I would like to dedicate this week’s article to the 831 Rock Band (八三夭). Last Saturday, January 5, 2013, they gave The Last Shot their latest performance at the National Taiwan University Sports Center. They were bold enough to have their final concert at the 3,000+ seating site. Why final concert, that is because of three of five members are going to the draft (military service) for next eleven months except the lead singer and drummer who already finished their draft. Normally, for a “new” band in Taiwan, they will have their performance at smaller venue to guarantee profitability. They proved they had enough fans to support them. The best seating sold out in just few hours.
The three-hour concert rocked the stadium, and they did their best to perform lyric, rock and dancing songs. They even had a section performing the unplugged version of their songs. Due to the soft ground, the organizer had to ask the audience to stop jumping and sit down. They knew how to engage the audience with their performance, and the atmosphere remained high throughout the concert. Although we are old compared to others in the concert, we could not help standing up and moving our bodies with the music. They made a promise with their fans to have an even bigger concert when the three members finish their military service.
831 actually is not a new band. They never took music seriously as their career in the beginning. They just loved music and would like to have fun. Their debut album was in 2007 and next one in 2008. The third album is The Last Day of Summer which was released on May 30, 2012. Starting from end of May 2012 to January 5, 2013, they had performed 129 concerts. Most of them were campus tours. During that period, they held concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York (attended the CMJ 2012 Music Marathon) and all over Taiwan. The Last Shot won’t be their last concert for sure, and we are all waiting for their comeback concert early next year.
If you like to learn more about 831, you can check out following links:
Mark – Drummer of 831 (English)
八三夭 – 維基百科 (Chinese)
八三夭831 – Facebook (Chinese)
Here is their latest MV – The last 831
The three-hour concert rocked the stadium, and they did their best to perform lyric, rock and dancing songs. They even had a section performing the unplugged version of their songs. Due to the soft ground, the organizer had to ask the audience to stop jumping and sit down. They knew how to engage the audience with their performance, and the atmosphere remained high throughout the concert. Although we are old compared to others in the concert, we could not help standing up and moving our bodies with the music. They made a promise with their fans to have an even bigger concert when the three members finish their military service.
831 actually is not a new band. They never took music seriously as their career in the beginning. They just loved music and would like to have fun. Their debut album was in 2007 and next one in 2008. The third album is The Last Day of Summer which was released on May 30, 2012. Starting from end of May 2012 to January 5, 2013, they had performed 129 concerts. Most of them were campus tours. During that period, they held concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, New York (attended the CMJ 2012 Music Marathon) and all over Taiwan. The Last Shot won’t be their last concert for sure, and we are all waiting for their comeback concert early next year.
If you like to learn more about 831, you can check out following links:
Mark – Drummer of 831 (English)
八三夭 – 維基百科 (Chinese)
八三夭831 – Facebook (Chinese)
Here is their latest MV – The last 831
Video clip from The Last Shot concert
James Huang - All rights reserved.
Thanks 黄爸爸. Thanks for sharing these incredible photos. Thanks for bring up such a great drummer, a musician. Fish and his friends are so amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhile pursuing their dream, 831 share us with their music, stories and great efforts. Listening to their songs, I hear and feel their hard-working, which motivated me every time. 2012 was a tough year for me in college, but luckily I knew 831 and their music, accompanying me late at night when I was alone, encouraging me to face all the difficulties and challenges, to welcome every coming new day. Please bring my sincere thankfulness to them=)
It has been my fortune to have the opportunities to enjoy their performance twice in Hong Kong and the incredible Last Shot in Taipei, which is the initial motivation for my first long joyful trip to Taiwan. After so many days, I still can’t forget the unforgettable feelings that night, I was so lucky to be there. No matter how many times I have ever seen their live show, I’m touched and shocked every time. They’re always so sincere and serious to every performance and fan meeting. Their sweet responses to us, firm hand shaking, and especially sincere attitude make our heart warm. Fish and his smile is always so cute XD. To me, these five real men are more like close brothers than idols, even more the spirit leader on my way adhere to my dream.
At first, I was surprised to find a male fan of 831 to have so many wonderful photos, not until after reading your article word by word did I find out that you’re Fish’s beloved father. When I’m growing up, I start to feel the stress and burden from family and the society, let alone these five boys at 20s. How lucky, they stick to their dream and have you, considerate parents, understanding and supporting them whatever they choose, so that we can meet such an excellent band, five good friends. I feel honored to have such parents too, therefore I will push myself more, especially when they are worried about my health and my future hearing about my struggle alone in Hong Kong. (PS: I’m a mainland girl studying Landscape Architecture in Hong Kong, which I chose for myself so I won’t regret however tough it has been and will be.)
These days after Last shot, it is amazing to find that Fish has so many different specialties except the drummer of 831. You have an excellent son, 黄爸爸. I love Fish, I love 831 and I will wait to see them next year in Taipei Arena with a better me. I believe they will have bigger stage in future, since they are not only talented but more significantly they are hard working and modest.
Sorry to bother you with such a long massage, all I want to say is thank you to Fish, to you, to 831, to all their parents=)
Yours Sincerely，
A Fan of 八三夭
2013/1/17
Hello Ms. 俞,
DeleteI am touched. Thank you for your kind words. You must be a tough girl to study away from home. Landscape Architecture should be quite interesting and believe you can find your own way pursuing your dream. Please take care of yourself and you will be fine with your health.
Fish (Mark) will continue finding his way to be a top drummer.
Wishing you all the best for the years to come!