January 25th, 2010 |
Posted in Articles, Live Music Reviews by zack
This was a most anticipated show everywhere and in between. I had high hopes for the gig and I was not disappointed. I think the main idea I took from the show was that Maybe Mars has a deep roster of talented bands that maybe lack a bit of that indefinable quality that is often labeled as charisma.
I was present from beginning to end and the beginning was Rustic, who have been taking more flak on the blogosphere than a Luftwaffe Messerschmitt. This humble essayer will go against the grain and praise the fairly new band for their youthful exuberance. Are they derivative? Unquestionably. Are they perhaps less than stellar on their respective instruments? One would have to say yes. Do they rock? Indubitably. They were the perfect opener for this show in which people were slow to get off their petrified asses in the first place. It’s quite disconcerting to watch people in the front rows standing stock still while a rock show is blaring forth, but whatever. Rustic did their best to impart a little spirit. I will trade quite a bit of musical virtuosity in exchange for some energy and fun, especially in a live setting. This is the bargain that I made with Rustic, a parody of a good time during their set. I believe I was much better off for it. And they must receive extra points for bassist Rikki Sixx’s ridiculous mane.
24 Hours was next, a band I always thought was cool, save for their atrocious stage presence. They’re like the Rustic foil in that they have all the chops in the world, but they don’t seem to be very confident. I missed their Halloween gig at YuYinTang, but I felt that way when they played the Dream Factory during the first half of the Get in the Van show. They have gotten a bit better in this area and their sound is a lot bigger and more defined. I really enjoyed their set, especially the latter half and uber-especially their cover of “Bang Bang” (a song written by Sonny Bono [?!], recorded by Cher and Nancy Sinatra, respectively, and popularized in the film “Kill Bill”.) That was fun.
To preface this next part I should say that I was very excited for the Gar, but that didn’t work out. Instead, we got Ourself Beside Me, who are pretty ballyhooed in their own right. However, I was not really feeling this performance. Their sound was very drone-y. I can’t even really tell you much about their set because I think I fell into a K-hole from a very early point in it (figurative reference). A bit disappointing for me.
P.K. 14 was the final installment in this showcase. All hell broke loose in my brain during their set. I had never seen them live before so I was expecting a lot. They delivered a KO punch to my senses right away and I was soon moshing about shirtless, losing my shirt and camera case in the process. If anyone has either of those items, hit me up in the comments or something. P.K. 14’s sound was just bigger than anything else going that night. The difference was morbidly palpable in my abdomen or maybe I should just quit smoking, like right now. At any rate, it is fun to see some skinny, nerdy guy rocking out so hard.
At the end of their set I was drained and we jetted home right away. It’s good to leave a venue tired, I think. That is the sign of a fun show. I have heard some people complaining about sound and/or lights, but those things become extraneous to me (unless the sound is egregiously bad) when I feel like I have heard some cutting-edge music that moved me.
I hope pictures will follow when I find a new Sony Memory Stick Pro USB adapter, which was also in my departed camera case. I’m blaming you for that, Yang Haisong.
tags: 2010 - 24 Hours - China - Indie - Live Music Reviews - Maybe Mars - Ourself Beside Me - P.K. 14 - Rock - Rustic
January 21st, 2010 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by mike
Friday:
Maybe Mars Showcase
This is the big one for this week and has already gotten the informative links and downloads treatment from Mp3 Monday. If you don’t already know by now, the show will feature Rustic, 24 Hours, The Gar, and headliners PK14. Good things have been heard by me about all those bands except Rustic, who I just haven’t heard anything about. Their Rock in China page is entertaining though. If you’re here do I actually have to try to convince you to go to this show?
Mao Livehouse, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu near Hongqiao Lu, Building 32
9:30 start
Tickets 60 RMB early or 80 at the door
Back to the Roots
Shelter take a break from their heavy diet of international superstars to feature their (sort of) own Lab Crew. Fortune, HBD, V-Nutz, and Shige have cooked up a new routine with four turntables and three mixers and it should be hot. Show a little love. There are also some CDs for the early birds.
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
9:00 start
30 RMB cover
Saturday:
The Penelopes
From the people who brought you Papier Tigre (LOgO and Pure) come The Penelopes, a French Dance Rock band. I for one am all for dance bands. DJs are great for dancing, but dancing with a band is another thing and there’s no reason for it to go away. Check out their Myspace. The after party will be musicked by Mau Mau and Adept.
LOgO, 13 Xingfu Lu near Fahuazhen Lu
10:00 start
30 RMB cover
B6
One of the not many Shanghai DJs to begin making a name for himself outside our fair city, B6 returns to present his new sound, which promoters Void see as “the sound of the next decade.” It could happen, and it would be cool if it did. Make your own analysis tonight. Or, rather, don’t analyze tonight, because then you won’t enjoy yourself as much. Just remember what happened and save those memories for later analysis. Sheesh, do I have to tell you everything?
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start
30 RMB cover
Sunday:
Reso 10
I advise you to round out your weekend with some experimental music. That way you’ll go into Monday wondering about what’s hiding in the cracks or waiting around the corner. Studies have shown that listening to experimental music improves your outside the box thinking skills and gets you raises and stuff. I swear. This week the money beckoning cats (apparently they can get you fancy sneakers instead of regular money if you’re into that) of experimental music are Mai Mai, organizer of the whole thing, Sun Ye, and 33, Han Han, and Shen Shu of Duck Fight Goose. Sweet!
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00-11:00
40 RMB cover
tags: 24 Hours - B6 - DJ Adept - Duck Fight Goose - Fortune - HBD - LOgO - Mai Mai - Mao Livehouse - Mau Mau - PK14 - Pure - Reso - Rustic - S.T.D. - Shige - Sun Ye - The Gar - The Lab Crew - The Penelopes - The Shelter - V-Nutz - YuYinTang
October 28th, 2009 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by zack
Halloween has come around again this year, the day when fantasy, darkness, and costumes are not only accepted, but encouraged. Well, let me amend that: we all wear different masks, or personae, every day of our lives. We act out roles according to with whom we are interacting, what we are trying to accomplish, and how we want to be perceived. Humans learn the language of symbols before they learn to speak and each one of us is fluent in this subconscious lexicon. Have you noticed how popular Halloween is and how people react when you tell them you are not participating? Why do many people love Halloween so much? Is it rampant mask fetishism run amok (3 links)? Is it just a chance to cut loose and party? Or is it something deeper than that, a primal yearning to be something or someone else, if only for one night? Symbols are powerful and intriguing to play around with. Your choice of Halloween mask can tell a lot about your inner psychology, so choose wisely. Check out my costume from last year; I think I made the right choice.
Well, enough with the pop psychology. Actually, I am not putting on a physical mask this year, so I am not that excited about Halloween. I am more interested in the music this weekend. With that, let’s get on with the picks.
Friday, October 30th
Live and Undead ft. YACHT, The Youth and the Destroyer, Resist Resist, and the Violent Phlegms, YuYinTang, 9 PM, 60 pieces of silver
Tonight’s a very crucial music night. Trust me and you will transcend. If you do not heed me you might as well stay home knitting. You can read my preview of this rager of a show here. I would be punctual, too, because the Violent Phlegms have chosen a very fun costume for this pre-Halloween gig and they are the openers. After this show you must fly to…
Kid Koala, the Shelter, 10 PM, 60 vials of vampire blood
This may be the best DJ you ever see, no kidding. Kid Koala is creative, innovative, has a great collection, and has been doing this for a long time. This is actually good that it is at the Shelter because you have a chance to make both shows, if you hurry. Maybe the costume of choice should be a witch because then you could just hop on your broomstick and fly over all that weekend traffic. And, by the way, yes, I do know that DJ Motiv8 is over at Club Sky. Only a lummox would choose to see him over Kid Koala. Again, trust me.
Saturday, October 31st
Someone at the Shelter has been smoking those Sherm Sticks. Check this out:
We will pleasure your senses with our glamorous surroundings and sexy people to bring you higher than anywhere on the earth. Unlimited happiness in our party place with our remarkable DJs spinning the hottest music and many beautiful people in the house.
Since when is a dank, dingy, dilapidated bomb shelter “glamorous surroundings”? It’s so dark in there that, if there were any beautiful people, you wouldn’t be able to see them. Unlimited happiness? Never have I come closer to becoming a cutter than within the friendly confines of the Shelter. And I love it. Don’t ever change. And stay off them wiki sticks.
There are a ton of Halloween parties going on Saturday night. You can even participate in a Thriller-style zombie walk (too soon, Shanghaiist, too soon). But you know me, I always follow the music and my nose tells me that this will be the best show of the evening:
24 Hours Album Launch, YuYinTang, 9 PM, 1.6666666666666667 kuai per hour in the band’s name
I saw these guys (actually, two gals and a dude) awhile back as part of the last Get in the Van show. I thought their performance had some stage presence issues, but I was intrigued. I have heard one track that they put on the Internet for that gig and I really like it, so I’m going to guess they have worked their issues out and are ready to fully rock. Rustic and the Snots offer support. Check out a review of their new album here and a video for the aforementioned track here.
Sunday, November 1
Shanghai Autumn Anime Music Festival, Mao Livehouse, 6-10 PM, 40 digital ducats
This isn’t normally the type of thing I would hype but, what the hell, it’s Halloween weekend. I’ve actually been interested in video game music since I did a bit of Internet research for my Samiyam piece a couple months back.
That’s about it, kiddies. Stay safe out there with all the malfeasance going on. However, here’s a link that is scarier than any costume.
tags: 24 Hours - Halloween - Kid Koala - Live and Undead - Mao Livehouse - mask fetishism - Resist Resist - Rustic - Shanghai Autumn Anime Music Festival - Shanghaiist - sherm sticks - The Shelter - The Snots - The Youth and the Destroyer - Thriller - Violent Phlegms - wiki sticks - YACHT - YuYinTang
