Weekend Update (20/03-22/03)

Though the musical landscape remains rickety at best (I have a bad feeling we won’t see the return of XP) it’s vital each and every one of you cats gets out there and rages out – stick it to the man as they say. There’s plenty of tunes to shake a stick at this weekend and it’d be a shame if we’re gonna let a few sour grapes taint the whole batch. So let loose, get loaded, start a mosh pit, and lose yourself at one of these gigs this weekend. And as always, hit up our events page for more.

Friday March 20^th

At Temple, don’t miss this opportunity to catch Beijing’s highly acclaimed and insanely addictive live electronica band The Junglemico Project who have blown my mind more than once – performing dubstep, techno, drum n bass, trip hop – whatever genre of club wets your whistle – live in front of your very eyes. And it’s fucking grand people – just wait till you get a load of the drummer – seriously some of the most wicked musicians in town. And better yet, this will be the first time their showcase will be for free – which I know means a lot to you cheapstakes (cough myself cough) out there. Combine that with London dubstep maestro The Bug at Dada and you have a bombast Friday night. French electro pop star Emilie Simon returns to Beijing with her prowess sensibilities at Yugong Yishan. Volume 2 of School Bar’s “Go West” series! features a slew foreigners who are part of the Beijing music community, including The Harridans, Fake Weed, 16 mins, and Shijie Zhongzhi. Rising hard rock outfit OOC return to DDC and they’ve brought three piece instrumental ragers Nakoma along for the ride. In Beijing Gang presents a night of indie pop extravagance at Mao Livehouse with these hot to trot indie outfits including U2-esque indie rock gods Residence A, alongside Black Bohe, Lost Train, Next Door Band, and Vocal Brothers. Meanwhile, Americana folk artist David Colp swings by 69 Café and the Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen and Liu Yusi hit up Snail Club (across the hutong from 8-Bit).

Saturday March 21^st

One of Beijing’s most notorious folk artists Wu Hongfei returns to the stage after a couple odd years of mixing it up both in front and behind the scenes. After being detained in late 2013 for a bomb threat, the artist released a dubstep drenched album inspired by her Dong ethnicity. So yeah, what once started as a sharp quirky folk duo has morphed into an entirely different beast over seventeen years and frankly I’m super curious to see what’s she has up her sleeve next – her latest tour video looks like she’s looking back to her roots, both as an artist as an Chinese minority. Catch her at Mako Livehouse. Campus folk rockers Namo, though not as revered by foreign media, are kinda a big deal with Chinese audiences. Their satirical, charismatic, nostalgic, poppy brand of crosstalk-rock has won over heaps and heaps of fans over the past few years, filling out venues and outdoor stages again and again. The band goes on tour in conjunction with the release their latest album, Spring Up, with a special performance down over at Mao Livehouse. See why the band has become the voice of a generation of Chinese youth. While you can pretty much find a jazz gig at anytime of the week, it’s not often I go out of my way to check one out. However, there’s something about Jonas Seetoh’s music that has perked my interest. A leading Chinese jazz vocalist and pianist based in Shanghai who marries trained technique with his own unique interpretation of jazz music, there’s a soulfulness and charm that Mr. Seetoh captures that recalls the Motown crooners of old. His debut, The Island, is full of old school glitz and allure that breezes by, perfect for a relaxed evening at DDC. South Korean indie pop sensation Yozoh brings the charm ten-fold to Yugong Yishan as part of her JUE Festival tour – expect adorable acoustic anecdotal tunes ripe with personality – she’s supported by Beijing’s own rising indie pop star Wang Shengnan. Not keen on collecting their gambling debts at Temple, electro rock powerhouse outfit WHAI hit up School alongside Nakoma. Down in Shaungjing at Mako Livehouse, up and coming rapper EB performs. Check out a book listening party along with performances from accordion-infused folk rockers Lone and Carlo at 69 Cafe. Last, flamenco regulars Los Amigos get the party going at Jianghu Bar and reggae hip hop outfit Ultimate Band Crew rage over at Temple.

Sunday March 22^nd

Remember that LOOP thing at Beijing Design Week. Where a team commissioned musical compositions for various bus routes around Beijing. Was pretty sweet. Well the team is back for the JUE Closing Party – For JUE 2015, the LOOPers have teamed up with pangbianr to throw bus party – which is yes, a show on a freaking mobile bus. I’m sold! The bus will travel the routes laid out their map – each loop will be soundtracked with a live or DJ performance of ambient bus music from Vavabond, Hong Qile, Charm, Alpine Decline, iimmune, Compact Dicks, and Cousin Kippy. The pickup point will be Andingmen subway station, next to where the express bus line is. And goes down from 2pm to 6pm. Yeah, there’s no way I’m missing this one. Here’s one that snuck up on me – experimental, vocal poetry improv trope Ouroboros takes over School for something that will surely be ‘arty’. Got no better word folks. A blend of instrumental performances, vocal improvisation, and poetry with an assortment of characters with solid backgrounds in the arts, including Wu Dada, Anita Pan, Gao Yanqin, and APA, this seems like a rather legimate affair. Just look at those credentials – early 20^th century Russian poetry, music hardware engineering in New York, literature studies in the Netherlands, heck, even a DJ turned ambient electronic artist. Color me intrigued. With XP’s Zoomin Nights on hiatus, this might be the perfect substitute to get your experimental music kick. Animation studio UMI teams up with Mao Livehouse a an assortment of metal and pop bands for a crazy multi-media night of fun including Silent Elegy, Golden Rum, and Gloomy Hymn of Darkness – weird.