GigShanghai: Dance rock, a smashed bass, a Tang Hui challenge

Matt.

You have some good points.

First off, we weren't slagging off Tanghui, or it's punters-only pointing out that it's not a live music bar, but a bar with live music. Zooma, as both Brad and I have said, after meeting with him, knows music and has the capability to make his place a true forerunner-thus, the challenge. The people in question were the one's passing themselves off as "scene supporters" there, instead of making the longer trek to YYT, Live Bar or Shuffle. There's no denying it's a gorgeous place-we just see it's potential to be more.

(Speaking of TH, congrats to you and your Mrs.)

I think I've been more than outspoken about Bar Rouge, it's punters and overall vibe-but it's nice to hear someone else say it...we'll continue to call out the places that have potential, and those that cater to the weekenders.

Am off to the Living Thin-if you and your wife about, please stop by for a drink.

Aric

I think you and Brad are doing a great job by making the Shanghai music scene accessible to the local English speaking community. Hearing snippets of the Subs made me go to their show and they were amazing. The local music scene is in much better shape than some give credit. Yu Ying Tang, Shuffle and Live Bar have all opened within the last year and there is more choice than ever.

I like your idea of the challenge. It would be a good thing for Tang Hui to have more live music, but some of the criticisms of that place and its punters were a little mischievous and misleading. I liked the Old Tang Hui, because it was so relaxed and down to earth. The beer was cheap and there was always a nice balance between laowai and locals. Nobody cares what you look like. The music there has always been pretty conservative. They play the same Chuck Berry records every week and some of the bands are far too keen to play Coldplay or U2 covers. However, Tang Hui is very special to me, because that it is where I met my wife.

The new Tang Hui is still really cool and relaxed, although it is going to be a run away commercial success. As long as it continues to be a relaxed place to meet friends for a drink, I will be happy to hang out there. I feel more at home there than at many places in Shanghai, such as Bar Rouge.

Bar Rouge could not be more different. The music is annoyingly in your face rather than being pleasantly forgettable. The drinks are expensive. The service is terrible and setting fire to the bar is just a gimmick. The place is full of fat suited westerners and pretty aspirational Chinese girls preying on each other.

Anyway, good luck with your challenge.

Jeff-I can see what you're trying to do, and if I was a smart man, I'd leave it alone and let your snide little posts reveal you for the crank that you are-but.....no.

First of all, you say you support the scene by going to a few shows a month, but then negate that by saying there's no scene here, and taking a stab at a band who's trying to make it-how does that work? Anyone who knows anything about the music scene knows that you don't take pot shots at people who are trying to make it, and then people trying to help them. You’re more than welcome to slag my show off (although, you’re “every single listener” comment tells us a lot about you already), but criticizing two guys with a dream is shitty-but good in that it tells us even more about you.

You're the one who's still on the "hipster/scenester" commentary-so what is it? Is it still bothering you that we happened to call out a place that you like? If the show is a joke, then why do you care?

You're a negative, pathetic c*nt-but I'd love to meet ya. Tell ya what, you let me know the next show you're going to and I'll buy your ticket-and a beer. Who knows, maybe you're more plugged-in than all of us combined and this show can benefit from you-or perhaps you're that angry teenager in Empire Records, who holds it up so he can get the attention of those who work there.

Would love to hear from you-when you're done drawing red lipstick over the people who were mean to you in high school.

Aric

Aric - YYT a month ago, I go to a couple a month more or less. But even a small child who had never been to a concert could point out - the show was well done and professional, but much of the music wasn't. Dedicating resources to, say, Rock Star Posers isn't going to help the scene any - they still obviously need a lot of work, especially the vocals, my god.

And in terms of quantity, Shanghai isn't even a concert/night. Ridiculous.

Going off "this was upper dive, but now it's lower hipster, and it even has the potential to turn into a poser bar!" is a joke and every single listener is going to think so. Don't shoot the messenger on that one.

Posting time as in there was nothing more to do in this town @ midnight than to listen to a show you didn't like, and then time to post your passive-agressive thoughts-you want to say things like "spare me", "this is embarrassing", but don't want to hear what I have to say about it?

I disagree with your "two camps"-Shanghai is divided (more than 2), and it's some that I wish would cross breed (electronic, jazz, rock, blues, r&b) and some that should keep to their own (your precious Bar Rouge crew). If I was seriously trying to segregate, then we'd only focus on one type of music, which, as you heard, we are not-we're promoting the scene and trying to get said people out of any place that you can "have a table"-that went out with The Sands.

So, sorry for offending you-and now that we've met, I hope you can accept my previous offering.

I hear Pier One has nice comfy seats if you're that upset.

Aric

I'm lost ... what does the posting time have to do with anything?

And, Aric, this world is not divided into two camps -- champagne-swilling business-card-carrying hipsters who go to Bar Rouge vs. unemployed saintly indie kids who only go to the Live Bar or whatever.

I happen to have friends in both camps, and all the ones in between, and those who ignore these silly notions (like myself), and most of them are far more civil than telling strangers to "fuck off".

Jeff-I want to take you seriously, but you're obviously not keen on the music scene here-which makes you someone we're not concerened with liking the show or not-the "hipster" talk that seemed to offend so many came out of us pointing out the similarities of some "live" music bars and places like Bar Rouge. Do me a favor, tell me about the last show you went to here.

Micah-what hype? Us being excited about the up and coming scene? Glad you liked part of it.

Would love to hear from the both of yous.

Aric

Micah: One of the drawbacks of the show being English only (for now) is that we're not able to interview a lot of the local bands who deserve it. However, when possible, we will talk about their upcoming shows and play their clips -- see Flying Fruit, Cold Fairyland, etc in the previous shows.

I think "why even bother documenting it" is a little strong. Still, I agree that the hype is a little much, and wish there was more about truly local music instead of the ephemeral expat scene. Congrats on covering the jazz scene though; it's about time it gets more extended publicity.

Regardless of the posting time, he's 100% right. The talk about who's hipster and who's not hipster was straight embarassing.

Don't wanna hate, the show was a really cool resource for the local music scene. Congrats to whoever put in so much effort. At the same time, Shanghai's music scene sucks so much, why even bother documenting the scene, and how can the interviewees take it so seriously?

So, let me get this straight:

You listened. You logged info in. You commented...at 12:03am (damn that posting time, I know)

Awful lot for someone who needs to be spared.

I'm sure you'll find solace in a flute of champagne and a nice new design for your business card.

Fuck off-you're pissed off because we offended your precious local.

Aric

Some of this commentary is embarrassing, like a group of teenagers talking about who's "indie" and who's not. Spare me.