Through the humid 35-degree Daegu heat, seven bands performed in the Namsan Summer Sound Indie Band Festival at Myeongduk Elementary School on August 30. Although a wide variety of entertainment and activities filled the venue—including overpriced food trucks and below-par thrifted clothes—I spent the majority of my time watching the music.
Sonorous kicked off the festivities with their song, “On Being Alone” (혼자가 되기로). With a primary focus on jazzy and unconventional chords, the EP “Love & Piece” marked their debut in February 2024. Unfortunately, the absence of their bassist led to an extremely tinny and shrill mix. Yet, their extensive experience and refined sound kept the listeners on their toes. The drummer also elevated the production drastically and left me in awe of every solo and fill-in.
The muggy and miserable weather started to clear up when the second act, Tipsy, set the stage for chapter two. Their rendition of Lucy’s “Flowering” bordered on ceremonious, yet left more to desire. The group also featured a bassless lineup, which resulted in an overall unpleasant mix.
While the three-piece did feature decent tunes, they played with a backing track and audaciously lip-synced most of their songs. However, even with fake music to cover up their live mistakes, they flubbed it without that quintessential element in any song – bass in the mix.
But Tipsy presented a much deeper appreciation for music than the others. Their energy piqued my interest. Lead Guitarist Jeon Hyun-shik said, “I was a bit worried it might be too hot, but thanks to the music, I could forget about the heat for a while.”
Out of the seven groups that performed, only Tipsy offered merchandise. Not only that, but their free garb was extremely well-received. Listeners used branded hand-fans and hats to cool off under the intense heat.
Fervor peaked when Knob took the stage – as a Nu Metal group, their juxtaposition hyped up festivalgoers. Hearts pounded to the beat of the drums, and kids jumped along to the powerful track. The vocalist spat into the mic with fiery lyrics, and the guitarists strummed powerful, distorted tones.
Bosal, vocalist of Knob said, “The tone [of our band] is not so much something we ‘developed,’ but it’s more that our genre itself is punk rock – specifically Nu-metal, which was popular from the late ’90s to the early 2000s.” Fresh off the festival stage, Knob released their debut double single, “Bang / White Noise” on Sept. 5.
During the short intermission, I weaved around food trucks, games, and assorted booths. Naturally, all five eateries promoted their brand with overpriced items. When I took a shot at the $12 iced tea, I was dosed with Lipton powder at the bottom of a cup. However, the heat made the outrageously expensive drinks a bit more enjoyable.
Although I didn’t visit the thrift stores and pop-up booths, the crowd constantly shuffled back and forth to inspect the available options.
The mood shifted at 6 p.m. when the Namsan Band, a group of local elementary students, nervously picked up their instruments. Their rendition of Shin Hae-chul’s To You (그대에게) wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be. Parents cheered, strangers smiled, and for a moment, we all remembered why music matters—it’s not about the sound, but about the heart.
The Namsan Summer Sound Festival celebrates all things indie, with a plethora of entertainment options that aid the venue. Sadly, I had to leave before Jisokury Club, Root 49, and Sa-pil Sung closed the night, but I have no doubt that I would’ve loved the rest of the set. I recommend the experience to anyone who seeks raw talent before it graduates to bigger stages. Even for all the sweat and overpriced drinks, I’d return in a heartbeat.
