The “Taiwan Beats Showcase” at SXSW 2023 left a lasting impression and set the bar way higher!
On March 14th, 2023, the stage was set. History was about to be made again, with eager and super-motivated fans streaming into the glamorous and mausoleum-like Elysium, ready for what would be the night of their lives, while elsewhere, the invited performers were putting in the final touches to their acts to give the performances of their lives…and they surely did!
As has always been the tradition of the Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development (BAMID), musical diversity, inclusiveness, and culture are celebrated in style every year, and this year was no different. An eye-catching 6-act lineup had already been announced, and fans couldn’t wait for D-day. When it finally arrived, they were more than ready for it.
The mouth-watering lineup consisted of the queen of pop in her own right; the incredible LÜCY, the powerhouse trio the Chairs, the trailblazing indie rock band deca Joins, the rap sensation up-and-comer SINNER MOON, the exceptional jazz singer-songwriter 9m88, and the most decorated Asian band of all time, Elephant Gym.
At exactly 8 p.m., LÜCY hit the show running, taking the fans on an unforgettable musical and visual journey with her top hits like “Cactus,” “Birds on the Telephone,” and “EYE (s).” She also graced the stage with an earworming cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” before reaching a defiant peak, wrapping things up with that nostalgic classic “Paris, Texas — elevating the stage to near-euphoria!
With LÜCY setting the standards, deca joins were not about to lower them, so they took things a notch higher with an athletic performance brimming with energy and ecstasy. They even had a surprise guest, Yokkorio, join them on stage at some point.
The up-and-coming rapper SINNER MOON ate the stage up and left no crumbs with his vicious rap technique, unique visual cerebral wordplay, and freakish cadences that shocked and wowed the fans in equal measure. His rendition of “Bleed It” was met with unanimous acclaim from the extremely appreciative audience, which sang and danced to every bit of the performance!
At the stroke of midnight, the ever-present and fan-favorite 9m88 set the stage on literal ‘fire’ with her textural sounds and effortlessly powerful voice with a dedicated performance of hits from her new album, such as “Sleepwalking” and “Tell Me,” including the classics “Waste of Time” and “Beyond Mediocrity.” When she stepped off that stage, she surely left everything behind!
The indefatigable rock band Elephant Gym hit the stage running with jaw-dropping, transcendent performances that displayed the stage-show-ready aura of a band that lives to create. But that was not all. The night culminated in a frenzy when they were joined on stage by 9m88 to perform their popularly acclaimed masterpiece “Shadow”- at this point, the crowds were operating in that state of music-induced euphoria and couldn’t keep calm!
By all standards, this year’s “Taiwan Beat Showcase” was a success and left a lasting impression on everyone involved. The Taiwanese musical culture, inclusivity, and diversity were honored memorably. The visual and artistic performances were in sync, making for a night that will forever linger in the minds of all who attended!
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