OTS: Fake Weed, Skin Bad, Lonely Leary, Filthy Bill & Pussy Catastrophe (Old What? 7.11.2015)

Another year, and another band goes the way of the dingo. This time it was the rough, time-signature-shifting, math punk rock outfit Fake Weed, who a friend once described as the equivalent of receiving a wedgie from a tweeker. I think that was a compliment. The band, originally a duo between long-time Beijing resident and scenester Michael Winkler and David Wilson, had just upgraded to a three man wrecking machine with the addition of Mike Fuksman on drums – a move that pushed the band’s prog punk whiplash inducing rock even further into cathartic territory. So yeah, it was a shame when I heard that the band was calling it quits due to one Mr. Winkler heading back West. After a saucy night back at D-22, where my wanker of a friend heckled his band at the time, Mr. Winkler became one of LBM’s first ‘patrons’ and in a larger sense, a brotherly figure to myself. I could go on and on about my fraternal affection for the man but no need as I’m certain we’ll be tossing back a jinjiu soon enough. Here’s to all that Fake Weed that’s put me on my ass!

And yes, that’s probably the shoddiest-shot video in sometime — I could blame the venue lighting, or the birthday cocktail party before — but this one’s on me. Embrace the grain and check out more pictures of Fake Weed as well as supporting acts Lonely Leary (on a roll!), Skin Bad (punk 101 and loving it), and Filthy Bill & Pussy Catastrophe (how can you say no).