Weekend Update (12/09-14/09)

It’s a jammed packed weekend folks – big outings everywhere and I’m not even touching upon the massive amount of electronic showcases about town (Dada Friday night for the win). It’s a feast out there some bring your bib, cause it’s gonna get messy. And as always, check out the calendar for all your queries.

Friday September 12th

Looking to win some karma points all the while soaking in some of the city\’s best folk and world music outfits. Help local musician Zhao Yiran pay his hospital bills with this mega star-filled lineup at Mako Livehouse which includes horse-whipping Mongolian grassland heroes Hanggai, Yunnanese genre-bending rockers Shanren, Ningxian folk outfit faves Buyi and Li Dong, the wise weary voiced Dongzi, Matiao and much much more. Feel the love folks. For those looking to tap into their inner middle school selves bop on over to Mao where skate punk and emo darlings reign supreme – Twinkle Star\’s status ha skyrocketed since adding New Pants bassist Zhao Meng, while Larry\’s Pizza has only aged better despite their preadolescence tendencies. The lineup is rounded out by new wave rocker Steely Heart, probably my favorite of the bunch, ska outfit Mr. Honey, and Strange July. Bring your childlike sense of angst and let it all out. A last minute addition – garage duo Luv Plastik join the post punk outfit Me Too, who after years are finally giving the scene what they want hit up Temple. Hardcore takes to School as Swedish hardcore group A Strength Within joins the local establishment – Unregenerate Blood, Own Up!, and Return the Truth. Over at 69 Café Liu Donghong performs, while Lucky Strike brings it to Jianghu Bar.

Saturday September 13th

Are Cat AIDS, the feline diseased duo, the greatest band in the world? Or simply the greatest hoax known to man? Time will tell. All I know is that you won\’t find a more giddy, twisted, carnival of rage, Kevin Baconisms, jogging attire, Mike Tyson hard-ons, and half-baked ideas stretched to their warped unpredictable  conclusions. Simply put – a riot. They release their first (and possibly only) cassette tape this evening at XP with some help from DJ Compact Dicks and Dan Taylor. Over at Wudaoying, School gets kinky tonight – gender bending synth wave duo out of Berlin, Hyenaz, being their theatrical, fully embodied take on techno crazed dream pop and boy does it look to be a treat. If that wasn\’t enough of a party, the organizers have also gathered up some first rate dance starters including CNdY and Pacalolo. One of my first festival highlights were Shaanxi folk rock outfit Black Head, who despite rallying a whole field of chinese to chant \’fuck you japan\’, killed it with their contemporary urban blend folk that combines everything from reggae to hip hop – the band has been earning accolades for years now and they roll through Mako Livehouse as a part of their nation wide tour along with Mafei. How about an evening of metal core to rally your spirits – some established talent at Mao Livehouse here including industrial metal outfit Nuclear Fusion G who generate some truly badass sounds, Logic Control who \’running rampant\’ hardcore approach is infectious, and Sick Pupa, who have been receiving quite the good word of mouth despite their ridiculous name, as well as Seven Light Years and Shot and Killed. At the ever reliably chillax Old What? Bar pipa-wielding electronic maker thruoutin joins up and comers Skin Bad and She Never Sings Our Songs for some fun. Meanwhile, WHAI is all out of bubblegum at Temple and looking to kick ass. Blues rock outfit The Tore Down bring it to Jianghu Bar while The Hot Club of Beijing gets its gypsy jazz on at DDC. Finally, catch UK britrock group Transition at Yugong Yishan.

Sunday September 14th

An evening of chick rockers bring the goods to Mao Livehouse including  Scary Honey, NUT, Sutong, and Summer Tribe. Over at XP, folk outfit Bupishu! performs while Li Jian Bin does likewise at DDC. Last, pop rock gets its socks off at School with More Disco, Mr. Strange, Ultramarine, and more.