Say Bok Gwai (SBG) combines American hardcore, metal, punk, experimental, improvised, and thrash music, with Cantonese and English vocals creating the first and only CantoCore band in existence. SBG consists of Alex Yeung(composer/guitarist/vocalist) and Andre Custodio aka Tong Lon (drummer). With a Chinese American perspective unique to San Francisco, this CantoCore duo creates a new direction in music rooted in Chinese culture and American culture.

SAY BOK GWAI CantoCore:
A NEW CHINESE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

Say Bok Gwai (SBG) combines American hardcore, metal, punk, experimental, improvised, and thrash music, with Cantonese and English vocals creating the first and only CantoCore band in existence. SBG consists of Alex Yeung(composer/guitarist/vocalist) and Andre Custodio aka Tong Long(drummer). With a Chinese American perspective unique to San Francisco, this CantoCore duo creates a new direction in music rooted in Chinese culture and American culture.

On SBG’s 2008 release, CHINK IN THE ARMOR, the CantoCore duo slams out 31 truly expansive, diverse, fast and heavy new songs. Expansive in time and subject matter, CHINK IN THE ARMOR almost doubles the length of the first CD. Well known for short quick songs, SBG breaks precedent with a few longer compositions. “The Revenge of Vincent Chin” clocks in just under 6 minutes. Expansive in the subject matter, the lyrics delve deeper into politics(Pook Guy Bush), the mislaid values of American culture (Kill Beauty), religion(Handbook), social conditioning($40 T-Shirt), bi-cultural values(MBA) and the band’s own identity (Hypocrite) and musical influences (Old School).
Diverse in musical influences and sound, CHINK IN THE ARMOR explores SBG’s musical diversity from thrash(Real Men) to metal(A-1) to punk(Trick Duck) to hardcore(EatMeNow) while incorporating out of the genre influences such as progressive, experimental and improv with songs like Haam Sup Gwai, Return of the Monkey King, and I Can Only Provide the Toilet Paper. By inviting additional musicians to play on this release, SBG adds a diverse range of sounds, textures and color via electronics(Year of the Cock), organ(White People in a Hurry), and samples(Chow Fun Chow No Fun). Another change in the sound of this 2nd release is the prominent use of English. Alex explains that the use of English on this release evens out the bi-cultural scales since Cantonese was the primary language of the 1st release. CHINK IN THE ARMOR is a testament to the ingenuity of SBG taking CantoCore to new musical and message territory.
The duo is native to San Francisco and has been active in the local music scene for over fifteen years. Currently, Alex Yeung also plays with Conquest for Death. Andre Custodio teaches drumming and plays drums for Terese Taylor and Val Mih.