Yesterday, we learned that our friend (and ex-Shanghaiist contributor) Brad Ferguson had been fired from his role as manager of Windows Underground. We asked him some questions about the recent developments and he agreed to let us publish them "as long as it doesn't make me look like an asshole. I still don't think I did anything wrong, but maybe it looks different to other people." So, what happened last night at Windows Underground? My......

If any of you have been in Shanghai for over 3 years you might remember a time when Ark Livehouse in Xintiandi was one of the few bastions of live music. Slowly disappearing from the scene and limping along for the past 3 years with the rare live show, Ark is finally calling it quits. Saturday they will hold one last show featuring some of Shanghai's oldest bands, including The Honeys, Blue Garden and Crystal......

We told you the other week about the CD shop down at Yu Yin Tang now being open and a quick scan of the shelves (well, shelf) tells us we're going to be in there a lot. The shop's size reflects the size of the independent music scene in China but it's quality not quantity that counts and you can find pretty much all the main releases that have come out from the bands at......

High Voltage, Yu Yin Tang Shanghai 21/03/08 Phew. The morning after the night before and Shanghaiist's ears are still a-ringing — and our head still a-throbbing — from High Voltage's gig at Yu Yin Tang (as promised, we also hit Brown Nylon Suit at C's afterwards, which probably didn't help) so we're hoping you'll forgive us if this isn't the most in-depth or analytical gig review. As you've probably already read on these pages,......

By Jake Newby Let there be rock! Alright, it's not the real AC/DC obviously. Shooting to thrill instead will be a Belgian tribute band. Yep, that's a Belgian AC/DC tribute band. Magic. Rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution and these lads from Belgium are supposed to deliver a pretty high voltage performance that will shake your foundations. They've headlined festivals all over Europe and have even opened for the mighty Status Quo, leaving their audiences......

For those who weren't able to make it to Yuyintang last Saturday, here's a glimpse of the action. HedgeHog is amazing to watch live, and the crowd went crazy (literally, as in jumping dancing when there was already almost zero sardine-packed standing space). P/S: Pardon for the delay, we've been scouting about for a reliable video sharing site, no thanks to China's compulsive blocking habits. Video quality looks crap on the site (our original videos......

On the left there is Matrix, who along with Futurebound rocked the hell out of Club Bonbon with some crazy drum and bass on Friday. More pictures, including a review of the "Punk from Xi'an" show at the Live Bar, after the jump.......

What's up this weekend? Plenty of things, but Shanghaiist plans to attend these two events for sure. Friday night, Phreaktion and DJ Siesta bring you Matrix & Futurebound at Club Bonbon. MC Stride does the vocals. From their site: Phreaktion brings you two of the current drum’n’bass icons in March: Matrix & Futurebound are responsible for arguably “THE” drum’n’bass album of the year – “Universal Truth”. The album has enjoyed much praise and massive success,......

Shanghaiist was back at Yu Yin Tang after the extended New Year's break. Gigs have been slow to restart after Spring Festival due to announced renovations of their space over by Tianshan Park. Alter-Ego played on Friday and we went down to Saturday's 0093 Rock Showcase. Our first discovery was that the renovations have not actually been finished. The performance space is unchanged and it's the entry way that's getting expanded. Basically, there's a roof......

Time Magazine recently published a list (click here) of, what they consider, to be the top 5 Asian bands to watch in Asia for 2008. Representing China is PK-14, a band that Time is describing as postfolk. Shanghaiist isn't exactly sure what the hell postfolk is, or if it is an accurate description of the music...but we don't really care, no matter how you describe PK-14's music..it still rocks. The band is currently in Sweden......

Steve Buscemi and Southern Barbarian owner Feng Jianwen (Credit: Southern Barbarian) Next time, Steve, stay for some Grandma's Mashed Potatoes. Trust us. It's not every day that a Golden Globe and Emmy award nominated actor shows up unexpectedly at the launch party for a small photo exhibit at a Yunnan restaurant in Shanghai, China, but that's what happened yesterday when Steve Buscemi stepped in from the rain to check out Ying Tang's "Balance" at......

By Michael Ohlsson It's 1987 in my family’s suburban California home. I've just started high school. I'm in my bedroom making a mix tape. I'm trying to mix Afrika Bambaataa's “Planet Rock” with Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express” (the original song that is sampled in Planet Rock). In the room next to mine, my little punk sister is listening to crap my hip hop friends and I make fun of, like the Sex Pistols and Violent Femmes.......

This may get to you too late (unfortunately we have a 9 to 5 and can't blog on demand), but tonight, instead of sitting on your ass in front of the computer, stop by The Shelter and witness their first experiment with a four-piece (or more) band. Angry Jerks (last seen playing in Shanghai in March of 2007) from Nanjing, one of the tightest punk outfits this side of the Pacific, will be joined by......

After a long and wild New Year's break, things have slowed down on the music front and it seems that everyone is still trying to shake off their extended hangovers. Luckily, this weekend there isn't much happening, but if you are able to push yourself off the couch then head to 4Live (yes, it is still open!) where there are a couple of shows this weekend. On Friday, Beijing stalwarts, Catcher in the Rye, give......

Well, 2007 is pretty much over. This Shanghaiist has never really been a big New Year's person, maybe because we always end up the odd one out at midnight or the one that has to break up the drunken fights that erupt. But, in the spirit of the season we have decided to do that traditional (way over done) recap of the past year. 2007 was a big year for music in Shanghai and below......

Yao Ming is not the best singer. And neither is any of his team mates from the Houston Rockets as this latest video of them spreading the holiday cheer with their own rendition of Jingle Bell Rock shows (Click here to watch them sing 12 Days of Christmas). But we love it!......

We have never actually experienced or even witnessed a person's ears bleeding from a live show, but last night we were pretty damn close. Thursday, the Ex-Models put on an interesting show of sharp, sonic blasts for a small 4Live audience. If you happened to miss it, no worries, the band will be joined by Carsick Cars and Torturing Nurse on Saturday at Yuyintang. Carsick Cars has enjoyed a stellar year, opening for Sonic Youth......

Live Bar has always been open to different genres of music, and of late, seems to be the venue of choice for Chinese folk, metal and student bands. Friday night they will host one of China's most popular nu-metal bands, Twisted Machine. Any fan of metal should not miss this show, a great chance to see what Chinese metal has to offer. On the other side of town, up'n'coming indie rockers, Yuguo will play an......

(Roots & Shoots video about Jane Goodall...and gnomes) Shanghaiist loves any reason to go out, and usually the prospect of catching a great band play is enough for us. So the fact that the ticket sales from this weekends Rock for Roots and Shoots will go to one of our favorite charities ( ">Roots and Shoots) makes this a must see event. For the measly sum of 50RMB (which equals 2 trees planted by R&S......

Well, this weekend there might not be a 1234 Beach Rock Festival, but that is no reason to stay home, curled up with a blankie, crying about what might have been. Live Bar out in Yangpu has shows going every night, showcasing emerging underground acts from Shanghai and Beijing. Friday night, Yuyintang will be hosting big hair, metal band Arch Enemy from Sweden. Apparently this is a pretty well known European metal band, and after......

Well, this should come as no surprise, but is still sad to hear. The 1234 Beach Rock Festival has been canceled due to (geez, this should be really hard to guess) issues with the government. Organizers are scrambling to try and put together a free concert at another venue for the out of town bands that won't be able to refund their plane/train tickets. Shanghaiist will keep you updated on what is happening as......

If you fancy yourself a punker, pretend to be a punk, or just like watching punks, then the 1234 Beach Rock Festival, is a dream (possibly wet) come true. Scheduled for the 20th and 21st of this month, the 1234 BRF is bringing together some of China's best punk/skinhead bands and adding a sprinkle of international flavor. Included in the line up are well known Chinese punk bands: the Unsafe, SMZB and Misandao, while Shanghai......

It is official...the golden week has finally hit Shanghai, and it is hitting us hard, with a multitude of music festivals. So for those of you who are taking the vacation serious and drinking so much you can't think straight, Shanghaiist is here to do the thinking for you. Feel free to print and paste the sample itinerary listed below to that one pair of underwear you plan on wearing for the entire week. After......

September is quickly sliding into history, which means for all us music fans that the orgy of music festivals Shanghai will experience in the first weeks of October is almost upon us. And of course Shanghaiist is here to bring you the latest in festival news..... The 1234 Beach Rock Festival - A scrappy fighter always getting knocked down but never going out for the count (did that make sense?). Postponed once again, it is......

Before we get started on what is happening this weekend in music, gotta admit we accidentally put the wrong Yue Festival link in our last post. So here it is, for all you who want to keep abreast of festival news....www.yuefestival.com. We have also received word that the 1234 Beach Rock festival is being pushed back to October 21st. And now to what is happening this weekend in live music. Norwegian rockers Team Blitzkrieg are......

Hardcore Public Enemy fans in China, don't attempt to kill yourself or your flat mate just yet. According to Beijing promoters, Public Enemy is not canceling their BJ Pop Festival appearance scheduled for the 8th of September. So put in your gold teeth, hang some bling around your neck and get your ass on a plane. In other news, we have heard rumors, from a reputable Chinese music magazine, that metal gods, Megadeth, will be......

Due to multiple requests (total of two, and one was me) here is more golden week festival news. The previously mention Hop Festival has gotten an official name...so....let it hence forth be referred to as the Yue Festival. Ticket prices are set at 140rmb for students, 280rmb advanced purchase and 360rmb at the gate. Rock-ing has also released their ticket prices and they range from 280-880 depending on how special you want to feel. For......

Shanghai, typically a live music wasteland, is preparing for a gaggle (Shanghaiist has the hippest vocabulary) of music festivals, all scheduled for the normally dead October Golden weekend. Get ready for 4...yes, count'em....f-o-u-r....music festivals, with some pretty damn exciting bands. October 2nd-4th - 1234 Beach Rock Last year the Beach Rock festival was a blast for the few people who braved the weather and long 2 hour bus ride. This year the location has changed,......

As the weekend starts Shanghaiist is giddy with excitement. Not because this weekend is overly exciting (though there are a few good shows out there), but because this weekend marks the unofficial end of the summer music drought. Next week Coolio and Avril Lavigne with both be in town (where are our media passes?), AK-47 along with Brain Failure and Top Floor Circus will hold a special pre-1234 Beach Rock party and the following week......

The first time Shanghaiist went to Absolute House, it was for Jennifer Gentle, and we weren't too impressed by the venue. Last night changed that, though, as Shanghaiist attended what they could easily say was one of the best concerts ever put on in the city. After a very mediocre afternoon at Dino Beach's Rock It! festival (would it have killed them to serve some beer there?), Shanghaiist headed to Absolute House for a......