Headed over to Omni Space last night to check in with two of Beijing’ young and impassioned indie troupes. While both Wonder Sea and Agoraphobia have been around for quite some time now, they’re nevertheless still fresh in many audiences’ ears, though I imagine that will change very soon. Particularly for Wonder Sea, who have been honing their post emo rock tunes for some time now – invoking an adolescent sound that manages to be intimate and sprawling all at once. They gave a special toned down set, complete with stools – giving their songs a lighter touch than usual and gotta say, I’m continuously impressed with these youngins. While Agoraphobia has been dormant for the better part of the year, they remain a band that has tapped into a sound that feels just right – perhaps not ‘emo gaze’ as they put it – but there’s something massively appealing about their brazen emo rock aesthetics and their undeniably catchy melodies – a mix of noise rock jangle and indie-pop breeze that with some serious tightening will have young audiences lapping it up. Oh, and guest of honor, Mark Gardener – the frontman of seminal 90s indie shoegaze act Ride was on hand – giving a special acoustic performance – relishing in both classics of the band as well as his expansive solo work from over the past three decades. A fine and charming contrast to Ride’s reverb-heavy sound, putting the emphasis on the alluring and tender lyrics. All in all, a surprisingly (and thankfully) low-key Wednesday evening.
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