〖試讀】台灣前衛藝術雜誌《潛意識餐廳 Vol.2》發行計劃＿反饋

LTK Comunne 濁水溪公社

反饋 地

下

社

會

的

故

事

在

屈臣氏和鱔魚意麵中間是入口。下樓、付門票、右轉、

這個反饋迴圈刺激了音樂和表演的品質。地下社會讓樂團積累

進場看表演。以一個噪音學家的角度來看，這個正向反饋迴圈

地下社會發出了第一聲，開始了反饋迴圈。正向迴圈衍生出了

已經長得太大、太大聲，噪音自我衍生，讓原訊號慢慢崩解。

新的生態。正向迴圈的創造力帶來不可避免的瓦解性，而代表

再下樓，經年磨損的木製地板隨你的踩踏陷下並發出呻

重大突破的能量。地下社會也將「真正的音樂」這個想法深植

吟。吉普賽風的女孩們擦肩而過，披著長髮掛著眼鏡的男孩

在觀眾心中，並滲透到台灣社會裡。受此迴圈影響的範圍越來

們瞧了你一眼，又轉頭盯著地下室另一端。最深處，樂團正

越大，而整個場景都是由此萌芽茁壯。

在演奏著。檔在前方的人群讓你幾乎看不到樂團本身，但他

反向迴圈的利益團體則日復一日地騷擾攻擊。這兩股力量的拉 即便如此，地社最後凝聚的聲響，讓大家得以開始正視惡質的

扯為地下社會的實體劃下句點，但這不是反饋迴圈的尾聲。其

政治經濟利益團體，並藉由自身的奮鬥試圖為 Live House 爭取

他的表演場地仍在經營，師大公園幫和其他大大小小的生態圈

們的音樂正將老舊的 PA 系統和喇叭推到極限，這點你倒是聽

地下社會也對師大商圈繁榮的夜生活帶來一股波西米亞風氣。

更優良的法規認證。音樂家們開始瞭解到自身的熱情和堅持無

仍在創作，人民意識和社會活動仍在茁壯。借 Basement Jaxx

的一清二楚。音樂充滿挑戰性，若你在電台聽到的音樂。吉

原本寧願在家中浸淫於另類音樂和其他藝術作品的藝術份子，

法置身於物質主義至上的台灣社會之外。以這層面看來，地下

的歌詞來說：「The feedback keeps on playing on and on…

他手浸泡在反饋的噪音中，所有人都在點菸。空氣是一層厚

慢慢的都聚到此處。他們有地方可以碰頭，建立起強健的網絡，

社會更種下了社會運動的種子。時至今日，聲援地下社會的音

( 反饋持續的響阿響阿響阿…)」。

實的霧，刺激到你的淚腺，耳鳴也越來越嚴重。但你不想離

從而演進出像「師大公園幫」這樣的音樂家圈子。有不少樂團

樂家們也同樣積極參與台灣多起社會運動。

開。這是真實的。

成員會在師大公園附近聚會、喝酒、jam 整晚。「師大公園幫」 如同近年頂尖獨立樂團養成中心一般，舉凡傷心欲絕、湯湯水

這是在地社一夜的故事。已停止營業的地社對台北，甚或對全

水、任天堂憂鬱世代都在這個圈子裡。這樣的生態圈為整個迴

台灣來說，是文化上非常重要的表演場地。這故事和全世界所

圈帶來養分。

有些許破敗但歷史悠久的 club 如出一轍。那，是什麼讓地社特 別？答案就在上述震耳欲聾的喇叭中：反饋的噪音，讓地社獨

除了音樂理念外，地下社會更證明了當時在台灣尚未被開發的

一無二。

另類音樂市場確實存在。更多人投入本地獨立音樂 Live House 的行列，像是 The Wall 和 Revolver。越來越多表演場地，讓樂

反饋造成的原因，是音響系統發出的聲音，被系統本身的收音

團有更多的機會及曝光，讓反饋的迴圈持續擴張。

器材接收到，再發出 / 接收形成迴圈。舉例來說，吉他是透過 吉他音箱將音量放大，但同一把吉他又收到音箱的聲音時，就

在正向迴圈中持續灌溉愛，是地下社會成長的動力來源，但負

回產生反饋迴圈。正向迴圈會讓聲音疊加，越來越大聲。

面的反向迴圈也開始抬頭。反向迴圈是自我調節的迴圈，防止 迴圈成長過大。舉例來說，當送出的訊號越大時，就會抑制能

地下社會在 1996 年發送出第一道聲波後，便產生了一股文化

輸入的訊號量，反之亦然。套用在地下社會，當另類文化開始

上的正向迴圈。建構在 Nirvana 帶起的一股另類音樂風潮中，

成長後，社會的保守力量便會想要將其限制，因為保守力量無

地下社會開創了台灣另類音樂演出的可能性。驚人地，從第一

法接受不同的生活風格。此外，覬覦師大區域在轉型後能帶來

天起到 2013 年 6 月劃下句點為止，地下社會始終忠於其目標，

潛在經濟效益，部分人士組成師大自救會，打著「違法商家，

為「真正的音樂」提供舞台。起始於對音樂創作上的獨立思維，

退出我家」的口號，要除去他們眼中容不下的分子。藉由對市

地下社會和台灣社會主流的商業製作流行音樂相抗衡。這是向

政府官員施加壓力以制訂規範，他們有系統地讓師大商圈內的

物質消費主義說不，是要將生活回歸到真實。地下社會希望能

小型商家歇業，如夜市攤商、酒吧、餐廳等。

讓音樂家們真切、自由地表達自我，讓他 / 她們做自己，展現他 / 她們獨特的音樂世界。這裡有各種形式的音樂，從龐克到電子，

一段時間後，師大自救會將箭頭瞄準了地下社會。由於目前模

從噪音到說唱，而標準只有一項，這裡要的是誠實的音樂。

糊不清的市政法規，根本沒有適用的 Live House 相關規定， 遑論提供合宜的保護。即便歷經長期的社會運動，要求對 Live

抱著和地下社會相同理念的樂團和音樂家群起響應，在地下社

House 制訂更好的法規認證及保護，最後佔上風的仍舊是政治

會演出，帶起台北的另類實驗場景。同好們越聚越多，在地下

及經濟上的利益分子。在師大自救會和政府官員罰鍰的持續多

社會演出的樂團也不停增加。一傳十，十傳百，更多人開始意

重騷擾下，地下社會在 2013 年關門歇業。

識到地下社會是另類音樂文化重要的場景。這股正向迴圈激盪 了台灣音樂和文化發展。年輕的音樂家有了一個能接納他們的

儘管在此情況下歇業令人感傷，但地社在當時確實也快到了迴

舞台，可以磨練他們的演出。觀眾對於實驗性和失誤都能開放

圈的尾端。在地社存在的 17 年間，獨立音樂場景遍地開花，表

胸懷地看待。受地下社會啟發和滋養的樂團不計其數。事實上，

演場地越開越多的狀況下，到地社的觀眾也逐步下降。觀眾分

許多有名的樂團如五月天和 1976，早期都在地下社會表演過。

散了。社群的出現也代表大家可以選擇出來晃晃，而不一定要

THE SUBCONSCIOUS RESTAURANT 2

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the Story of Underworld

Feedback

THE SUBCONSCIOUS RESTAURANT 2

the possibility of live alternative music in Taiwan.

word. The criteria was simply that artists just had to

Amazingly, it stayed true to its goal of providing a

be true to themselves.

stage for "real music" until its demise in June 2013.

F

ind the entrance between a pharmacy

significant performance venue in Taipei,

a n d a f r i e d o y s t e r o m e l e t h a w k e r.

Taiwan. It can also tell the story of any night

Descend. Pay the entrance fee. Turn right.

out in any hole-in-the-wall club around the

Descend further. The worn wooden floor

world. So what makes Underworld special?

groans and sags under your weight as you

The answer can be found blaring out of the

walk in. "Gypsy girls" slither pass you. Long-

speakers in the description above - feedback.

Underworld arose from independent thought about

Like-minded bands and musicians responded to

music and stood against the manufactured pop

Underworld's call. They performed at Underworld and

music of mainstream Taiwanese society. It was a

attracted the alternative experimental set in Taipei.

rejection of a materialistic consumerism-driven way

Like attracted like and more bands performed at

of life to return to what is real. Underworld looked

Underworld. The word got out and more people started

for artists to express themselves truly and freely - to

being aware of Underworld as a culturally significant

be who they are and to express their unique view of

location for alternative music. This positive feedback

the world in music. Underworld took in all forms of

looped within itself to foster a significant sea change

music, from punk to electronica to noise to spoken

in the development of Taiwanese music and culture.

haired bespectacled guys shoot you a glance before turning back to the band playing at

Feedback occurs when the output of a system

the far end of the room. You struggle to see

is fed back into the system. For example, a

the band through the crowd. However, you

guitarist plays a riff that is then amplified. The

definitely hear them as their music strains the

same guitar will pick up the amplified sound

aging PA system. The music is challenging - it

and feed it back to the amplifier. This becomes

is not something you hear on the radio. The

a feedback loop. A positive feedback loop

guitarist is swimming in feedback. Everyone

occurs when the loop builds upon itself and

is drawing on a cigarette. The air is thick and

become bigger and louder.

hazy. Your eyes water up. Tinnitus starts up in your ears. But you are hooked. This is real.

Underworld triggered a cultural positive feedback loop with its birth in 1996. Nestled

The above can tell the story of a night out

a m o n g s t t h e N i r v a n a - h e ra l d e d b o o m i n

i n U n d e r w o r l d , a d e f u n c t b u t c u l t u ra l l y

alternative music, Underworld pioneered

THE SUBCONSCIOUS RESTAURANT 2

22

Young musicians were given a chance to hone their

For example, when the output is large, the input

craft in a small unassuming venue. The audience was up

will become smaller and vice versa. Applied to

for experimentation and mistakes. There were too many

Underworld, as an alternative culture grew, the

bands to list that Underworld inspired and fostered.

conservative elements of society wanted to limit it

In face, many established bands such as Mayday and

as they did not accept the differences in lifestyle.

1976 in Taiwan had performed at Underworld early in

Coupled with economic interests eying the arty

their careers. This feedback loop spurred the quality

Shida area as a potential target for gentrification (and

of music and performance. Underworld prepared the

its associated property appreciation), a shadowy

musicians for their breakthroughs. It also prepared

residents' association called the Shida Self-Help

the audience as ideas about "real music" started

Association started a campaign to remove elements

permeating into society. The loop continues with a

that they deemed to be "unbecoming of the

wider reach and the scene blossomed from there.

neighborhood". The association applied pressure on city government officials to apply regulations to

Underworld also added a bohemian vibe to the

systematically close down small businesses such as

thriving night life around the Shida area. Underworld

night market stalls, bars and restaurants.

brought out artistic people who might normally remain at home with their alternative musical and

I n t i m e , t h e A s s o c i at i o n ' s att e n t i o n t u r n e d t o

artistic obsessions. They were able to meet and form

Underworld. As the city's regulations were arcane,

strong networks. As their ranks grew larger, there

Underworld's status as a "livehouse" was not official.

was an emergence of musician ecosystems such as

The current governing regulations were not suitable

the "Shida Park group". They were musicians who

and did not offer adequate protection. Underworld's

would hang out in the nearby Shida park to drink

square peg did not fit in the round hole. Despite

and jam all night long. The Shida Park group was the

a year of social activism to request better legal

incubator for recent local indie heros such as Wayne

recognition and protection for livehouses, stronger

is So Sad, Sleaze and Nintendo Generation Blues.

political and economic interests prevailed. Unwilling

The existence of such ecosystems were fodder to

to deal with the continual harassment by the Shida

keep the loop growing.

Self-Help Association and fines by city officials, Underworld closed its doors in June 2013.

Beyond musical ideas, Underworld showed a proof of concept that there was an untapped market for live

Although the closure was a sad event, Underworld

alternative music in Taiwan. Entrepreneurs started

was on its last legs. While the scene had blossomed

establishments such as the Wall and Revolver on the

in the 17 years of Underworld's existence,

similar concept of a local indie music "livehouses".

attendance at Underworld's gigs had been declining

The feedback loop continued as more venues

as the choices of performance venues had multiplied

brought awareness and opportunities to musicians.

significantly. Audiences were spread out. The existence of ecosystems also meant that there

While the growth of Underworld was fueled by the

was also an option of just hanging out instead of

love inherent in the positive feedback loop, the

attending a gig. A noisician would recognise this as

converse negative feedback loop was rearing its

positive feedback growing so large and loud that the

head. A negative feedback loop is a self-regulating

noise takes on a life of its own as it heads towards a

loop - it prevents the loop from growing too large.

creative destruction of the original signal.

THE SUBCONSCIOUS RESTAURANT 2

Nevertheless, even on its last legs, Underworld

new ecosystems which took on lives of their own.

seeded an awareness of non-benign political and

While Underworld the physical place fell due to the

economic interests with its drive to obtain better

inherent creative destruction of a positive feedback

legal recognition of livehouses. Musicians started

loop and to the negative feedback from bullying

realising that their passions and obsessions were

political and economic interests, the feedback loops

not isolated from materialistic Taiwanese society.

have not closed. They keep going - other venues

The seed of social activism was ignited. To this end,

are still operating, Shida Park group and other mini-

musicians who fought for Underworld continued to

ecosystems are still creating, social awareness and

rally for the numerous social movements in Taiwan

activism are still booming.

right now.

To paraphrase Basement Jaxx, the feedback keeps Underworld played the first note and started the

on playing on and on...

feedback loop. The positive feedback loop created

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