After finishing a brief phone call with Dae-sung hyung, I made my way deep into the streets of Hongdae.
'But seriously, Dae-sung hyung treats me like a complete kid.'
Even during the call just now, his concern was practically dripping through the phone. He sounded exactly like the worried neighbor afraid of turning the kid next door into a lost child.
He told me not to follow strangers.
He also told me to refuse if anyone tried to bribe me with food.
Of course, I can’t really complain. My face (well, my looks) is indeed close to that of an elementary school kid, and I hadn’t spent much time with Dae-sung hyung at Star Instrument Store, so I suppose it’s fair if he treats me like a kid…
‘Well, I guess there’s no helping it.’
It’s something I’ll have to deal with continuously in the future.
I figured I just had to accept it.
But no matter what anyone says to me!
"Hello! We’re holding a tasting event for a new product! Please feel free to try it and give us a simple review~”
A sparrow can’t pass by a mill without stopping.
Listening calmly to the person tempting me with food, I grabbed a drink right away. After tasting it, I rated it with a sticker. 3 out of 5 stars. It lacked the sharp, zesty flavor I was looking for.
I hadn’t noticed it before coming to Hongdae, but as I walked through the streets, it seemed like there was some kind of event happening today.
There were banners hung all around with the phrase "End of Summer Rock Fest in Hongdae!" It looked like some kind of rock festival.
It didn’t seem to be centered at a specific venue; rather, it appeared to be an event happening simultaneously across various live houses and clubs throughout Hongdae.
‘In other words, it’s like market day in Hongdae?’
That’s roughly the vibe I was getting.
The Star Live House I arrived at didn’t seem to have any particular distinguishing features. A small building made of red bricks. The first floor was a café, and the second floor was the live house.
If I hadn’t seen the signboard with today’s performance list written out, I might have just passed it by.
When I went up to the second floor, at least it looked somewhat put together. There was a counter, presumably the ticket booth, and I could also see a concession stand selling snacks.
'They said I should follow the hallway to the left from here…'
As I was looking around, a large man suddenly blocked my way.
“Hey kid, how did you find this place today? Huh? Does this look like a place that allows kids? Scram! Shoo!”
A tattoo of a dragon and tiger on his arm.
Muscular build.
Shiny, bald head.
I asked him back.
“Then should I just go to the other live house I saw on my way here? Their ticket prices were cheaper anyway, so I might as well go there now...”
“...”
The man raised both his hands in response to my few words.
Dae-sung hyung shook his head and said.
“What kind of kid doesn’t flinch at all? Not fun.”
“That’s because we already know each other, hyung. If this was our first time meeting, I probably would’ve run away immediately.”
“Hey, that’s like sticking a knife in my heart, you know? I may not look it, but I’m actually quite soft-hearted.”
This time, I raised both of my hands.
Only then did Dae-sung hyung smile and give my arm a light tap.
“Anyway, glad you made it. It’s crazy outside today, huh?”
“Yeah, but this is only my second time in Hongdae, so I’m not really sure what ‘crazy’ means here.”
"That's definitely more than usual. But you're telling me someone who claims to be a musician has only been to Hongdae twice?"
"I just didn't have the chance before."
"Alright. You’ve got a lot to learn from now on. Follow me, I've got a lot to show you."
Dae-sung hyung was the first to show me the stage. As he opened the heavy door, similar to the one I had seen at Korea University, the stage of Star Live House came into view.
"All standing. You can fit about 300 people in here."
"Wow. It's bigger than I thought. It didn’t seem this large from the outside."
"We’re using the entire second floor. Still, it’s got everything. Just the lighting alone includes spotlights, par lights, moving lights, and strip lights. And those main speakers over there? All top-of-the-line. The money I’ve poured into those alone is worth about the price of an apartment in Seoul..."
"......"
"Ahem! Never mind. I don’t know what I’m saying in front of a kid. Anyway, what do you think?"
I slowly looked around.
The place smelled like a mix of plastic and dust.
In the dark concert hall, a single spotlight was shining down on the stage.
The stage was slightly raised above the standing area, with a long fence stretched below it, and countless lights hung from the ceiling.
Massive speakers, almost the size of my body, stood tall here and there.
It was a completely different vibe from a classical concert hall.
The world of music seemed truly vast and diverse.
And that was…
"It’s amazing. The smaller stage feels even better, in a way. Since the stage and the audience are so close, it seems like you can really feel the connection during a performance."
"Hah! You’ve got an eye for this stuff. That’s why some people prefer places like this. Just like you said, this is a venue where the audience breathes with the performer. It’s thanks to those folks that we’re able to make a living."
"This place has its own unique charm."
"To be precise, it’s an incredibly charming place."
After finishing the stage introduction, Dae-sung hyung took me backstage. He continued explaining things, but there was a lot I didn’t know. This time, we moved to a slightly more secluded area, and when he opened a black door, a hallway appeared.
‘It feels like a maze.’
The hallway had several rooms that looked like waiting rooms. Dae-sung hyung suddenly opened the door to one of them, and inside were three men.
One man in his 20s was lying on the floor.
And two men, who seemed to be in their 30s, were sitting on a sofa.
As soon as they saw me, they greeted me warmly.
“Wow! So, you’re the one! The guitar genius Dae-sung hyung talked about!”
“This kid? Is it really this kid? He’s a total youngster, right?”
“Wow... so young.”
They were clearly energetic just by looking at them.
Dae-sung hyung gave me a brief introduction to the members.
27 years old, lead guitarist Kim Il-sung.
35 years old, bassist Lee Yeon.
37 years old, drummer Park Deuk-soo, who is the same age as Dae-sung hyung.
They were the kind of guys whose appearance would definitely make me flinch if I had met them on the street.
But now that I think about it, maybe I should have been calling Dae-sung "uncle" instead of "hyung"?
‘After all, my dad is 38 this year…’
These guys were far senior to me.
Out of curiosity, I mentioned this to Dae-sung hyung. After all, they were around my dad's age, and I wondered if they might feel uncomfortable about it. But the response I got was a playful, “No way. I prefer being called hyung. I want to feel young.”
“Well, if Dae-sung hyung says so, then... alright.”
When I finally managed to organize the titles, Il-sung, who was lying on the floor, responded.
“Ugh! Do you feel good being called 'hyung' by a kid? Only someone around my age could be a 'hyung' to him. No matter how you look at it, Dae-sung hyung is more like an uncle, right? I mean, he’s 40. Forty minus three. Rounded up, that’s forty.”
Il-sung hyung's words were met with an immediate counterattack from Dae-sung hyung.
“Shut up! If you're going to say things like that in front of me, then you can just head up north!”
“What’s that even supposed to mean? And didn’t I tell you last time? They won’t take me in up north. What can I do about that? During my entire military service, I tried signaling with a flashlight from the frontline, but they said they wouldn't take me. Proof that I’m not some illegitimate child of the North.”
“Look at him making things up. Ha. This world’s gone mad. What did I even like about that guy to let him join our band?”
“Well, it’s because I’m talented, right? Plus, I’m the visual of the group, representing the MZ generation.”
“...”
“...”
For a moment, all the older men stared sharply at Il-sung hyung.
Their gazes were quite intense.
In the end, Il-sung hyung had no choice but to declare surrender, and thus, the north and south took one more step toward harmony.
“And how long are you going to keep teasing me about my name? Just like Dae-sung hyung, I just happen to share the ‘-sung’ syllable. It’s just that I’m a Kim. There are over 100,000 people with the same name as me in South Korea—are you going to tease all of them too?”
“I’m definitely going to keep teasing you. I’ll stop when we’re unified. But where on earth did you get that 100,000 figure from?”
“My head. It’s what we commonly call ‘brain-fiction’.”
“Wow, aren’t you clever.”
The band members continued bickering for quite some time.
At a glance, it was obvious they were on good terms.
I carefully placed my guitar down in the corner so as not to disturb them, then sat down in a chair.
At that moment, Lee Yeon hyung, who had been fiddling with his bass, casually spoke to me.
“Is that guitar important to you?”
“Yes... it is. A lot.”
“That’s nice to see. How long have you been practicing?”
“It’s been about three years.”
“Just like Dae-sung hyung said. Would it be okay if I hear you play? I’m a bit curious now. Of course, there’s no pressure. If you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to. I’d like you to just relax and have fun today.”
His tone was very calm. He was the only one in the waiting room tending to his instrument. I felt like I could guess what kind of personality he had.
I nodded once to Lee Yeon hyung and took my guitar out of its case.
I had brought the guitar knowing that an opportunity like this might come up today.
Even Dae-sung hyung, who called me over before the rehearsal had even started, probably had that intention to some extent.
After all, these were people who had been in a band for a long time. They would probably teach me something after seeing my performance.
With that thought in mind, I tuned my guitar.
The sound of the guitar strings reverberated, and the waiting room fell silent for a moment.
The song I was going to play...
Yeah. This song, the one I’ve been listening to the most recently, would be perfect.
I softly began to play the acoustic version of "Live Forever" composed by Uncle Miller.
* * *
“Well... that's about it. My technique is still awkward, so I didn’t play it very well. Thank you for listening.”
“......”
“......”
“......”
“......”
Even after the performance ended, the four of them remained silent.
Their eyes were just darting back and forth between each other.
A slightly peculiar silence.
The first to break it was Park Deuk-soo, the drummer.
"Phew. I'm going to take a trip to the Han River. I need to check the water temperature. As for the concert... Well, you guys figure it out. I have no regrets in this life."
Dae-sung hyung glared at him immediately.
"Hey, you idiot! What are you saying in front of a kid? He'll get the wrong idea!"
"Let him misunderstand. If you're born a genius, you have to carry that fate your whole life. I'm going. To the Han River. To that place in the summer. To Mother Nature."
"Ah, seriously!"
With a swift motion, Dae-sung hyung snatched the drummer's phone. He casually unlocked the pattern and showed me a picture.
"What that guy just said, it’s not some weird meaning. He's literally a lunatic who checks the water temperature at the Han River, so just take it lightly. Got it?"
"Uh... okay."
"Take a good look. This is him. That bastard's a 'naturalist' who lives in Seoul."
Dae-sung hyung handed me his smartphone.
On the screen was a picture of the drummer with his feet dipped in the Han River, smiling brightly. The water seemed to be splashing up dramatically, as if he had been splashing around.
How innocent.
I guess you could call it a life shot.
"......"
Hmm.
Now, I have a thought.
Thoughts on this band.
The members here are definitely a little unique...
"Yeah. It might seem like there are no 'normal' people in this band, as you think. But I want you to know that these guys work pretty hard. They all have jobs and they put a lot of effort into their performances. Isn't that what matters?"
"...I didn't say anything though?"
"Your face says it all! Anyway, they're not bad guys, so there's no need to be scared. Sigh. I swear, I never thought I'd have to defend the band members, even to a kid."
"......"
"By the way, I'm the 'hyung' here. They're the 'ajusshis'."
"......"
The atmosphere was lively and noisy.
Just from this situation alone, I felt like I understood why people form bands.
Dae-sung hyung's band was called *Daesunghaja*.
Dae-sung hyung, who personally came up with the name, seemed satisfied with it, but the other members clearly weren’t happy. They’d mentioned it several times, even in front of me.
But of course, Dae-sung hyung, in true leader fashion, just said:
"If you don't like it, why don't you go make your own band?"
As it turns out, *Daesunghaja* was a big deal in the indie scene, having released five albums. However, I heard this directly from Dae-sung hyung, so I couldn’t trust it 100%. Still, it was probably true. Anyway, they were supposedly a big name.
While I was in the waiting room, listening to Il-sung hyung talk about electric guitars, the other three ajusshis kept going in and out of the room.
They sighed here and there.
Is there some kind of problem?
In the meantime, I received *Daesunghaja’s* fifth album from Il-sung hyung. It was their newest release, a signed CD from all the members.
"Do you want to listen? Our music is pretty good."
For the first time in my life, I got to listen to the song from Daesunghaja on a portable CD player.
Daesunghaja was essentially a rock band.
If I had to categorize their genre...
You could say they played a mix of blues rock, pop punk, Britpop, and alternative genres.
To put it elegantly, they were a band that explored various styles.
But to put it differently, they were a band without a clear identity.
That doesn't mean it was bad, though.
There are countless artists who try something new with every release. As long as they don't break the trust with their fans, experimenting with different genres usually works in their favor.
'This reminds me of what I learned from Uncle Miller.'
Anyway, as Il-sung hyung said, Daesunghaja was a skilled band.
Although it felt like they were still wandering, not having found a clear concept yet, you could tell their performance was clean.
And the powerful vocals of Dae-sung hyung came across as quite charming.
The completely new, never-before-heard style of music from this Korean indie band was certainly full of appeal.
While I was absorbed in the music through the earphones, the waiting room started to become more chaotic.
Dae-sung hyung and Il-sung-hyung were talking about something.
Drummer-hyung and Lee Yeon hyung were on their phones nonstop.
Unable to hold back my curiosity, I pulled the earphones out of my ears.
And then...
I finally realized why they were acting so frantically.
