Results tagged “bands”

There is something goin down

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).

Ugh. Summertime in Shanghai and livin' ain't all that easy. It's too darn hot one minute, sun showers the next. Luckily, Yuyintang have just installed a new air-con unit in the main room making it just that little bit less hot 'n' sticky. Live Bar? Well, they've got dirt cheap beers. And Soma Live? They seem to have melted away altogether for now. So here's where to get sweaty this weekend:

It seems wrong to put out a music-related post today without mentioning The King of Pop. When we received a text from a friend this morning asking if we'd heard about Michael Jackson, the initial thought was 'what's he done now?' It's a shame that for some generations, he will only be 'Wacko Jacko', a bizarre public freak show.

With his closer involvement at the livehouse, we can also expect more Miniless artists performing there in the coming months adding another dimension to Shanghai's live music scene. We spoke to Hans about the label and his hopes for its future.

              

Last week, one of our favourite local bands Pinkberry began filming a music video for 'Pinkberry Song' and asked us along to take part. It'll be a month or so before we can see the finished result, but it was an impressively professional start - we can't wait to see how it turns out.

This weekend is all about hero worship. Miserable Faith are the kind of metal band that causes diehard fans to get their name and logo tatooed across their bodies; Joyside's Bian Yuan sexy swagger is enough to make you weak at the knees; while Shanghai's own folk heroes Dan Shapiro of The Rogue Transmission and Pu Pu of The Mushrooms will also be in action building their own cult followings. Last weekend may have been a quiet one, but the next few days are anything but.

Decide for yourself when they play their first show in Shanghai at LOgO this Friday. As an added bonus to our Shanghaiist readers, we're giving away four of their CDs - just send an email to contest.giveaway (at) shanghaiist (dot) com with the words "Shanghaiist Random K(e) CD Giveaway" in the subject line and your name in the body. The first four to send an email to us with that info will get a CD.

We're not going to lie - this weekend pretty much belongs to hip hop. There's a couple of good rock gigs in the next few days and some great shows on the way later this month (the Miniless Showcase will be amazing and Joyside are in town for the first time in ages backed by The Rogue Transmission for example), but given the limited options this weekend, we'll keep it brief.

Remember the Pepsi band contest and how it ended up being sort of a sham? Here's a quick refresher courtesy of local music aficionado Andy Best:

I have a dream... a song to sing. Yeah, that's right, we're quoting ABBA. What of it? We won't be expecting to hear that song tonight (probably for the best), but instead you will see eight local bands performing as the artists who first inspired them to get into music at Yuyintang's "Back to the Beginnings of Dreams" night.

Yep, this weekend is a big 'un. We probably spend an inordinate amount of time in YYT anyway but, if it wasn't for the Antidote Festival down in Zhujiajiao, we'd probably just camp out in Tianshan Park this weekend.

Last week was so packed with great live music that this weekend looks pretty tame by comparison. Not that the city's music venues are resting on their laurels for long. Once punk legends Sham 69 have finished up their set, you'll be just a few short days away from visits by AV Okubo in support of the excellent Ratatat, Gay Fish favourites Carsick Cars (who'll be bringing The Gar back to town too), and Casino Demon as they release their new album. Not bad. But first thing's first - this weekend:

We recently caught up with Shanghai-based independent filmmaker Luis Tapia of Daedalum Films, who is currently busy preparing for the May 9 premiere screening of his new documentary short about Shanghai band Hard Queen and the life of indie rock musicians in China. Seats are still available for the screening. Advance tickets can be purchased here.

                                       

Midi Festival commenced at Zhenjiang this year, a mere 11 hours away from Beijing by train. Musical highlights on May 1 included Shouren (Thin Man) and Cui Jian doing an extended set. Other things I will remember: the singer of Turdus Musicus tangled in his microphone cord, trying to get through into the audience past a panicked security line and members of Mike TV tripping over the phrase "niu bi" (eventually it was decipherable enough to understand). Beer and kebobs were available. All in all, the first day of the festival was a well-organized affair. Who knew Zhenjiang could rock?

Before we get on with this weekend's live music preview (and there's plenty going on by the way), here's a quick round-up of some recent music news we thought we'd share with you.

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.

So you thought Midi was the only festival game in town? Think again. Three music events - all festivals of a sort - covering three different types of music are heading your way in the next month or so. Yes, we know one of them is related to Expo, but World Music has the right to a festival too and bringing in those kind of artists was never going to escape Haibao's reach this close to 2010. We'll have more details on all of these nearer the time but, for now, here's a preview:

"If a different promoter wants to use the venue they will now have to either split the ticket sales 50-50 or pay 15 000 rmb up front. This essentially cuts out the majority of other music promoters and makes the venue their own."

Bam! Bam! Bam! Nope, that's not the sound of Midi hopes being quashed, it's the sound of three straight weekends of great gigs coming your way. Forget all that tiresome festival nonsense and look forward to Battles this weekend, the brilliant Hard Queen next Saturday and then Hedgehog promoting their new album the weekend after.

UPDATE: And just a few minutes later, according to @Neocha, Shanghai Midi is canceled. Apparently there was a permit issue?

It was only a matter of time. Yes, the traditional Midi Shanghai is on, off, on again, moved, all nonsense, season has started in earnest. Not only that, but it seems to be enjoying something of a vintage year. If all the claims and counter-claims are getting on your nerves, then we suggest you hit some of these shows this weekend and get Fucked Up*. We promise these shows aren't rumours. Honest.

This week's big music story in Shanghai has clearly been the Oasis debacle (even if some people insist on misreporting it). Local music hacks have really gone to town on the British theme, cracking out puns like they were auditioning for a job with The Sun and even indulging in some classic tabloid-style "exclusive" wars and bitchiness.

With the Oasis cancellation and rumors swirling around that 0093 - the underground practice space for most of Shanghai's bands - could possibly be closed down for the Expo, local music fans were in need of some good news.

We told you the concerts were off. Now we know why (the band's version of why, at least): The boys from Manchester got Björked, and Liam didn't even get to touch his tambourine. According to a statement released by Oasis, China's Ministry of Culture deemed the band "unsuitable" for Chinese audiences (an no, not because of Heathen Chemistry). So why then? "Noel Gallagher appeared at a Free Tibet Benefit Concert on Randall's Island in New York in 1997."

Maybe Shanghai's local music scene people were all at last Sunday's Oscars and are thus still sleeping off the hangovers, but things are pretty quiet in terms of live music this weekend. Still, thankfully, there is a little something for all you band lovers to attach yourselves to.

Just one week in and 2009 has been largely dull, grey, and wet. Thankfully then, the good people at Split Works have put together a ten day long festival of art and music to warm our cockles - starting today. According to the organisers, Jue Festival is "an excuse to leave your hidey-hole and experience a punk show, an art installation, and everything in between", which sounds pretty good to us. The festival (which is also taking place in Beijing), will showcase some of Shanghai's best creative talent and is hosting a diverse set of artists and performers.

Christmas is over, and like many others, Shanghaiist is still nursing a hangover from all the holiday cheer received on our trip back home. Lucky for us, we came back at a perfect time, with many exciting gigs coming up in January. Here is a look at the shows we don't plan on missing out on......

January in Shanghai tends to be a cold, slow month for live music. But it looks like 2009 is going to start of with a bang....and a pretty huge bang at that. On January 3rd cult heroes the Queers will be playing at Yuyintang in what will be the biggest punk concert in Shanghai in.....well, ever (we don't consider Avril Lavigne punk, sorry). Forming in the early 80s, the Queers came out with their first lp in 1990 on Lookout! Records which has been followed by a slew of other on Asian Man, Lookout! and Hopeless. Just having a band like this play in Shanghai is exciting, the fact that DOA, Godfathers of Canadian punk, will also be playing here is mind blowing. Also at Yuyintang they are performing on the 11th (their myspace hasn't been updated). DOA is a band that Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Rancid and many more have mentioned as an early influence on their music. Along with Black Flag, Minor Threat and the Cro-Mags they are credited with starting the Hardcore movement in North America in the late 70s. What more of a reason would you need than that?

November has been a good month for live music and this Saturday the Subs are back in town to finish off the month in style with a show at the Zhi Jiang Dream Factory. Deemed the best live band in China by many magazine scribes, their moshes are a good way to escape the cold winter chill that will no doubt engulf the open roofed Hongkou Stadium during the Kylie Minogue concert. Joining the Subs are one of the most talked about new Beijing bands, the Molds, and depending on who you talk with sound similar to the Cramps or Jesus and Mary Chain...either way Shanghaiist is getting excited. If you can't wait till Saturday for some live action, head to Yuyintang on Friday where the Molds will be playing with Rogue Transmission and Loudspeaker.