Weekend Update

Winter is in full effect now peeps – and the heat will be coming on early as the Big Red looks to make sure there are more smiles than frowns. Now what else helps that – more music – and this weekend is chalked full.

FRIDAY

It’s a swell weekend of post-rock – at XP take in the musical soundscapes of Glow Curve, The Dyne, and Air Donor. Over at Yugong Yishan those rock em sock em Amazing Insurance Salesmen are back at it again along with Me Too. If you haven’t done so yet, get over to Jianghu Bar one last time before their doors close, and what better night than with Buyi on the mic. The Last Three Minutes, Liu Yusi, and Rudra’s Sage pat tribute to Bobbie Dylan in the new micro 69 Café while Chinese indie pop makes its way to Blue Stream Bar in the form of Time Capsule and Self Portrait. Modernista’s One-Year Anniversary begins tonight – catch the Nation Islands’ Danadri. Devils at the Crossroads face off against the Bluesmen at the Hot Cat Club. Long-running folk group Han Xiao Han make their way over to Mako Livehouse for some heart-warming melodies. Fury Pyle – who, what, where – Dos Kolegas are hosting the rocking newly-minted band, could be interesting. VA Bar seems to be in a jolly mood this weekend as they throw some free shows our way – Kamila Nasr & Pierre Brahin show off their wide range of styles. Of course there’s always Temple for some freebies – Chongqing/Tianjin based DJ Kalakuta Kid is joined by our own DJ Slim Doctor. Campus folk punk seeps its way into the Old What? Bar – but frankly that’s all I know. And lastly, Mademoisselle brings her quartet into the spotlight over at Le Petit Gourmand.

SATURDAY

This one came out of left-field (thanks to SmartBeijing – the new everything that’s awesome in Beijing site) – a full day of metal at 13 Club entitled “Trash Till Death” – yes please – lineup includes Nine Treasures, Putsch, Hellfire, Never Before, The Metaphor, Tractor, Los Crashers, Tengger Cavalry, Hellward, and the awesomely named Explosicum – get your head ready for that one. Ever since she called me (and hundred of other audience members) a “dirty fucking bitch” I’ve been infatuated with Gao of Hang on the Box – tonight her side project Girl Kill Girl plays at XP with noise-dronematic Cloud Choir and garage duo You Xi. Post-rock continues to invade Beijing – long-standing Dalian-based Wang Wen take over Mako Livehouse. Heavy rock promoters Six Club celebrate one year on the scene with a juggernaut lineup of Misandao, Suffocated, Frosty Eve, Dark Haze, Spirit Trance, and The Last Successor. For some good fun check out Hot Cat Club where Jacky Danny, Me Too, and newly formed Executant of the Sword play. Nearby, quirk electro rockers Pacalolo at VA Bar will give it their all. Proclaimed as one of the most influential contemporary musician ever to set foot out if Xinjiang, Hongqi looks to give Yugong Yishan something different – dark horse event of the weekend perhaps. Casino Demon, on the fast track again, will take things down a notch tonight as the give an unplugged set (and interview) over at Zajia Lab. Reggae night at Dos Kolegas – expect One Drop and more rasta fun. Wu & The Side Effects venture out of Liangmaqiao and get their asses over to Blue Stream Bar for a rocking good time. Electronica has its say over at the Old What? Bar where Cam Norton, PDU, and Kid Starr take to the decks. Finally, get over to Temple for funktastic fun from Mama Funker or to Jianghu Bar for blues harmonica courtesy of Laurent Maur.

SUNDAY

Really show of the day has to be Australian micropop artist Kikuyu (who music has wormed its way into my head) playing this afternoon at XP along with Baby Formula and Jia Huizhen. East German punkers Sick Times are making their way to Temple along with Gum Bleed and Discord. Check out an experimental folk session at 69 Café with Dieelguik. Los Amigos, Beijing’s premier latin group, throws down big at Mao Livehouse. Miss Lulu Galore, saucy figure that she is, will get sultry over at the Blue Stream Bar.