Korean Job Discussion Forums

Gardimus · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Location: Formerly Ontario, Canada

Anyone have some good suggestions for what bars to go to that would be indie rock friendly? I've found at least one bar in Hongdae...but maybe 12 people could fit in it. Recommendations from people not too cool to keep it the venue to themselves would be appreciated.

Thanks

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

If you want just plain indie rock, it seems the place to go is Rolling Stone. Another place that has a bit of a foreigner crowd is Aura.

You should probably also check out the Mono show this weekend.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=53823

I would recommend Skunk Hell, which consistently has the best shows, but it's more punk than indie.

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

I am one of those sad people who led others on with hints at cool places to hang out a while ago. Promised to give out some names and directions and then got too busy to get back to it.

Quickly, there is a place called "Te", pronounced "Tay" that is a basement bar on a backstreet in Shinchon which has a nice crowd, friendly staff and a pretty good selection of indie/alt CDs, but not completely up to date. If you request stuff like The White Stripes, Interpol, The Smiths, etc. they will play it for you.

Between Shinchon and Hongdae on the second floor(third?), there is a clique-y, quirky place called "Voodoo Bar" that used to be located in the heart of Shinchon, but moved when the owner decided she had had enough of the young Yonsei brilliant types crashing all bladdered on into her place. It's a little bit like a grandma's kitchen now. But if you get to know her, and you are a good guest, she'll play anything for you. Here the emphasis is on "Classic Alt" and when I go I request The Jam, The Replacements, The Clash, etc.

I have yet to find a place that has a really eclectic, refined collection of tunes. When somebody finds one bar that will play Neutral Milk Hotel, DJ Shadow, the latest Meat Beat Manifesto and the REM, U2, Cure retro-greatest hits(or not, really), I will finally be happy.

And, I know, for now these directions suck(I can't even remember if "Te" is written in Korean or English--pretty sure it's �� or ��), but I will hopefully get out again sometime soon and get a better idea of how to get people to the respective doorsteps.

Cheers.

Gardimus · Joined: 23 Feb 2006 Location: Formerly Ontario, Canada

Actually, I believe I've gone to Te a few times and they do indeed play good music there. Right when I walked in they were playing the Dears which blew my mind.

coffeeman · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Location: Korea

Do you know any good indie cd shops or used cds shops in Seoul? Anybody?

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

There's only one, and it's only good for domestic music. Hyang Music, near Sinchon Station. I'm looking for the website.

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I'm pretty sure that's the one. It's pretty small, and the indie Korean music is on the right side of the middle shelf closest to the front.

yesnoyesyesno · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

yesnoyesyesno · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

that retarded intersection is a scam of the cooler intersection in front of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. the shinjuku crosswalk is a 1000 times busier but also a 1000 times more orderly! at that shinjuku cross walk they often have japanese right wingers preaching to the japanese kids. once i took one of their flyers to take a look at (because i'm asian looking but not japanese) and the rough looking japanese right winger guy was following me around trying to get me join his little gang. fun times!