It has been one year since we kicked off the Ethos Collective project, and looking back, we couldn’t be prouder of how this community has stepped up for one another. This journey was only possible with the incredible support from every single person in the local scene. To be honest, don’t treat this as a standard show report; we’re definitely biased (lol). Instead, think of this as a huge THANK YOU to a community that keeps growing, evolving, and pushing boundaries together.
The show went down at Blue Monkey, a new spot in Saigon, but a long-standing name for music heads in Phu Quoc. It’s a solid venue, and you can really see the owner’s respect for local music through the quality of the setup. The venue quickly packed out with a mixed crowd. This is why we love these shows: they bring people from all walks of life together through a shared love for music. From indie heads to hardcore diehards, all are buzzing with anticipation and ready to dive in. The lineup ramped up in intensity as the night went on: irihi, The Breeze, Jaigon Orchestra, Bedlam Royals, happyco., and KINH, before Cút Lộn closed the night with full force. Loud, raw, and electric, the Collectival surged with unrelenting energy from start to finish.
IRIHI: TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY MEETS POLISHED MELODICS
Opening the night, irihi set the tone with a smooth yet captivating introduction. Their set moved through clean, catchy, rhythmic riffs, with the guitarist emerging as the clear standout of the performance. Bright, emotive tunes and textured effects were paired with melodic, expressive vocals that echoed the spirit of J-pop and rock. At moments, the band slipped into intricate, math-rock-leaning structures, injecting flashes of technical complexity beneath the polished surface. Balancing calm, atmospheric verses with uplifting choruses, the band created a gentle momentum that had the crowd nodding along.
THE BREEZE: THEATRICAL STORYTELLING AND OFFBEAT AESTHETICS
Following irihi, The Breeze took the stage with a sound that felt both distinctive and delightfully offbeat. The experimental progressive rock outfit struck a chord with their unusual blend of prog rock and Vietnamese folk influences, weaving traditional songs into expansive, genre-bending arrangements. Visually, they were just as striking. Their vibrant, patterned button-up tees instantly caught the eye, an extension of their playful aesthetic and a fitting reflection of the band’s colorful musical identity. In many ways, the funkiness of their sound seemed to echo right through their wardrobe.
At the center of it all was the singer, whose dynamic and highly expressive vocals stood out throughout the set. With theatrical flair, he guided the audience through each song like a storyteller, turning the performance into something that felt almost like a rock opera in miniature. From subtle, funky verses to explosive, eccentric climaxes, The Breeze delivered a set that felt less like a series of songs and more like a wild musical journey.
JAIGON ORCHESTRA: A BIG ENSEMBLE WITH A HOMELY SPIRIT
Next up, Jaigon Orchestra lifted the room with their signature mix of upbeat energy and playful quirkiness. Blending rock with motifs reminiscent of Vietnam’s hustle and bustle, the band brought a humorous, youthful spirit that instantly warmed the crowd. With their large ensemble and unmistakably homely vibe, a Jaigon Orchestra set almost feels like a never-ending Tết, joyful, communal, and full of life. By this point, the audience was on the floor, swaying and rocking back and forth to the rhythm as the room’s energy surged.
BEDLAM ROYALS: A DARK SHIFT INTO HEAVY WALL OF SOUND
The atmosphere shifted the moment the vocalist took a quiet second to address the room, offering a heartfelt thank you to the community and a reminder to support fellow local artists whenever possible. But the warmth of that moment quickly dissolved as Bedlam Royals took control. Gone were the upbeat rhythms and playful melodies of the first half. In their place was a dense, suffocating weight and guitar riffs so heavy they felt like being pulled into a space with no exit.
For those accustomed to the night’s earlier energy, it was a visceral surprise. The set was a masterclass in slow-burn tension, with atmospheric crescendos building up a heavy layer of melancholy. Then, the breaking point. The vocalist’s scream shattered the gloom, shifting the mood from somber to explosive and catching the audience completely off guard. The floor erupted. The audience went from nodding along to moshing, matching the energy of the raw, piercing vocals. It was a complete shift in atmosphere, ending the set on a high, chaotic note. After what they showed us tonight, we’re definitely looking forward to hearing those materials on their upcoming debut album.
HAPPYCO.: BONE-CRUSHING BEATDOWNS AND STREET ENERGY
By this point, both the crowd and the venue were fully warmed up, with people shouting for happyco. to start, even while they were still setting up. Once the gear was ready and the band stepped up, they wasted no time, telling everyone to stretch out and prepare for a dose of raw Saigon hardcore. Despite playing familiar tunes, happyco.’s sound never feels stale. Their signature melodic guitar lines, carrying a sense of restless, inner pain, still remain as gripping as ever. But when those melodies gave way to bone-crushing beatdowns, the venue truly erupted.
It was a sight of pure street energy, with the audience thrashing across the floor with everything they had, perfectly representing the grit of the local scene. Despite some technical glitches that forced them to cut a song from the setlist, the momentum never faltered. They gave everything they had with the time they were given, proving that in this scene, heart matters more than a perfect soundboard.
KINH: A BEAUTIFUL WHIRLWIND OF SONIC VIOLENCE
But a special night like this had even more in store. Taking the stage next was KINH. As a prominent face in the recent death metal scene, with a debut album released just last month. Expectations were sky-high. They proved that live music will always hold a power that a studio recording simply cannot capture. As the venue lights dimmed, the audience was greeted by a soundscape of pure, violent death. Their signature technicality was on full display, never boring, always evolving. The drums delivered a relentless, unpredictable barrage that defied belief, while the guitars cut through the air with riffs that were as painful as they were addictive. Above it all, the vocalist’s roar acted as a rallying cry, commanding the crowd to embrace the chaos.
The floor turned into a beautiful scene of carnage. People were thrashing, headbanging, and colliding with such force that even minor injuries or blood couldn’t stop them because the energy simply wouldn’t allow it. It was a whirlwind of beautiful destruction that perfectly captured the spirit of their new album. Despite having the longest set of the night, the chaotic energy never wavered, and the audience refused to let up until the very last note faded.
CÚT LỘN: THE IMMORTALS OF THE LOCAL SCENE CLOSING THE NIGHT
Closing out the marathon was Cút Lộn, a veteran name long a pillar of the local Vietnamese scene. Often entrusted with the responsibility of the final set, the crowd knew exactly what to expect: a performance that would demand every last drop of their remaining energy. They were not disappointed. The drums kicked in like a rhythmic pulse, signaling the arrival of a massive wave of sound. The stage became a personal playground for the vocalist, who spent the set jumping off speakers and moving frantically to the music. The guitars, filled with technical shifts, provided the perfect soundtrack for his constant motion, whether he was dancing across the stage, diving into the crowd, or being carried overhead by a sea of hands.
The audience responded with a violent, vibrating energy. It was a chaotic exchange of stage dives, screams, and fans grabbing the mic to roar along. It was a display of that immortal underground spirit: as long as the music is good, no one hesitates to burn themselves out completely.
As the roar of the final set faded and the melodic music filled the room, we couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride. Looking back at this past year, what we’ve achieved together as a community is nothing short of incredible. A massive thank you to Blue Monkey for supporting us with open arms and for your serious investment in every detail of the venue.
To all the bands, each with your own distinct identity and ego, thank you for coming out and leaving everything on that stage. And most importantly, thank you to the audience. You are the ones who show up, support every event, and are the true architects of this growing community.
While this marks our first anniversary, Ethos Collective is only just getting started. We will always need your hands and your hearts. Don’t ever hesitate to join us or reach out. After all, we started as a group of nobodies who just wanted to play a small part in helping the music scene we love. Thanks to all the bands, thanks to everyone for coming, and thanks for this moment!
Writing: Văn Minh Phát Huy & Hương B
