Seattle is a city that thrives on juxtapositions. So when I found myself at a hardcore rock show late one night, comprising mostly Asian-led acts, inside a Vietnamese coffee shop, nothing really seemed out of place.

Just beyond the cafe’s windows, Little Saigon faced its own challenges. Yet inside those walls that night, there was a different kind of chaos brewing—loud, defiant, and undeniably joyful. At the center of it all stood Molly Nguyen and Mitchell Keo—a couple uniquely suited to take on Seattle’s many contradictions. Together, they’re leading a rebellion that’s as joyful as it is improbable, bridging communities that would never have otherwise met.

I got to my first hardcore show a little late. I had been to Little Saigon Creative before, a space that is home to Hello Em Việt Co

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