Results tagged “shufflebar”

There are a lot of tempting events coming up this weekend. But please don't invite us, we're saving up for Kenny G.

When the new Tang Hui opened back in May, most people were pretty excited. A legit live music venue in the heart of downtown Puxi (and 20 kuai bottles of Xinjiang Black Beer). Things looked promising for a little while, but then shit happened (and they never once had Xinjiang Black Beer available when we were there). Last May, we never thought we'd be reading an international wire story about a dating website holding a pillow fight party at Tang Hui, but that's what happened yesterday (the story didn't mention Tang Hui as the venue, oddly). Tang Hui's website still says it's the "best live music bar" (and we wish that were true, since it is right down the street from Shanghaiist headquarters), but anyone who likes live music knows there are much better options. We're not even sure if Tang Hui is trying to be a live music venue anymore. While the website proclaims "live music is back," it's in reference to a gig on Nov. 10 (they are also pimping "hard core salsa music") and a look at Upcoming.org shows no gigs on the horizon. Let's face it — it just isn't easy being a live music venue in Shanghai. Is Shuffle Bar still around?

With the World Cup having finally drawn to a close, what better time to review, not the tournament itself, but the various drinking establishments in the city that Shanghaiist frequented during a month of serious boozing and football-watching. Quite simply, there was no better excuse than the world's biggest sporting event to check out some new watering holes, and swell the coffers of Shanghai's already dirt-rich bar owners.

Meanwhile, at Shuffle Bar, a supposed “stolen” mobile phone led the lead singer of the Cuban band to shout a few obscenities from the stage and storm off. Also, a bachelorette party showed up totally expecting “Shanghai Latin Power” to be a different kind of show.

Win SUBS tickets!

Friday: The Honeys, one of Shanghai’s most experienced rock bands, take a break from recording their new album to team up with Ark regulars Blue Garden for a show at Shuffle Bar. They describe themselves as "aesthetic but accessible," or as a friend of Shanghaiist put it, "indie-rock for normal people." Opening the show is Flying Fruit (羽果), a Jiangxi band who recently relocated to Shanghai and are already garnering praise for their interesting darkwave/shoegazer sound and energetic stage show.

Where do you stand in the 021 Bar/Shrock.cn controversy? Shanghaiist has been light on the scene for a while and wasn't there for the height of the drama, but by reviewing the thread linked above you can get the general idea: a run-down bar in the Yangpu district run by some "rock immigrants" from Xiamen, has the support of local favorites San Huang Ji, over-enthusiastically and haphazardly organizes concerts, sometimes announcing bands who later deny that they had been contracted to play.

If you've recently moved to Shanghai and you like live music, you don't know how good you've got it. Sure, the scene isn't great yet -- some might argue that it isn't even good -- but at least there is a scene. Two years ago, maybe even a year ago, we couldn't say that. But now there are live music offerings almost every night of week here, and things are only going to get better. We watched Norwegian indie-rockers The Mayflies (not to be confused with The Mayflies USA) play at Live Bar last night, and they were great -- a legitimate band we would have paid to see at one of our old haunts back in Atlanta or Athens, Georgia, where we were never wanting for quality live music.

Above, you can take a look at a cheesy party video we threw together. Sound quality of the band clips isn't great -- our fault, not theirs ... Ferris Wheel and Mint both sounded great -- but you get the idea. Also, you can check out a bunch of party photos at Flickr. If you have photos of the party you want to share, either upload them to your Flickr account and tag them "shanghaiist" or email them to photos@shanghaiist.com.

If you take photos tonight, please upload them to Flickr and tag them "shanghaiist." Or you can email them to photos@shanghaiist.com. Thanks!

Have we told you about the Shanghaiist Happy Hour this Friday at Shuffle Bar? (Oh, that's right, we have. A few times.)

Tim Kao, musician

One week from now you should be busy coating your stomachs with milk, getting ready for the 100-kuai-all-you-can-drink special at Shanghaiist Happy Hour III at Shuffle Bar. We have settled on the bands for the evening of Friday, April 21, as well. Kicking things off at around 10 will be local indie-pop outfit Ferris Wheel, followed by blues rockers Mint.

Eleven days ago, we proudly announced that The Living Thin, one of our favorite local bands, would be headlining our RMB 100 all-you-can-drink Shanghaiist Happy Hour at Shuffle Bar on Friday, April 21. Well, it turns out all is not rock 'n roll for rock 'n roll bands in Shanghai. Instead of "our guitar player entered rehab and we have to cancel our gig" it's "our guitar player's parents are visiting and he is joining them on a trip to Beijing that weekend so we have to cancel." Let's just hope he does some drugs with his parents in Beijing. Or at least some bai jiu.

Some of Shanghai's best live rock and an all-you-can drink open bar for 100 kuai ... all inside one of the city's coolest new venues for live music? Yeah, that'll work. Set aside April 21 -- should be a fun night:

Damn, it's already Wednesday and we are just getting around to last Friday's issue of SH magazine. We have been slightly critical of that publication in the past, but now find ourselves reaching for it on a regular basis. They seem to have found their niche and understand what people want out of an English-language weekly in Shanghai -- briefs, quick hits, short pieces that let you know what is new and happening in the city. Basically, they offer what is worth seeing, doing and trying. Some local mags -- well, one in particular -- just feel too bogged down with text. That may sound silly, but we doubt many of you turn to a Shanghai city magazine (or a city blog) if you are looking for a nice, long read. Anyway, SH is very "shitter friendly" -- and we honestly do mean that as a compliment.

We headed over to Shuffle Bar for the first time last weekend, and we have to say we were impressed. It's been described as "warehouse-y but clean," and that's about right. The atmosphere is raw enough that you can bring your indie-and-or-punk-rock friends without losing your cred, but it's also the kind of place where if you drop your jacket on the ground you probably won't have to throw it away. (They actually have a coat rack ... rock 'n roll with manners.) Shuffle Bar is one of the only places in this city dedicated to live music, and for that reason it deserves our support. They have shows -- mostly local bands -- nightly. We just hope the location (Xingfu Lu No. 137, 上海市幸福路137号 ... not really close to much of anything) doesn't hurt Shuffle's chances for success. But if Tang Hui could thrive out there, maybe Shuffle can, too.

... a fencing competition. We Googled the name of the event -- "Westgate Mall FIE Men's Foil AND Women's Foil World Cup" -- and found nothing. But sources tell us that some of the participants were hanging out at Shuffle Bar on Saturday night.