Sound Planet carves another chapter for Rolling Hall

Written by Jess Howell

Stars aligned last month as Sound Planet was held to commemorate Rolling Hall's 30th anniversary. The scope of the festival matched the large ambitions of the 400-capacity Hongdae fixture. Indie acts from home and abroad who have helped turn the pages of Rolling Hall's storied history were joined by heavyweight headliners who have upheld the integrity of their own craft. The cool September air lent itself to a more subdued festival atmosphere. For many, living in the moment with the musicians who influenced their formative years was like looking in a mirror to see a palpable reflection of the voices that continue to help shape who they are.

Just like the acts they continue to support, diversity was at the forefront of Rolling Hall's lineup. Like their cosmic counterparts, no two stars were the same. Two days of artists from all walks of life committed themselves to synchronising mellisonant sound in perfect orbit around fluid crowd sentiment. While they each brought something different to the table, here are a few who shone with blinding radiance.

Transfixion

Watching Transfixion's set was one of those gratifying cultural wake-up calls where you could see the parallel of your own angsty teenage years with what Koreans grew up listening to. From the word 'go', every word to each song rang out like a chorus from the crowd on pure instinct. On top of the passionate crowd, Transfixion's ability to strike the emotive highs one would expect from a turn-of-the-century alt-rock band was effortless. In recent years, they've gained notoriety as the 'FIFA Band', as their music heavily features in most iterations of the franchise. After packaging together their exotic stage presence, abundance of energy, and bold choice of playing an encore cover of Tubthumping, it's safe to say that they're so much more than that.

Harrybigbutton

Harrybigbutton is the gift that keeps on giving. This hard rock band has a legacy that marries passion to artistic expression. Lee Sung Soo's growling conquests of the everyman invoke a sort of magic that elicits the same response between people experiencing it for the first time and those who are on their hundredth round. Whilst no stage is too big or too small for Harrybigbutton, there's just something so special about seeing them elicit a primal crowd reaction on such a large scale. Understanding this band's zeal for expression from all walks of life and seeing them connect to each individual through that vision is always something to behold. Whether it's thirty people lifting their feet off the sticky floor of an underground club or hundreds rushing at a dead sprint towards each other at a festival, everyone will always leave the venue understanding each other just a little better. You provide the coffee and cigarettes, and they'll always provide the rock 'n' roll.

Zivenew

Nestled within the hotel, a busking lineup gave an excellent opportunity for true, new independent bands to show their chops. Caught at the intersection of festival attendees and regular hotel guests, Zivenew did exactly that. They might be newer kids on the block, but their eclectic mix of different grooves interlaced with rhythms tighter than a Cub Scout's knot could have fooled anyone. By the middle of their set, they had amassed more than a sizeable crowd. Not only were a large part of the crowd regular hotel attendees, but they also showed no restraint in dancing, grooving, and being ecstatic that they were at the right place at the right time. Other festivals take note: use the space provided to you to get creative. 'Break the end, break the rules, break the moment.'

Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

Since 2002, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs have been the cartographers of their own sound. Whilst some bands choose to ease the crowd into loosening up during their set, MOTFD didn't waste a single second blowing the lid off crowd reservations. Natsuko's bass sat firmly in the driver's seat as she punched the gas and set a bombastic precedent with a 'World is Yours' opener. Songs from the fan-favourite album transitioned to newer material as the band took the crowd along the path of its twenty-plus-year journey. All the while, mayhem erupted as raw distortions, incisive rhythms, and unbridled bass roused a kinetic response that stirred the crowd to their fundamental core. Mass of the Fermenting Dregs continues to be quintessential in understanding the relationship people have with music, and being an active part of that excursion has never felt so good.

Akuryo Sheep

Conventional live show wisdom says you need to be the energy you want to see. This pop-punk band took that nugget of wisdom and ran with it. As part of a crowd, it's amazing to see a band that’s so in tune with their own tunes. For thirty minutes, their guitars sounded out the bliss that radiated from their faces as they claimed every corner of the stage as their sovereign territory. Cues to the audience were kept to a minimum, and jumping, shouting, and unified fist pumps became second nature for everyone involved. Whilst this itself falls in line with general expectations, there's a comfort in knowing everybody – band and crowd alike – is on the same page with how they want to express themselves. For it to come so naturally feels like a language where everyone has achieved transient fluency. Usually, sheep are the followers, but when they take the stage, these ones are born leaders.

Envy

For over thirty years, Envy has been punctuating an entire genre with their emotive screams to show us not only what post-rock is, but also what it can be. Their set at Sound Planet was a heartfelt progress report decades in the making. The six-strong group soaked up every second of their hour trading sombre leads and melodies formed with mindful restraint. Just when you accept the terms of this audible self-confinement, frontman Tetsuya Fukugawa's voice comes from on high to set you free. Equal parts soliloquy and pure disruption, the rest of the band then comes together to catch up to his explosive energy. During the set, he had no problem coming down to the floor to let the crowd's eyes match what their ears were experiencing. Envy is a band of the people, for the people.

Sound Planet was an immersive means of looking back on Rolling Hall's storied past. Each band that played brought their A-game as they embodied the ethos of independent expression that Rolling Hall continues to champion. As this page, too, turns to join their landmark achievements, we can look forward with high hopes for what the future holds.