What happened in Hong Kong music this month, from a new supergroup to the glorious return of GDJYB

Things we saw and heard on the HK indie scene in January + cool shit you should do in February

Cool shit that happened in January 2025

A secret new supergroup

The year began with the metaphorical bang: the 1/1 debut outing of Restless Waters, two days after dropping a bracing debut single. There’s zero press blurb and the dudes are evidently doing their best not to brag and fly under-radar. However, if you didn’t clock it yet members include An Id Signal frontman Ah Lai on vox, multi-instrumental sound artist Brian Chu on drums (see later), and David Boring’s principal music maker Jason Cheung on guitar. Fittingly this track channels the same crazed, post-punk sheets-of-guitar currently missing from the later band’s new electro-infused direction. More, please.

“Beat Him to Death”, say Ying Dak Collective

Three days later, things got louder with a four-headed colossus of Hong Kong metal: Evocation, Perish of Empyrean, Dismembered and Shepherds the Weak. A superbly crafted bill lured the heavy crowd out in force to new mid-size venue Portal in San Po Kong. Barring the spurious “We don’t condone any violence or sexual harassment” note that went out on all socials after the event, the night was a smasher, especially scene veterans Evocation’s atmospheric, crushingly intense set built around songs from their excellent 2024 sophomore record, Kalpa. – LJ

The glorious return of GDJYB?

After years off the scene – and at least two members leaving HK mid-pandemic – everyone figured we’d heard the last word from HK’s favourite math-rock band. This fact felt hammered home when singer Soft Liu and guitarist Soni Cheng debuted a new outfit, Running Youth, at Clockenflap last year (while Heihei Ng went on to win a big TV drumming contest). But now, really, are GDJYB actually back? Well, here’s the facts: the quartet has both released new music (this snappy single dropped at the tail end of 2024) and performed a big homecoming show at MacPherson Stadium that we’d love to call triumphant, if only we could’ve afforded the ticket price. (So here’s a pic of one of the last times we saw them, in 2019.)

Virgin Vacation get road ready

Virgin Vacation played a punchy set at Lau Bak Livehouse as an unofficial warm-up for their upcoming tour of Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. Despite the smaller scale, sparse attendance and some sound issues (the seated, spaghetti-slurping supper club vibes of the venue didn’t help), the quartet+ (augmented by Tomii on sax) still conjured a trademark trance with hypnotic ambient rhythms, widdly ’70s psych guitar lines and a widescreen compositional approach. After a somewhat lukewarm call for an encore, VV unveiled a new ambient-vibed experimental work in progress, “Yami”, an offshoot from the group’s recent improv-driven performance soundtracking live sketching by graphic artist Jay Wong.
Catch them again this month supporting Thailand’s JPBS at Mom Livehouse on February 18.

Feed the Dragon @ Slap

After digesting our pasta with a side of experimental rock at Lau Bak, we turned the dial to “party mode”, put on a beanie and headed north to Yau Tsim Mong district’s industrial hinterlands for a lineup by UK-HK drum ’n’ bass label Feed the Dragon at new club Slap. The main room was small and claustro on a popular night, but it was hard to fault the fat, fearsome Funktion-One soundsystem and imposing lighting rig. “Two rooms” is an oversell – one DJ station is at the end of the bar – but the night delivered 19 DJs across seven NOS-fuelled hours. Regulars like Mengzy, DJ Fu and Drafus hit the decks alongside Hong Kong DnB progenitors Magnetic Soul, with British artist Mmee debuting the label’s song and music video. Since an earlier heyday, Kowloon’s club scene has failed to find its foothold again, but Slap might be the unifying force that sees dance culture diversify from the island clubs. – LJ

Jonathan Yang takes off the mask

Indie troubadour-turned-contemplative sound artist Jonathan Yang gave a boldly earnest, soul-bearing and self-effacing interview to Zolima CityMag, following the recent release of his second full long-player, Amalgamation. Shameless self promotion over.

Junk! gets dragged to hell

No one would have imagined that long-standing electro-comedy artist Junk! would begin branching out with VR-driven concept shows and family musicals. His latest left-turn was a midweek shindig as part of Hong Kong Fringe Club’s Fringe Festival – which comes ahead of the Valentine’s Day release of his long-awaited new album, Sweet & Sour.

The show saw Junk!, aka Aussie producer-performer Glen Lloyd, awkwardly sandwiched around a drag act and a burlesque performer (Jesus, the Fringe’s tiled floor looked cold). No other artist has played The Underground as many times, apparently, and although Lloyd faced some technical issues (when does he not?) he powered steadfastly through. The performance caught him between two eras: profane, goofy comedy electronica; and something more sincere and sentimental, an approach defined by more carefully crafted, ’80s-inspired pop. Mid-life crisis or the start of something intriguing? – LJ

The Aftermath turns six

From a distance, it might have appeared somewhat disingenuous for HK Island’s principal promoters of all things original and alternative to celebrate six years of such a noble cause … with a quartet of cover bands playing for its birthday. But in truth, this bumper good-time bill worked a treat – every earnest indie kid needs to cut loose with a cheeky Idles banger every now and again, and The Lockouts brought some steamy soul props to the party.

Brian Chu drops an out-there album

The third new long-player to arrive from fresh label/collective Un.Tomorrow dropped to little fanfare on Spotify on January 22. To keep things oblique, the third album from sound artist and Butter Nut Squash Waltz dude Brian Chu, Mannaka, is also being released on cassette (not vinyl). While it might appear they’re trying to put anyone off from actually listening to it, initial efforts suggest it’s worth spending time with this rhythm-, harmony- and melody-free meandering experiment, which was apparently recorded in part in sewers (eww). “Brian Chu is an artist whose sound experiments are guided by the body’s movement. Any object capable of making a sound can be taken into his hands, transformed instantly into an extension of his body,” the blurb tells us.

“This album may not provide answers to philosophical questions … yet it offers us a brief escape from the enticements of algorithms and big data, allowing our ears and souls to rest momentarily.”

Cool shit you should know about in February 2025

The AIA Carnival potato gets passed around

After eight weeks of careful curation by the Aftermath, the Central Harbourfront’s AIA Carnival space is being passed to our friends at The Underground for one night only on February 7. The suitably titled Sonic Showdown stars reliable alt-rockers What They Do and The Ferals (fronted by UG head honcho Chris B), plus Zoe Haynes, 失業園 Unemployers and the apparently outstanding Omnimori.

Two days later Young Soy Gallery are presenting a bill topped by Mr Koo. And this weekend sits at the centre of a sandwich promoted by The Wanch – who took January 31 and February 14. Who knows who’ll hold this hot potato next?

Metal vs Emo Valentine gigs

Lovesick and lonely alt kids have a choice of two heavy bills to celebrate their celibacy this February 14, with Metal Valentine and Emo Valentine multi-band bills going head to head at Kwun Tong’s Wave Music Studio and The Aftermath, respectively. If you have a date, or prefer an earplug-free Valentine’s, then there’s a tribute to drummer Elvin Jones (of the famed Coltrane quartet) at Fountain de Chopin.

Don’t let Night Ships pass you by

A new supergroup-of-sorts is formed – and they’re finally coming out to play. Starring former/present members of Teenage Riot, Shotgun Politics and The David Bowie Knives, Night Ships comes packed with potential. After low-radar live debuts in far flung locations (Kam Tin, Lamma), the quartet is finally ready to make a Central splash (cough) at The Aftermath on February 15. However, with former DBKers on lead vocals, principal songwriting and percussion, we can kinda guess whose captaining this ship.

Twisterella* are still going strong

Who knows what rock they’ve been hiding under for all this time, but we were pleasantly surprised to see that shoegaze mavens Twisterella* are supporting Taiwanese post/instru-rock outfit Molly in Mountain at Mom Livehouse on February 19. It’s been like six years since their shiny debut LP — which apparently took 10 years to make — so here’s to more new music this side of 2030.