Interview: Rolling Bowling

For hands down some of the most fun you could have on a night out look no further than Rolling Bowling – a slap bass, a guitar, drums, and some cut-off shirts, and the attitude of a 50s club make them Beijing’s premier rockabilly band. Singing in both Chinese and English, they know how to get down to the core of music, that purity and passion of rock n’ roll from a simpler time. Most importantly though, they know how to get your feet moving. Before their shows this weekend, celebrating Hot Cat Club’s 3rd Year Anniversary this Friday, and playing at Jianghu Bar with The Flying Mantas this Sunday, I was able to throw some questions their way.

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1) Did you guys always intend to start a rockabilly band? Or did you play around in other genres before?
Our original band was DEFY which would later become Rolling Bowling – we were doing pure rockabilly before – we never even thought about other styles. After our singer left DEFY, the bassist take the mic soon and we were soon joined by a guitarist and our sound dipped into more psychobilly territory. Right now, we jump back and forth between the two. At the moment we’re content with our style –it’s stable.

2) What is it about rockabilly that you find some so appealing?
The rhythm is where it’s at, that rockabilly rhythm! We can dance and swing! Make other people happy


3) You guys look great up on stage…what’s the fashion sense behind your attire?
Our clothing style is complete 50s style. Black & White leather shoes! Pants! Shirts! Of course there is a fashion element! People always refer to our style as vintage.

4) Do you find that a lot of local people are baffled by your music? Or do you find that your sound is quite accessible?
Our music is very accessible though not a lot of people know else still. Most likely because we sing in Chinese! Plenty of people understand the meaning of the songs. But whether or not they enjoy it, depends on them entirely.


5) You guys have been playing nonstop for the past year – do you feel like you need a break yet?
This year it’s all about our material – write songs, rehearse, perform!
This year we’ve performed more for sure! In September, we’ll go on tour! And since we’re doing what we love, we never get exhausted. We’ll leave breaks for the future.

6) What are your favorite places to play in town?
Dos Kolegas!! We play a lot there; its like a second home. Right now we want to try the ONE Club! We hear it’s very cool.

7) What’s next for Rolling Bowling?
In September we’ll go on tour. We hope to release an EP soon – and continue writing songs! None of that matters though if it isn’t working toward our masterpiece!


Thanks guys! Keep you the good work! Check out Rolling Bowling Friday, June 15th at Hot Cat Club and Sunday, June 17th at Jianghu Bar. Click below for the Chinese version.

1) 你们之前一直都想有一支rockabilly乐队?还是你们也想涉足其它的曲风?
——–乐队的前身是DEFY乐队 !后来改名叫Rolling_Bowling乐队。之前一直做的算是纯的ROCKABILLY,也并没有想过要做别的风格!后来DEFY主唱离开! 原来的BASS就做主唱!后来吉他加入,我们开始更多的加入了 Psychobilly的风格 ,但是现在 rockabilly Psychobilly 风格的歌都在写!风格上大致就是这样 不会有太多变化

2) 
你们发现 rockabilly有什么是特别让你们喜欢的
——–节奏  能跳起来  能摆起来的   能使别人和自己高兴的!!!也许是因为这个!

3)你们在台上演出感觉非常好,你们是如何选择你们的着装的。有没有时尚的东西在里面。

———-着装就按照50年代的感觉!黑白皮鞋!西裤!衬衣什么的! 时尚的东西当然有!  就是现在人们经常说的古着!有那么点意思

4)
 你觉得你们的音乐对于大部分的北京人来说容易理解吗?还是你们的音乐比较让人容易接受?
———–应该是很容易被人接受!但只是现在还不是很多人知道我们!!!因为我唱中文 !意思应该都能听懂!音乐那就看个人喜爱了!!

5)
 你们在过去的一年当中没有停息的在演出。你们觉得会不会想要停下来休息一下。
————-今年也是一样 写歌 排练 演出!今年的演出更多!今年9月还会巡演!  因为现在我们都在做着最喜欢的事 !!没有想过会累!!
也不会累!!觉得很幸福!! 休息就留在很久以后吧!!!

6
)你们最喜欢的演出的场所是哪里?
两个好朋友!!在那演的还比较多 !!也比较熟悉!  现在就想去 the one 去试一试!听说那特别棒!! 

7)
你么下一步的计划是什么?
9月的巡演!和最新的EP!!!还有就是一直 不断的 写歌!!但怎么计划 都得是用作品说话的!!!

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