Shanghaiist: Insiders comment on 4Live's demise — live music in Shanghai 'doomed'?

yu888

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:12:19 +0800

Sadly Stephen, its those trance and dance palces that continue to generate drinks revenue that keep that a viable business. Until live music venues can hold their own, its going to be a constant challenge. I hope one makes it.

stephenyang

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:35:25 +0800

when will shanghai realize that DJs and trance dance bullshit is over? usually it's just some guy with a laptop...it all sounds like one long song playing every weekend at every bar...too bad 4live is done. anyone have any suggestions of alternative music scenes? electronica that isn't about thrashing around and doing jam band dances? indie rock even?

mark david elliott

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:43:45 +0800

Bye bye 4Live. What comes next in that space?

Andy Best

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:13:49 +0800

It's all stating the obvious for anyone who's been to gigs back home and thought conciously about what happens there. The difference between a venue and a club. A promoted gig in an 'empty' venue that makes money from tickets vs a club that puts on events to supplement it's income from a bar. Also, the commment about techno one week and jazz the next is telling. Successful clubs and small venues tend to be partisan in their subculture. A rock club or a jazz venue that attracts a certain type of following. The original Tang Hui was a perfect example of a 'scene' place masqeruading as a good club with live music. Full of 'scenesters' and ex-pat barflys and no real identity. Does Shanghai even have a low rent area downtown with cheap apartments and venue space etc? Every new block that goes up is luxury apartments and malls. By low rent I mean a venue that could survive from ticketed events that are affordable to local students and young people?