Crystal Butterfly to rock ARK tonight

Searching for something to do tonight? Shanghaiist got an email earlier today that may or may not include what you are looking for. Shanghai indie-music veterans Crystal Butterfly -- they've been around since 1998, so that makes them old-timers in this city -- take the stage tonight at Xintiandi's ARK Live House. Doors open at 9 pm. Their much-delayed studio debut Shenmi Luxing (Magical Mystery Tour) was released in May and the self-described "space rock" band is expected to drop its follow-up Menghuan Senlin (Forest of Illusions) in September. Local rag 8 Days says the Butterfly "jams hard and throws down the crowd pleasers their fans demand. ... [T]heir live show is rock solid." Allegedly, audio samples of their music are available here, but it only seems to work on a PC running Internet Explorer, thus Shanghaiist was unable to tune in. But a friend was. His take? "Kind of sounds like INXS." Let's just hope their music is more original than the English title of their debut album.

Crystal Butterfly at Xintiandi ARK Live House, 181 Taicang Road, Xintiandi North Alley #15 (near Madang Road) [太仓路181弄新天地广场北里15号(近马当路)]. Doors open at 9 tonight. Free admission. Tel: 6326-8008.