Weekend Update (09.10-11.10)

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So it’s the weekend kinda. I don’t know – this week’s been kinda funky. Am I working tomorrow? Does living outside the second ring road make me a monster? Question folks, questions. Alas, whatever your Saturday and Sunday entails the music continues without a hitch, with some killer lineups to get your blood flowing. Check it out —- and as always dig into the newly updated calendar for all your October needs.

FRIDAY October 9th

The Sound Stage, the CRI government funded series which gave a spotlight on China’s underground music scene, headed by fellow music supporter Jonanthan Alpart, says its final farewell this evening with a stellar, eclectic lineup of new and old blood at School, including Gate to Otherside, Jajatao, Hard Candy Revolution, Dark Mermaid (the latest project from Jurat T.T.), Guangzhou rapper Wootacc, and the undying indie chick punk outfit Hang on the Box. We bid you adieu SoundStage – first drink’s on us! Psychedelic prog rock outfit out of Chengdu, Proximity Butterfly, return to Yugong Yishan with their latest studio album, Madusae, in tow. Seriously, one of the best live acts I’ve seen – a bombardment of musicianship and big emotions that simply rock. They’re going all out for their tour, which will include an accompanying short film that play alongside the music. Support from Beijing’s own fire starters The Harridans, who are inching their way to their first proper release. Mao Livehouse is here to stay (for now) and it’d help if people starting checking out their events again including tonight’s most solid lineup from a band of new promoters. Acts include the always dependable WHAI, post punk icers Me Too, indie rock outfits The Eat and Dawenxi, as well as Tianjin post rock outfit The 16th Floor, a band who’s popping up on more and more bills. Ningxia-raised, Beijing-based folk rock outfit, Buyi, who have been killing for sixteen years plus, give an intimate performance at the cozy Snail Club just off of Jiaodaoku. Lush, rich, warm but not without its edge, rock and roll. Given the band’s recent spurt in popularity, which even found singer Li Xia on the Voice of China, expect a packed house. Get your experimental on at Meridian Space, for a performance entitled The Cilia and the Sheng. The Cilia is a digital flute controller invented by composer, performer, instrument builder, multiple flautist, and longtime Beijing resident Bruce Gremo who’ll team up with sheng player Hu Jianbing for some good old fashioned improvisation. Mr. Honey who I will stop referring to as a ska band, but instead as big band jazz — bring their top notch skills to the ever rowdy Temple for some late night mischief.

SATURDAY October 10th

I remember when Shanghai punk hooligans, Dirty Fingers performed at Fake Fuzz Fest last year and the look of utter shock on the venue owners face as the band steamrolled through their set like a pack of wolves on an ether kick. Glorious I tell ya! Well, the band decided to keep up the charade and they’re ready to present their debut in all its glory at School. As they say themselves, ‘Dirty Fingers can\’t be stopped. The bastard monkeys will rule you’. Support from Beijing’s own shit kickers including Bedstars, Quick Shot, and Final Impact. It\’s a massive lineup of massive sounding bands with massive dangling hairs and massive mosh pits getting underway. Yup – Diamond Productions are celebrating with an all out festival of epic proportions at Yugong Yishan with some top notch hard hitters including nu metal outfits CMCB, Liquid Oxygen Can, Mega Soul alongside gothic metal veterans A.J.K. as well as a slew of other metal sounding names like Painted Skin, The Uncrowned, Forced Pose, and Scar Constitution. Best prepare yourself for a long night of trashing about. Up and coming post punk outfit Macondo join Strokes-bumping new wave rocking band Bye Bye Noise for some shenanigans at Temple — get some. Modern Sky Lab is officially up and running and if you haven’t checked out their new digs you owe it to yourself. Tonight, ethnic jazz pop artist Wang Yun Yi release her sophomore album. The Shanxi born singers has been laying it down on the jazz scene for fifteen years now and looks like she’s finally getting your due. Thick, strong vocals to in an intimate setting. Sweden via Senegal folk fusion duo Sousou & Maher Cissoko get down at MOMA Post Mountian Space – expect some lush magnificent kora playing (harp lute) and a soulful singing combined with a rhythmic energy and influences from among others reggae, mbalax, folk, soul and pop. Tibetan singer Tsering’s unique blend of reggae, rock and folk rock, with emphasis on recreating and changing ancient traditional Tibetan music by using modern and traditional instruments from Tibet and beyond will have you coming back for more. American folk singer-songwriter Matt Hires comes to Beijing to show off his skills at Mao Livehouse. Get your funk on with the multi-national outfit The Groove Collective whose melting pot of disparate rhythms and fun-loving uproar looks to get the folks going at DDC.

SUNDAY October 11th

A horde of chinese traditional rock revivalists take stage at Mao Livehouse including Perpetual Motion Machine, Chiren, Zhenghuangqi, Xi You, and Jiaojin. Blues funk coming at ya this Sunday evening with The Rotten Five – all at School Bar.  The 10th Beijing Nine Gates Jazz Festival kicks off at DDC with some local talent – the D.N.A. Jazz Trio – consisting of Dan Callaghan on double bass, Nathaniel Gao on sax, and Alex Morris on percussion.

 

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