Results tagged “concerts”

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:

Emma Ticketmaster - the group that brought us Avril Lavigne, failed to bring us Oasis, and then made up for it with one night with John Legend - is now dead. According to China Music Radar, President & CEO of Emma Entertainment John Krane resigned yesterday with Debbie Shon of Ticketmaster taking his place. From the Ticketmaster press release, it seems like all the big Emma events are still on (Harlem Globetrotters, One Festival), but the demise of yet another promotion company underscores the difficulties of bringing top line acts to China and deserves a moment of silence... Okay. You can go about your day now.

Concertgoers of all shapes and sizes descended upon Yun Feng theater last night to see Grammy award winning artist John Legend perform a tight, crisp set that displayed his famed musical chops as well as an unexpected showmanship that more than made up for Yun Feng's less than stellar setting.

Go here to follow the conversation or to join in! More details on the show here.

Looks like Pepsi Co.'s bringing that old tradition of “Battle of the Bands” to China in a big way - the soft drink maker is hosting a mega reality show and its inviting all Chinese “underground” rock bands to participate.

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.

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.

Or, as you more likely know her, Lin Di - lead singer and pipa player for Cold Fairyland. Tonight marks the release of her ten track solo album, Meet in the Secret Garden. Miyadudu's sound is billed as "warmer" (maybe even a little naughtier) than that of Cold Fairyland. However, we wouldn't expect it to be a million miles away from the traditional Chinese instrument-led folk/rock that Cold Fairyland have made their name playing. You can find out for yourself just how much warmer the style is by heading down to Yuyintang at 9pm.

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.

Funny.

Once-relevant Britpop legends Oasis are the latest band being touted to appear in Shanghai during 2009.

Via City Weekend we learn that the documentary film about last year's Converse-sponsored (and Split Works organized) Love Noise rock music tour of China is now viewable at a DVD player near you. Love Noise put Beijing bands PK14 and Queen Sea Big Shark on a converted bus and sent them on a two-week, six-city tour during the height of Olympics craziness last August. The trailer to the Love Noise film is embedded in this post, and after the jump you'll find a slew of related clips, uploaded to YouTube six days ago. The director's first name is Hammer, so it's got to be good.

So the rumors we heard over the weekend at Kiito's were true ... and sooner than expected. According to SmartShanghai, China West — the outfit that brought, among others, Norah Jones, James Brown, Black Eyed Peas, The Roots, Incubus, James Blunt, Kanye West and Kylie Minogue to China — was "unable to maintain a profitable bottom line" after five years here. SmartShanghai says China West is "bowing out of the Chinese market for 2009," so perhaps they not ruling out a return to the market in 2010 or beyond. Either way, a shame. And then there was one? (OK, maybe two.)

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......

Usually weekdays in Shanghai are fairly dead when it comes to gigs, but this week there is a slew of shows worth checking out. Jens Lekman will be playing two, much anticipated shows at JZ Club on Wednesday and at Glamour Bar on Thursday. This gives you two chances to check out why so many people are excited about the appearance of this Swedish indie-pop crooner.

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.

Maximilian Hecker is pretty big in China, having played a few well attended shows in the past. With German Music Council meeting in Guangzhou there has been a spike in German artists hitting Shanghai. Hecker plays Tuesday night at the Zhi Jiang Dream Factory in what will be a very intimate show. Things get started around 8:30pm and tickets are RMB280.

After an intense weekend at Yuyintang with the Subs and fellow riot makers, this weekend is going to be slow. About the only thing happening is the festival out at the SMP skate park on Saturday. Things get rolling before noon and some of the bands scheduled to perform are Mortal Fools, Pink Berry, 21G and Cold Fairyland, among others. Hopefully the weather will clear up, but if not at least you will get to see plenty of massive wipeouts by the performing skaters, now that is entertainment.

By Jellymon

Halloween.....while there are more than a few parties being held tonight, including the infamous Shanghaiist party, there is only one that gives you the chance to dress up in a crazy costume and spend the night in a sweaty, raving mosh listening to a Clash cover band, Boys Climbing Ropes (or is it Popes?) and the intense sounds of the Subs. Lucky for you there is little else happening in the way of live music this weekend, because after tonight we expect a little down time will be needed to nurse all those mosh pit bruises and hangovers.

With a fairly slow weekend in live music, tonight’s CD release party for Rogue Transmission should be a no brainer. With their garage rock influenced sound, Rogue Transmission has been steadily growing a local fan base. Their release party is scheduled for 9pm on Saturday, October 25th at Yuyintang. Joining them are Nanjing pyschobilly band, Angry Jerks and old school punkers, Mortal Fools.

For any one who (us included) who missed the eArts festival opening last weekend in Shanghai with free performances by Dead J and others, tonight is your chance at redemption. Screen Play, a mashup of film footage and computer animation, is performed to by Top Floor Circus, Elliott Sharp and fellow musicians. Taking place in Xujiahui Park, things kick off at 7:30pm and the best part....it is all free.

This weekend is fairly dead as far as indie live music goes. The one show we recommend people checking out is the Defys, a rockabilly band from Beijing, who will be playing at Yuyintang tonight. Joining them on stage will be Sonnet, a very promising Shanghai band featured in City Weekend's last issue. We also hear that You Mei You, also from Beijing, might be on the lineup. Fans of reggae should head to Anar where Wang Lei will be performing.

No problems with Chinese censors this time, it's actually due to lead singer Chester Bennington's back injury. We're not sure if the Mayday segment of the concert will still go ahead or how ticket refunds will play out. It'll be interesting to note the proportion of Linkin Park vs. Mayday fans though. (h/t China Music Radar)