Shanghaiist: Did Tang Hui lose its last ounce of 'indie cred' Saturday night?

dara

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 14:03:30 +0800

Don't really go to tanghui on the weekends anymore because i can't take anymore of crystal butterfly and hassan anymore. If they start getting more bands like 21g in, I might be persuaded to stop in. B6 is cool though...

yoyo

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 10:34:16 +0800

Have you forgotten that the "local" bands playing at both the old and new Tanghui are also largely cover bands? Hassan does covers of Gypsy Kings (how hip is that, hmm?)

salalalalalallala

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:19:51 +0800

Yeah, I agree. Wasn't really defending the bar as much as trying to get some people out last night. And a few came...a lot of Chinese folks, so that was a nice change.

Aric

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:20:12 +0800

I agree - 21g is a good band, and Charlie (lead) is as much fun to watch as listen to... But - since when are the sins of a weekend redeemable (sp) on a Tues? Why not 21g on Sat and a cover band on Tues? I think that was mentioned in the post, where and when cover bands belong (slow weekdays and awesome weddings). I'm just amazed they even had a soundcheck - it's so...ummm, professional. (And was most likely the same time that Happy Feet Hash Harrier started on the bai jiu). Speaking of cover bands, I got word that a few people who read SHaiist used to be in a Journey cover band? Now, that might be rad.

salala

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:03:27 +0800

So... yeah, I was there for the soundcheck earlier that day and it wasn't pretty. I guess I should've warned people. But, come tonight (Tuesday). Tang Hui is going to attempt to redeem themselves with 21g, a good local post rock-playing band.

hahahaha

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:51:12 +0800

that video is some of the funniest shit i have seen in a while. i love it when he touches the floor.

LAT

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:09:57 +0800

That's a lot of superlatives, neale, that I'm not sure anyone has attributed to Tanghui, or any bar for that matter. We like Tanghui, plain and simple. And we were disappointed they had such a sh*t band when our good friend was in town.

neale

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 03:22:27 +0800

Why on earth is there this 'memory' of the old Tanghui being the busiest, most energetic, and musically accomodating bar in Shanghai? Haven't you forgotten how hot it got, the fact that there was only one toilet (and that was often broken), that the service was slow, and that the bloody bar itself blocked most people's view?! Ladytron might have done an unannounced accoustic set there one night for a laugh but that was about as wild as it got. Otherwise, it was just Hassan, Crystal Butterfly and occassionally that chick that sang really good Nivana covers. Hardly the music meca some passionately remember. Surprisingly, some people forget that the new Tanghui has supported US bands, Canadian Bands/DJs, Beijing Bands, and an assortment of new Shanghai bands performing randomly (yes, and they haven't discared Hassan and Crystal Butterfly; although the Nivana girl is nowhere to be seen). My hat goes off to Yuyintang for testing new bands, but Tanghui can hardly be accused of ignoring new live music. Afterall, there is an upcoming Battle of the Bands for unsigned bands, right? Let's give Tanghui the benefit of the doubt regarding this Belgium night, and return on Friday to the Yaska concert (hardcore band). I'd like to see that dancing, short wearing Hash House Harrier in the mosh-pit!

Aric

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:16:56 +0800

2 thoughts - first off, well done to call any venue out (not on Hengshan Lu) for booking a cover band on a Sat night...even if they had a cancel, I'm sure Zooma's iPod would be better than *that*. But I think another point here is being brought up...I love Dan to bits, but "trek"? Sure, we use that word when we actually make the trip, but it took us a total of 15 minutes in a cab to get from YYT to Time Passage on Sat night. Even Live bar isn't "pee before you go" worthy - so these Captain's of Convenience are as much to blame for taking a chance on Tanghui instead of hitting up a show with 4 bands. I've even read of people moaning about Shuffle being "out of the way" which is absurd - as it was right next to the old (sniff) Tanghui. A taxi ride to said "remote areas of the greater Shanghai area" is still cheaper than a black beer...and with no AC, at least that above dancing man would have dropped by 10p. It's called underground for a reason - it doesn't come to you, you have to make the effort.

LAT

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 22:56:13 +0800

Brice, You miss the point. Fact is there are PLENTY of places in Shanghai to catch a mediocre cover band. Tanghui used to be reliable as a refreshing break from that scene. It was my friend in town from the US, and I was eager to show him Tanghui. While we waited for the house band to come on, we were treated to "Taking Care of Business" and "Johnny Be Good" and various other staples of mediocre live music venues here in town... as the musicians read the lyrics from a book in front of them. I wasn't laughing at the absurdity of it because I had a friend who won't have an other opportunity to see the Tanghui that made me a regular. I for one agree with Shanghaiist calling them out on dedicating a Saturday night to that show.

Dan

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:49:53 +0800

That would explain the dancing guy's excellent calf muscles.

Owen

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 13:44:01 +0800

Hahahahahaahaha I think you stumbled across a hash house harrier party...www.shanghai-hhh.com

Brice

Wed, 08 Oct 2003 15:23:18 +0800

Oh god where will all the "cool" people gather now?! Where will they meet to discuss just how individual they are and how much better music is if only 5 people have heard of the band. Hipsters are full of themselves and spend too much time trying to out "cool" everyone else. Yeah, its a bit ridiculous to have a middle aged band of amatuers playing old rock tunes and party favorites but it is not every weekend and I'm pretty sure that was the first time that type of band played there. If you can't have a laugh at something that absurd, then you are taking yourself too seriously, which is something this website tends to do. I have heard this band play at Harley's before and it wasn't great or "indie", but people had fun.