Canadian punk band Pseudo return to Korea
Jonathan of Pseudo performs at Club SHARP last Sept. 9. / Image by Jon Dunbar
By Jon Dunbar
Toronto-based punk band Pseudo
, but they're coming back for more punishment. Not even a head wound and a trip to the hospital could keep them away.
At a show in GBN Live House last Sept. 22, a Korean punk band's bassist threw his guitar and struck Pseudo bassist Liam Lachmansingh in the head.
“I did not see it coming and before I knew it blood was coming from my head,” he told The Korea Times. “The hospital was quick and easy, very unlike Canada.”
He holds no animosity toward the other bassist, meeting up with him at a restaurant after the show, his shirt still drenched in blood. “I told him if I ever had a child then he is cursed to be the godfather,” he said. “The most I was upset about was having to leave and get stitches.”
Pseudo bassist Liam, right, returns from the hospital, his shirt still drenched in blood last Sept. 22. / Image by Jon Dunbar
Other than that bass-shaped dent, Korea left a big impression on all three Pseudo members, who performed at GBN in Mullae-dong, Club SHARP in Mangwon-dong and Thunderhorse Tavern in Gyeongnidan. They also appeared at Hongdae's multi-venue Zandari Festa and toured to Gangneung in Gangwon Province.
Their music resonated with the local scene, despite having a different sound from local bands, with drummer Mikhail Castro describing their sound as “avant-garde punk” or “pseudo punk.”
They warmed up to the Korean scene through their performances, during which Liam swayed on stage and roared his vocals, sometimes even upstaging his older brother Jonathan, the band's frontman.
“I'll usually act how I feel like acting in the moment. If I want to jump around then I will. If I'm not feeling too excited I'll be more relaxed but still try to put on a good show,” Liam said. “People usually tell me they are surprised by my on-stage antics as I am usually quiet and soft-spoken off-stage. Overall, Korean punks were very friendly which made it easier for me to come out of my shell.”
All three mentioned especially having fun at after-parties, joining the local punks after shows for a late-night meal with drinks.
“The one thing I think of when I look back at that first tour was the first after-party we went to in Seoul,” Jonathan said. “I remember just looking around and taking in the friendship and positive energy I was surrounded by. People were smiling. I felt genuinely happy and glad with where I was, something I don't really experience as much as I would like to.”
“Those were some of the best feelings I took back with me last year,” Mikhail agreed. “That sense of community, friendship and camaraderie is what I feel is lacking in some of the scenes we've been in. It's common in the scenes we have played in to play the show and go home. A handful of bands don't even stay for the other bands.”
Pseudo drummer Mikhail plays at Thunderhorse Tavern in Gyeongnidan last Sept 8. / Image by Jon Dunbar
As three visible minorities, both in their homeland and over here, they noticed they received different treatment than they're used to in Canada and the U.S.
“Everyone in Korea was caring, kind, weren't racist, and didn't make us feel uncomfortable in the ways we are made to feel in North America,” Jonathan said. “I noticed immediately that political correctness doesn't really exist in the Korean punk scene because everyone kinda knows by default not to be shitty, which is great because that should be the standard. But there were times where things that are problematic slipped through to us and it was a little awkward. It was clearly not out of ill intent and it is one of the star points I mention to people who ask about the country.”
Jonathan hopes to explore more of Korea's cuisine this time, especially its more unconventional dishes.
Mikhail, a visual artist, hopes to make more of his experience, visiting more art galleries, exploring more of the city and not leaving his camera at home. His Facebook page is still decorated with a picture he took at Gyeongbok Palace, and he claims he made three prints of it at home.
“When I took that photo last year, I didn't realize how much I was going to love it,” he said. “When I look back at it, like every day, I still remember how I felt seeing it for the first time.”
They have shows all across the country this year. They're at
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Next weekend, they'll be at Rush Bar in Gangneung again on Aug. 16, at
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“The lineups are godly,” Jonathan added.
DIP in Changcheon-dong Aug. 10