14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2009 • TAIPEI TIMES BY David Chen MUSIC stop Monsters of rock, coming through

inkin Park. Those two words alone are probably enough to attract compiled BY Noah Buchan swarms of young, mosh-hungry rock Summit notes: Lfans to Banciao Stadium (台北縣立板橋體育 none other than Yang Chung-hsien 館) in Taipei County on Thursday, when What: 2009 Summer Rock (楊宗憲), Yang Tang-kuei’s son, as the group makes its second appearance Summit (夏日搖滾高峰會) featuring the pair were rumored to be an in Taiwan. Japanese group Vamps, Linkin Park, item at the time. The elder Yang The chart-topping American nu-metal Hoobastank and All American Rejects reportedly objected to the band headlines next week’s Summer Rock 夏日搖滾高峰會 relationship because Chu Ko Summit ( ), a set of concerts When and Where: Liang owed him so much money. that also features Vamps of Japan, and When asked why she kept her Hoobastank and The All-American Rejects Vamps: 8pm, Tuesday and son out of the public gaze, Hsieh of the US. ► said that any news about her On its first visit to Taiwan in 2007, Wednesday at Huashan Culture 華山化園區 family would invariably mention Linkin Park played a sold-out show for Park ( ), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, debt and gangsters. 40,000 people at Taipei’s Zhongshan Taipei City (台北市八德路一段1號); Chu Ko Liang, meanwhile, said Football Stadium (中山足球場), which closest MRT station is Zhongxiao he couldn’t be happier that he is organizers say was Taiwan’s highest- Xinsheng, Exit 1 (忠孝新生捷運站1號 a grandfather and wants to meet selling concert since Michael Jackson. 出口) the child, and Hsieh, as soon as This time the group is joined by two Linkin Park, Hoobastank Rachel Fu and Charles Chen aren’t so possible. He also said he hopes that opening bands that are enjoying modest ► the father is Yang Chung-hsien. mainstream chart success in the US: The and The All-American Rejects: lovey-dovey any more. photo: Taipei Times A public reunion is planned. All-American Rejects have an emo-pop 6pm, Thursday, at Banciao Stadium angsters, gambling, a What does it all mean? sound; Hoobastank plays grungy but Vamps, a J-rock glam metal band, appears at the Summer Rock Summit at Huashan Culture Park on Tuesday (台北縣立板橋體育館) in Taipei County; decade on the lam, a career Increased TV ratings, for one. polished hard rock and is best known and Wednesday nights. Photo courtesy of Super Television closest MRT station is Banciao Station, comeback and now a mystery The added attention was matched for its hit ballad, The Reason. Both Exit 2 (板橋捷運站2號出口) Gchild: Chu Ko Liang’s (豬哥亮) life by a jump in viewers for Chu Ko bands match the whiny, angst-ridden Taiwan has seen a relatively large at Nangang 101 (南港101) on Wednesday. is the stuff of soap opera. Liang’s show. temperament of Linkin Park’s music, which number of big-name rock acts this Linkin Park, Hoobastank and All Tickets: Tickets for Vamps concerts For those who have hibernating, In more mundane news, the melds together heavy metal and hip-hop. summer, thanks in part to Summer Sonic, American Rejects are no exception, and are NT$1,200, NT$2,400 and NT$3,600; Chu Ko Liang rose to stardom and public marital problems between Vamps, who appear on Tuesday and which alongside Fuji Rock is one of will arrive in Taipei fresh from their own tickets for Linkin Park concert are wealth in the 1980s as a stand-up singer Rachel Fu (傅天穎) and Wednesday at Huashan Culture Park (華 Japan’s major summer festivals. sets at Summer Sonic. NT$1,600 to NT$4,500. Tickets are 陳子強 comedian. Off stage, however, Charles Chen ( ) reached 山化園區), play a high-energy mix of epic Local promoters have been taking Organizers say Linkin Park does not available through ERA ticketing he racked up gambling debts to a crescendo over the weekend advantage of the festival’s timing and plan to cut its show short even though hard rock, glam metal and pop, with outlets, online at www.ticket.com.tw, underworld figures and is said to when Fu was admitted to hospital songs written from the point of view proximity. With the exception of Vamps, other bands are sharing the bill, so or at 7-Eleven ibon kiosks have owed his boss, Yang Tang- after allegedly slashing her wrist. of vampires. The band was founded all of the major acts that have appeared audience members can expect a show kuei (楊登魁), NT$120 million. According to United Daily by Hyde, the charismatic singer and in Taiwan this summer are also appearing lasting nearly four hours. So Chu Ko Liang did what News, she showed up at the guitarist for the popular Japanese rock at Summer Sonic in Osaka and Tokyo this For more on Linkin Park, see any debtor might do and went hospital with a 3cm-long wound band L’Arc~en~Ciel. He and guitarist and weekend: UK alt-rock band Placebo, trip- our interview with lead singer into hiding, breaking his contract on her wrist and smelling of co-founder K.A.Z. cite King Crimson and hop artist Tricky, post-rock band Mew and Chester Bennington in the July 8, with Yang. alcohol. Cue innuendo that she Motley Crue as influences. Nine Inch Nails, which performs in Taipei 2009, edition of the Taipei Times. Fast forward to February of tried to take her own life because this year, when intrepid Apple Chen is rumored to have played Daily photographers caught up away from home. BY D a v id C h e n with Chu Ko Liang in southern Fu later denied reports that MUSIC Taiwan, where he was reportedly she had tried to commit suicide, working at a temple. Fellow and said she had fallen down and entertainers Yu Tien (余天) and cut herself on broken glass. Kao Ling-feng (高凌風) called for When contacted by reporters Real Taiwan his return to television so that for comment, Chen said, “She Chu Ko Liang could wipe the has to be responsible for her or beach getaways, Taitung scene; Stoned Rockerz, which Red-I Matka and De Hot, which won slate clean. own actions,” a response that, can’t be beat, says reggae describes as one of Japan’s top the battle of the bands at this Yu brokered a meeting needless to say, didn’t endear him musician Red-I. “You’d think backing reggae bands; Filipina singer year’s Ho-Hai-Yan Rock Festival, between Yang and Chu, and to observers. Fyou were in Tahiti, ya know?” Phatty Maria, who was the 2008 performs a blend of reggae, rock according to the China Times, Perhaps Chen should have Red-I, aka Patrick Chen, Japan Dancehall Queen Champion; and Paiwan music tomorrow night. the former knocked 80 percent shown the kind of remorse that is among a handful of artists and Papa U-gee, another veteran Red-I’s previous group, the off the total owed, leaving the Chu Ko Liang specializes in and performing at the Taitung Music singer in the Japanese scene. Riddim Outlawz, disbanded, funnyman with NT$24 million to blubbered in front of the camera Festival (東海岸音樂季), which starts The lineup of international and he now spends much of his pay back. for forgiveness. tonight and features live reggae, performers was organized by Red-I, time touring the reggae circuit in The deal stipulated that Chu Aboriginal and jazz music at a scenic who grew up in Canada and honed Japan and the Philippines. But Festival notes: Ko Liang, whose disloyalty seems Chu Ko Liang ain’t too proud to beg. beachside area in Taitung County. his musical skills as a young adult he promises a spirited show on to have been forgotten, has to give Photo: Taipei Times The festival, now in its in Belize and Mexico. Sunday. “I got a lot of tricks to pop What: Taitung Music Festival (東海岸音樂季) Yang 20 percent of his earnings third year, presents some of He says the event is a rare out the hat, man,” he said. Where: Jialulan Recreation Area (伽路蘭遊憩區), located until he clears the lot. He now Taiwan’s most prominent chance to catch some top-notch Last year the festival attracted off Highway 11 (台11線公路), south of Dulan (都蘭), Taitung receives NT$300,000 per show for Aboriginal musicians along with bands from the Pan-Asian reggae 25,000 visitors over nine days, County and north of Taitung City, near the 157.5km marker his new program, Chu Ko Hui accomplished music groups from scene. “I don’t care where you go in according to the Taitung County When: Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm She (豬哥會社). Japan and the Philippines. Taiwan, but you’re not [normally] Government, which sponsors the Getting There: Scooter and bikes can be rented across the It remains unclear how Chu Ko Performers include Japanese going to get to see half of these event. Red-I estimated that the street from Taitung Train Station. By scooter it’s only a few Liang will repay his other debts. musician Oki, who plays the bands for free.” crowd on Saturday night last year minutes away, and on a bicycle it’s about a 30-minute ride. This past week, the Liberty tonkori, a traditional stringed Even though Caribbean sounds was 5,000-strong. Take Highway 11 heading north to Jialulan. The festival site is Times (the Taipei Times’ sister instrument of the Ainu, an dominate the evening program, He says the event’s location is just after Fugang Harbor (富岡港). A free shuttle bus runs from newspaper) snapped pictures aboriginal group of northern Japan. it’s “not a reggae festival per se,” reason alone to go, being one of the the train station to the venue of Chu Ko Liang’s daughter, Oki, who plays the tonkori said Red-I. few places in Taiwan that doesn’t Schedule of performers: International bands appear 謝金燕 singer Jeannie Hsieh ( ), backed by a reggae and dub Almost all of the local resemble a “Chinatown.” all three nights. Inka Mbing and Kimbo Hu appear today; Siyu with a boy, identity unknown. band, tours internationally and performers in the lineup are “It’s the last piece of real Sitar, Pau-dull and Matzka and De Hot appear tomorrow; The Hsieh later revealed that the has participated in major world Golden Melody Award winners Taiwan … Taitung is the last Nanwang Sisters, Red-I and Panai and Message appear on 12-year-old was her son, which music festivals such as Peter from the Aboriginal music scene: piece,” said Red-I. “People that Sunday. Music performances run from 6pm to 10pm means she became pregnant Gabriel’s WOMAD. Atayal singer Inka Mbing (雲力思), don’t know this place, man, you’re at roughly the time her father Other international acts include singer-songwriter Pau-Dull (陳建年), missing out.” On the Net: tmf.ccl.ttct.edu.tw disappeared. United Creation, a jazz group from the Nanwang Sisters (南王三姊妹) NOTE: Organizers say they will post updates on the festival Web And who is the father? The Okinawa; female singer Machaco, a and folk legend Kimbo Hu (胡德夫). Papa U-gee appears at the Taitung Music site of any changes made because of Typhoon Morakot Liberty Times speculated that he is pioneering figure in Japan’s reggae There’s new, young talent, too. Festival this weekend. Photo courtesy of Red-I

BY C at h eri n e S h u BY N o a h B uc h a n RESTAURANTS All change Kao-Chi 高記 alace seems to suffer from with mint sauce (NT$370). 6-ounce (it looked more like an an identity crisis — at least The coil of smoked salmon 8-ounce) steak was served with he Features Section Address: 5 Yongkang St, Taipei City (台北市永康街5號); 152, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市復興南路一段152號) in its design. The restaurant, lightly drizzled with honey the standard garnish of broccoli, Plocated in the series of back alleys vinaigrette and garnished with cauliflower, baby corn, fries and Telephone: (02) 2341-9984 (Yongkang); (02) 2751-9393 (Fuxing) Average meal: Most dishes are NT$120 to NT$420 now sports a new look. near the intersection of Dunhua capers and asparagus that showed a tangy passion fruit and tomato Details: Chinese, Japanese and English menus; credit cards accepted On the Net: www.kao-chi.com The pastel shades have Open: Mondays through Fridays 10am to 10:30pm, Saturdays and South (敦化南) and Zhongxiao East up to the table was a pleasant salad. The meat was moist, (忠孝東) roads, has the decor and beginning. The sweet dressing slightly marbled and came with T Sundays 8:30am to 10:30pm (Yongkang); daily from 11am to 10pm (Fuxing) gone and in their place bold, ambience of a lounge bar. and tangy capers complemented a robust pepper sauce (on the Cushioned hot pink couches the salmon’s smokiness. The side). My companion, between bright colors present content and chairs are ensconced in front Caesar salad was also surprising bites of his lamb, told me it was in a more approachable vershadowed by competitor (元籠小籠包) are NT$180 for 10, of sleek black laminate walls with its homemade dressing that the best he’d tried in Taipei. Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐), Kao- but the crab egg and pork version lined with mirrors — this latter had strong hints of anchovy. The Stuffed from a delicious format. We’ve rearranged the Chi (高記) is simultaneously (蟹黃小籠包, NT$280) is worth flourish ensuring that those who somewhat tasteless homemade meal, I was half hoping that daily sections to form a more Oone of Taipei’s best-known the extra NT$100 for the boost sit facing them spend as much bread, however, was disappointing. the brownie I chose for dessert restaurant chains — and one of of flavor that the crab roe and time looking at themselves as It wasn’t improved by the butter, wouldn’t be worth eating. After logical sequence, with art its better-kept secrets. Kao-Chi’s “mustard” add to each dumpling. they do their dining companions. which tasted as though it was one bite I changed my mind. It stories and art exhibition three-story flagship location For the uninitiated, xiaolong- Kao-Chi’s soup dumplings are comparable Transparent icicle-like ornaments made of coconut oil. I ended up arrived crowned with a scoop of on Yongkang Street (永康街) is bao are best eaten by nibbling off to those of its better-known rival around hang from the ceiling and are dipping the bread into the creamy vanilla ice cream and smothered listings, for example, being located just around the corner a tiny bit of the wrapper near the the corner. Photo: Catherine Shu, Taipei Times accentuated by spotlighting. The vegetable and bacon soup. in rich chocolate sauce that was published together on from Din Tai Fung and serves bottom and letting the rich broth sounds of such jazz greats as As Palace’s prices are topped with chopped almonds. many of the same Shanghai-style inside spill into a soup spoon to 腸粉, NT$120), which is part of Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald similar to, say, Sizzler, I was Although Palace’s atmosphere Wednesdays. The CD, favorites. Kao-Chi lacks the sip after the dumpling is finished. Kao-Chi’s Hong Kong-style dim round out the lounge bar vibe. expecting the cut of sirloin and is somewhat bizarre for the food technology, book and DVD waiting crowd of tourists that The broth inside Kao-Chi’s sum menu. The rice wrapper was With decor like this, one its presentation to be equally it serves, the restaurant offers usually jams the sidewalk in xiaolongbao was wonderfully tender and the shrimps and leeks could be forgiven for expecting mediocre. I was wrong. The good food for great value. reviews will run on Sundays front of Din Tai Fung, but unless rich and ample (there’s nothing were both excellent, but the to be passed a whiskey menu, rather than Wednesdays. you consider standing outside in more dissatisfying than a dry sauce the wraps were drizzled in rather than the lunch and dinner the heat next to idling tour buses soup dumpling). was so bland and watery that it menu consisting of French, There will be new puzzles and appetizing, that’s hardly a loss. The restaurant’s xiaolongbao cancelled out the dish’s appeal. American and Italian-style dishes new cartoons. Kao-Chi, which opened overshadows other dumplings Kao-Chi’s selection of that we received. There are two eight years before Din Tai on Kao-Chi’s menu, but most desserts is worth checking out basic ways of ordering your Starting next Friday, a Fung in 1950, started out as a are also very good. A good if you aren’t planning a trip to meal: the large set meal, which new food column called snack stand selling treats from complement to the soup the neighboring Ice Monster (冰 I chose, or the small set meal, Shanghai, where its founder lived dumplings is Kao-Chi’s zhaopai 館) for some shaved ice. The egg which my companion picked. Tidbits will run in this space. before the Chinese Civil War. (招牌), or signature, special giant yolk and cream bun (極品流沙 Both came with bread, soup If you have any The front of the restaurant still shrimp steamed dumplings (高 包, NT$120), a variation on the and a drink, with the addition of features a take-out case with 記蝦餃皇, NT$120). Try rounding classic Hong Kong liushabao, two salads and dessert for mine. comments or queries, some of Kao-Chi’s desserts. Like out your meal with yummy is soft mantou bread wrapped We ordered the sirloin steak its more famous rival, Kao-Chi is amaranth and tofu soup (莧菜豆腐 around golden, runny custard. (NT$420) and rosemary lamb either send an e-mail to also known for xiaolongbao (小 羹, NT$220), which is filling but Devotees of the classic liushabao features[at]taipeitimes.com 龍包), or juicy soup dumplings, still light enough for summer. made with sweet sesame seeds and its version is just as tasty as The Kao-Chi special spicy and might be disappointed by the egg Save room for dessert. or find us on Facebook at those served at Din Tai Fung, but sour soup (高式酸辣湯, NT$120) is yolk and cream’s relative lack of Palace Photo: Noah Buchan, Taipei Times www.facebook.com/taipe- don’t cost as much. also satisfying. texture and more subtle flavor, Xiaolongbao, or “steamed The only disappointment on a but the freshness of the mantou Address: 19, Alley 19, Ln 216, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, Telephone: (02) 2778-3200 itimes and leave a message. buns” as they are called on Kao- recent meal there was the shrimp and the richness of the custard Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路四段216巷19弄19號) Open: Daily from 11:30am to 10pm Chi’s menu, stuffed with just pork and leek sprouts wrap (韭黃蝦仁 make up for it. Details: English and Chinese menu; credit cards accepted Average meal: NT$440

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