Women Rock! Showcase Highlights Asian American Musicians in San Francisco
October 27, 2006
In a gray T-shirt and blue jeans, Sputterdoll’s Rio Gache sang at the top of her lungs, “Some might say I’m a troubled youth, no my friend I’m a traveled soul,” while fellow Filipina Bernadette Cordova rocked the drums to the beat of their song “Unidentified Identity,” so fervently that the vibrations made the walls shake.
Their punk rock quartet kicked off the fifth installment of the Asian American Music Showcase (AAMS), which highlighted Asian women fronted acoustic, punk and alternative bands. The event took place at the Rock It Room in San Francisco on Oct. 12. Other performers included Julia Lau, Say Bok Gwai and Lumaya.
Gache said the event gave them a good opportunity to meet and support fellow Asian American musicians.
“A lot of our shows are with non-Asian bands so usually we find ourselves being the quiet kids without the tattoos and piercings that fit the typical rock band image. It’s good to see other Asians who are interested in doing the same thing we are,” said Gache. “It hasn’t been easy being in a rock band. Our parents initially weren’t very supportive of us. They wanted us to stick to the violin and piano, but they’ve gotten used to it and are all right with it now. Every now and then they’ll try to make it to one of our shows.”
“As an Asian American female band, I don’t feel like we have to prove ourselves,” said Cordova. “I find it more of an advantage because there’s no pressure. For the most part, it seems like people don’t really expect much because we don’t fit the ‘image’ of what they’re used to seeing.”
Presented by Monkey King Records and Locus Arts, the AAMS is a monthly series aimed to promote awareness of local Asian American musicians of all genres. Previous showcases have included everything from rock to metal to folk to hip hop and hardcore.
Alex Yeung came up with the idea for the AAMS in 2005 due to the fact that he had a hard time finding other Chinese musicians to play with in San Francisco.
“I am sure they were out there, but I could not find any that were into the extreme music like I was,” said Yeung, organizer of the event and member of the metal/punk band Say Bok Gwai. “A showcase like this is important to have because there is a huge community of Asians in the Bay Area. There are many differences within the Asian communities, but there are also similarities and commonalities. Music is one way to share those.”
“Also, this event is a great way for people to get a grasp of what an Asian American is not limited to being and this will break some of the images of Asians being smart, hardworking consumers obsessed with cars,” he added.
“I love playing shows like these that target our community because I feel like I can be completely me and I don’t have to worry that people don’t get my songs because it doesn’t match up to their own personal experience,” said Julia Lau, whose songs are mainly about being Asian American.
Lau has worked as a community organizer for the Chinese Progressive Association and makes an effort to tell stories in her songs about Asian American issues and the people she used to work with. She has performed at events such as Kearny Street Workshop’s APAture and the AsianWeek Foundation’s 2nd annual Asian Heritage Street Celebration.
“It is really important to me to be a part of events like this that highlight and bring together Asian American musicians,” said Lau. “I really identify with my community and am strongly rooted in my culture and roots.”
Yeung notes that the showcases usually draw a diverse crowd with anywhere from 30 to 200 people in attendance.
So far, each showcase has been featured at only 21-and-over clubs and bars. In the future, Yeung said he would like to find venues that will allow people of all ages to attend.
“I would like for the younger Asian Americans out there to attend as well,” said Yeung. “I did not have any Asian musician role models when I was growing up and with this showcase, I hope we can provide some for the next generation.”
Olga Salamanca of Lumaya said it was important for her to participate in this event because she wants to ensure that there is an Asian presence in the music industry.
“There is representation in other populations like the Caucasian and the black community, but you don’t hear much about Asian artists in the mainstream culture,” said Salamanca. “An event like this lets people know that we are creative and we are doing our thing to contribute to the Asian American movement.”
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