Weekend Update (01/5-03/5)

Yeah yeah, I know – the weekend has already begun and at that rate you’re probably already three sheets to the wind at some gig. Good on you. And if you’re like me you’ve already have soaked in two nights of musical chairs. And are exhausted. Bad on me. So I’m just gonna go ahead and pretend it’s a work day tomorrow and get some rest, and release this weekend update without any further nonsense sprouting from me. Let’s get into it – and as always check out next month’s gigs on the newly updated calendar.

 

Friday May 1^st

As XP has been forced to conduct their business on a more underground level, it has also recently been tapping into more underground acts – bands and artists that don’t quite fit into any of the town’s music circles. So color me intrigued with the latest series thrown together by Kou Niao, which will highlight up and coming talent. Well I’m becoming more and more impressed with the new wave trio DiD, I’m more enthralled by the ambient melodic electro rock duo Sealed Jar, whose sound I can definitely get behind – spacey soft-spoken earnest electronica mixed with sparse guitar instrumentation. There’s really no point in hyping up the Sound of the Xity anymore – it’s everywhere, whether you like it or not. And while most the actual events showcasing Chinese bands have passed, there are still some gems hidden amongst their massive schedule. Case in point: IDM-infused ‘leftfield’ electronica outfit, The Suicide of Western Culture. Kinda digging this – like post rock filtered through an electronic mainframe. A nice color for DDC. On the opposite end of the spectrum, we’ve got Kelly Dance, a globetrotting Australian folk artist who voice is all at once beautiful and elusive, sweet and sour – folk with a little bite. Two distinctly different bands and a combo that has perked my interest. Over at School, electro rock Frenchmen Colt Silvers return to Beijing after a successful jaunt last year (and the year before) and they wanna get you movin. This band has ‘live’ written all over them – a band which vigorously dips their toes into the world of electro rock with professional gusto. In a nutshell, fun fun fun. They’re supported by Beijing’s own party starters electronica animal-head donning trio CNdY and post rock up and comers She Never Sings Own Songs (SNSOS). Over at Temple, Swedish melodic metal outfit We Are The Catalyst perform while a slew of young bands including Car Car Cars, Nut, Air Wall, Silt & Lotus, and more celebrate the holiday at Mao Livehouse. Finally, get your metal on with 13 Club’s Dimefest featuring Deep Purple, Dream Spirit, and special guest Noctiferia from Slovenia (who were originally supposed to play at Mako Livehouse before the fun police ended that).

Saturday May 2^nd

It’s time for DMC’s annual middle finger to Modern Sky’s Strawberry Festival – the Strawberry Music Fucktival, an all day punk festival featuring some of the scenes most unhinged up and comers including doom metallers Never Before, ska outfit Tinnie Whollie, Jinan uptempo punks GT Bitches (who a many a folk have been raving about), Shochu Legion, Car Car Cars, D-Crash, Toss, Diseased Fruit, and of course everyone’s favorite intoxicated pixie fairy hooligans Bedstars. This is gonna be one of the few times the Tangzhou punk haven will be packed – good vibes, cheap beer, chuan’r for all, and loud music in your face till the break of dawn. Untether yourself from Beijing’s rings and bask in the freedom that only DMC can provide. Rock and roll at it’s purest – just the way School likes it. Garage funk, instrumental hard rock, cold wave jamming, and alternative rock – whichever way you like it, tonight’s outing of Luv Plastik (who just released their sleek new EP yesterday), Nakoma, Me Guan Me, and DiD (all over the place this week) have got you covered. And while mentally (not physically) I missed out on School’s birthday last week, this is one that could qualify as a late bday bash. Ambient and experimental music in Beijing’s best record store as well as being a mighty fine place to chillax. Whiskey, wood floors, and good company – add in some free tunes from some of the electronica scene’s most offbeat (i.e interesting) artists including Noise Arcade and layer and you’ve got a surefire way to chillax this holiday. Did I mention fRUITYSHOP has a pretty dope rooftop? Love me the intoxicating soundscapes these kids conjure up. A new band emerges at Temple – one that’ll feature Americana crooner-frontman-blues harpist, Randy Abel; Singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Holmes; Xinjiang-born guitar master Jurat T.T.; German cellist and singer-songwriter Heike Kagler; And at the very junction of anyways are French drummer Cedric ‘Sabako’and brilliant Brazilian bassist Marco Benitez.’ Whoa! Finally, catch day two of 13 Club’s Dimefest features Logic Control, Never Before, Doom Prisoner, and Sick Pupa. And one more tasty treat from the Sound of the Xity – Yunnan folk rock genre shifters Shanren join pop star Wu Mengqi and trip hop producer Chen Weilun – a clusterfuck of sounds if I ever saw one.

Sunday May 3^rd

So for some reason, the Sound of the Xity has given a slew of afternoon time slots to Chinese bands whilst the international kids get to play at night. Strange indeed. Nevertheless, it’s time to support these youngings (and seasoned veterans) and Sunday’s afternoon lineup at School might just be the best (and most upbeat) — rockabilly rookies Icy Whiskey, ska faves Mr. Honey, and blues-indie poppers Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen among others. Sounds like a surefire way to lay back and dance off those weekend blues. Swedish punk outfit The Headlines hits up Mao Livehouse on their China tour with help from our esteemed punk magnets Gum Bleed and The Diders. Psychedelic punk rockers Octopuss from Italy get it done at Yugong Yishan.