Live Music This Weekend: Re-TROS, Magnetic, and Ice Tea

Just when you thought it was safe to enjoy a slowly growing and community-built live music scene, something comes out of nowhere to shake things up again. YYT will no doubt be packed for Re-TROS this weekend. Does that mean Shanghai needs a mid-sized venue? Probably yes. Does that mean it's sustainable to run gigs in a mid-sized venue 4-5 nights a week? Probably not (though we wish it did). Does it mean that venues can afford to start making ridiculous demands of promoters? Definitely not.

Anyway, here's what's on this weekend...

Tonight
Pepsi aren't the only ones organising a "band" contest. Ice Tea are in on the act too. Apparently it's round four of their contest down at YYT tonight. We're not entirely sure how the competitive element will work, but what we do know is there's a decent line-up of local acts on the bill. Candy Shop (Tian Pin Dian) are a definite highlight, but you can also check out Da Fresh and Hanging Gardens amongst others.
¥30, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)

Over in Yangpu meanwhile, Live Bar break from their recent Nordic metal fetish to give you Dovetail Joints. Who are pretty far removed from Nordic metal to be honest. With Adam Gansler, The Rogue Transmission's new guitarist, and vocalist Becca Smith in their midst, the Dovetail Joints specialise in Brand New Heavies style light rock. Up before that will be Kidney Stone and The Dropkicks.
¥35, 9:30pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路

Saturday
This weekend's main event is undoubtedly the return of Re-TROS. When we first heard about their new album, we were told it was something of a change of direction. Their first record for nearly four years doesn't seem massively different (though their press photos have taken on something of a Babylon Zoo appearance), but given how good their first record was, we're not complaining. Fellow Nanjingers Fading Horizon, who mix The Fall-like tunes with more atmospheric post-punk stuff, will be on as support and we're interested to see what they can do. But Re-TROS is clearly the main attraction. When you speak to other musicians and artists on the scene, Re-TROS is one of the names that consistently comes up as a band they listen to. Come and find out why.
¥60, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)

Magnetic, the Zooma-fronted reggae/ska/Xinjiang-warbling hybrid that we've mentioned before here, are celebrating a year of gigging in the back room at Anar. That probably means even more craziness than usual. There's free drinks from 8-9:30 when the band will start and there'll be a DJ on after 2am until the break of dawn.
Free, 9:30pm,129 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu 幸福路137号, 近法华镇路