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'''...Whatever That Means''' is a prominent [[pop-punk|melodic punk]] band based in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Redmond |first1=John |title='2nd Saturdays' concert to kick off Saturday |url=http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/03/177_221786.html |accessdate=27 June 2018 |publisher=The Korea Times |date=10 January 2017}}</ref> They have been associated closely with the venues Club Spot, Ruailrock, Club SHARP, and Thunderhorse Tavern.
'''...Whatever That Means''' is a prominent [[pop-punk|melodic punk]] band based in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Redmond |first1=John |title='2nd Saturdays' concert to kick off Saturday |url=http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2018/03/177_221786.html |accessdate=27 June 2018 |publisher=The Korea Times |date=10 January 2017}}</ref> They have been associated closely with the venues Club Spot, Ruailrock, Club SHARP, and Thunderhorse Tavern.


They run Thunrderhorse Studios with Thunderhorse Tavern ex-owner Kirk Kwon. They featured prominently in the 2014 documentary ''Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Stephen |title=Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World |url=https://apjjf.org/-Stephen-Epstein/4401 |website=The Asia-Pacific Journal |accessdate=27 June 2018}}</ref> They also appear in Ken Robinson's documentary film "Ash." Their influences include [[Gob]], [[Face to Face]], [[Descendants|Descendents/ALL]], [[Bad Religion]], [[Social Distortion]], and [[The Ataris]].
They run Thunrderhorse Studios with Thunderhorse Tavern ex-owner Kirk Kwon. They featured prominently in the 2014 documentary ''Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Epstein |first1=Stephen |title=Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World |url=https://apjjf.org/-Stephen-Epstein/4401 |website=The Asia-Pacific Journal |accessdate=27 June 2018}}</ref> They also appear in Ken Robinson's documentary film ''Ash''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Twitch |first1=Jon |title="Ash" Versus the Evil |url=file:///C:/Users/Jon/Documents/++write/++bROKe/broke24.pdf |accessdate=27 June 2018 |publisher=Broke in Korea |date=2017}}</ref> Their influences include [[Gob]], [[Face to Face]], [[Descendants|Descendents/ALL]], [[Bad Religion]], [[Social Distortion]], and [[The Ataris]].


== Origins ==
== Origins ==

Revision as of 16:58, 27 June 2018

...Whatever That Means
Seoul punk band ...Whatever That Means perform in Thunderhorse Tavern on 28 May 2016.
Seoul punk band ...Whatever That Means perform in Thunderhorse Tavern on 28 May 2016.
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresPunk
Years active2009-distant future
LabelsWorld Domination, Inc.
MembersJeff Moses, Trash Yang Moses, Bialy

...Whatever That Means is a prominent melodic punk band based in Seoul, South Korea. 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.[1] They have been associated closely with the venues Club Spot, Ruailrock, Club SHARP, and Thunderhorse Tavern.

They run Thunrderhorse Studios with Thunderhorse Tavern ex-owner Kirk Kwon. They featured prominently in the 2014 documentary Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World.[2] They also appear in Ken Robinson's documentary film Ash.[3] Their influences include Gob, Face to Face, Descendents/ALL, Bad Religion, Social Distortion, and The Ataris.

Origins

Jeff and Trash got married in Seoul on February 28, 2009. After, they had a concert at Club Spot. Jeff had wanted to perform, but didn't have a band or a name yet, so the poster was designed to say "Jeff ...whatever that means."[4] Trash later joined the band as bassist and they continued performing as ...Whatever That Means.

The Purge Movement

In 2010, ...Whatever That Means formed a coalition with other notable Korean punk bands Rux and the Swindlers to create the Purge Movement, aimed at fighting gentrification in the Hongdae area. Referencing purging of gentrifying factors in the area including repetitive, uncreative street performers,[5] they organized concerts in Hongdae Playground. They also intended to raise awareness of non-mainstream music and support live music venues rather than compete with them by getting more people interested.[6]

World Domination, Inc.

The band toured the US in 2011 and 2016, using their label World Domination, Inc. to promote Korea's punk scene abroad.[7] The 2011 tour was a precursor to a hiatus, while Jeff earned a master's degree in Pennsylvania.[8]

For both tours, they released compilations titled "Them and Us."[9] The first compilation was recorded on the stage at Club Spot, and the second was made in Thunderhorse Studios.[10] Both compilations contain around 10 bands performing an original song and a cover from a bigger band, a strategy to encourage US listeners to give unknown bands a try. They were given out for free on tour[11] Moses also helped fellow Korean bands Full Garage and Skasucks tour the west coast US.[12]

From the tour, they made contact with US punk band Burn Burn Burn, recording a split album together. Burn Burn Burn came to Korea for a tour managed by World Domination, Inc.[13]

...Whatever That Means toured Malaysia and Singapore in early 2015,[14] where they made connections with the local music scenes, facilitating exchanges and bringing bands to Korea, starting with Iman's League.[15]

Thunderhorse Studios

Jeff and Trash are involved in Thunderhorse Studios, co-owned with Kirk Kwon who owned the former venue Thunderhorse Tavern.[16]

SHARP INK

Trash is a tattooist at SHARP Ink in Mangwon-dong, run by Ryu Jinsuk of Skasucks. She tattooed "Jeff sucks" on a member of Burn Burn Burn after receiving a donation from punk zine Broke in Korea.[17]

Members

  • Jeff Moses - guitar, vocals
  • Trash Yang Moses - bass, vocals
  • Bialy - guitar, vocals

Discography

  • The Newest Hope (2010)
  • Sounds from the Explosion (2011)
  • Them and Us (2011)
  • Sixty-Eight, Twenty-Two (2014)
  • Asian Prodigy single - Chinkees cover (2014)
  • "Them and Us 2: Korea's Punks at Thunderhorse Studios" (2016)
  • Blowing Minds & Melting Faces - split with Burn Burn Burn (2016)

References

  1. ^ Redmond, John (10 January 2017). "'2nd Saturdays' concert to kick off Saturday". The Korea Times. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  2. ^ Epstein, Stephen. "Us and Them: Korean Indie Rock in a K-Pop World". The Asia-Pacific Journal. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. ^ Twitch, Jon (2017). [file:///C:/Users/Jon/Documents/++write/++bROKe/broke24.pdf ""Ash" Versus the Evil"] (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 27 June 2018. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  4. ^ Twitch, Jon (2009). "Married to the Band" (PDF). No. 10. Broke in Korea. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  5. ^ Dunbar, Jon (12 September 2017). "Hongdae Playground through ages". The Korea Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. ^ Twitch, Jon (December 2010). "Purging in the Park" (PDF). No. 11. Broke in Korea. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. ^ Oliver, Jaiden (21 July 2016). "Seoul Punks …Whatever That Means Embark on Stateside Tour". Groove Magazine. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. ^ Dunbar, Jon (22 February 2013). "Stephen Epstein: Korea's indie rock scholar". korea.net. KOCIS. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  9. ^ Osborne, Graham (9 November 2011). "Punk rock at crossroads in South Korea". Yonhap News. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  10. ^ Oliver, Jaiden (29 June 2016). "'…Whatever That Means' Playing Seoul Gigs Before American Tour". 10 Magazine. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  11. ^ Dunbar, Jon (5 July 2016). "Korea's punks launch world domination plan". The Korea Times. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  12. ^ Dunbar, Jon (18 July 2017). "Korean ska-punk band performs in US cities". The Korea Times. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  13. ^ Dunbar, Jon (12 September 2017). "US punk band to burn through Seoul, Busan". The Korea Times. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  14. ^ Redmond, John (13 January 2015). "Local band to perform in Singapore, Malaysia". The Korea Times. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  15. ^ Dunbar, Jon (1 December 2015). "Singapore punks Iman's League will tour Korea". The Korea Times. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  16. ^ P, Chris (5 July 2016). "Interview with …Whatever That Means". Korean Indie. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  17. ^ Moses, Trash. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BZphO6OBP9a/. Retrieved 27 June 2018. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
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