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The Geeks (band)

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The Geeks
The Geeks opened for American hardcore band Terror at Ssamzie Space on September 18, 2009.
The Geeks opened for American hardcore band Terror at Ssamzie Space on September 18, 2009.
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresPunk rock, Hardcore punk, Straight edge, Positive hardcore, Youth crew
Years active1999–present
LabelsDope Records
Skunk Label
MembersSeo Kiseok
Kang Junsung
Jung Bongkyu
Choi Imyoung

The Geeks are an influential punk rock band from South Korea. They are one of Korea's first hardcore punk bands and also the nation's first straight edge band.

The Geeks were formed in 1999 by schoolmates Seo Kiseok (vocalist) and Kang Junsung (guitarist), shortly after discovering the existence of Korean punk through the Our Nation compilation put out by Drug Records.[1]

History

Due largely to Seo's time living abroad in America, the band signed to Think Fast! Records and is well known in the international hardcore com"munity. They are also associated with Get Outta Town Records, Townhall Records, and GMC Records. Their connections have opened up many opportunities to tour outside of Korea, rare for Korean bands until very recently. They have toured the US numerous times, and in 2007 they went on a world tour taking them to the US as well as Malaysia and Singapore.[2]

The Geeks performed at SXSW in 2013 with a grant from the Korea Creative Content Agency.[3] They will appear in the upcoming documentary film by Stephen Epstein and Timothy Tangherlini, a sequel to their 1999 documentary Our Nation.[4]

Critical Response

PunkNews.org has proclaimed the band "Undoubtedly the most popular hardcore band based Korea, The Geeks should be one of the first coming to mind when you think of Asian hardcore."[5] The Geeks 2007 Album Every Time We Fall has been reviewed by Scene Point Blank which gave it a 7.5/10 and said:

At the end of the day, The Geeks and their debut full-length Every Time We Fall are much more than a novelty affair. The album is filled with superb music and heartfelt lyrical content. If you’re lucky enough to see The Geeks live, be prepared to stagedive your ass off and scream your lungs out.[6] The Geeks 2007 Album Every Time We Fall has been reviewed by Scene Point Blank which gave it a 7.5/10 and said:

Straight Edge

The band originally began as a straight-edge group, with all members abstaining from alcohol. The drinking culture of Korea is very powerful, and Seo struggled to stay alcohol-free in his freshman year of college and his mandatory military service, claiming to have even been nearly attacked for refusing to drink at one time.[7] Despite violence problems in the straight-edge scene in many parts of the world, the Geeks are a non-violent band and have many friends who are alcoholic.[8] Despite their straight-edge reputation, straight edge is not one of the major messages of their lyrics.[9]

Currently, not all of the members are still straight edge.[10]

Open Your Eyes and Powwow

Seo also founded and co-ran a music promotion agency called Open Your Eyes which brought numerous foreign hardcore bands to Korea, including Champion, Outbreak, Terror, Sick of It All, Down to Nothing, Have Heart, No Turning Back, and Bane.[11]

Through OYE, Seo became one of the primary investors in Powwow, a live club situated near Noksapyeong Station at the base of Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan. The venue closed in 2013.[12]

Band members

  • Seo Ki-seok (서기석): Vocals
  • Kang Jun-sung (강준성): Guitar
  • Jung Bong-kyu (정봉규): Bass
  • Choi Imyoung (최임영): Drums

Discography

Albums

  • [2006] Every Time We Fall (Get Outta Town Records)

Split Albums

  • [2001] Together As One, Far East Hardcore Split (with In My Pain) (GMC Records)

Singles and EPs

  • [2002] What's Inside (Think Fast! Records)
  • [2010] Always Classics

Compilations

  • [2004] From The Start 1999-2004 (Kawaii Records, Townhall Records)
  • [2003.07.05] We Are the Punx in Korea (#12 "Let It Fade & Live Free")
  • [2008.09.16] No Future for You (#9 "이어지는 의지" [Will Lead])

References

  1. ^ Mutts, Paul (March 2005). "Interview with a Geek" (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  2. ^ Twitch, Jon (Spring 2007). "The Geeks Shall inherit the Earth" (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  3. ^ Dunbar, Jon (17 April 2013). "Korean bands tour North America". Korea.net. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  4. ^ Dunbar, Jon (22 February 2013). "Stephen Epstein: Korea's indie rock scholar". Korea.net. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  5. ^ Source-attribution|Interviews: Ki Seok So (The Geeks) | http://www.punknews.org/article/35821/interviews-ki-seok-so-the-geeks- | accessdate= Feb, 2, 2104
  6. ^ Source-attribution|The Geeks Every Time We Fall | Scene Point Blank | source= | url= http://www.punknews.org/article/35821/interviews-ki-seok-so-the-geeks- | accessdate= Feb, 2, 2104
  7. ^ "Interviews: Ki Seok So (The Geeks)". PunkNews.Org. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  8. ^ Mutts, Paul (March 2005). "Interview with a Geek" (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  9. ^ Hanka, Jon (19 August 2009). "The Geeks". Invasion Magazine. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  10. ^ Dunbar, Jon (19 November 2012). "Korea's hardcore punk scene". Korea Blog. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  11. ^ Ward, Winston (5 March 2011). "Open Your Eyes brings D.I.Y. to the R.O.K." HiExpat.com. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  12. ^ Twitch, Jon (December 2012). "Powwow! Right in the Kisser!" (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
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