62 year old Guangzhou man is New York City's Sad Panda
China: Nine nations in one?
Midweek Music Preview: Free tickets to Au Revoir Simone, Gaslamp Killer
Electrolist: Berlin 8-bit retroblaster tonight
Interview: Rich Medina funks up the Shelter
Decisions, decisions. Time was, choosing your live music for the night in Shanghai was easy: you headed to Yuyintang, occasionally the Dream Factory if there was something big on. Maybe, if you were into something a bit different, you'd head out to Live Bar. Generally speaking though, there was one stand out gig on a weekend and it was a pretty straightforward choice. Well, no more, if this weekend is anything to go by. We're not saying this is a brave new world yet, just that we hope it's a sign of things to come. If it is, picking your weekend gigs is going to get a lot tougher. But don't you dare go complaining that there's too many options.
Friday
After all the furor over Soma's deal with the Dream Factory, they finally get down to business tonight with snappy dresser Muma and his band Third Party in town. A guaranteed crowd pleaser, you can expect an entertaining outfit and performance, though there's no word on support yet. You can also expect a big crowd. Or at least you could, if it wasn't for some tough competition.
¥60, 9pm. 4/F, Building B, No. 28 Yuyao Lu, near Xikang Lu. 余姚路28号B4楼, 近西康路
Proving they're not going to give Soma an easy ride on their opening night, Yuyintang has the album launch for one of the capital's hottest bands, Ourself Beside Me. Yet another quality act from the Maybe Mars stable, this girl group was formed from the remnants of the legendary Hang on the Box and have caused quite a stir in Beijing. Support comes courtesy of Hard Queen.
¥30, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
Up at Live Bar there'll be folkster Yanghai Ballads. We have to admit information on this artist is sketchy but, if the previous two options haven't caught your fancy we reckon the "son of a peasant" could be worth the trip to Yangpu. If, on the other hand, you tend to ration your journeys out to Kunming Lu, we suggest you save yourself for tomorrow.
¥30, 9:00pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
Saturday
YYT used to be able to comfortably turn over a weekend night once a month to a collection of bands from the 0093 studios to cut their teeth. We're not saying this is the end of those showcases in the centre of town, just that Yuyintang has got too many bigger name bands coming through to squeeze them in at the moment. Fear not however, if you want to see the future of Shanghai's rock scene you can head up to Live Bar instead this Saturday. The bands: Expansion Screws, Pepper Mint, LOCK, Forget and Forgive, and My Chilly Hurt.
¥30, 9:30pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
Before that, 0093 will also be hosting their own show down in the bunkers. Their new performance space will welcome Wu Hong Fei and her band Happy Avenue for an unplugged set in the afternoon. If you like spending your afternoons underground with mellow indie ballads, we suggest you head down there.
¥40, 2:30pm, 93 Lingling Lu, near Damuqiao Lu, 零陵路93号, 近大木桥路
Back to the evening and coming up from the underground will be Hard Queen with their documentary showing over at Canart. The film follows the band's extraordinary story right up to their EP release last month. The band themselves will be performing straight after the screening.
¥88, 1A, Building 4, IIInShangHUB 727, 727 Dingxi Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu. 定西路727号，近法华镇路
But wait. There's tougher choices to be had. Punk option one comes courtesy of the Dream Factory. They've got Beijing's renowned Brain Failure with support from The Mushrooms (who've been on fighting form lately) and, err, Cold Fairyland.
¥60, 8pm. 4/F, Building B, No. 28 Yuyao Lu, near Xikang Lu. 余姚路28号B4楼, 近西康路
Punk option two is over at Yuyintang. There you'll find the rather special hardcore pairing of Nanjing's Overdose with Bejing's Criminal Minds. So a pretty damn strong four-way split.
¥30, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
Sunday
If you're not thoroughly exhausted from either trying to decide between these gigs or trying to rush round on the metro/taxis trying to see them all, you can kick back with the indie-rock stylings of Music Radio China favourites The Honeys on Sunday over at YYT. Phew.
¥30, 9pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
Video: Ourself Beside Me
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
post to facebook
Post a comment (Comment Policy)