Results tagged “battles”

Today marks the 72nd year since the Battle of Shanghai, the first and bloodiest battle of the entire Second Sino-Japanese War.

                     

With support from Mr. Particle, LAVA/OX/SEA and AV Okubo, New York experimental rockers Battles celebrated a raucous end to their Asia tour with an amazing act at the Zhijiang Dream Factory on Saturday. We've bet you've never experienced an Earth Hour like this one. Thanks again to Split Works for bringing them all the way over here.

Sure, you could always just stay at home tonight, turn out your lights at exactly 8:30pm and then wait around an hour before you declare yourself a good environmental citizen and go back to your regular life - or you could recognize the whole movement for what it really is: a way to feel a part of something bigger than yourself with like-minded people... and an excuse to get drunk in the dark! So here's a couple places to chug a few in the name of Mother Gaia.

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.

Battles consists of four men with long histories in music making: Tyondai Braxton, son of alterna-jazz musician Anthony Braxton, has worked with hip hop producer Guillermo Scott Herren and noise rockers Parts & Labor. Ian Williams is originally from Pittsburgh math rock pioneers Don Caballero, and also played in noise rock trio Storm & Stress. Dave Konopka, guitarist and bassist, brings the rhythmically complex guitar style of his previous band Lynx into the equation. Veteran of the hardcore scene John Stanier used to play for Helmet - now, when he's not drumming for Battles, he fills out alterna-metal rock supergroup Tomahawk and Australian hard rock band The Mark of Cain

"Split Works is saddened to announce that P.K.14's drummer Jonney has broken his foot! Though the band was scheduled to open for New York rockers Battles this weekend, it looks like they'll have to sit this one out...Wishing Jonney a speedy recovery. Fans are welcome to send virtual flowers and cards to jonneygetbetter at spli-t dot com. Fear not! We've rustled up not just 1, but 2 intrepid acts in each city to sub for P.K.14, bringing with them a spacey, lo-fi, hi-fi, fiercely experimental and eclectic sound; fitting support for the futuristic noise of Battles." In Shanghai, Mr. Particle and AV Okubo will be filling P.K.14's shoes.

Things are showing no sign of slowing down live music-wise at the moment. The next few weeks are going to see the long awaited Hard Queen EP release party, Battles with PK14 and their new proteges and a welcome return for Re-TROS. Then there's the 5th anniversary of Shanghai's premier noise outfit Torturing Nurse to look forward to, which is bound to be crazy. Meanwhile a new album will see the always brilliant Hedgehog heading to Shanghai on April 11th. Not only that, next weekend will see Fucked Up in town. They're out in Nanjing this weekend at the Castle Bar if you fancy hopping on the high speed train to go see them but if you decide to wait until they hit Shanghai, there's plenty to keep you occupied here while you wait.

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.