62 year old Guangzhou man is New York City's Sad Panda
China: Nine nations in one?
Electrolist: Berlin 8-bit retroblaster tonight
Interview: Rich Medina funks up the Shelter
Thanksgiving turkey conundrum? The solution: Taobao
UPDATE: Pinkberry have been forced to withdraw from Saturday night's line up at Yuyintang (their bassist's wife is seriously ill, we wish her well).
This weekend is a big 'un for local bands and it's all taking place down at Yuyintang. We don't like to show such a bias towards the one venue, but honestly, it has to be the place to go this weekend for live music. We seem to say that quite a lot recently. We're not on the payroll at YYT or anything, it's just that they're putting on the best events in town right now. Take this weekend: they've got Shanghai Night Fever organised by two of the guys from Dragon Pizza. Two nights with ten great local bands. There's really no competition.
Friday
Part one of the Shanghai Night Fever event at Yuyintang. If you've ever been curious about local Shanghai bands and never gotten around to seeing them perform, this is the weekend to do it. Hit the links to have a listen or read more about the bands, then come on down. Tonight it's Second, Five-Pointed Star, Six Shot, Chaos Mind and Loudspeaker.
¥40, 8:30pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
Beijing punk band Rustic are down from the capital and will be playing at Live Bar. Magic Tomato and Nu Vector provide support.
¥30, 9:30pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
For something completely different, you'll find Dantes at 021. You know Dantes - he's the foreigner who sings in Mandarin. No, not that one, the other one.
¥30, 9pm, 2925 Yangshupu Lu, near Dinghai Lu, 杨树浦路2925号, 近定海路
Saturday
Shanghai Night Fever part two: Black Luna, Pinkberry, Little Nature, Mortal Fools and Dragon Pizza. Plus you get a Norwegian band thrown in for free. Arhats, if you want to know which Norwegian band exactly. Just go.
¥40, 8:30pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
37.5 are at Live Bar with their new EP, Through. Industrial/death metal is the name of the game for the seven (sometimes eight) guys from Guizhou. Bulaimei and Blakjack open.
¥30, 9:30pm, 721 Kunming Lu, near Tongbei Lu, 昆明路721号近通北路
Sunday
The always excellent Folk 0093 collective team up with some slightly rockier Lingling Lu co-inhabitants as Joker and Brit-poppers Da Fresh join the bill. Also on the line-up: Five Pence, Fading Cross, Red Mushroom, Yang Qian Chi from Beijing and Rebecca from the Dovetail Joints going solo. Should be an interesting way to see out the weekend.
¥30, 8:30pm, 1731 Yan'an Xi Lu (entrance on Kaixuan Lu), 延安西路1731号 (入口在凯旋路)
Video: Loudspeaker's Open Your Eyes
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Tonight at YYT is Death Metal, Nu Metal, and Pop-Punk, all performed at a bar-band level. Jake Newby's music previews are great and very informative and a general boost to the scene, but should be a little more honest to let people know shows that should be skipped.
Thanks for your comment Super688. You're right, I should have mentioned that tonight's lot at YYT are mostly metal bands and that tomorrow night is more pop-punk. But, like i said, i encourage people to hit the links and have a listen as well. Granted, there are bands of varying quality on the bill but I think some are genuinely worth checking out.
As to whether certain shows should be skipped or not, it's really a matter of opinion. I always try and link to bands' music where possible so that people can have a listen and decide for themselves. I'm happy to say when I think a show should be skipped and I take your point, but in my honest opinion both these nights are worth going to.
That's just my opinion though so I'm happy for people to say they feel otherwise in the comments.