December 3rd, 2009 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by mike
Thursday:
Grain of Truth and Break for Borneo
We start things off with a COIP: my and Zack’s band, the greatest Tropical Rock/Island Blues outfit from here to Istanbul, joined by Phoenix, USA’s finest, Grain of Truth. Our band features Adam Crossley and Becca Smith (of the Dovetail Joints) handling songwriting, singing, guitar, ukelele, etc., Yam Aquino on the drumset, Zak on ndike, triangle, musical frog, raps, etc., and yours ever so truly on the bass. We basically rule. Grain of Truth are pretty rockin‘ too. Their guitar sound is somehow familiar (and tasty) but not overused. They also cite as an influence the Deftones, about whom I haven’t thought in a really long time. I liked them but they were unfortunate in being discovered by me right before the end of my first rock phase. I should check them out again, but YOU should check out this show.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00-11:30
40 RMB cover
Karma Koma
It’s the start of The Shelter’s two-year anniversary weekend! Check Talk’s interview with the fellas who make Shelter go and Morgan’s mp3 Monday with samples of some of the dudes this weekend. Tonight is Downstate supported by SIG, LON, Drunk Monk, and ChaCha.
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start
20 RMB cover
Friday:
YuYinTang 5-year Anniversary
The other stalwartest Picks stalwart, YYT, has Shelter beat in the age department as they turn five this same weekend. If you have the money to open a club, I recommend you do it this auspicious weekend. If you do so you will achieve longevity, fortune, and the love of Layabozi. The Shanghai forces celebrating the anniversary are: Weghur, Yu Guo (aka Flying Fruit), Cold Fairyland, and The Mushrooms. It’s free, but the flier says go to “超韵琴行” to get tickets. It’s not the same characters exactly, but I’m going to just guess that’s the music shop a block south of YYT that Andy Best mentioned a year ago. They’re also giving away a Squier guitar, which at first I thought was a Chinese guitar maker that had decided to rip-off Fender’s shittier line, but in fact Fender’s shittier line has always been misspelled and I just never noticed. Anyway, there’s other prizes too, so get that ticket and get there as early as you can because it will be packed as hell.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00 start
No cover, but I guess you should get tickets
Shelter Anniversary continued: All the Shanghai Cats
See above for more details and links about the whole weekend, but tonight it will be all the major Shanghai crews for an hour each:
10pm-11pm: Karma Koma (downbeat, trip hop)
11pm-12am: DJ Sickstar (hip hop)
12am-1am: Uprooted Sunshine (live dancehall, reggae)
1am-2am: The Lab (V Nutz and Fortune back to back; hip hop)
2am–3am: Sweatshop (drum n bass)
3am–4am: Void (techno, house)
4am-5am: Sub-Culture (Drunk Monk, Deville w/ MCs; dubstep)
(list c/p’d from Morgan with love)
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start, obviously
50 RMB cover
Saturday:
Shelter Birthday Part III
For the final night of the party, and their last night before they spend the rest of the month remodeling and not partying, Shelter has brought dubstep pioneer Distance, who will be supported by DJ Wash, Deville, Drunk Monk, dji, MC Didje (those two really need to have a showdown and the loser gets a more different name), ChaCha, MC Esia, and MC Arminda.
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start
50 RMB cover
Lions of Puxi CD Release Party
Famous as Layabozi interview subjects, a groovy fun band, and for a cover of Sting’s “Englishman in New York” (“Shanghai de Faguoren“), the Lions of Puxi are party rockers of the highest order, with reggae as the common denominator, and Jhonny and Alain (also of Wednesday at JZ) as the foundation. Check them out, along with Five Pence, DJ Xeum, Wayne’s Basement, Theo Croker, Jammala, and Attractive Rootine. You can also pick up their CD.
Zhijiang Dream Factory, Block B 4F inside New Factories, 28 Yuyao Lu near Xikang Lu
9:00-1:00
Cover is currently scarily unknown. My phone is broken, but you could try calling Dream Factory (5213 5226).
50 RMB cover, and 50 RMB CDs. Thanks Carl!
Aux. Pick: Papier Tigre
Though I’m hesitant to pick a live show at LOgO, Papier Tigre are returning to their spiritual home, sound like a fun band, and Emma interviewed them, thus they are an auxiliary pick. There are also a billion support acts, to wit: The Horses, MNO Show, Little Punk vs. Mau Mau, Trix, Dan.electronimerican, and Mau Mau, in a non-vs.-Little Punk capacity.
LOgO, 13 Xingfu Lu near Fahuazhen Lu
10:00 start
40 RMB cover
Sunday:
Hollerado
Split Works has brought these dudes back from the wilds of Canada to rock YYT, which they surely will do, as part of a pretty massive tour across half the world. See the all the tour dates and more on their awesome website.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00 start
40 RMB cover
Monday:
Mark Bai Trio
I added an extra day to the picks so I can tell you to go to my other show this weekend. Mark Bai is one of the awesomest piano players in Shanghai, Corey Radford is one of the awesomest drummers (as his name suggests), and I like to think I’m not bad at bass. Toby Mak will also join us for a few tunes on trumpet. There will be some originals, some standards, some beautiful tunes, some ballsy tunes, some swingers, some straight-eighth/pseudo-latin tunes, some tunes in 5 and 7, and always always attentiveness and freedom. In all seriousness I am highly highly excited about this show. CHECK IT OUT!
JZ Club, 46 Fuxing Xi Lu near Yongfu Lu
9:30 start
No cover
tags: Attractive Rootine - Break for Borneo - ChaCha - Cold Fairyland - Conflict of Interest Pick - Corey Radford - Crazy Mushroom - Dan.electronimerican - Distance - Dj Deville - DJ Mau Mau - Dj Sickstar - DJ Wash - dji - Downstate - Drunk Monk - Five Pence - Grain of Truth - Hollerado - Jammala - JZ - Karma Koma - Lions of Puxi - Little Punk - LOgO - Lon - Mark Bai - MC Arminda - MC Didje - MC Esia - Mike Brownell - MNO Show - Papier Tigre - Pure Party - Sig - Split Works - Sub-Culture - Sweatshop - The Horses - The Lab Crew - The Shelter - Theo Croker - Toby Mak - Trix - Uprooted Sunshine Crew - Void - Wayne's Basement - Weghur - Xeum - Yu Guo - YuYinTang - Zhijiang Dream Factory
November 7th, 2009 |
Posted in Articles by mache
October was the happy anniversary of the Party. To commemorate this unforgettable date and help it be a bit more unforgettable, we created a little anthology of China’s music.
The 60 years of the party (maybe the longest party ever) caused a lot of expectations. At the end, the celebration, like everything else in life, happened faster than the wind and all the talk about it is already gone. We wanted the party to last a bit longer so we asked around for some help, and created our first list. We are happy to present you this list of 60 best/favorite Chinese albums from local music celebrities.
The criteria was totally subjective and attached to luck and the law of whatever will be, will be. The only thing that was not random here was the selection of the people we asked to do this.
We chose nine musicians and one promoter (ten to one should be the amount of musicians to promoters, at the most). Among them there are jazz, electronic, and rock musicians. There are producers, writers, teachers of music, arrangers, and fans. We hope this group is a representative selection of the population of our dear Republic.
We asked each of them to tell us six of their favorite/best Chinese albums. Among the lists you will find that some of these albums actually are not Chinese Chinese Chinese. But that’s how we roll here.
Also, to make it a better experience for obsessive music fans like me, we did a little research on every one of the albums to give you links about the bands and albums. In many cases, the links will take you to sites were you can listen to the complete album. There were some of them that were too old to find out more information, so if you can educate us better, then go on and please do it.
Of course I realized some people could repeat the album that other one mentioned, so technically there are not exactly 60 albums, but those albums that have been mentioned more than once are clearly more relevant, and if you don’t have them in your collection, maybe it is time you do.
Enough talk. Let’s go for it. Dear Sino-Melomaniac audience, I’m proud to introduce you 60 albums to celebrate the Chinese Party. Viva la Republica!!!
Super Sophia, the wise PR, booker, and creative mind from YuYinTang
1.
Artist: Underground Baby 地下婴儿
Abum: Wake Up 觉醒
Year: 1998
They’re one of the early Chinese punk bands (maybe the first Chinese punk band). Lots of Chinese youth got into punk from this album. It’s a landmark of the punk scene in China.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: Douban.com Xiami.com
2.
Artist: P.K.14
Album: Go Upstairs and Turn Left 上楼就往左拐
Year: 2001
P.K.14 is one of the best rock bands in China, and people think they’re the best post punk band. It’s their first album, including the songs they wrote from 1997, and those songs are still their best-known songs.
The Artist: Maybemars.com
The Album: Maybemars.com Xiami.com
3.
Artist: Rebuilding the Right of Statues (Re-TROS) 重塑雕像的权利
Abum: Cut Off
Year:2005
They are becoming one of the biggest bands in China. I like their dark style in this album.
The Artist: Re-tros.com Myspace.com
The Album: Douban.com Xiami.com
4.
Artist: Wang Wen 惘闻
Album: IV
Year: 2008
I think they’re the best instrumental band in China. And this is their best album.
The Artist: Douban.com Myspace.com
The Album: Last.fm Xiami.com
5.
Artist: Hedgehog 刺猬
Album: Noise Hit World
Year: 2007
I love the energy from the songs and their catchy melodies.
The Artist: Myspace.com Official blog
The Album: Douban.com
6.
Artist: Subs
Album: Down
Year: 2006
I always get impressed by their live shows, but it’s also a good album to listen to. You can feel that power from the tunes.
The Artist: Last.fm Myspace.com Rockinchina.com Official blog
The Album: Douban.com
SIG is a hell of a beatmaker from Qingdao, now living in Shanghai and working on Udance.com
7.
Artist: Cui Jian 老崔
Album: “Rock n’ Roll on the New Long March” 新长征路上的摇滚
Year: 1988
The godfather of rock n’ roll in China, this album is a mixture of different music styles by using Chinese traditional instruments as well as Western instruments. Cui Jian has brought the underground music culture to the mainstream, and this is what he’s known for.
The Artist: Official blog
The Album: Rockinchina.com
8.
Artist: Dou Wei 窦唯
Album: “Dark Dream” 黑夢
Year: 1994
This album came out when the whole of China was trying to imitate the heavy metal rock style from the West. No one understood this album until 10 years after its release.
The Artist: Douwei.net
The Album: Douban.com 9sky.com
9.
Artist: Dou Wei 窦唯
Album: “Hallucinations” 幻听
Year: 1999
This is a collaboration with ”Bu Yi Ding” They are using the style of post-rock to create an artistic mood in China.
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Rockinchina.com 9sky.com
10.
Artist: Dou Wei 窦唯
Album:”One Stone, Two Birds” 壹举·两得
Year: 2003
Free Jazz? Dou Wei has gone too far…
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Douban.com Xiami.com
11.
Artist: M uMa 木马
Album: ”Mu Ma” 木马
Year: 2000
The sound of sadness and sorrow has started a new music era in China.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com Modernsky.com Douban.com
The Album: Modernsky.com
12.
Artist: Mu Tui Gua
Album: “The Posture of an Insult”
Year: I could not find when this album was released.
Personally, I think this is the most perfect album in China. It contains 3 original songs by Mu Tui Gua, but it’s a shame that they are the only 3 songs they’ve ever released.
The Artist & The Album: Top100.cn
Liman, as his bio says, is “One of the new breed of electronic musicians in China.“
13.
Album: “Kung Fu Hustle Soundtrack” 功夫电影原声大碟
Performed by The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Year: 2004
The Movie: Imdb.com
The Album: Wikipedia.org 1ting.com
14.
Album: “Swordsman 2” Soundtrack 笑傲江湖
Year: 1992
The Movie: Imdb.com
The Album: 1ting.com
15.
Artist: Joseph Koo
Album: “Greatest TV Themes” 顾嘉辉音乐名作
Year: 1984
The Artist: Musicool.cn Wikipedia.org
The Album: Inkui.com
16.
Album: “Ashes of Time” Soundtrack 东邪西毒
Year: 1994
The Movie: Imdb.com
The Album: Xiami.com 1ting.com
17.
Album: The Last Emperor Soundtrack 末代皇帝原声大碟
Year: 1987
The Movie: Imdb.com
The Album: Amazon.com
18.
Album: Once Upon a Time Soundtrack 黄飞鸿原声音乐大碟
Year:1992
The Album: Jet-li.cn
Andy Best is one of the centers of information when it comes to Chinese indie rock. His blog, kungfuology.com, is a classic of Chinese rock literature already.
Andy commented on his list: “This task is both easy and difficult. Easy because most China based indie bands don’t have proper albums, which both narrows it down and also skews it towards Beijing, who have larger labels. Difficult because six will still mean leaving out good records.
It’s controversial to leave out some more prolific recording artists such as PK-14 but the final deciding factor was based on what I still listen to down the line without thinking about it too much.”
19.
Artist: Subs
Album: Down
Year: 2006 (Self Published)
Subs have done three CDs, all good, and this was the second one. Standout track: “Down”
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Rockinchina.com
20.
Artist: Lava/Ox/Sea
Album: Next Episode: Lord Smart vs Dr. Jin” (Miniless Records)
Year: 2009
The cream of the Miniless stable and the Shanghai based experimental scene. Standout track: “Vertigo”
The Artist: Myspace.com Rockinchina.com
The Album: Xiami.com
21.
Artist: Hedgehog 刺猬
Album: “Noise Hit World” (Modern Sky)
Year: 2007
Their latest, Blue Daydreaming, is arguably better but this album marked their explosion onto the scene. It is their second out of three albums, the first being Happy Idle Kid. Standout track: “Toys and Children’s Day”
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: Xiami.com
22.
Artist: Ourself Beside Me
Album: “Ourself Beside Me” (Maybe Mars)
Year: 2009
A lot of good releases to choose from out of the Maybe Mars stable, but I find myself listening to this album more than the Carsick Cars debut. The CD perfectly captures the band’s creative vision. Standout track: “Sunday Girl”
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Band: Xiami.com
23.
Artist: Boys Climbing Ropes
Band: “A Pleasure To Be Here” (Self Published)
Year: 2008
A low-key Shanghai band who also helped bring Little Punk’s famed persona to the stage. The CD brings the intelligence of the band’s music to life. Standout track: “Dirty Bots”
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Xiami.com
24.
Artist: Joyside
Album: “Drunk Is Beautiful” (Modern Sky)
Year: 2004
Out in 2004, it kick started the post-SARS era. Captures that Beijing scene punk feel thing that people are always going on about. Standout track: “Sunday Morning”
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Xiami.com
B6 is a great producer and musician for electronic music in Shanghai.
B6 commented about his list “All of these are true albums from China. Taiwan, Hong Kong can go to hell.”
25.
Album: Once Upon a Time Soundtrack
Artist:Di Huimin, Xiu-Yan Zhang 翟惠民、张秀艳
Year: 1998
This awesome album is not “chi zhi qiang’s”
The Album: Baidu.com
26.
Album: Journey to the West OST (Old Version) 西游记OST(老版)
Personally, I believe that after the reform and open policy the entire Chinese music world attains its best work, and nobody has been able to exceed it yet.
The Movie: Sohu.com
The Album: Verycd.com
27.
Artist: Cui Jian 崔健
Album: “Nothing Chinese Rock and Roll Music” 一无所有
Year:1989
Chinese rock music, the only one in the audience on the status of a decent album.
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Douban.com Wikipedia.org
28.
Artist: Liu H & Deng Jie Yi 刘鸿 & 邓洁仪
Album: 87 Fever – 87 狂热
Year: 1987
Chinese dance music, nobody has made it better yet.
The Album: Inkui.com
29.
Artist : Zhou Feng 周峰
Album: Eye of the Charm 眼之魅
Year: 1985
Because the dim light of night is waning, and there’s a monsoon. This album has two songs.
The Album: Qq.com
30.
Artist: Zhang Qiang 张蔷
Album: Golden Dreams 金色梦幻
Year: 1986
I think she was hot.
The Album: Mtvtop.net
Han Han, clever leader of Miniless Records and bands such as Lava Ox Sea and Duck Fight Goose.
31.
Artist: Muscle Snog
Album: Mind Shop
Year: 2009
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Rockinchina.com
32.
Artist: PK14
Album: City Weather Sailing
Year: 2008
The Artist: Myspace.com
The Album: Amazon.com
33.
Artist: Zuo Xiao Zu Zhou
Album: “The Missing Master” “走失的主人 “
Year:1998
The Artist: Official blog
The Album: Rockinchina.com
34.
Artist: The Fly
Album: “Fallen Love”
Year: 1998
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: Douban.com Msgprodiction.com
35.
Artist: Flies
Album: The Fly 2
Year: 2000
The Album: Douban.com
36.
Artist: The Fly
Album: The fly
Year: 1997
The Album: Douban.com
Erica Lee is a great singer of jazz, soul, folk, and pop music. She is usually performing at JZ, and soon she will release her long-awaited album.
37.
Artist: Faye Wong王菲
Album: “Restless” 浮躁
Year: 1996
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Wikipedia.org 1ting.com
38.
Artist: Khalil Fong
Album: “This Love” 爱爱爱
Year: 2006
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: 1ting.com Last.fm
39.
Aritst:. Karen Mok
Album: “Karen Mok on the Twelfth Floor “ 十二楼的莫文蔚
Year: 2000
The Artist: Wikipedia.org Official blog
The Album: 1ting.com
40.
Artist: Anita Nui 梅艳芳 烈
Album:”Flaming Red lips” 焰红唇
Year:1987
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: 1ting.com
41.
Artist: Chang Shi Lei
Album: “Niu China” After New China – 80 Red Classic
Year:2009
The Album: 1ting.com
42.
Artist: David Wong
Album: “ 让每个人都心碎”
Year:1990
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: 1ting.com
Peng Fei is a talented violin player, composer, and arranger. Usually you can find him on JZ’s stage with his white electric violin, making great performances along with his band, The Possicobilities, and some of the other bands passing by JZ’s stage.
43.
Artist: Sandy Lam
Album: “Faces and Places”
Year: 1990
She is from Hong Kong and this album has a very good production. This album lead Hongkongnese music to another level.
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Wayango.com
44.
Artist: Sandy Lam
Album:” Come Back to Love”
Year:1992
This is from a similar period from the one before, but then they tried with different styles of music. During these years, the music market was much bigger and peoplewere trying to push music in more interesting ways.
The Artist: Fans blog
The Album: Wayango.com
45.
Artist: Jonathan Lee 李宗盛
Album: “Can’t Give Up” 不舍
Year: 1994
He is the best lyrics writer in the history of Chinese pop music, though not the best singer. The arrangers for this album did great work with these songs too.
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Wayango.com
46.
Artist: Kay Huang 黃韻玲
Album “Be my Friend” 做我的朋友
Year: 1993
This is one of her first albums. She studied music in Berkley, and this album was recorded in the States by the time she was finishing her studies and beginning to take her career on. She prepared many years for this album, and it reflects very well the music style of this time. It’s a bit like fusion and jazz, not very commercial really.
The Artist: D-addicts.com
The Album: Wayango.com
47.
Artist: Zhao Jiping 赵季平
Album: “Electric Shadows”
Year: 2000
He is one of the soundtrack composers for the movies of 张艺谋 (Zhang Yimou). And this is one of his best compositions. Performed by the China Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus. It’s a very Chinese style, if anyone likes Chinese music they should get this album. His music has very strong sounds. He is a professor in the Shanghai Conservatory, his music is more like from the style of the north of China, it’s even a bit brutal, but it’s a very different expression of music. By the way, this is an album to learn about the proper combination of Chinese instruments in an orchestra.
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Filmtracks.com Wayango.com
48.
Artist: Faye Wong 王菲
Album: “Fable”
Year: 2000
Here are the most famous songs, at least those I like. I think the producer of this album is one of the most famous in China, and this is maybe his best done one. I think on this album she formed her style and her name, as it is today.
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Wikipedia.org Wayango.com
Feng Hao is drumming and jamming jazz around the best places for jazz in Shanghai, and once in a while you’ll find him playing with his free jazz band The Blue Koi Collective.
Feng said about his list “I love all the Chinese mainland music from the 80s to 90s. That is a special time for China. Almost all of this music was written for the Communist government. It’s ugly, but also very true, because this is the only music for Chinese people at that time. Those musicians are all dead now, but they are great musicians. They lived in the wrong age.”
49.
Artist: Mark Bai 白天
Album:First trio+quintet album
Year: 2008
It’s the best contemporary original Chinese jazz musician’s music. The highest level of Chinese jazz!
The Artist: Myspace.com
50.
Artist: Little Tiger 小虎队
Album: Happy new year 新年快乐(忧欢派对)
Year: 1989
Xiao Hu Dui is a boy group. Its probably the first music album I ever heard in my life, 1989-1990, vintage and hopeful. Enough said!
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Wayango.com
51.
Artist: Loudspeaker 扩音器
Album: Demo
Year: 1999
My favorite punk trio band, although they changed now, but this tape gave me a lot of hope and energy. It also made me determined to be a musician.
The Artist: Myspace.com Rockinchina.com
52.
Artist: Teresa Teng 邓丽君
Album: Best collection
Year: 1992
She is the first pop singer from the Taiwan Republic, which also effected a lot of those pop music industry of China Mainland for a long time. A lot of her music was arranged by Japanese arrangers, so its really brilliant, and, for Chinese people, Teresa means vintage, classic beauty, so I love her music. It’s warm and romantic, the Chinese way.
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Wayango.com
53.
Artist: Sally Yeh 叶倩文
Album: Face to face 面对面
Year: 1989
She is my favorite Honkongnese female pop singer. Her music is also from the 80s. Warm and a bit sad, it makes me remember my childhood. This album includes her famous song, Qian Zui Yi Sheng. That’s the song of hers I liked best.
The Artist: wikipedia.org
The Album: 1ting.com
54.
Artist: Zhang Chu 张楚
Album: Aeroplane Factory 造飞机的工厂
Year: 1997
I remember I had a very bad year, almost eight years ago. I listened to the whole album about one thousand times. Everyday it just kept me going. It’s something like a pop folk rock mix.
The Artist: Wikipedia.org
The Album: Douban.com
Lucky is the fortunate and talented AV Okubo drummer.
55.
Artist: Voodoo Kungfu
Album: Voodoo Kungfu
Year: 2008
This is full national metal. Live, it also has a strong visual impact, like hearing double.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: Xiami.com
56.
Artist: Hua Lun 花伦
Album: Silver Daydream
Year: 2008
This is one of the best Chinese post-rock bands. It reaches your heart’s core.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: Xiami.com
57.
Artist: Rebuilding the Right of Statues (Re-Tros) 重塑雕像的权利
Album: Watch Out Climate has Changed, Fat Mum Rises
Year: 2009
Serious and orthodox post-punk, the absolute big style.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: Xiami.com
58.
Artist: Carsick Cars
Album: “Carsick Cars”
Year: 2007
Unexpected guitar art.
The Artist: Official website Rockinchina.com
The Album: Xiami.com
59.
Artist: Flying Fruit (aka Yu Guo) 羽果
Album: 巴别塔-
Year: 2009
Beautiful melodies and the CD sounds like it’s live.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: 9sky.com Xiami.com
60.
Artist: AV Okubo Av大久保
Album: Great Era 大时代-
Year: not released yet
Great band. The album features story songs and totally rocks.
The Artist: Rockinchina.com
The Album: (Mache’s note) This album has been long-awaited and it’s still not out. And I accepted it on Lucky’s list of albums because I totally dig them and I’m hoping the album will be worth it to join this and many other lists of the best of China. Always hope for music.
tags: Andy Best - Anita Nui - AV Okubo - B6 - Carsick Cars - Chang Shi Lei - China - Chinese Soundtracks - Cui Jian - David Wong - Dou Wei - Electronic - Erica Lee - Faye Wong - Feng Hao - Han Han - Hedgehog - Jazz - Joseph Koo - Joyside - Karen Mok - Khalil Fong - Lava|Ox|Sea - Liman - Liu H & Deng Jie Y - Lucky - Mark Bai - Ourself Beside Me - P.K. 14 - Peng Fei - Re-tros - Rock - Sandy Lam - Sig - Subs - Super Sophia - The Fly - Voodoo Kungfu - Zhang Chu
July 30th, 2009 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by mike
Thursday
Andidote
Shanghai’s classic grimy monthly dance party goes down in basement club C’s, where you can warm up on this cool post Thunderstorm night. DJ’s are Kid Plastik, J Alexander, Fish, and Ozone.
C’s Bar, 685 Dingxi Lu, between Fahuazhen Lu and Yan’an Lu
9:00 start
No cover
Fei and Haixin
A good pre-Antidote option, though at 70 RMB a pitcher of beer, a slightly more expensive option, is this duo at Sus2, a dive-y bar RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO C’s. The two-guitars-and-voice duo play some sweet pop and jazz, the customers are a little sloppy, and the staff are super nice. It’s a good homey low-key spot if you want a short break from the wild freakout going down in the basement at C’s. Disclaimer: last time I went there with a few musician friends we sat in for a couple tunes and were given three pitchers of beer and t-shirts by the extremely friendly boss, so they have pretty much permanently won me over. I’m pretty sure I would have liked it anyway though.
Sus2, Same address as above
9:00 start
No cover
Friday
Bottle Trio
It’s the return of the Conflict of Interest Pick! This is the gig I do Fridays and Saturdays (and Tuesday without a singer) at the newly opened Sound Blue jazz club. There have been some issues with quality of service and price of drinks, which we have discussed with the boss to no avail, but I do sincerely think the band is pretty good. It’s made up of hidden treasure Mark Bai on piano, who is really a top-notch player in town but is little seen or heard because he doesn’t hang out at JZ, which is, in addition to being a great club, an important place for jazz musicians to show their face if they want to get calls. Anyway, he plays a real nice Brad Mehldau-style piano with great touch, time, inventiveness, etc. I play bass and new arrival Alex Ritz is on drums. He’s got that thing where it sounds a little dirty but everything is actually clean, if you know what I mean, similar to the effect of Elvin Jones though he doesn’t really play like Elvin. He’s also very musical and thinks always about the whole sound of the band and not just the drums. It’s one of my favorite gigs I’ve had in this town. Friday and Saturday we’re joined by the great singer Jennifer Palor who has a strong R&B foundation but sings jazz very well, has a lot of energy, and can scat. Come on down and I’ll buy you a beer.
Sound Blue, 107 Sinan Lu near Jianguo Lu
9:30 start
No cover
Mic Park II
There’s a great big get together for Shanghai’s hip-hop scene and we’re very pleased to see Anar continue to push towards being an all-around music spot. Rocking it will be Young Cee, Koz, MC Newshan, DJ Cavia, R.P.S., and LU1. There will also be a freestyle session and a special guest from Miami. Sounds pretty tight. Now that the Chinese rock scene is growing so fast I think it’s time to get some Hip-Hop stuff going.
Anar 129 Xingfu Lu, by the corner of that park and the unnamed street that runs in from Huashan Lu
10:00 start
No cover
Saturday
Jeff Lang
Australia’s hottest folk/rock dude comes to town, courtesy of those hardworking music lovers over at Split Works. Split Works’ write-up says that “while his influences range from the folk music of the Southern United States to the British Isles, Lang’s lyrics evoke the environment of his native Australia in a subtle, plainspoken manner.” It’s something I’ve discovered since coming here and meeting so many Australians that they’re almost more American than Americans, closer to the ideal of Americans presented in westerns and so on. I mean, as awesome as the American West is, the Outback kind of kicks its ass. And isn’t AC/DC more like an American rock band than any of those English rock bands are? Think about it; it’s pretty deep. Jeff Lang isn’t exactly that kind of giant-balls-cowboy guy, though. There’s a legit country/folk base, but he’s got a beautiful androgynous voice and a very light touch of electronic sounds, not like electronic dance music, but a nod to the fact that computers exist and are a part of our lives now, if you know what I mean. Anyway, he shreds, plays many instruments (acoustic, electric, and slide guitars, mandolin, banjo, drums, and chumbush), and Split Works doesn’t bring lightweights. Check out his his site, Douban, and Myspace.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00 start
50 RMB cover
SMS Closing Party
Shanghai Music Society finishes out their summer season with a long long list of local DJs: Damien Kay, Kluba, Clement Pony, Laura Ingalls, Dave K, Xeum, Jaco, Philippe Ortega, Wassili, Ben Huang, and Paul Cayrol. We usually don’t pimp Bar Rouge because there are so many more music-centric options in town, but Shanghai Music Society is clearly doing something different there, and many of the DJs on that list are pretty kickass. The view’s not bad either.
Bar Rouge, 18 on the Bund, 7th floor, near Nanjing Lu
10:00 start
No cover
Sunday
Greg Luttrell Band House of Blues and Jazz Jam
The jam is a great night to visit the venerable House of Blues and Jazz, not least because if you join the jam you get half price drinks. The Greg Luttrell band have been kicking ass over there. They are all great players doing what you need to do to really rock that room: straddle the line between entertainment and art, which, come to think of it, is pretty important at every music bar in this town. Anyway, they’re doing it yo, so check it out if you haven’t and dig it again if you have.
House of Blues and Jazz, 60 Fuzhou Lu near Sichuan Lu and the Bund
9:30-1:00
No Cover
tags: Alex Ritz - Anar - Antidote - Bar Rouge - Ben Huang - Bottle Trio - C's Bar - Clement Pony - Damien Kay - Dave K - DJ Cavia - Fei - Fish - Greg Lutrell - Haixin - House of Blues and Jazz - J Alexander - Jaco - Jeff Lang - Jennifer Palor - Kid Plastik - Kluba - Koz - Laura Ingalls - LU1 - Mark Bai - MC Newshan - Mic Park - Mike Brownell - Ozone - Paul Cayrol - Phillippe Ortega - R.P.S. - SMS - Sound Blue - Split Works - Sus2 - Wassili - Xeum - Young Cee - YuYinTang
June 4th, 2008 |
Posted in Music Makers Reviews by mache
When thinking about who to choose for our first Featured Artist, of course we thought about Alec. For a minute I thought we should search a bit more, and not choose most logical option for me…the strange ways the mind (mine) works. After their last gig at JZ, on Thursday May 22nd, there are no more doubts: Alec must be our first featured artist. I should add here that, to be honest, we don’t know yet exactly what it means to be one of our featured artists, but we do know they are people making music to which we want to give all our stars, hearts, and lightning-flashing-neon-pointing arrows, so everybody will appreciate their music with us.
Thursday nights are now the nights of Alec Haavik Friction Five at JZ, and that Thursday night was a special night for them because they were saying goodbye to Theo Croker, the talented trumpet player who is returning to New York. I made it in time for the second set, one only with Alec’s originals songs. They opened with “Eye Opener”, to align everyone’s mood and get us all on their vibration—an energized cheerful one, and certainly all eyes and ears were opened at by the end of the song.
Theo’s playing was a beautiful call for avid ears wanting to listen to the virtue of raw humanity. He has the ability to play with honesty and to play straight, without any kind of costume, just as he is—not nicer, not less cool, not expecting anything from himself but what he is, take it or leave it. And if you take it, you may fall for it (or for him). It makes his sound so simple to recognize once you already know him, and that’s why once you’ve listened to him you’ve got to respect him.
Chris Trzcinski’s drums and Tinho Pereira’s bass are more than a solid support for the energy flowing between the piano, trumpet, and sax players. Chris is a respectful drummer, with a very open mind to chat with the other guys on the stage, and a clear heart adding, surprisingly maybe for a drummer, innocence to the emotional mix.
Tinho is the essence of coolness on the bass—and off the bass too—you’ve just got to enjoy him. The Brazilian carries with him the beach—talk about nice characters!—and that’s how he plays the bass. His sound is there whenever he wants it, and he manages impeccably the alchemy of the atmosphere, with total absence of pressure, so you can feel only comfortable with him. His six-string style is already a classic on Shanghai’s stages.
Mark Bai, the guest piano player, acquitted himself admirably. His moment came to find him with a blank mind at the time for a solo, it was one of those moments that when it’s happening to you one second feels like one hour, he got confused not only because he was out of music but also because the band didn’t react as he may be expected: covering him, instead they gave him support and time, all the time he wanted and needed to create his own solo. It’s not every night you get to listen to a musician confronting the fear to silence, and the exchange of experiences and strengths coming along together to find the way out of the darkness in such perfect way. Mark found a solo, not a “movie end” one, but one to bring him back the air and to go on with the tune. And may be not only a solo was found there but something else too. Live music is great to listen to and also great to observe. It took a few minutes after the intense moment for Mark to fully come back to the stage, the beginning of the next song was shadowed by the intensity of the previous 10 minutes, or hours, but once he came back he had his mind, heart, and hands back on the piano and the sound was definitely cheerful.
And last but never ever least Alec. Alec is a plastic performer, plastic enough to move from one dimension to the next with full control of the situation, and his love for music and sound is so attractive you just want to be right there. Alec is a theatrical player: he plays with all the elements that cross his path on every tune, and his body is an essential tool for mixing the colors and emotions coming from his horn, from the people listening, from the couples flirting, from the pals laughing and drinking, from the bartenders calling, from the cars passing by and from the friends playing with him on the stage.
Maybe no one there enjoys the music more than Alec. If you have forgotten how to be surprised by the world around, Alec will remind you. His complex and at the same time easy to appreciate original tunes are a fresh and encouraging breeze blowing around Shanghai streets. His way of playing mixes the energies around, his music always discovers new ways to tell the story, and he has an enchanting way of listening with open, positive ear—all characteristics of a great artist and interesting creator.
Alec Haavik and The Friction Five are a must of the Shanghai music scene. They are living proof that when something is good, people will stop by to listen. Even if you have a lot to talk about with your friends that night, if Alec is on the stage you will stop to listen, because if your sensor for life is working well, you will notice that right there, in front of you, is something to feed your soul. That’s art!
tags: Alec Haavik - Alec Haavik Friction Five - Chris Trzcinski - Fusion - Jazz - Mark Bai - Shanghai - Theo Croker - Tinho Pereira
