Behind the polished cultural facade known as K-Pop, Seoul has a bustling local music scene—bands playing raucous and energetic shows in delightfully dingy basement clubs for suitably hyped-up crowds.
Many of these clubs are located in the Hongdae neighborhood, neighboring its namesake Hongik University, known for fostering spaces for creatives of many types. One of these venues is Club Bender located underneath a Sushi spot. I caught a show called "Hey Dude" with The Hidden Elephant, Fishingirls, Walking After U, and Daddy-O-Radio, two members of which are from the band Crying Nut, often cited as the pioneers of the Korean punk scene.
One of the more well-known spots in Hongdae is Club FF. Opened In 2004, it's hosted prominent indie groups such as Galaxy Express, The Koxx, and DickPunks. It often holds bigger name acts to attract crowds but is known to have some smaller acts that might not afford to play elsewhere. I caught some great acts I had not known at Frenzy Thursday. It was a little more low-key than the show at Bender but still provided some nice musical experiences.
Opened in 2023 by its namesake Victim Records, Club Victim is one of the newest live music clubs in Hongdae. It is currently one of the more popular local punk and hardcore spots. I stopped by to catch a showcase for local group XYIZM's debut EP "That's All" with guests The Noya, Ordinary Joe, and Lubless.
Seoul's music scene is not confined to Hongdae. In Itaewon is a great third-floor bar called Pet Sounds Music Pub. It's got a nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and a great stage that often hosts talented local indie bands.
Though I only caught the tail end of the first performer, Eggu, he impressed. A delightful performance by The Shepherd Bois followed this up.