Last Wednesday, Saigon’s heavy scene got a fresh breath of air from a lineup you don’t usually see. Hosted by HARDCORE VN and an old familiar name: RockFest.
The night moved smoothly, from the sentimental mood of 18:18, to the wild energy of Defying Decay, and finally the heavy electronic drops from I See Stars. It proved that Saigon’s scene isn’t just about DIY underground shows, there’s still room for real professionalism and solid production.
18:18: A Gentle Start That Won Everyone Over
18:18 didn’t say much on stage; they just let the music do the talking. Their set felt like what you’d expect from a solid pop band: clean, heartfelt, and easy to enjoy. And it worked.
Everyone in the crowd seemed to know their songs. I barely saw anyone not singing along. Their music felt gentle, like your first love — warm, emotional, and smooth. It’s that kind of sound that doesn’t scream at you, but still goes straight to your heart.
MONOCYCLE: Tight, Energetic, and On Point
The first thing that hit me about Monocycle was how tight they played. Every member was locked in — drummer, guitarist, vocalist — all perfectly in sync. You could feel the chemistry.
Their music isn’t exactly a style I usually go for, but I was seriously impressed by how good their performance was. The crowd clearly felt the same; they were hyped from start to finish. Monocycle kept the energy up all the way through. Their sound sat right in that sweet spot, heavy enough to hit hard, but still polished and clean. It reminded me that live shows are really about the experience, not just the songs.
DEFYING DECAY: The Wild Side of Youth
Then came Defying Decay. It took them a bit to set up (they had a lot of gear), but once they started, no one cared about the wait. The whole mood flipped instantly. Their set hits like a storm, loud, fast, and chaotic in the best way. The mix of heavy riffs, synth layers, and autotuned vocals isn’t something you see much in Saigon’s scene, and it really stood out.
Each member had their own vibe: the focused drummer, the chill DJ, the hyper synth player, the flashy frontman, and the bassist who loved interacting with the crowd. It looked messy at first, but somehow it worked. They looked like a group of friends just having fun and doing what they love.
If there’s one thing to note, it’s that sometimes their energy got a bit too wild, and the performance lost a tiny bit of tightness. But they’re still young, and that raw energy is exactly what makes them exciting. Their set honestly left a big smile on my face.
I SEE STARS: Pure Professionalism Energy
The transition from Defying Decay’s chaos to I See Stars was smooth but powerful. No flashy lights, just red tones, matching their newest album. But once they started playing, the whole place exploded. They didn’t waste a second. Their 40-minute set felt like 10. Every note, every movement was on point, no breaks, no missed beats, no drop in energy.
You could feel their experience. The way they controlled the stage and connected with the crowd was something else. Everyone was moving, singing, shouting, the kind of energy that makes you remember why you love live music.
If there’s one thing that stood out the most that night, it was them. I See Stars showed exactly why they’re the headliners, how good they are now, and how good they’ve always been
Overall, it was a fun night, the kind of fresh air that doesn’t usually come around. Big shoutout to Rockfest and Hardcore Vietnam for putting this together, because the organization was honestly great. Everything felt clean and well done, from the ground (literally, no trash anywhere) to the sound (shoutout to Bomb, too!).
I really hope we’ll get more events like this in the future. Saigon needs more nights that are this well-organized, energetic, and full of good music.
