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Apr
27thTube Me: XTX , Dawanggang & More Videos
well, to celebrate a fake weekend, what better that a few music videos to distract your from your pretend work in the office? I like that bands are getting into them again and discovering the value of a good MV as a promotion tool. So, what’s on the dazeTUBE? Dawangang: Good old Song Yun Zhe has been busy cooperating with tons of people over the past year but he did find some time to get a new record released for his band, Da Wang Gang. The lead single from the album is 四条道 sìtiáo dào. A nice little Folky number that mixes tons of influences and, much like SOng Yun Zhe himself, sharp and dark.. http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjY4ODk3Mjcy.html Dawanggang is currently touring China in support of their latest release but expect them back in Beijing soonish. Xie Tian Xiao: Remember that hyped up gig at the Worker’s Gym? well, apparently, it was good enough! heck, some people are saying it was amazing. Video is slowly leaking out and the latest one, which is pretty well produced, is of the lead single from Illusion: 把夜晚染黑 http://www.letv.com/ptv/vplay/1964466.html I really didn’t like this at first but i’m very much digging it nowadays. Casino Demon The on-off supergroup is really having fun these days. THey released an decent EP, went on tour and they are playing regularly which is a great thing. I Mean it’s still pretty much an offshoot of the Dancers IMHO but who cares what it’s called? Here is their video for 童年 [...]
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Mar
28thQuickslants: Jurat, PiL, XTX, Yangjima for a Loaded End of Week
There’s a monster saturday ahead folks with some beautiful shows planned all around Beijing and the choices are really hard… What’s a man to do if he wants to check out 3 shows happening at the same time on different sides of town? From new releases to impact gigs, get ready for it. Thursday March 28 Jurat TT @ Yugong Yishan The new album is being dubbed as dark psychedelic faire tale folk and i guess my answer to that is: sure, why not? I like Juratt and his style is quite unique in Beijing.. I’ve listened to the new record for a bit lat week and some parts are indeed interesting. As if the release itself was not enough, Yangjima will be be on hand as a support act. Not a bad way to spend a thursday. Friday March 29 Yangjima @ Mako How about this folks? a double appearance for a venue the same day and for an artist 2 days in a row: How about an early dose of beautifully soothing harmonies courstesy of Yingema and friends at 1:00 pm at Mako? yeah, a 1pm gig on a saturday.. that is potentially a new way to do gigs.. really. Sorry.. this one is on saturday. Rock You @ 2 Kolegas Devils at the Crossroad, Nine Treasures and Incisors head over to the drive-in for a rock n roll fuelled night. Nine treasure is slowly but steadily making their name stand out and Devils should have a whole [...]
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Apr
27thMayday Musical Mayhem: Picks and Guide to Beijing Music Festival 2012I’m not buying this whole bullshit about the market being big enough for the onslaught of music festivals we’re getting over the next few days. It’s splitting and diluting the market, and in many cases, they are cannibalizing each other. Still, it’s too late to do anything about it so let’s try to deal with it! You can get the listings just about anywhere now and it’s recommended you keep checking because stuff changes all the time. News that Mos Def was replaced by He Yong just came down.. Below you’ll find a mini round out of it all with my picks… May 1 belongs to Strawberry on the strength of XTX playing. It’s been too long since i’ve actually seen him kick some rock n roll booty! April 30 is Folk Festival day to catch good old Shanren play next to the house. Which leave us with MIDI on April 29.. I already planned for MIDI day 1 before Cui Jian was announced so for me, it’s like an icing on the cake. 2012 Strawberry Music Festival – Tongzhou Canal Park from 4/29 to 5/1 Strawberry goes back to Tongzhou Canal Park after some initial speculation that they might not make it there. This year, they have bar none the best lineup as far as foreign and local bands alike. They’ve pretty much managed to sign everyone to play over the three days and they mean business. This year, they have spent a lot of time trying to get [...]
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Nov
14thVideos of Xie Tian Xiao gig in Tianjin: He still got itXie Tian Xiao, one of my favorite musicians, was touring around China for a little while over the past few weeks with among others, a stop in Tianjin on November 5th. The economics of music are making it such that he doesn’t play Beijing outside of festivals right now which sucks… but oh well! At least, we got some videos of the gigs up on tudou! Here is a 9mn long edition of 是谁把我带到了这里. http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/N0lq8Yhuwyg/ I really like how the guzheng sound was incorporated in this one…. he still got it, ain’t he? There is about another half dozen songs from that gig, all of decent quality so head on over to tudou and listen to them. here is also 永远是个秘密 http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/Emp9LoAWUhE/ can’t wait to catch him live again.
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Sep
29thXie Tian Xiao – New Tour: How can you I’m Back ? When did I leave?It’s not really much news but this little weibo gem brought a little smile to my face when I read it: So basically Modern Sky, his record label, announces that XTX is back for a new national X tour and blah blah…which XTX forwards on weibo before doing a double take: 怎么说我回来了？我什么时候离开过？ (How can you say I’m back? When did I leave?) A Classic…. Joking aside, considering how little he plays in Beijing outside of festivals, that Tianjin date on November 5th sounds pretty sweet to me….. I guess the new album is pretty much ready and it’s time to oil the machine! Cool beans….
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Aug
25thMini Slants: XTX, Beijing Jazz Festival Cancelled, To Die For, Free RusticFolks, it’s been kind of a busy week with ‘daze HQ moving into town but still, I’m not gonna leave you with your weekly fix of recommendations: Beijing Jazz Festival CANCELLED: If you were planning on attending the 3 day extravaganza at Gongti East Gate, forget about it. It’s been cancelled! I spoke to some of the bands slated to take part in it who have confirmed the news. XTX / Tiger Translate @ Tango on Friday The Beijing grand Finale of Tiger Translate battle of the bands featuring Xie Tian Xiao. Should be fun with Army of Jade Kirin being one of the finalists. Rustic @ d-22 Friday: Free shows from the boys before they hit the road for their England/Europe tour. Should be fun! To Die For / Vic Anselmo / Voodoo Kungfu @ Tango Saturday metal metal metal… there aren’t many metal shows where voodoo kungfu is definitely not the best band on the bill I promise more updates next week
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Aug
2ndNews To Ooze: Tiger Battles, NovaHeart unleashed and Unsafe Death KnightBeen a while since the last random updates on here and quite a bit been taking place so let’s get started without further due. Tiger Beer has been doing a great job with their battle of the bands so far. I managed to catch one heat last week with Queen Sea Big Shark who were in top shape and had fun. Didn’t care as much about the last two heats considering Pet Conspiracy and Perdel were headlining but Michelle Dai over at The Beijinger is doing a great job covering the event. I’m planning on being at the Xie Tian Xiao one in the next few weeks. Helen Feng is back, kind of, and not in a way that I am excited about. Her long awaited solo project has been revealed at last and it’s called NovaHeart. I was really hoping for more a of soulful approach to songs unleashing her dormant potential and immense talent but alas, she has followed the electronic/dance route. I head some of the sample tracks on douban which are alright but not really my cup of tea. Still, Good luck to Helen/NovaHeart with her new project. The Unsafe are back and have a new album to show for their disappearance: Death Night. Expect the record to be unleashed this Saturday during the 8th Annual Punk Festival at Mao Live. I’m really looking forward to the record, seeing the band live and just having a good time with some good tunes. The punk festival will [...]
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Jul
28thQuickslants: InMusic Festival, Blues, Mademoiselle, Randy Abel, Ill Nino and moreIt’s that time of the week where we look ahead at the next few days and all the musical goodness they bring to us. There’s plenty of action in and out of town to keep everyone happy so without further delay, let’s kick it: Thursday July 28 Cranberries @ Wukesong Dolores and her gang visit Beijing and bring back memories of the mid nineties when they were one of the hippest most dedicated bands around. I’m not exactly sure what they’ve been up to over the past few years but I’m nevertheless looking forward to seeing them rock old smoggy with good crowd pleasers like Ode to my Family, Zombie, Animal Instinct and more. Randy Abel Stable @ Jianghu The self proclaimed (and rightfully so) Hardest Working Bluegrass Band in China takes over Jianghu for what promises to be an inspiring performance filled with blues, country, folk and Appalachian sonic goodness. The band has progressed tremendously since their debut a few months back and I’m sure hoping they capitalize on their chance to get a record started. Friday July 29: Mademoiselle @ Jianghu Yes, we’re still big fans of the Montreal Mynx over at ‘daze central. Marie-Claude and her gang deliver each and every time they play their brand of Gypsy folk-infused Jazz. She’s won over just about everyone that has gone to see her play and the CD was good. Still, maybe it’s time for some new tunes… as long as she keeps on singing “le grand mur”, I [...]
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Jan
27thSlants and Ramblings: Ember Swift, Helen Feng, Muma, Dude, XTX and morejust because the venues feel like taking some time off, it doesn’t mean musicians are! Here are some new to sink your teeth into. Xie Tian Xiao, who just won the MIDI award for best live performer as well as a rock performance award at the Chinese Pop Music awards, was has had a few issues with the boys in blue due to possession of a certain substance. Allegedly, members or reflector and Thin Man were also involved Ember Swift, our favorite vegan songstress, is more or less crowdfunding her next album.. I think it’s the first time ever that I know of an artist using this approach to fund a new release. Check out the information over on her website about how to get involved. Muma is practicing really hard preparing a new album that should be out shortly. This is gonna be the much awaited follow up to Velvet Highway. I did the guy’s style and look forward to catching the band play live sometime soon. Dude, on the other hand, has already finished recording their new EP and they’re getting ready to hit the road again for a road tour though various Chinese cities. Their formula of taking pop songs and punkefying them never gets old… Now, they’re also delving in video as you can see below with this hilarious effort for the Korean smash hit “nobody”… these guys are a blast and tons of fun: The praise is just starting for Omnipotent Youth Society… Their debut [...]
The Mini Skinny
What once started as my personal ramblings has morphed into the number one collective resource about underground live music in Beijing and China. All bands, all music, all Rock n Roll, all the time with a little side of eclectic topics.. best of all, it's still as BIASED as ever
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'dazeFEAST 2012 - June 23rd at 2 Kolegas.
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Can of Worms?
- Joann on Quickslants: Jurat, PiL, XTX, Yangjima for a Loaded End of Week
- On The Scene: 2013 Strawberry Festival Day 1 | Live Beijing Music on MIDI 2013: Anywhere, Anytime, Thanks for the Rock n Roll
- ex virility pill on Quickslants: Jurat, PiL, XTX, Yangjima for a Loaded End of Week
- ruby on MIDI 2013: Anywhere, Anytime, Thanks for the Rock n Roll
- Beijing Daze on MIDI 2013: Anywhere, Anytime, Thanks for the Rock n Roll