Hotpot Band Show

A dinner show, taken literally: a full bill of live music served alongside a bubbling pot, in a room built for eating rather than for listening.

In Utero's first-ever self-produced show, In Utero Present Vol.1: Hotpot Band Show, took over the hot-pot chain Chan Chi's Ximen flagship — the first music event that room had ever hosted. The lineup: Golden Melody Award winner Panai, Fire EX. frontman Sam Yang, Golden Melody jury-prize act Elephant Gym, Huan Huan, Mong Tong, and newcomer Chao Lin.

Three time slots, back to back. Elephant Gym and Huan Huan opened — bassist Kaiting's first show back after a car accident in July. Between songs, the In Utero team snuck in a birthday surprise for drummer Chiachin: the whole room sang along as he blew out the candles on stage.

Mong Tong and newcomer Chao Lin took the afternoon slot, and the night closed with two Golden Melody names: Sam Yang first, Panai last. Sam had left his acoustic guitar at home in Kaohsiung, so he borrowed Panai's for the set — the two of them trading one guitar back and forth all evening.

Honestly, we just wanted an excuse to get everyone together again. This time, instead of hotpot, we did it with a guitar.

The room, the audience said, sounded better than they expected from a restaurant — "who knew a hotpot place could host a proper live show." A first event that set the tone for everything In Utero has produced since.