers 10 more bands, including Wiretap in My Ear, HarryBigButton, Galaxy Express and No Brain. The DJ lineup includes TigerDisco and DJ Eddie, and is scheduled to run until 6 a.m., for those who want to stay out until the subway reopens.
Day 3 starts at 4 p.m. with Shirts Boy Frank and goes to Surl's set scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m.
Entry for one day costs 25,000 won in advance or 30,000 won at the door. The limited run of three-day tickets going for 50,000 won are all sold out.
Visit fb.com/hongdaeff or clubff.modoo.at for more information.
