Notes from the Underground: Weekend in review

Not that we’ve ever taken Shanghai for being un-eclectic, but a weekend of 80s themes (anyone else find Peijin attractive in cinnamon rouge?), skateboarding in Fuxing Park and experimental electronic at Live Bar (?) on the Lord’s Day leaves us most un-loquacious.

While enough will be said about the Happy Hour at Freelance, we would like to point out the lack of (our only request) Michael Damien’s “Rock On” was duly noted and, rest assured, will be brought up at the next marketing meeting. It was, however, an ideal pre-party for the oh-so-80s-reminiscent I-GO show at Tanghui. B6 and JJ showed why they only need to play once every few months -- problem was, the set lasted longer than a homemade Frankie Goes to Hollywood shirt would. We’re still trying to figure out why I-GO took the stage before Re-Tros (anyone else agree that the B-52’s are alive and well?), as the latter show had both floors packed -- most were unaware the bands had switched time slots. Or does Tanghui just like fucking with us as to make these notes every week?

While there, we ran into Sebastian of Tootekool, who was said to have just come from the “gig of his life” for 500-odd students somewhere out in Pudong -- hopefully we’ll get more on that.

While dining over pig-brain after the show with MC Mojo, he told us of a Quicksilver Skateboarding party outside Guandii on Saturday (not to brag, but we always get the “S-K-A-T-E” on Tony Hawk’s game, so we kind of had to go). While quite sure we used the words “grind” and “ollie” at the wrong times, we did enjoy a night of canned Suntory and watching the local ballroom dancers trying to move to the sound of freestyle.

Making the obvious transition from “slappys” to “slapped bass”, we headed off to JZ (quite forgiving of our Vans and camo shorts) to catch the Red Groove Project show -- a good show, sans the played-out Stevie Wonder cover. Speaking of “out” we’re hearing (unconfirmed) rumors that JZ staple JR has been dropped? Disbanded?

Now, we’re no electronic experts. But we would think that if you were an electronic band, one that depends on electricity, you’d make sure those volts were a-workin’ before your show. We like 21G (good music, and lead-man Charlie always keeps the crowd's attention by looking like he’s going to fall over), but we hope next time, they’ll be able to play a few more instead of cutting it short. Main act was 48V, who showed moments of brilliance, but only a few minutes into their soundtracky tunes things went south. Admittedly, we left early (we have a love/hate thing with the plastic seats in Live Bar), so perhaps it picked up. We did sit in front of of the lead singer of Top Floor Circus, who kept his pants on (that’s for you).

So, in short, B6 and JJ played a good I-GO, JR might have been dropped from JZ and both 48V and 21G had problems with 9V.

Show to catch this week? Alec and The All Stars at JZ on Tuesday we wrote this Monday night ... we promise ... damn you technology problems!. Even if you don’t like jazz, you’ll leave knowing what to with “bread in the freezer.” Obscure, we know, but so are they.

Photo by Aric.