By Cain Barriskill, John Redmond
Contributing Writers
With Seoul's vibrant live music scene, one often struggles to keep up with new talent, with more great bands hitting the scene on a weekly basis.
It's often a hit and miss affair, depending on the venue and line up.
November will see arguably the best month of live music in Iteawon in many a year, with the first ever Stompers' battle of the bands competition running through the next four Saturdays of this month.
Ole Stompers Rock Spot, a rock bar in Itaewon specializing in promoting new talent, will host the battle.
The competition was the brain child of musician Cain Barriskill, Stompers manager Alan Green and local music enthusiast Summer Walker, in efforts to bring a greater variety of live music to what is considered the foreign haven of Seoul.
In response to a Korea Times interview, Cain Barriskill said, ``We have really pulled out all the stops to get some great bands participating in the competition featuring a wide spectrum of music form pop to punk, from folk to metal and we are really happy to get a lot great Korean musicians involved as well as those form the expatriate community. Any music fan coming to Stompers will not be disappointed with what's on offer."
There has already been much debate within Seoul's alternative music scene as to who will emerge victorious in November, and with prize money of one million won, there is certainly no mean reward on offer for the band that wins.
Bubblegum studios offered free studio time to runner-ups. Highlights include Hongdae live legends Galaxy Express, innovative gypsy flavored rock n' roll act St. John the Gambler (in one of their last ever performances) and expat favorites Sotto Gamba and We Need Surgery. But with a wealth of new talent on show, there may just be an upset.
Although Hongdae has traditionally been the home of Seoul's live music scene, organizers hope that this will not only bring some desperately needed original talent to the area but also give music fans another option for the weekend.
The line up will be:
Nov. 8, Round 1: 1. the Concrete Organics; 2. Captain Bootbois; 3. We Need Surgery; 4. Galaxy Express.
Nov. 15, Round 2: 1. Saint John the Gambler; 2. Rabihem; 3. Sotto Gamba; 4. Decadent Gonads.
Nov. 22, Round 3: 1. the Pines; 2. Taxaderby Choo Choos; 3. Pornotarium; 4. NeoConartists.
Nov. 29, Final Round: Winners of each round.
To get to Ole Stompers, leave Itaewon station, line 6, via exit 3. Turn right at the fire station and left at the first corner. Ole Stompers is at the top of the hill on the left.