LBM Mixtape #11 by Livebeijingmusic on Mixcloud

Friday May 9th

One of the most hyped bands of last year, death metal hybrid, Deafheaven, make their Beijing debut at Yugong Yishan courtesy of none other than Spilt Works – always hip to what all the cool kids are into. And gotta say after listening to San Francisco based group online this is looking to be an intense show – visceral, cerebral, and dark as night – music at its most harrowing – they\’ll be supported by sludge metal outfit Never Before who have receiving quite the good word of mouth round these parts. It\’s Europe Day (I guess) and they\’re celebrating in style with a big ol\’ bash at everyone’s favorite drive-in venue, Dos Kolegas – on hand will be experimental folk artist Fusha who’ll be performing alongside bonafide transnational folk outfit Djang San and crazed synth punks The Big Wave. There’s been quite a bit of noise regarding new psychedelic folk outfit The HarriDans – fronted by freak folk Daniel Taylor whose been popping up everywhere (re: he’s pretty ace), and a cast of first-rate musicians including Robin from 16 mins, the band looks like its grabbing that jammy 60s era psychedelic rock and roll that’s larger-than-life – violins, guitars, harmonica, sax, flutes bleed into one another creating a vast soundscape – they’ll be playing at Mako Livehouse alongside melodic indie rock duo 16 mins, who always manage to surprise me. After a hiatus when frontman Joris left last summer and some lineup tinkering, stoner rock outfit Devils at the Crossroad are back from the dead and what better ‘coming out’ party than at the mothership itself, Temple. Word is new singer Dave (of Red Pirates fame) fits in quite nicely – he definitely has the vocal chops. Expect Temple to be at its most deviant for this one cause nothing spells debauchery like The Devils and Temple and a bottle of whiskey. The always dependable Ningxian folk rock outfit Li Dong crams into the cozy Old What? Bar for some dust kicking tunes – a perfect way to spend a breezy summer night at Beijing’s unsung hero. Legendary Italian death metal outfit, Fleshgod Apocalypse crashes through Mao Livehouse for some fun while down at XP Swedish Mikko Savela join some of Beijing\’s most prolific experimental artists including Yan Jun and Li Jianhong. Rustic frontman Li Yan invites over Tianjin rock outfit Stone Lions to School for a lesson in rock and roll. Finally, get your punk kicks out on the outskirts of Beijing at DMC with Crazy World.

Saturday May 10th

The D.O.G crew over at School is gathering it\’s troops tonight and, as per usual, it\’s looking to be a top notch show with a bit of something for everyone. While britpop aficionados Secret Club and Thousands of Public have been around the block, as well as new wave rockers Steely Heart who shine in tight drunken settings, it\’s the addition of pretty-faced indie boy wonders Mr. Graceless, whose catchy indie pop is seriously catchy and steamy garage rock duo Heat Mark, whom I’ve yet to see, that’s perked my interest. Lotta potential year, but then again what would one expect from the city’s de facto rock n roll club. The X-Nights Festival comes to a close at Yugong Yishan and whatta way to go out – \’electro clash\’ duo Sexy Sushi outta France are a spectacle it seems – if they ever was a group that demanded your viewing pleasure it\’s these two (read up Josh’s earlier piece on them) – joining them will be another band that leaves nothing on the floor, Snapline who continue pushing the boundaries of minimalist geek post punk as well as French/Italian duo L\’Enfance Rouge who sound like they’ll be packing a heck ton of attitude with their appearance. A trio of duos get down to business at XP including Noise Arcade/Muted Rainbow, ourang-outang and blister babies in what promises to be a ‘marriage of noise, voice, beats, guitars, synths and raw unleashed improvised power…born on stage, provoking a conversation of tension between each duo, allowing one to consider what does it take to meld together two minds for the sake of one thought’ – yup, it’s gonna be a weird one folks – can’t wait. The Virgins present an evening of old school rock and roll at Mao Livehouse with metal heads Bad Mamasan, the newly revamped stoner outfit Devils at the Crossroad, Los Crasher, Miss Mix, and Tractor.  Japanese rockers UBI swing through the Hot Cat Club with a little help from Li Yan, while expat rock trope C60 get down and dirty at the Old What? Bar, and electro rock outfit Pacalolo provide the good times at Temple. Finally, enjoy old-timey blues from Zhanren at Jianghu Bar, and be serenaded by Swedish singer-songwriter Anna Van Hausswolffv down at Mako Livehouse.

Sunday May 11^th

Britpop lives on – catch Secret Club, Lazy Camels, The Truth, L-Gentlemen, and Self-Protrait at Mao Livehouse. Folk singer Coroline performs at 69 Café, while the Beijing Alchemists brings a array of blues to Jianghu Bar.