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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
If you enjoy the links I usually put at the end of Editor’s Picks, then follow me on Google Buzz. You are sure to find the most uproarious links about breast milk cheese and Croc-wearing cats. Just click this link and follow the easy instructions:
New York-adopted band The Secret Machines is coming to Shanghai’s Mao Livehouse this Saturday, thanks to Icon Promotions, within the framework of their first China Tour. Flares of thick, hypnotic music will act as a welcome party to spring. You don’t want to miss it…
A quick glance: The Secret Machines took shape in 2000 in Texas and, after a shift in the earlier formation, the band is now composed by Brandon Curtis (vocals, bass, keyboards), Phil Karnats (guitar) and Josh Garza (drums). The decision to move to New York proved to be pivotal and, thanks to an outright devotion to music, in a short time they released three successful full-length albums: Now Here is Nowhere (2004), Ten Silver Drops (2006), and Secret Machines (2008). These gained them recognition worldwide. They count U2 and David Bowie as fans.
The music of The Secret Machines has often been associated with the spacey soundscapes of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Flaming Lips, and Spacemen 3, but it also displays a unique taste for gritty sounds and restless beats that may recall some post-grunge hints. Best served live.
In a word, expect to get what you came for: Good music, unconditionally.
Layabozi caught up with drummer Josh Garza, who provided insight into the band’s core features and inspirations, and gave us rocking songs for you to listen to while you read. The first one is a single from 2008, “Dreaming of Dreaming”. “Like I Can” and “Terrible Light” are their two newest songs, released just this year on a singles album. “Like I Can” will be free for you to download until this Sunday, the day after the concert.
Layabozi: ”Secret Machines” must have secret ignition devices… we don’t ask you to unravel them, but perhaps you can give us some clue about what is it that got you started and that keeps fueling the sonic grandiosity showcased in your works…
Josh Garza: A love of music is what really inspires us… we feel a need to contribute to the great works of music that exist and try not to add any more “bad” music to the world. “Bad” meaning music made with a lack of desire or not being a true soulful statement from the heart. We do this because we love to do it.
LYBZ: Is there any artist that did somehow cast an influence over you and that, most likely, no one would ever think of?
JG: We are big fans of country music (Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt), golden oldies (The Flamingos, Doo Wop) and Motown (the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye). We could make a list of about 200 bands that are very influential and not likely or obvious. I recently began listening to a Chinese group called the Hanggai Band, they are amazing! They are my new favorite band. I am hoping to meet them on this China tour.
LYBZ: You moved to New York at the early beginning of your career and managed to make a neat breakthrough in short time, what have been the propelling factors? Which the deterrent ones?
JG: One cannot live in NYC and not be motivated. The city itself kinda makes you either fight or flight. It’s a buzz that never sleeps but that can also be a major deterrent. Most people can’t handle the pace and get run over. The best thing is to use the energy and channel it into the music.
LYBZ: To what extent, and in what fashion is your Texas legacy still interwoven with the New York inspiration?
JG: Being born in Texas means it never leaves your heart. I will always have a fondness for Texas, but slowly over the years the influence has eased back a bit because of distance. Living in NYC for ten years has become a bigger and more immediate inspiration. One is a product of their surroundings and Texas has become a chapter from our past. It’s hard to quantify exactly how much of it still exists in our music but I can say that it hasn’t disappeared completely. Our music is still as big and vast as our first album, but now we are more conscious and aware of the rest of the world. It’s called “getting older”.
LYBZ: With increasing confidence over the years, your music keeps venturing into mighty sound cascades where lunar, psychedelic echoes are cleverly interlayered with the rougher pulses of the urban flesh. Is this creative process intentional or it’s just the natural outcome of an innate urge common to all the band-mates? Has it changed throughout your career?
JG: We don’t try to sound a certain way or be too methodical about the direction of a song, but yes, we do have particular tendencies as musicians. Sometimes we try and let the songs tell us what to do and it’s hard to stay out of the way because we might not all see the same purpose of a song. Sometimes a song is only chords and a beat and we have to “feel it out” and see if it sounds better as a ten minute epic or a shorter 4 minute rocker. Just like everybody else we go through different moods and our sound evolves with time. We rely on each other to help guide what emotions we want to express musically and this is something that changes with each song, if not daily.
LYBZ: Many of your tracks (“The Fire Is Waiting”, “The Walls Are Starting To Crack”, “First Wave Intact”…) feature this epic, majestic allure, like you were knights who embarked on some unspoken battle against all the nuances of paranoia post-modern society is imbued with. Yet, and for the best, some sarcasm is detectable in the overall attitude… How seriously do you take this battle? Is it out of self-irony or of far-sightedness that you admit to be “a graveyard of hopes”?
JG: We definitely don’t try to take ourselves too seriously but that doesn’t mean we don’t take music seriously… The best part of our music is that it allows for various interpretations. Obviously there is a “story” for each song but that specifically belongs to Brandon and his lyrics. It wouldn’t be fun to explain it all away and confirm or deny some type of opinion that somebody has about us. That doesn’t mean we don’t have a sense of humor and a light-hearted touch with our songs either. All our songs would be 10 minutes long if we really felt that righteous about ourselves. At the end of the day it’s only a rock ’n roll band having some kind of fun together.
LYBZ: The Secret Machines have been out and about for quite a while already: extensive tours, festivals, movie soundtracks, support acts for artists like U2, Interpol, Blonde Redhead, Spiritualized… can you highlight some unforgettable moments that stand out when you look back? And when you look ahead…?
JG: One of the greatest moments in TSM history was when we supported U2 in Mexico. We played two shows in Mexico City and one in Monterrey. The two shows in Mexico City are remarkable because we played at Aztec Stadium in front of 100,000 each night. The Monterrey show is significant because my parents are from this city and I had tons of family at the show. Right now we are very excited to be going to China. To play there is an honor and we all feel lucky to have the chance to do what we do in such a far and exotic place.
LYBZ: China, the homeland of piracy (DVDs for 1$!)… It may have all started here but nowadays movies, music and to a certain extent culture in general can sometimes spread more easily as control-free traveling files than as original hard copies. Is this endemic and almost institutional new way of music diffusion detrimental for record labels in the end? Now that you have your own (TSM Recordings), do you notice any difficulties in staying afloat?
JG: The problem with a lot of labels is that they didn’t see the Internet as a tool initially. It’s a different story today, but in the mid-90s, not a lot of label execs gave much thought to the Internet…who did? Labels were too busy ignoring the potential and this did lead to them having problems dealing with downloads and how to use them. Blogs and web-zines are the norm now and labels are having to play the game or risk falling behind the times. The Internet is very “band-friendly” and it is a sure way to stay connected to fans and have a platform to exhibit new material and other items that may or may not be music-related. It’s hard to stay afloat as an artist these days, but I think the Internet is a strong ally to have.
LYBZ: How do you picture the audience and the experience of the upcoming tour in China? With the exception of few cases of “erudites” who already know the band and the lyrics, most of the audience is not quite as mature and will probably enjoy the show mainly based on the live performance. How do you feel about it, pressured? Challenged? Reminiscent of the band’s earlier stages…?
JG: It’s exciting to be playing in front of a “new” crowd. Definitely like the earlier days where nobody knew the songs and we had to “rock” or else be forgotten. Fortunately, we aren’t a “new” band so maybe the fans that do show up can kinda give it a buzz type of atmosphere. I think that all bands should be able to perform well in a live setting and it’s always a challenge for us. We don’t assume anything at a show. It’s a time to deliver on the promise that rock ‘n roll can change your life.
LYBZ: So tell us, what is the flaw that makes you perfect?
JG: We carry our heart on our sleeves. It makes us vulnerable but at least we remain honest. It’s a pretentious answer but…
Most people have already commented on the Maybe Mars Showcase at MAO Livehouse last Saturday night and moved on, but I was busy this weekend and didn’t have time to collect my thoughts and put fingertips to keyboard until now.
To recap, the lineup was Birdstriking, a three-piece, kind of screamy, rock-type thingy; Guai Li (Strange Power), spacey, garage-y sourpusses; Carsick Cars, the old reliable station wagon; and AV Okubo, the souped-up sports car parked outside a pawn shop.
Birdstriking never really got a chance to show off their stuff. At least two songs were ruined due to a busted bass drum partway through their set, which also resulted in a ten-minute delay. They pulled out a below-average cover of Blur’s “Song 2,” also. However, I can’t really judge them on this performance, due to the break in momentum. Maybe they would have gone on to great heights, but, as things stood, they didn’t quite make it on this night. Too bad for them. I really felt bad for them and this is chance to scold MAO a little bit. Look, I don’t know what happened to the bass drum, but when was the last time you ever saw that happen? What else can go wrong with this place? More on MAO qualms in a bit.
Guai Li was on next and the bass drum came around. Their music is kind of hard to describe. It went in and out of little punky numbers into longer, sweeping rock epics. With an attractive (if skinny) female lead singer, this band should have been a slam dunk for me, but I never really entered the Guai Li fortress of solitude during their set. Something was off-putting about the singer. First of all, either she’s not a very forceful singer or her vocals were not loud enough, or both. I could barely hear her at regular intervals. Second, she just didn’t look like she was having very much fun. Obviously, she doesn’t owe me or the rest of the audience anything, but that didn’t help to endear me to a band I was seeing for the first time. Some people have It (see: Pupi and Feng, Helen), some people don’t.
Carsick Cars pulled the old switcheroo with AV Okubo for some reason. I’m guessing it was because it was the first time people there could buy the new AV Okubo record Greed of Man, and they wanted to make it like a CD release event, but I think they screwed themselves over. The show got off to a late start, the two openers played really long sets (for openers), and people immediately began streaming out after Carsick Cars. It was kind of ridiculous. At one point I was standing near the door to the backstage area, waiting for AV Okubo to start. Then their bassist came out and we started to chat. As I was asking him questions, I realized he was supposed to be playing music! I told him he should probably start and he ducked back into the “dressing room.” They started pretty quick after that, but I found it funny.
So AV Okubo began and they were a little sluggish at the start, but they came around. I thought “Breakwave” came off nicely. I’m going to have to give their change of drummers a great big thumbs-down, not just because I like Lucky personally. The new (old) drummer does not have Lucky’s percussive and rhythmic force. Whatever spurred them to make the change, it has not improved the band.
I really enjoy the darkness of AV Okubo, but it also kind of unsettles me. Lots of bands have an anger to them, but you kind of don’t take it seriously. AV Okubo makes me feel like they are dealing with some real, industrial wasteland depression. At least they’ve got music, but if I ever see a story about a dude in a captain’s hat on a murderous rampage in Wuhan, I can’t say I will be terribly surprised.
I didn’t say much about Carsick Cars, but what’s to say? They are damn good. There’s a reason why they and P.K. 14 are considered the best bands in China right now. They are damn good. The difference between the two shows is that P.K. 14 took their headlining mantle seriously at the last showcase and gave a great performance in the right slot. It was like a heavyweight champion defending his title against the best possible challenger, whereas Carsick Cars ducked him and went against the glass-jawed journeyman. And why? Because Zhang Shouwang wanted to DJ a really short and not very interesting set at LOgO? I wish I did, but I just don’t understand it.
Finally, on to the continuing problems with MAO. I think they are suffering from an expectation problem, for which they are at least partially responsible. However, it must be said that we, as in Shanghai underground music fans, are also to blame. I for one know that I expected a lot from this venue when it was getting off the ground. We wanted it to be like Yuyintang with better sound and more capacity. Well, we got those things. We really did. There are a great many kinks to be ironed out (Is it true they don’t actually have a music license? Eegads.) However, as Kerouac said, “Walking on water wasn’t built in a day.” I had a good time on Saturday night. It was better than a poke in the eye (with a broken beer bottle.)
What the fuck is up, people?!? Let’s get back to some motherfucking music! Whoa. Sorry, I feel like a just took a big hit of musical methamphetamines. If live music is your drug, the last week of February is going to be pretty epic, but it is only a prelude to a very, very busy March coming up. Who has time for rumination? Rehab is for quitters. Let’s keep the musical high going and get to the Picks.
Wednesday, February, 24th
Willow Neilson Quartet, 9 PM
Layabozi did some reconnaissance on this guy at JZ the other night. It’s a good band and it should be interesting to catch them at YuYinTang, Plus, you never know who else might show up. Willow says he used to live on a circus bus. Maybe some circus freaks or carnies will be there or something. I’m holding back other references right now. Peruse Willow’s Myspace page, here.
YuYinTang, 50 RMB
1731 Yan’an Xi Lu,
Changning
Entrance at Kaixuan Lu
延安西路1731号
入口在凯旋路
1731 Yan’an Xi Lu,
Changning
Entrance at Kaixuan Lu
延安西路1731号
入口在凯旋路
Later, after you hit the PETA show…Teenage Kicks
DJs Wongton, Sacco, and Oh Snaps. Flyers with crowned tigers armed to the teeth. Black-eyed schoolgirls brandishing knives. It’s like they went back in time and photographed my entire adolescence. Should we call this the official PETA after-party?
The Shelter, 10 RMB
5 Yongfu Lu,
Xuhui
near Fuxing Lu, Metro Line 1 Changshu Lu Station
永福路5号
近复兴路, 地铁1号线常熟路站
Friday, February 26th
Jehosaphat Blow and the Blah Blah Blahs, 9 PM
I have seen these guys on a couple occasions recently and they are really tight and fun. I feel like they could keep playing headline shows with inferior bands (70s cover band, anyone?) or they could go the other route and open up for some of the bigger bands. They really are good enough for either. Their Douban page has an interesting creation myth.
YuYinTang, 30 RMB
1731 Yan’an Xi Lu,
Changning
Entrance at Kaixuan Lu
延安西路1731号
入口在凯旋路
Uprooted Sunshine presents Boj Lucki, another late one
I think this will be the show of the night. Uprooted is beginning to make some more moves. They seem to wake up in the spring. I remember last year they made some moves with their anniversary show at Shelter and then a next-day, really good performance on the Electrograss stage at the JZ Music Fest. This spring they are doing a small China tour and continuing to put on quality events at Shelter. Check up on their exploits on their Myspace page, here. And check out this show Friday night.
The Shelter, 50 RMB
5 Yongfu Lu,
Xuhui
near Fuxing Lu, Metro Line 1 Changshu Lu Station
永福路5号
近复兴路, 地铁1号线常熟路站
It might even be getting the coveted Editor’s Pick of the Week of it weren’t for this…
Saturday, February 27th
Independent China in Stereo, 8 PM
Carsick Cars, AV Okubo (Layabozi Darlings), Guai Li, and Birdstriking. The first two are majors and the second two are up and comers. AV Okubo’s long-awaited new album Greed of Man will be on sale on the premises. Dan Shapiro has a preview of the show and a review of the new album, here. Once I get a hold of it I will be reviewing its pants off, also. So stay tuned.
MAO Livehouse, 60 RMB presale, 100 at the door
570 Huaihai Xi Lu
near Hongqiao Lu
淮海西路570号
近虹桥路
One Hit Killing Night, 9PM
I feel obligated to hype this show because I think it will be a fun night. The biggies are Dragon Pizza (awesome name), 5-Pointed Star (a nu metal band, a genre that the Mushrooms often get lumped into, also), and Forget and Forgive (emo Kungfuology Darlings who also play the PETA show). I hope they have a good crowd, although they are going against another terrific show just down the way.
YuYinTang, 40 RMB
1731 Yan’an Xi Lu,
Changning
Entrance at Kaixuan Lu
延安西路1731号
入口在凯旋路
Sunday, February 28th
Anar Jam Session, 9ish
I get John’s manic text messages for this event every week and usually I don’t go (you know, it requires pants and everything), but I did attend a couple weeks ago. It’s a fun time for a Sunday night and you can always check out the action on the rest of the street. Bring an instrument, just your voice, or something, anything. Maybe John will even wrap you up in one of his big, sweaty man-hugs. Now that is an experience.
And, with that, the Picks are complete for this week, but make sure to check out the Self-Improvement links under the picture.
Who doesn’t love to surf the Internet and learn interesting skills? This week’s list of links is devoted to Self Improvement. Improve your proficiencies in:
There’s so much music going on! Knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do could help you this weekend.
Live Dates
Layabozi on the net
We Are...
Layabozi is a web magazine about music in Shanghai today, with a sprinkle of the extra-mural and a tart sassiness—without ever being cloying. We take our inspiration from the snack which is both exotic (to us) and down home, and from which we take our name: Spicy Duck Necks.
The songs posted in this website are for analysis purposes only. We, the contributors, love - deeply - music and we work to support the artists we love by promoting and purchasing their work; it is our policy only to post what we own or what the artists/owners have authorized us to publish. Through this site, we're simply sharing music with others hoping they will also support these artists and appreciate the quality of their work. We encourage everyone to purchase music and concert tickets for the artists you feel deserve your money and energy. If you own the copyright to one of the songs posted on this website and would like it removed, please let us know we'll respond fast as a the wind. We do not keep an archive of our songs. And we do take obsessive care of our records, cassettes, cd's, dvd's, videos, books, autographs, photos and old tickets to concerts we loved.
Feel free to contact us if you are a band, label or distributor and think we'd be interested in your music. Same goes if you're playing a gig in either Shanghai, China, Asia, Gaia, or outer space and want us to come.
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.
