No one does arcade rock like The Sleeves. It’s pretty safe to say that the Hong Kong foursome dominate the genre, primarily because they invented the term themselves, secondarily because they’re probably the only band that describes their music as ‘arcade rock’. Nevertheless, it’s not a bad thing to have to boast about. “When people asked us what type of music we played, we didn’t really know. We knew it was rock music, so we tried to come up with a name that didn’t mean anything,” says frontman Keith Goodman.

Since 2008, when The Sleeves shed their former life as a cover band, arcade rock has come to represent their eclectic rock sound – part punk, part classic rock, part throwback 80s indie – that’s resonated regularly around the local music scene, from outlying-island beaches to the live bar scene to an appearance at Macau’s big-name MIMA festival. But this fortnight, it also takes on a new meaning as the title of the band’s debut – an album Goodman hopes gives them an extra dimension. “Recorded music is always going to sound different to a live performance. I think it gave us an opportunity to explore what our songs could sound like other than loud, live and in your face.”

To launch the album, they’re pulling in help from previous Rockit! Festival favourites, wild and raucous Japanese outfit Electric Eel Shock, who Goodman says are their kindred spirits in a way. “I’m not sure we’re at their level yet, but [we both have the attitude] ‘we’re here to play, you’re here to have fun, let’s make it happen’,” he says. French-Canadians Van de Kamp and Nevada pop-rockers These Selfish Things also join, and it’s all happening at a new 400-person venue, Blossom Stage in Tsim Sha Tsui. It’ll be an eclectic and unique lineup – one The Sleeves would probably call an ‘arcade lineup’.

Mark Tjhung

The Sleeves + Electric Eel Shock + Van de Kamp + These Selfish Things play Blossom Stage on Friday November 18. Tickets: thesleeveskickass@gmail.com.