Weekend Update (13.11-15.11)

Resist winter’s embrace one last time as the lot of you eagerly await for central heating to kick on. Number one solution: shake that ass a little harder this weekend at one of these riotous gigs across town – electronic mayhem, Shanghai visitors, hip hop galore, punk free-for-alls, and good ol’ fashion rock n roll – here’s your weekend update —- and as always hit up the calendar for more. (Update: Thursday’s Gulou Double Decker is now The Blue Moon, Redundant Sounds, and The Twenties)

 

IZ Colorless Album Release (Friday, Nov. 13^th at Modernsky Lab/Saturday, November 14^th at DDC) 

Kazakh musician Mamer whose folk sound is filtered through the grim and metal of city life and front man for IZ, returns alongside bandmate Zhang Dong with his latest piece of post-industrial shamanistic brand of music, Colorless. In the past years, the prolific artists have been diving deeper down the rabbit hole, drifting further away from the folk music of his ancestors – mixing heavy industrial elements with their anarchic melodies – turning IZ into one of the most fascinating, albeit jarring, groups out there. This weekend Mamer and Zhang Dong will perform under his various outfits – first at Modernsky on Friday as District 51 and Thieves and then at DDC on Saturday as Rust and Bacteria. Imagine an acoustic version of Nine Inch Nails and you’re only scratching the surface – preview Colorless here.

 

Electronoise feat. Reaches (USA), Bit Tuner (SWI) and more (Friday, Nov. 13^th at DDC)

Pangbianr gears up for offbeat electronic mayhem at the ‘classy until it’s full of hooligans’ hotspot DDC featuring two distinct voices in the global electronic scene – Reaches (formerly I Love You) out of Chicago bringing avant-pop twerking and Bit Tuner, out of Switzerland, who’s bringing his variety pack of filed recordings for a blissed out ambient set. They’re joined by L.O.B.I. – the new electro side project from Snapline’s Chen Xi and P.K.14’s Xu Bo as well as another new project from Ran Music’s Shen Lijia and Dan Lenk. Intriguing sounds for sure. 50 RMB

 

Uncle Hu Album Release (Nov. 13th at 69 Cafe)

Chengdu raised, Beijing based lo-fi indie folk artist Uncle Hu, whose been scraping away at the scene these past couple years, brings their melancholic bittersweet melodies to 69 Cafe where the band will be presenting their debut, When Memories Collide. Expect Elliot Smith somber tones to go with the gloom of this week\’s forecast. 30 RMB

 

Rock and Roll Showcase feat. Click #15, Chinese Modern Guys, The Power Powder, Su & The Paramecia (Nov. 13th at School)

Funk, country, punk, and then some — it’s a mixed batch of rockers tonight – besides the sugar rush and glee of punk outfit Chinese Modern Guys and the country-styled rock and roll of The Power Powder (underrated) there\’s up and comers Click #15 – a funk rock outfit from Ricky Sixx, and Su & The Paramecia – a up and coming indie rock band with some luscious chops. Nice diverse lineup at the always dependable School. 50 RMB

 

Ambient/Noise Performance feat. Gabriel Duceppe and Kipp the Menace (Nov 13th at Meridian Space)

The \’INSERT NAME HERE\’ manifest at Meridian Space gets sinister with a night of ambient and dark tones perfect for the airpolclyase. Gabriel Duceppe makes drones express their mechanical emotions in repetitive patterns that sometimes hypnotize and others ring all the alarms cause it just makes you feel something is about to happen. Kipp the menace gets freaky with his newest set – a little bit techno, a little bit noisy, and a whole lot of analogue synths and samplers to infest your ears. Electronic and experimental junkies get after it. 40 RMB

 

Dee SOLO Show (Nov. 13th at fRUITYSHOP)

The one-man sound shifter Dee (Sheng Di), a fixture of the experimental and electronic scene in Beijing, always creeping on the next new projects, takes over the surly fRUITYSHOP – here\’s the poster tagline: \’Every one of living creature is in the movement in unit time. Iberia made us ignore what happens right now. The performance this time will be active by YOU and DEE.\’ Enough said. FREE

 

End of the World at Temple (Nov. 13th at Temple)

One of Beijing\’s longest running ska outfits returns to Temple\’s dingy stage to do what they do best – kick up a shitstorm of good times. Horns, finger snapping, and long hair for sure — just give in to the infectious sounds of ska and dance the night away. FREE

 

O2 Studio Party feat. Xu Yiming, Liu Yie, and more (Nov. 13th at Mao Livehouse)

Music studio O2 Studios celebrate with a jam-packed lineup of singer-songwriters, producers, and more off of their roster. Indie pop through and through – expect an attentive crowd and bring your inner teenage girl with ya. 100 RMB

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Independent China in Stereo: Shanghai (Nov. 14^th at Modernsky Lab)

Maybe Mars kicks off their new series aimed to bring the highest new bands from around China to Beijing to strut their stuff. Their first editon shines a light on Shanghai and they’ve gathered three intriguing new sounds – with The Psyders providing some old school surf rock, Dream Can bringing the female-strong indie rock, and Naohai getting down and dirty with their noise rock. New strong sounds from around the Big Red – can’t complain one bit. 80 RMB

 

Why Fight! Punk Special Showcase (Nov. 14^th at Mao Livehouse)

It’s a special punk hoe-down at Mao Livehouse with eight bands kicking up a storm through the evening including ska legends Ouch, street punk stalwarts Demerit, Changsha hard edged street punks The Last Choice, as well as Hell City, D-Crash, The Demonstrators, 4chinks, and Strike Back. Solid punk variety pack for the taking. Prepare to throw some fists in the air and stomp your foot. Oi! Oi! 100 RMB

 

Converse Free Music Series (Nov. 14^th at School)

Converse continues giving the masses what they want —- free music with some bite. Punk girl legends Hang on the Box return in their newest incarnation, ready to bust heads alongside indie rock smoothers Me Guan Me and Secret Club, with catchy as all hell 90s alt rockers The Twenties closing out the lineup. Good times, good times. FREE

 

Island Mood Album Release (Nov. 14^th at Yugong Yishan)

Xian britpop rock Island Mood outfit bring their latest release to Beijing – expect some heartfelt, shamelessly catchy, and manipulative indie pop to make you forget about the doom and gloom outdoors. 80 RMB

 

AKHYLA present thruoutin Release Party (Nov. 14^th at Old What? Bar)

In February 2015 thruoutin and Wang Shengnan went on a tour through Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Their trip resulted in the electronic pipa-wielding maverick getting the remix treatment by Kuala Lumpur collective AKHYLA. Tonight sees the official release of said remix album —- support from indie pop songstress Wang Shengnan and electronic artist Wen Liang. FREE

DJ GUIGZ, Noise Arcade Show Down (Nov. 14th at 8-Bit)

Nasty Wizard Recordings is proud to… Wait, wait. That doesn\’t sound right. Nasty Wizard Recordings nastily presents Noise Arcade and DJ Guigz at 8-bit. This is easily the best show you can see on November 14th. In addition to being on NWR, Noise Arcade has various releases on labels across Europe and Asia and has toured through China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Germany, and The Netherlands. DJ Guigz is the alter ego of GUIGUISUISUI. Or is it King Necro? Or is it Kamemameha? That aside, he has probably played about 300 shows in the past three years in who knows how many countries. This year, Guiguisuisui has released an LP on Metal Postcard Records and a tape on NWR. Also, this show will be like the nasty birthday party you\’ve always wanted, because there will be punch and pie. Well, probably not, but we will have the Nasty Wizard drink. After you drink one Nasty Wizard, you won\’t care if there is punch or pie.

 

Stevie Mac & the Mac Daddies (Nov 14^th at Temple)

10 piece funk jazz ensemble headed by Stevie Mac turns Temple into a carnival of funk and festivities. Dare you not to shake that butt even a little. FREE

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The Last Choice vs Grunge (Nov. 15^th at School)

Changsha hard edged street punks The Last Choice refuse to leave and theyre going up against Beijing’s grunge core including Silt & Lotus, Drunkard, Fangu, and Cigarette Butt. FREE

 

Oddisee (USA): The Good Fight Album China Tour (Nov. 15^th at Yugong Yishan)

Sudanese-American producer, Oddisee, out of Washington DC and winner of the 2012 iTunes Music Awards brings his unique brand of hip hop to Beijing. Having performed with The Roots, and produced for Freeway, Jazzy Jeff, Little Brother, De La Soul and Nikki Jean expect vintage hip-hop with support from DJ Jamming and Chacha of AM444. Dope. 150 RMB

 

Elenore Album Release (Nov. 15^th at Mao Livehouse)

Britpop indie rock outfit Elenore, a band that’s been slowly rasing through the ranks celebrates the release of their debut album with rager at Mao Livehouse. Expect Oasis nostalgia ramped up to the nth degree – and done in a surprisingly satisfying manner. 80 RMB

 

Pogo Cold Neo Showcase (Nov. 15^th at Modernsky Lab)

Neo and Pogo – two of this year’s leading promoters team up for some rock n roll mischief – indie, psych, alt, and gaze – and some of the year’s hottest new bands including shoegaze deafeners Boiled Hippo, Tianjin post rock noobs The 16^th Floor, as well as psychgazers Solaris and alt rockers The Twenties. Nice. 50 RMB

 

Dafay Special Sunday Performance (Nov. 15^th at Jianghu Bar)

Veteran blues rocker Dafay (and his Skyscraper bandmates) hit up the ever-cozy Jianghu Bar for a one off special performance. 60 RMB