Hearing Hong Kong Indie Music in Vancouver

Charming Way warmed up the crowd with its 90s rock sound

Living in Hong Kong for so many years I never went to a Cantopop concert, mostly because I didn't have a particular liking for the artists, but also I didn't understand the lyrics.

However I had my first introduction to two indie Hong Kong bands who were recently in Kelowna for BreakOut West Festival & Conference, where they spoke about their music, networked with other musicians and producers, and performed a few times.

They are Charming Way and The Hertz, and both played last night at Red Gate on Main Street.

Many took pictures and videos

Charming Way's music has a 90s nostalgic sound, and interestingly to reach a wider audience, write most of their lyrics in English. The lead singer Aaryn is tall and lanky, with a frizzy mop of hair. He plays the part of the frontman really well, making jokes with the crowd. "Do you understand my language?" he said, riffing off of what Cantopop star Eason Chan said a few days ago in Macau.

Someone shouted to Aaryn, "Take your clothes off!" to which he demurred about doing a strip show. He eventually took off his oversized leather bomber jacket to reveal his white tank top. I found out later he is also a TVB actor!

Each of the band members has their own distinct fashion style, like the drummer Terry, who looked smart in a hobo cap with a denim shirt and tie, and oversized trousers, while one guitarist wore a toque over his shaggy hair and wore a grungy T-shirt and baggy jeans, while the other had short hair, part of it dyed blonde, and wore a white T-shirt and shredded jeans.

They got the audience, almost 100 young Hongkonger hipsters, bopping their heads and also one of their last songs was Victoria, named after Victoria Harbour, which got the crowd nostalgic.

Charming Way warmed up the crowd for The Hertz, and the audience were thrilled to see them. The Hertz was formed in 2018 and it's interesting to find out lead singer Herman Wong was actually born in Vancouver and grew up in Toronto, which he revealed on stage.

Now the crowd was jumping up and down, waving their hands up and digging the beats. Why they named themselves after a rental car company I'm not sure, but they were very popular with the crowd.

Many were excited to see The Hertz perform

At one point Wong was pleased to speak freely in Vancouver, and said that nowadays in Hong Kong people are more careful about what they say, and in general speak less. He also encouraged the audience to watch more live music, as there weren't many venues left in Hong Kong.

A friend who was there last night watching his favourite band, explained his brother-in-law who didn't know much Cantonese, really likes The Hertz's music and is keen to learn the language now. He asked my friend to translate the lyrics, and he found them to be quite deep! He even bought some merch -- CD, foldable bucket hat -- as souvenirs.

For me as a first-time observer, it was nice to see an event for Hongkongers to gather and express themselves through seeing their favourite bands and giving them a warm welcome to their new home. There is a demand for these indie acts, and hopefully more will come through in the coming months and years.