February 24th, 2010 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by zack
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
Thursday, February 25th
81Fur.com PETA Show, 9 PM Sharp
A good show for a good cause. Did you guys hear about the US figure skater who thought he was going to be sabotaged by the anti-fur people? Let’s hope that there are no fur-wearing figure skaters at the PETA show, but everyone else should be there. It’s a free show. Read more about it at Layabozi and Kungfuology, here and here.
YuYinTang, FREE
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:
and, finally,
tags: 5-Pointed Star - Anar - AV Okubo - Birdstriking - Boj Lucki - Candy Shop - Carsick Cars - Dan - DJ Sacco - Dragon Pizza - Forget and Forgive - Greed of Man - Guai Li - Jehosaphat Blow and the Blah Blah Blahs - John Nguidjol - Kungfuology - Mao Livehouse - Oh Snaps - The Shelter - Uprooted Sunshine Crew - Willow Neilson - Wongton - YuYinTang
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 12th, 2009 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by zack
It seemed to me that there has been an unusually high number of Friday the 13ths this year. One quick check with the old Wikipedia confirmed my suspicion. Every year must have at least one Friday the 13th, but no more than three. And guess how many 2009 will have seen after this Friday: three. If you really, irrationally fear Friday the 13th, you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, which I think I may be developing after my last Friday the 13th, when a late Thursday evening watching Hassan and his band at Anar turned into a Friday morning hangover and, eventually, a clavicle-rearranging bike accident. One more bad Friday the 13th and I might become an official shut-in. So there’s a lot riding on this weekend. Musically, the lineup is not as crowded as last weekend, but there is some cool stuff to check out.
Thursday, November 12
Indie Heart Attack featuring Jake Newby, Not Me
There can be only one destination tonight. Jake Newby will be showing off his collection of Chinese Indie rock and it should be fun. Not sure what he has against birds, but we will let that one slide if he hips us to all the Mandarindie classics.
Not Me – 21 Dongping rd. near Wulumuqi rd.
Free Entrance
10 pm
Friday, November 12A (can’t even write it now)
Candy Shop and others, Yuyintang
I’m not necessarily hyping this show at Yuyintang. I really just want to share a quote from the mustachioed one, Dan Shapiro:
Lackluster rap-rock meets all-girl “punx” and utterly-depressing screamo / crabcore.
That’s succinct and hilarious, but tell us how you really feel, Dan. And can we not say crap on the Internet now? I didn’t get the memo.
YuYinTang – 1731 Yananxi rd. near Kaixuan rd.
Entrance 30 rmb
since 9pm
Friday got a little less awesome when it was announced that Holy Ghost! from NYC was forced to cancel their show due to one of their friends giving up the ghost, so to speak. Too bad.
As a substitution, I would suggest two dance shows elsewhere, one local and one international:
The Future, Dada
DJs Mickey Zhang, Ben Huang, and Nat Alexander teleport into Dada. Evidently, the future is Yellow. And a Void. And there’s house music.
Dada – 115 Xingfu rd. near Fahuazheng rd.
Free Entrance
10 pm
Roni Size, the Shelter
Roni Size is apparently a pretty big deal (get it?), brought to you by Sweatshop. I can’t really tell you anything about Mr. Size and I don’t feel like thinking up any more pathetic puns on his name. You probably don’t want to read them either, so let’s just move on to Saturday, shall we?
The Shelter – 5 Yongfu rd. near Fuxing rd.
Entrance: 80 rmb
10 pm
Saturday, November 14
Saturday is the real gem of the weekend with a variety of gigs going on around the city.
Uprooted Sunshine w/ Clive Chin, the Shelter
This is going to be pretty cool; Uprooted Sunshine in their element with reggae history on their side. I went to Chin’s talk at Dada last night, but couldn’t make it through the whole thing. Let’s just say older people, mics, and unlimited freedom don’t necessarily mix well. I popped over to Anar for some tribal drums and then returned just in time to ask Chin “Who killed Peter Tosh?” He was quite vague about it, though. We might have a suspect.
The Shelter – 5 Yongfu rd. near Fuxing rd.
Entrance: 50 rmb
10 pm
Triassic Park featuring Stegosaurus, Live Sound Garage
See what they did there? The famous title is Jurassic Park, but they changed it to another Paleolithic era. See? Now that’s how you name an event. I have never been to this venue, but if it’s anything like my parents garage, there’s not going to be much space for an audience. Not with the Pontiac in there.
Live Sound Garage - 696 Weihai rd. near Maoming rd.
Entrance: 30 rmb
9pm
Steely Heart by STD, LOgO
I don’t know much about this band, but Pet Conspiracy and Bigger Bang have convinced me that bands coming from Beijing should not be missed. ‘Nuff said.
LOgO – 13 Xingfu rd. near Fahuazheng rd.
Entrance: 30 rmb
10 pm
tags: Ben Huang - Candy Shop - Clive Chin - Dada - Friday the 13th - Holy Ghost - Indie Heart Attack - Jake Newby - Live Sound Garage - LOgO - Mickey Zhang - Nat Alexander - Not Me - Roni Size - Steely Heart - Stegosaurus - The Shelter - Uprooted Sunshine Crew - Void - YuYinTang
November 10th, 2009 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by zack
This event will occur before the normal time span of the Editor’s Picks, but it’s so cool I wanted to get it on the site for all you easy skankers.
The event is An Audience with Clive Chin at Dada. Check out all the sweetails.
Clive Chin is a Chinese-Jamaican producer and 
the son of Vincent Chin, proprietor of a landmark record store in Jamaica. Find out more about the background here and read an interview with Clive Chin here.
Mr. Chin will be sharing his knowledge, videos, and photos from his reggae experience and it should be a really great event, put on by the Uprooted Sunshine Crew and Dada.
tags: Clive Chin - Dada - Reggae - Uprooted Sunshine Crew
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.
Independent China in Stereo, 8 PM
