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Aug
30thHot List #4: Chasing Stars shakes, Bigger Bang booms, Free the Birds shines and The Face screamsThis has been one hell of an interested weekend all over Beijing with great performances, once in a lifetime events, reunions, festivals and what not. I was dead set on the Back to Basics concert at Workers Stadium for Friday night but I ended up at Yugong Yishan instead for Zippo Hot List with Chasing Stars, Bigger Bang, Free the Birds and The Face. I did not regret it! I was surprised at the size of the turnout considering the number of big scale music events around town with Tanglewood festival and the Gongti show but there must have been a good 350 people at YGYS.. however, about 1/2 the audience had managed to score tickets for free somehow. Chasing Stars 追星族 opened up the festivities with a full lineup including drummer Wang Yun who’s been mostly with Bad Apples over the past few years! Singer Guo Keyu looked visibly nervous as it’s been a long time since she’s been on stage singing due to her movie obligation! There was a noticeable hesitation and self doubt in her demeanor during the first few songs but she picked herself up eventually and performed like i remembered. Her voice is just incredible.. Most of the sounds/songs remain the same and those that did not received a big Keyboards/synth treatment with a bit of trip-hop feeling that i really do not care for. My favorite song of theirs since 2006, wenti zai nali, has been slaughtered to the point of me rather listening [...]
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Aug
3rdZippo Hot List 3 review: Not much fizzle but GuaiLi SizzleThis past friday marked the latest installment of the Zippo Hot List which is fast becoming one of the better monthly events in Beijing with consistently strong and diverse lineups. The last one was no exception but they might have taken the diversity on the wrong path: The festivities started almost on time which is usually a rarity in Beijing, except for Mao Live. First up was White, a side project of Shou Wang (CarSick Cars fame). I’m gonna quote a friend of mine, SQ, who described their set best: “Things can be interesting but not necessarily good“. I wasn’t a fan and that’s an understatement: It was experimental noise as far as i could tell with distortion and special effects leading the way. Everyone keep telling how good Shou Wang is but until now, I haven’t seen proof of it! Guai Li was up next and let me say it straight up: These guys might be the future of Beijing’s underground! The band is tight, they can play their instruments and their songs are multi-faceted multi-layered compostions that are a refreshing breeze of fresh air in a monotonous sea of copycat 2 chorders! Vocalist Wen Jun might well be the skinniest tiniest thing to grace a Beijing stage but her stage presence is completely oversized! She performs with an intensity and passion that are unfortunately missing from many of the local bands. Now these guys are definitely worth looking up and going out of my way for. Next up [...]
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Jul
28thBeijing Live Music Quickslants: Flaming Hot list, Women & GrassInteresting weekend ahead music wise in Beijing with a few good – if not great- shows going head to head with a music festival over 3 days. So check out the Inmusic Festival post for more details about getting your fix of blue sky & grass (maybe) they have some decent acts lined up, especially on Friday… and look below for what could tickle your fancy this weekend in town. Wednesday/Thrusday: Nothing really recommended here.. most smaller venues might have acts on but it could be a good night to just chill and take it easy. Friday July 30th: Zippo Hot List #3 @Yugong yishan: The zippo folks are really serious about this little affair and they’re reaching their third installment. On the menu tonight, you will find Guaili, Ourself Beside Me, Snapline and White which is one of the weirder combos i’ve heard of in a while. Guaili is slowly sky rocketing to the top level of live acts in Beijing and Ourself Beside Me are great when they’re on a good night ( please girls, drink a 1/5 of jim Beam before the gig). Snapline and White intrigue me… side projects that might be better than the ones they spun out of. Lone + Zhan Pan @ VA Vanguard: Lone includes China’s answer to Jim Morrison in the form of former Joyside voice, Bian Yuan. That’s the kind pedigree that makes me wanna go out and check it out. It’s gonna be tough balancing these two gigs on [...]
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Jun
29thZippo Hot List Review: High Kicks – Not Entirely Appropriate!Well, BD billed it as one hell of a show, and that it was! I have to admit I was a little concerned before that the Yugong Yishan curse would strike again, but the someone has done something to that sound system, because it was pumping last night! My buddy S joined me for this one, very excited to be seeing Rustic for the first time (I think I’ve talked them up a lot!) and she was not disappointed. Looking back on my notes the thing that pops up is “High Kicks – Not Entirely Appropriate!” It seems the theme of the night was pants – or lack of, but more about that later …. First up Mister Graceless, a tight 3 piece, with bass and lead guitarists alternating the vocals. I hadn’t heard of these guys before, they’re are good, but a little to formulaic for my tastes. S and I found ourselves each song saying, “Oh, this sounds like … (insert band name here)”. The bass player was much more confident in his abilities, but the lead guitarist (who actually had a better voice) spent most of the set looking at his feet, or with his back to the audience. These guys sing in English, which is not something I generally like with Chinese bands, but they managed to pull it off quite well including S’s favorite line of the night “Dirty things gonna drive you better”. They ended the set with an awesome instrumental. I’m going to [...]
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Jun
24thQuickslants: Yugong Yishan lights up, Wudaokou gets stoned and Jean-Sébastien has something for everyone.The World Cup still holds it’s grip over Beijing nightlife this weekend with vuvuzela being the instrument de jour. It’s relatively quiet on the music front, but Saturday has some gigs not to be missed. Thursday June 24 Zhang Si’an @ Jianghu One of the city’s busiest musicians Jean-Sébastien gave us some free music a couple of weeks back. Come see his guitar, zhongran and drum based folk fill the intimate backroom at Jianghu. (He’ll also be wearing his rock hat on Friday performing with The Amazing Insurance Salesmen @ What Bar) Friday June 25 The Fever Machine @ D22 Ready for some stoner rock? These Shanghai boys make their way to the ‘Jing for the first time, to hang out in the Wu with locals B-side Lovers, The Molds and Guaili. Saturday June 26 Xiao He @ Jianghu Always a source of debate between BD and myself! Experimental folk, electro mixes from this musical genius. Warning: the laptop will be present! DH & The Hellcats @ 2 Kolegas Local favorites darling DH and her band have the best costumes, what will they be wearing this time? Toe tapping swing to make you dance the night away. Zippo Hot List @ Yugong Yishan The second in this series of gigs brings us Wuhan boys AV Akubo (one of the standouts from the disaster that was Strawberry Day 1!), World Battle of the Band winners Rustic, 24 hours and Mr Graceless. (BD note: This should be one hell of a show) [...]
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Jun
2ndZippo Hot List, Subs, The Fever Machine, Miserable Faith & bad Rumors i don’t wanna humorA whole lotta things been happening here yonder and not always needing their own post so here’s a summary: SUBS are rocking a new album and have already started a China tour last saturday (5/29) in Shijiazhuang. I caught a few songs on Friday at Yugong Yishan as part of the Zippo Hot List. The band looked and sounded pretty sharp with less howling and more singing for a change. Look for the new album to hit Beijing when they come back sometime in June/July. Talking about the Zippo Hot list, it sounds like it’s on its way to becoming a regular event. The second one is already tentatively scheduled for June with AV Okubo, 24 Hours, Rustic & Mr. Graceless as possible acts. Interesting move from Zippo and Plastered to associate themselves with up n coming bands. A quick chat with someone in the know did confirm the expected monthly schedule… I hope it works as they’re putting together decent bills so far. Maggie Who‘s new EP will be available on this side of Chaoyang Friday night when they play 2 Kolegas along with Operation Bojinka, another International School Band. It should be an interesting gig at the dive with what i expect to be predominately an expat crowd. Grab a copy of the EP while you’re at it, it’s got 4 decent rocky groovers showcasing the band’s potential! If they stay together, these kids might get somewhere Did you notice the number of indie Canadian bands/acts that descended [...]
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