Weekend Update (23/01-25/01)

Insert pain. If you’re not already heading out to the Temple/Dada fiasco that is the Gulou Double Decker, then do yourself a favor and get over to the party of the week. And thennn when the smoke clears, the hangover suffices, and your ears stop ringing, get back on that high horse of yours and venture forth to these radical gigs and outings happening this weekend. And as always check out our dinky calendar (which will get a makeover in the coming weeks) for more.

 

Friday January 23rd

 

 

The Psychoney Crew returns with a killer show of sizzling noisy rock and roll at XP. First up, you have noise rock trio, Birdstriking, who after stellar 2014, are gearing up for yet another international tour as well as getting back in the recording studio. Seriously, these cats are magnetic force on stage – a blistering blast of noise rock that can barely contain itself. Next up – psychedelic indie rock trio Gate to Otherside – won popped up on everyone ‘must see’ lists, including mine, since their debut in early summer last year. The Eat is the newest member on the rooster but believe me, expect to hear a lot about them this year – tight sound on those lads. Last, you have the return of Paper Tiger Jamboree, who haven’t popped up since the good ol D-22 days – consisting of Richard Deorian of Low Bow, and Wang Xin Jiu of Birdstriking playing drum, guitar, keyboard, with a whole lot of looping from a beat box – lo-fi music with a pulse. Yeah, hard to beat a lineup like this. Folk songstress Zhang Qianqian performs at 69 Café where she will also be slinging her latest live recordings produced by the fine gents over at the cozy café. Butt boy fuzz rocking psych heroes Luv Plastik will get their freak on at none other the Home Plate BBQ. Meanwhile, Irish music lovers and get their dosage of traditional tunes at Blackwater while everyone’s favorite East West fusionist Djang San kicks up a storm at Temple. Finally, Swedish rock outfit Dorena swings through Mako Livehouse as apart of their Asian tour.

 

 

Saturday January 24th

 

DDC, the new haven for mini festivals, just cause it’s like a dope place to hang and everything, is at it again for the Beijing Underground Showcase, curated by multi-instrumentalist about town Djang San, who’s been creating and promoting music here for well over a decade. Read up on SmartBeijing’s recap for more about the man behind the festival. Killer lineup though, with of course the \’zhongruan rock re-invention’, Djang San, and east meets west fusion band headling alongside including prog psych electronic rock outfit WHAI, Mongolian folkster Tulegur (Mongolian folk), bass drums duo Luvplastik, The Honky Tonk Demons (with Randy of Randy Abel Stable and Kirk from Hutong Yellow Weasels), jagged cute folk duo Little Punk, post punk outfit Me Too, theatrical performer, Ravi and the Shadows, who mixes experimental music and ancient Chinese shadow puppetry and Orange Mescaline, a new electro-jazz fusion with Peter Stone and Marco Brundelre. Nice diverse lineup. My money’s on Ravi and his shadow puppetry killing it. Where did you come from HIVE Club? The swanky new venue, located along the river just south of the Guomao station, looks ridiculous. More upscale nightclub than music venue, the joint which doubles as a recording studio, feels so wrong (just take a look at its digs over on their weibo page) yet that what makes me what to check it out so badly. Especially when you host two of my favorite new bands of last year, instrumental math rock with bite Mammals and the red hot bass drums spazz team of Luv Plastik. Add in a very promising new band, no wave electronic rock outfit DiD, which features members of the now extinct The Planets (a band I adored before their demise), and you’ve got a night out on town that defies expectation. Kick back with these young energetic rockers at XP including Daydream, Chinese Modern Guys, and Lonely Leary. Cross-talking satirist folk rock outfit Slap bring their lively off the wall performance to Yugong Yishan. Last, catch folk star Lou Bing at Mao Livehouse and singer songwriter David Cop at 69 Café.

 

Sunday January 25th

 

Another hidden gem of Gulou, Zajia Lab simply doesn’t throw enough shows anymore and with all the renovations happening about the area, who knows whether the place will even be standing come next year. To celebrate the Drum and Bell Tower area as it used to be before the demolitions, Mr. He Yusheng, founder of Zhonggu Lou Band, along with other renowned musicians and experts in playing traditional instruments will throw a concert. The Drum & Bell Orchestra will perform a wide range of traditional music including music from Guangdong, Jiangnan Sizhu, and Xinjiang using a variety of instruments like the banjo, the lei qin, flute, dulcimer, banhu, Pipa, Gaohu, erhu, Hulusi, Bau and more instruments unbeknownst to me. Sounds pretty legit. Sleeper gig of the weekend. Rock it these lil rascals at School including Daydream, Cat Learned Dog, and DiKang Menjian. Pop rock outfit Speed of Light release their debut at Mao Livehouse and finally lay back with folk charmers The Sleepwalkers and The Plum Trees at 69 Café.