HOME > NORTH TAIWAN > TAIPEI > NIGHTLIFE >

The door to The Underworld is always open

By C'est le Nanan
Translated by Yvonne Chen (³¯¨|¤è)

      The early ¡§Man, Dog, Ant¡¨, ¡§Scum¡¨ and the recent ¡§The Underworld¡¨, ¡§Riverside Message¡¨ and ¡§Hua Shan¡¨ are all part of the new Taiwanese generation¡¦s Rock & Roll experience.

Back in 1996, three passionate youngsters from the student movement started The Underworld, which got its name from the movie "The Underworld" by Yugoslavian director Emir Kusturica. The Underworld has changed little since its inception. It's still the best place for the fans and performing bands to experience good music. The door is always open for bands to exhibit their work and hang around. The lively, down-to-earth atmosphere keeps people coming back.

     The burst of drumbeats from beneath can be heard while you descend the steps to The Underworld. The blackboard on the wall previews bands taking the stage and the bold color graffiti on the left keep your eyes busy on the Tim Burton-style abstract creations all over the wall. About six months ago, American artist Keith was so struck by the unique musical culture here that he decided to re-paint it. The CD wall by the stage is also quite a sight, comparable to a library collection of CDs.

The best-selling alcohol here is Taiwan Beer (NT$140), probably because it is more for less money, says the smiling owner. Long Island Ice Tea (NT$300) and Blue Hawaii (NT$200) are popular among the cocktails.       Besides live performances Thursdays through Saturdays, its house music is also an attraction. There are five DJs taking turns on the stage: Xiao Bao, Dan Hong, A-Qun (owner of Norway Forest), Chung Ming, and Chuang Jing, each with a distinctive musical talent, making each experience here unique.