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We're sure glad we left Southern Barbarian* when we did. We were told that the Maxïmo Park gig would start at 9 pm and that there would be an opening band. So someone brought up on Western rock concert tradition would assume the very earliest Maxïmo Park would take the stage would be 10 pm. But we figured it would be more like 11 pm or midnight — that way the bar sells more drinks. But when we arrived at 4 Live (or Fabrique ... or whatever we are supposed to call it) at around 9:45 pm we were shocked to find the headliners already on the stage and even more shocked when a friend told us they had already been playing for 20 minutes and that the opening act started at 8:15 pm. What kind of a punk (or post-punk) show was this? Oh — that's right — one in Shanghai.
Aside from the start-time snafu, Maxïmo Park (as previously reported) rocked, and the largely Caucasian male crowd loved it. Correct us if we are wrong, but this show was something of a first for Shanghai — a fairly popular but not mainstream Western rock band playing a small club built specifically for live music. Actually, that statement doesn't need all those qualifiers — Maxïmo Park is the best Western rock band** we had previously heard of*** to play Shanghai. Period. They were polished, with a great stage presence and we think lead singer Paul Smith could be a star some day (we were surprised he didn't take any eyes out in the front row with one of his many jump kicks last night). Frankly, Maxïmo Park's keyboardist frightens us a bit, and we think if there was every a Maxïmo Park horror movie, the bassist would be the first to get knocked off — he just seemed out of place.
We had been told previously that concerts featuring indie(ish) bands were an almost impossible sell here in Shanghai. Just not enough fans/money to support them. Well, last night we saw what it takes — a major sponsor. It was all-Bacardi-all-the-time at 4 Live. The brand took over bar and all you could drink were 20 kuai Bacardi cocktails. And that's fine with us. We'll gladly forfeit our beer for a night if that is what it takes to get good bands in Shanghai.
But we really think they could have sold a lot more Bacardi had they started the show at a normal hour. Maxïmo Park had finished their first set by 10:28 pm. And by 10:40 pm, the encore was over and the place was clearing out. Did it fill up again for the 1 am after party?
* A great (and cheap) Yunnan restaurant we'll write more about soon.
** Not in their 60s.
*** We liked The Mayflies earlier this year, but they are still relative unknowns.
Photo from shanghaidiaries.com. More photos will likely appear soon at the Maxïmo Park Moblog.
We saw tons of people with cameras there last night. If you have photos or videos to share, post links to them in a comment. You can also email your photos to
COMING SOON: Shanghaiist interviews Maxïmo Park
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it was promoted by 4 Live that Maximo Park starts around 9 : http://forum.smartchina.com/thread/11971/page=1/Max%C3%AFmo_Park_have_been_invited_to_4live_on_Sat_9th,Dec
Not really.
Most media (including the link you posted) originally said "9:00-late." And the first time listed is usually never the headlining band, especially when an opening act is advertised.
I realize that the correct time for Maximo Park appeared later in that forum thread, but one forum comment on one forum two days before the event isn't very good "promotion."
Earlier start times is something I think we're gonna have to get used to. To get the most amount of young Chinese out to the shows, students or not, shows need to end by 11 so the kids can catch the bus.
That's all fine and good (young kids catching buses, arriving home before they turn into pumpkins) but those people were absent in the crowd I saw at 4 Live last night. And I've heard this rationale used before when shows started at 8 or 830 (eg Harley's and Yuyintang) when there wasn't anyone under 19 or 20 in the place. It's bad programming, period. No one wants to rush out of dinner on a Friday night (or skip it) so that they can catch a very early, very sober show. Not very rock n roll.
I would guess that very few of the people in attendance on Saturday took the bus home. The crowd was heavy on expats.
But if the show is going to be an early one, fine -- just make it abundantly clear. Let everyone know way in advance (like in the initial listings) that the headliners are going to start around 9. If they did that, I would have adjusted my schedule accordingly.
I think there was a mix up between the publicity that we put out (flyers, posters, the official website - www.bacardisinosessions.com) and some of the early stuff that Zooma sent out from 4Live. We've spoken about it and it won't happen next time (keep the date of January 27th free - we'll be announcing the band in the next couple of days)...
The show was early for both the reasons discussed about and the fact that I am English and all my live show experiences in the UK are main band at around 9pm. I also think that it's good to set an expectation of earlier live shows so that afterwards people can go home (if it's a school night) or see a DJ and get messed up. Also it means we can undress the venue and get to bed before the sun rises (it took until 5am in Beijing and 3.30am in Shanghai...!
Thanks for all your support Shanghaiist. Until January...!
seriously, you expats should get rid off your arrogance and get used to the chinese ways. you can call the club one day in advance, not just rely on the website.