Set your bar playlist to Shuffle

We headed over to Shuffle Bar for the first time last weekend, and we have to say we were impressed. It's been described as "warehouse-y but clean," and that's about right. The atmosphere is raw enough that you can bring your indie-and-or-punk-rock friends without losing your cred, but it's also the kind of place where if you drop your jacket on the ground you probably won't have to throw it away. (They actually have a coat rack ... rock 'n roll with manners.) Shuffle Bar is one of the only places in this city dedicated to live music, and for that reason it deserves our support. They have shows -- mostly local bands -- nightly. We just hope the location (Xingfu Lu No. 137, 上海市幸福路137号 ... not really close to much of anything) doesn't hurt Shuffle's chances for success. But if Tang Hui could thrive out there, maybe Shuffle can, too.

We liked Shuffle so much this weekend that we decided to have our next Happy Hour there. Plans are still tentative, but this is what we are looking at: Friday, April 14 ... drink special of the all-you-can-consume variety ... a couple bands, including our favorite local group, The Living Thin[1] (can a band be local if its lead singer is from South Dakota?). Again, these plans are tentative and subject to change, but mark your calendars.

Speaking of all-you-can-drink specials, Shuffle has one tonight: 100 RMB open bar and music from the punk band Bastard. Here are some other future Shuffle events:

• Wednesday: Georgia Sam Blues Band
• Thursday: Student Bands
• Friday: The Living Thin
• Saturday: SUBS (from Beijing)

The Georgia Sam Blues Band actually emailed us this morning. Here is what they said:

We're into blues and reggae, rock and roll, and funky dance music. Our first show at Shuffle was two weeks ago and though the crowd was small, they really got into it.

We are starting a residency at Shuffle, playing every Wednesday night starting tomorrow, the 8th. It's listed on Upcoming.org. We play a lot of original tunes and we have invited a lot of our musician friends down to join us for open jamming. We are trying to institutionalize this thing.

We don't often get emails from bands.

[1] The Living Thin used to be called T is for Trebuchet (for like a week and a half). Gotta love a band who plays stripped down Neutral Milk Hotel covers after their set of originals.

Photo of The Living Thing from Shanghai Diaries.