No Party For Cao Dong

No Party For Cao Dong is a Taiwanese indie rock band officially formed in 2014, although its origins trace back to 2012. Guitarists and vocalists Wood Lin and Judy Chan met in high school and later at Taipei National University of the Arts. While initially playing electronic rock under the influence of bands like Two Door Cinema Club as “Party at Cao Dong Street,” the group, along with original members Lee You on bass and Huang Shih-Wei on drums, performed at various campus and external events. Following lineup changes and a period of hiatus where current members Lin and Chan became more serious about their musical direction, the band reformed as No Party For Cao Dong in 2014 with Sam Cheng on bass and Leo Liu on drums. They began uploading original tracks like “Old Zhang,” “Grisly Me,” and “Fifty” online, showcasing their evolving sound.

The band’s career gained significant momentum starting in 2015. They self-released an EP which sold out quickly, followed by their first major concert, “We Were All Born to Our Mothers.” Their performances at smaller venues consistently sold out, and their single “Wimpish” garnered over 180,000 views on YouTube. In 2016, they released their debut studio album, “The Servile,” which received critical acclaim and cemented their position in Taiwan’s independent music scene. This period also saw a lineup change with Fan Tsai replacing Leo Liu on drums. Their success continued with three awards at the 7th Golden Indie Music Awards in 2016, including Best Band and Best Newcomer. In 2017, they achieved a major breakthrough at the 28th Golden Melody Awards, winning Best Musical Group, Best New Artist, and Song of the Year for “Simon Says,” surpassing established acts.

No Party For Cao Dong expanded their reach internationally in 2019, performing at notable festivals such as SXSW and NXNE. They also wrote and recorded the title song for the critically acclaimed video game “Devotion” by Red Candle Games in the same year. Despite plans for a new album in early 2020, its release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a planned concert at the Taipei Arena, “We Were All Born to Our Mothers 6.0,” sold 11,000 tickets in under a minute but was also postponed due to the pandemic. Tragically, drummer Fan Tsai passed away in October 2021. In 2023, they released their second album, “The Clod,” and further solidified their standing in 2024 by winning three Golden Melody Awards, including Album of the Year, Best Mandarin Album, and Best Band, reflecting their continued impact and success.