Music Matters Live Review: HP Showcase ft. Indus Creed + The Sam Willows + Joseph Vincent + Eastern Sidekick – Fern & Kiwi (23.05.13)

When I arrived at the HP Showcase at the New Zealand themed bar Fern & Kiwi, as part of the 2013 Music Matters LIVE event in Singapore, I was greeted to a band from India called Indus Creed (pictured above), members of whom I saw take part in the Bombay Metal Project at the NH7 Weekender in Pune, India, last year. The group are one of the most influential rock bands in the region, being formed back in 1993 and leading the way for a new generation of musicians – though their origins date back all the way to 1984 when they performed under the name Rock Machine, releasing the “first all-original rock album” that came to underground acclaim around the world.

The band split in 1999 but reformed in 2010 and continue their comeback assault, having released a new LP through Universal last year. These are seasoned rock musicians in every sense of the word, playing music as good as you’d hear anywhere in the world, with instrumentalists that rank as some of the finest. It was an honour to get to see them perform at Music Matters, though something tells me that seeing them in the heart of Mumbai would be a pretty incredible opportunity, too.

Things started getting pretty packed by the time local group The Sam Willows (pictured poorly above) hit the stage, one of the region’s buzz bands, with their latest material being produced by Steve Lillywhite. “Glasshouse” was a highlight of the set (listen to it below) with a healthy call and response routine, and with three females filling up the quartet, they’re not a bad band to look at either. Their sound is international, catchy and solid, while their on stage dynamic is strong. They’re no doubt gaining a strong following at home, and with a recent trip to SXSW under their belt, their gaining some international support too. Watch this space!

American Joseph Vincent took the venue beyond capacity as fans from around Singapore tried to get a glimpse of the musician they’ve come to love and support through YouTube. His music is reminiscent of Jack Johnson, especially with songs like “Perfect Day”. He had a great presence and worked well with the crowd, even jumping in amongst is and going acoustic, getting himself a great singalong in the process. Also have to give a mention to his fantastic drummer.

The last group I caught at the showcase were South Korean band Eastern Sidekick, pictured poorly above (I couldn’t get anywhere near the stage at this point). Notice I didn’t call them a K-POP outfit. Indeed, they are one of the few K-ROCK bands doing the rounds this year, and what a rock band they are. It’s as though they discovered grunge a few years ago and are trying to bring it back; not that it ever went anywhere, I digress, but you know what I mean. We’re travelling to the mid-90s here. But they do it true justice, pumping out from killer riffs in the process and garnering huge amounts of energy. Given the fact I was naturally expecting a K-POP outfit, this was a very welcome surprise, and one of the highlights of the week.

Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.