Editor's Picks - Shanghai:
Editor’s Picks March 18-21
Are you learning Chinese? Yeah, me neither. At least, not formally. I do think I am getting better at reading body language and using contextual, facial, and intuitive clues to understand how to act in varied situations, though. Learning how to act in foreign and non-verbal settings is essential to survival. We learn this as young children out of necessity and repetition, but it also applies here. Knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do could help you this weekend.
See, there is an obscene amount of live gigs this weekend, due to the peaking of the JUE Festival and other events coming to town to make war on our ears. This is definitely going to lead to scheduling conflicts in our little black weekend books.
What? You don’t keep one of those? Um, me neither.
Let’s just get to the picks.
Thursday, March 18th
The Thermals, 8 PM
I have heard very little from this band, just a couple of tracks from samplers and off their Myspace page. They have a really stupid one up right now that’s just called “Canada”. The lyrics are not much more than that, really. Questionable. The real highlight of the evening is going to be Hedgehog and how well they will perform with their new lineup or, if you’re me; “Can they find a bassist who’s shorter than their drummer?” These are the questions that keep me up at night.
Yuyintang, 100 RMB
1731 Yan’an Xi Lu,
Changning
Entrance at Kaixuan Lu
延安西路1731号
入口在凯旋路
Friday, March 19th
Trippple Nippples, 9 PM
Now this is what I’m talking about! If you read me at all from time to time, you know I enjoy a little quirkiness and showmanship in my music, especially at a live show. Pet Conspiracy would be an excellent example. I have even come to enjoy more and more of this electronic music animal. I’m also reading Shogun right now and I’m totally down with Japan and girls in post-apocalyptic sexy-girl/lamb/rabbit costumes with popcorn ears. I have a special weakness for popcorn ears. So this is a show I’m really excited about, in case you couldn’t tell already. Not even the inevitable Yuyintang space constrictions can dampen my spirits.
Trippple Nippples slip on Myspace.
See Yuyintang info above, 50 RMB
Mod Dance Party, 10 PM
But then there’s this! A good party for sure, with lots of great old-timey soul tunes, performances by The Fever Machine and The Beat Bandits, and maybe even an appearance by DJ Sacco’s trippple nippples! However, I must abide by three caveats: There’s probably time to catch some soul tastiness after the YYT show; there’s bound to be another Mod Dance Party sometime; and you can even catch the Beat Bandits and The Fever Machine on the same bill at Yuyintang on April 4th. So I say go to this later, but only if you’re into popcorn ears and “IDM” (I love that term; it makes me feel so smart.) Where else are you going to go? Bear Babes? Please.
13 Xingfu Lu,
Changning
near Fahuazhen Lu
幸福路13号
近法华镇路
Saturday, March 20th
Secret Machines, 9:30 PM
Apparently this is one of those bands you have to see live to appreciate. I sure hope so, because I listened to their albums and am still waiting for the punchline. It all seems a bit self-important to me, but whatever. New band The Fever Machine, featuring members of Rogue Transmission play their second set in as many nights in support. The former Rogue members are Dan, now playing lead guitar, and Fabien, now playing bass. Miguel the drummer rounds out the trio. We saw them a couple months ago at a “secret” show and they sounded pretty good. Now they’re ready to let the rest of the world in on the secret, playing at LOgO on Friday and this big gig on Saturday.
The Secret Machines on the web.
Mao Livehouse, 200 RMB
570 Huaihai Xi Lu
near Hongqiao Lu
淮海西路570号
近虹桥路
It will probably be a captivating, if expensive, show, especially if it draws people away from this…
Dead Elvis & His One Man Grave, 9 PM
Winner of the coveted Editor’s Pick of the Week Award, overcoming its unfavorable setting at the shoebox-sized LOgO! I don’t care this time. I am getting there to watch this maniacal bastard crawl out of the grave and shoot his television. This is the kind of stuff we need more of here in town; KOOKINESS! Hurray for deranged Dutch dudes!
Check out Dead Elvis & His One Man Grave.
See LOgO Info above, 50 RMB
Baby 13, 10 PM
Bad night to be Baby 13 at Beedee’s, but I will vouch for this band. I have heard them at our practice space and they are cool. They feature a cello and French people rocking, which are always exciting. Here’s a scoop for you: They will also be playing the Stegosaurus? CD Release Pizza Party with entirely too many other cool bands on April 17th. If you don’t like Machines or Zombies, go to this show. Otherwise, check them out on April 17th.
Beedee’s, free
433 Dagu Lu ,
Jing An
near Chengdu Bei Lu
大沽路433号
近成都北路
Sunday, March 21st
Dude, there’s not so much going on listening-wise, but there are opportunities for you poor schlubs to get out of the audience and onto the stage. And they’re on the same street! Jam with the incomparable John Nguidjol at Anar or the incomparable Lucius Clark at LOgO (Can they both be incomparable? I say yes.) It’s also possible to complete the rare LOgO trifecta on Sunday if you attend the Mod Dance Party, Dead Elvis show, and the Sundae Jam Session. It’s a hipster hat trick, if you will. Good luck with that.
See LOgo Info above
Anar
129 Xingfu Lu,
Changning
near Fahuazhen Lu
Both events are completely free.
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