Think you can take it easy this weekend – nope. And though we have the Qingming Festival bringing all kinds of music goodness next week, the weekend ain’t slacking. I’m inclined to say take it easy this weekend, lay back, and relax with some smaller gigs. No? Well, fine, rage on little dudins.
FRIDAY
I’ve yet to get my fill of Dos Kolegas yet this year and it just feels wrong – tonight might have to be the night as the joint is bringing over Inner Mongolian hard rockers Nine Treasures along with recently signed (to Scream Records) Devils at the Crossroads, along with female-led The Incisors. Gulou joint Blue Stream Bar ain’t slacking either, as one of favorite bands Perpetual Motion Machine give an intimate performance along with folktronica duo Red. For smiles and cheers aalong with your beer then check out Temple where b of Buyi gets jolly with the likes of ACID Live – heck its worth it just to see their keyboardist let it rip. Head to the Old What? Bar where indie group Arrows Made of Desire will showcase some new material along with chillax electronic artist thruoutin – perhaps even warm enough to grab a seat outside. Continuing on the trend of dreamy electronica music XP trio of artists, Nara, Rubey, and immune, hit that sweet hypnotic dreamscape electronic chewy center – perfect for a lazy Friday. Alright metalheads these ones are for you – first off Tango is yet again hosting the 330 Metal Festival which will bring together Suffocated, Crack, Deathpack, Skyfire, and many more to head bang long into the night – save your energy for that one. At Yugong Yishan, mega Italian metal group Graveworm will be swinging for the moon with their extreme gothic metal. Kick the dust of those shoes and catch folk rockers Liu Lao & Sand at Mako Livehouse. School is heading back to well school, with these fresh on the scene bands looking to make a splash including Children King, Stay Gold, Lucy & Lily, and A Month Ago. Lastly, Taiwanese indie pop musician Europa looks to warm the hearts of this generation of Chinese at Mao Livehouse.
SATURDAY
The big show tonight is of course XTX, former Cold Blooded Animals, now esteemed rock godfather, who will be taking over Workers Gymnasium for then night – a bit pricey, but come on, how many times do you rock out in a stadium full of fans. Nearby at Yugong Yishan, John Lyton’s post-Sex Pistols, post-punk group PiL will open their arms to Chinese audiences for the first time, as they will be joined by our own ever-awesome post punk trio Re-Tros. However, one doesn’t need to splurge to get a big sounds –take for instance WHAI who will be hitting Temple for the hundredth time will their brand of hard hitting trance-inducing Die Hard-invoking (yeah I went there) cool as a cucumber music. Or take the afternoon off at Mako Livehouse where the Bhutan beauty Yunggiema will grace audiences with her lovely otherworldly voice along with Zhang Tie. Even better that evening the standout roster of who’s who in the folk scene will be on hand including Ma Tiao, Wang Fun Rui, Chuan Zi, and Toy Captain among others for a folk extravaganza. If you’re looking to sweat it out a bit then I’d recommend hitting up the Old What? Bar to catch Penicillin, Pork, Mud & Lotus, and Dirty Little Secret rock the house or head to XP who will host hardcore, metal, and skateboard punk rockers Saving Molly, Nower, and Larry’s Pizza. Hong Kong indie rock group Killer Soap are back in town again – they’ll be hitting up Mao Livehouse along with Escape Plan, and Twinkle Star – lots of swooning girls at this one folks. Lie in the dew over at Dos Kolegas and listen to the lovely ballads of Li Yan and Contraplans, or the ska of Skarving. Lastly, one can check out check Chiren at Jianghu Bar, Zhagn Xiao at Blue Stream Bar, and Dimo at the Hot Cat Club.
SUNDAY
Zajia Lab is throwing a twofer today – first up, a free afternoon hutong improv show featuring the likes of Li Jiannhong and Vavabond holy matrimony that is Mind Fiber and their brand of ‘environmental improvisation’ (read Josh’s piece on them here). Later in the evening, shoegaze darlings Skip Skip Ben Ben return, as they are joined by electronic artists layer, Me:Mo, and knowledge as they bring the weekend to a close. If you’re in denial about the end, then be my guest and kick in some shackles at School where German hardcore group Nothing rocks out, or to Mao Livehouse where a slew of genres and bands perform, including Nine Treasures, 4U, Lady First, No Direction, and more. Lastly, one can hear upbeat uptempo indie rockers Toy Captian at Jianghu Bar.
