Drinking Boys and Girls Choir

Last updated
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir in Club Steel Face at Zandari Festa 2018.jpg
Drinking Boys and Girls Choir performing in Seoul South Korea, 2018 (L-R: Meena Bae, former member Bondu Seo, Myeong-jin Kim)
Background information
Also known asDBGC
Origin Daegu, South Korea
Genres punk, skate punk
Years active2012-current
Labels Damnably, Electric Muse
MembersMeena Bae (bass, vocals)
Myeong-jin Kim (drums, vocals)
Megan Nisbet (guitar, vocals)
Website https://drinkingboysandgirlschoir.com/

Drinking Boys and Girls Choir is a punk rock band from Daegu, South Korea, made up of bassist/singer Meena Bae, drummer/singer Myeong-jin Kim, and guitarist/singer Megan Nisbet . [1] The band's name reflects their love of drinking, their youth-oriented fashion style, and their gender inclusiveness. [2] The band is active in the LGBT Pride community in their mostly conservative home city. [3] They cite the Japanese bands Hi-Standard, Dustbox, and Judy and Mary as influences, as well as the Korean bands Crying Nut, and ...Whatever That Means. [4]

Contents

History

Bae and Kim, who are both from Daegu, first met in 2007 through the Korean punk scene. In 2009 they formed the Seoul-based all-women punk band Chicken and Mayo ABC, but eventually returned to Daegu. [5] Bae and Kim formed Drinking Boys and Girls Choir in 2013 with guitarist Bondu Seo. Inspired by the local 1990s-2000s punk scene in Daegu, the band resisted moving to Seoul and preferred to nurture a sustainable local scene. [6] Their first release was the EP We Are in 2015.

The band went on hiatus in 2017 for Kim to recover from a serious motorcycle accident. They then reconvened and began touring internationally when able to take time off from their day jobs. [7] During the first show of a tour of Indonesia in 2018, [8] an audience member smoked marijuana and passed out, and the venue owner called the police thinking he was dead. The police locked the band and audience in the venue and lectured them on drug use. A later show on the tour was also shut down by the Indonesian police. [9]

Drinking Boys and Girls Choir then recorded their first full-length album Keep Drinking, which was released by Damnably/Electric Muse in 2019. [10] The band then embarked on an international tour, often supporting Damnably label mates Otoboke Beaver and Say Sue Me. [6] [11] Starting during this period, the band plays regularly at South Korean music festivals, [12] [13] with several appearances at the annual Zandari Festa. [14] They traveled to the United States to appear at the 2019 SXSW festival. [15]

Seo then retired from the band and was replaced by Myorori. After a brief European tour opening for Otoboke Beaver before the COVID-19 pandemic, this lineup recorded the album Marriage License which was titled after the process that must be followed for same-sex couples to receive recognition in South Korea. [16] Myorori left the band shortly after the album was recorded and was replaced by Junghoon Han. Marriage License was released in May 2021 and received favorable reviews from Spin and Paste, and was featured on radio programs by KEXP in the United States and CBC in Canada. [17] [18] [19] Spin included Marriage License in its list of best punk albums of 2021, [20] and Bandcamp listed it as one of their best albums of 2021. [21]

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Drinking Boys and Girls Choir endeavored to develop a better local gig circuit in South Korea by organizing DIY tours with similar bands in Daegu, Seoul, and Busan. They also played at several international festivals during this period, [22] and in 2021 contributed to the compilation album We, Do It Together which addressed misogyny in the South Korean indie scene. [23]

Junghoon Han left the band in 2023. Bae and Kim then received a message from Scottish guitarist/singer Megan Nisbet, who was a fan of the band and could speak Korean. Nisbet volunteered to move to South Korea to join the band, and her offer was accepted. [24] This lineup released the standalone single "History" in February 2024 and then embarked on an extensive North American tour opening for Otoboke Beaver. [25]

Members

Current

Former

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Dog</span> American rock band

Dr. Dog is an American rock band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its lineup consists of Toby Leaman (bass), Scott McMicken, Frank McElroy, Zach Miller (keyboard), Eric Slick (drums), and Michael Libramento. Lead vocal duties are shared between Leaman and McMicken, with all members contributing harmonies. In addition, each band member has a nickname beginning with the letter T, and they have explained that friends of the band also receive nicknames, which are drawn from aspects of their lives and personalities.

eX-Girl is a Japanese female noise rock trio. The band's lineup currently consists of Kirilola, Hiromi and Yuka.

Australian musicians played and recorded some of the earliest punk rock, led by The Saints who released their first single in 1976. Subgenres or offshoots of punk music, such as local hardcore acts, still have a strong cult following throughout Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivian Girls</span> American band

Vivian Girls is an American band based in Brooklyn, New York. The only consistent members have been Cassie Ramone and Katy Goodman, on guitar and bass, respectively; the group has had several drummers throughout its history. They took their name from a book by outsider artist Henry Darger.

Damnably is an independent record label based in Stratford, East London. It was founded by George Gargan and Janice Li. Primarily created to promote a John Peel night at The Brixton Windmill in 2006, Damnably then undertook tour booking and evolved into a record label. It has since grown, adding a roster of artists from all around the world including USA, Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, France and the UK.

The Featherz are a Welsh and English band with glam and punk influences led by Danie Centric on lead vocals and guitar. Centric formed the band with two fellow former members of Poussez Posse, a band fronted by Georgina Baillie and mentored by Adam Ant. After leaving Baillie and Ant to form their own group, they received press coverage in the Ipswich Star, Wales On Sunday, Basingstoke Gazette, website Louder Than War and rock magazine Vive Le Rock who included their track "RNR★" on the free CD with the January/February 2014 edition. They also completed a UK national tour supporting Boy George, in three of whose videos Centric appeared and subsequently toured with The Damned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in punk rock</span> Womens music history


Women have made significant contributions to punk rock music and its subculture since its inception in the 1970s. In contrast to the rock music and heavy metal scenes of the 1970s, which were dominated by men, the anarchic, counter-cultural mindset of the punk scene in mid-and-late 1970s encouraged women to participate. This participation played a role in the historical development of punk music, especially in the US and UK at that time, and continues to influence and enable future generations. Women have participated in the punk scene as lead singers, instrumentalists, as all-female bands, zine contributors and fashion designers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idles</span> English rock band

Idles are a British rock band formed in Bristol in 2009. The band consists of Adam Devonshire (bass), Joe Talbot (vocals), Mark Bowen (guitar), Lee Kiernan (guitar), and Jon Beavis (drums).

Diealright (Korean: 다이얼라잇), often stylized as DIEALRIGHT, is a post punk band from Seoul, Korea. Consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Chae Song Hwa, bass guitarist Kim Seung Il, and drummer Baek Soojung, the band debuted in 2014. Since then, they have released two singles, and EP and an album. The album presentation showcase was held in Club Freebird in Hongdae. The band played their first European tour dates in the summer of 2017.

End These Days is a metalcore and hardcore band from Busan, South Korea that was founded in 2013. They are currently associated with Watch Out! Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rose (band)</span> South Korean indie-rock band

The Rose is a South Korean indie-rock band under their company Windfall and partnered up with Transparent Arts. The band is composed of four members: Kim Woo-sung, Park Do-joon, Lee Ha-joon (drums), and Lee Jae-hyeong (bass). Prior to its debut with J&Star, the band had long been a popular indie group before making its official mainstream release with "Sorry" on August 3, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otoboke Beaver</span> Japanese punk rock band

Otoboke Beaver is a Japanese punk rock band from Kyoto, formed in 2009. The band currently consists of singer Accorinrin, guitarist Yoyoyoshie, bassist Hirochan, and drummer Kahokiss. Their most recent album Super Champon was released in May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">...Whatever That Means</span>

...Whatever That Means is a South Korean melodic punk band based in Seoul, South Korea. Alternative Press called them the "pop-punk face of the Korean music scene." The two key members are married couple Jeff and Trash. Both are promoters who have organized concerts and brought foreign bands to Korea. They organize annual Halloween shows and previously managed the monthly 2nd Saturdays concert series. They have been associated closely with the venues Club Spot, Ruailrock, Club SHARP, and Thunderhorse Tavern.

Destroy Boys are an American punk rock band formed in Sacramento, California, in 2015. In 2017, they were nominated for awards in the 25th Sacramento Area Music Awards in the categories "New Artist", "Punk/post-punk" and "Teen" and in 2018 was the highest-voted contestant in Do The Bay's contest to play Noise Pop Festival. Their second album Make Room was included in Maximumrocknroll's top 10 albums of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Say Sue Me</span>

Say Sue Me (Korean: 세이수미) is an indie rock band from Busan, South Korea, currently consisting of members Sumi Choi, Byungkyu Kim, Sungwan Lim, and Jaeyoung Kim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Viagra Boys</span> Swedish post-punk band

Viagra Boys is a Swedish punk band formed in Stockholm in 2015. The line-up currently consists of lead singer Sebastian Murphy alongside musicians Linus Hillborg (guitar), Elias Jungqvist (keyboards), Henrik Höckert (bass), Tor Sjödén (drums), and Oskar Carls (saxophone). The band's lyrics are known for using satire and dark humour to criticise right-wing populism, hypermasculinity, and far-right conspiracy theories.

<i>Itekoma Hits</i> 2019 studio album by Otoboke Beaver

Itekoma Hits is an album by the Japanese punk rock band Otoboke Beaver, released by Damnably on 26 April 2019. The album features newly-recorded songs alongside tracks from the previously released EPs Bakuro Book (2016) and Love Is Short!! (2017). The album's release was preceded by the single "Anata Watashi Daita Ato Yome no Meshi" which is also included on the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zandari Festa</span>

Zandari Festa is a three-day music festival and showcase held in various live music venues and other locations in the area around Hongik University in Seoul.

<i>Super Champon</i> 2022 studio album by Otoboke Beaver

Super Champon is an album by the Japanese punk rock band Otoboke Beaver, released by Damnably on 6 May 2022. It is the band's first full studio album featuring all new songs, rather than fully or partially compiling songs from previously-released EPs and rarities.

Dabda is a South Korean math rock band. The band currently consists of Lee Seunghyeon, Kim Jiae, Lee Joseph and Noh Keohyeon. Since their formation in 2014, the band has released the studio album But, All the Shining Things Are (2020).

References

  1. ↑ Traynin, Anastasia (3 October 2018). "Hongdae's Zandari Festa bridges global music scene". The Korea Times . Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  2. ↑ "A punk guide to South Korea with Drinking Boys And Girls Choir". Blunt Magazine. 2021-08-23. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  3. ↑ Yang, Selina (2024-03-21). "Drinking Boys and Girls Choir: The Relentless Punks Celebrating Daegu Pride | Feature Interview". POST-TRASH. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  4. ↑ Koenig, Kate (16 April 2019). "Drinking Boys and Girls Choir: Stay Thirsty". Premier Guitar. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  5. ↑ Foreman, Wynsum (30 March 2015). "Drinking Boys & Girls Choir". Angle Magazine. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Drinking Boys and Girls Choir: Stay Thirsty". Premier Guitar. 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  7. ↑ Traynin, Anastasia (27 October 2018). "Daegu skatepunk band 'keeps drinking'". The Korea Times . Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  8. ↑ Asia, Unite (13 July 2018). "Korean skate punk band Drinking Boys & Girl's Choir announce Indonesia tour". Unite Asia. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  9. ↑ Favi, Alisa (October 2018). "Drinking and Daegu" (PDF). No. 25. Broke in Korea. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  10. ↑ Chu, Li-Wei (2019-04-11). "Review: Drinking Boys and Girls Choir - Keep Drinking". From the Intercom. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  11. ↑ "Drinking Boys and Girls Choir « Riot Act Media" . Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  12. ↑ Kerry, Paul (17 April 2018). "Big Day South comes to Busan for day of art and music". The Korea Herald . Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  13. ↑ "HISTORY". 2021 부산국제록페스티벌 Busan Rock Festival. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  14. ↑ Dunbar, Jon (6 August 2019). "Zandari Festa reveals 1st lineup for 2019". The Korea Times . Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  15. ↑ Leung, Rowena (22 October 2018). "Meet the Asian acts heading to SXSW 2019" . Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  16. ↑ Reising, Henry (26 March 2024). "REVIEW: Otoboke Beaver @ Union Transfer". WHIP Radio. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  17. ↑ "The Best Albums of Summer 2021". Bandcamp Daily. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  18. ↑ MTV News Staff. "Bop Shop: Songs From Jamila Woods, Syd, Kyle, And More". MTV News . Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  19. ↑ "New Music Reviews (7/26)". www.kexp.org. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  20. ↑ "The Best Punk of 2021". SPIN. 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  21. ↑ "Best of 2021: Bodies in Motion". Bandcamp Daily. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  22. ↑ "FOCUS Wales 2021 » Drinking Boys And Girls Choir (Korea) *Digital Showcase via app*". Archived from the original on 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
  23. ↑ ""We, Do It Together" Confronts Misogyny in the Korean Indie Scene". Bandcamp Daily. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  24. ↑ Dunbar, Jon (2023-06-07). "Punk band from Korea's most conservative city prepares for Pride Month tour". koreatimes. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  25. ↑ "Skate Punk Band DRINKING BOYS AND GIRLS CHOIR Return With New Single". Unite Asia. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.