March 11th, 2010 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by mike
Actually, I think it’s not fair to call Finland a classic invader country. Though they share excellent death metal and extreme alcoholism with their Scandinavian neighbors, I think they’re more invaded than invader. On to the picks:
Thursday:
Niklas Winter & Teemu Viinikainen
Coinciding nicely with my own trip to Finland tomorrow these two Finnish guitar badasses are coming to JZ for a gig. If I know anything about how JZ financing works, we have both the inestimable Ren Yuqing and the generous Finnish government to thank for this. Check out Teemu’s space for some sounds. For even more hot guitar action, these viking bros are joined by our own Lawrence Ku, bassist EJ Parker, and drummer Chris Trzcinski. Opening is the illustrious Illusion Trio, with me, Oleg Roschin on piano, and I think Chris on drums again.
JZ Club, 46 Fuxing Xi Lu near Yongfu Lu
9:00-1:30, assuming they do three sets.
No cover, gotta love that government money
Friday:
DJ Vadim
As re/previewed by our own Zack, the illustrious Vadiim returns to these Shanghaiian shores, with his wife and cohort MC Yarah Bravo. Though I wasn’t too taken with her rapping when they came last year, perhaps it will be better with the updated soundsystem, maybe I was just in a bad mood, etc. In any event, Vadim is creative and eccentric, and certainly beyond reproach on the wheels of steel. Support from V-Nutz, Fortune, hBd.
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start
50 RMB cover
Hanggai
The #1 Mongolian party band returns! Everybody who has seen them loves this band, and for good reason. They just come right in and get to it with conviction, energy, and booze. Do Not Miss! Also, when I saw them in November at Dream Factory we assumed there would be opening bands and general amateur late-ness. There wasn’t, and we showed up half-way through, and we only got to hear as many songs as we did because they were generous with their encores. Definitely get there on time! The first show in Shanghai of Split-works’ Jue Festival.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00 start
50 RMB cover
Node Lounge Soft Opening
A new club is opening in Red Town, possible a cousin to the infamous Dragon, in any event with direction from Baru of Dragon fame. Music comes from Dave K, Wassili, King, and Baru himself. If you can steal some time to check it out, there are going to be free drinks from 9-midnight. That’s pretty awesome. Stay tuned for the grand opening on the 10th of April.
Node Music Lounge, 570 Huaihai Xi Lu, nearish to Hongqiao Lu
9:00 start
No cover
Saturday:
St. Vincent
Again, as CD-reviewed by the never-sleeping Zack, St. Vincent comes to Shanghai as part II of the Jue Festival. As with part I, get there early because it’s YYT and it’s sure to be PACKED. Expect melodious innocence with unsettling lyrics. Myspace? Boys Climbing Ropes open.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:00 start
120 RMB cover
LTJ Bukem
On the DJ front, at least, it seems like Shanghai gets it’s share of heavy hitters. The same weekend as Vadim comes one of the original immortals of jungle/d ‘n b, that is LTJ Bukem, joined by MC Conrad. I picked the wrong weekend to go to Finland, though the temperature is apparently above freezing now.
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start
80 RMB cover
tags: Baru - Boys Climbing Ropes - Chris Trzcinski - Dave K - DJ Vadim - EJ Parker - Fortune - Hanggai - HBD - Illusion Trio - Jue Festival - JZ - Lawrence Ku - LTJ Bukem - MC Conrad - Mike Brownell - Niklas Winter - Node - Oleg Roschin - Split Works - St. Vincent - Teemu Viinikainen - The Shelter - V-Nutz - Wassili - Yarah Bravo - YuYinTang
March 4th, 2010 |
Posted in Editor's Picks by mike
So the big news in my life this weekend is that after being extremely busy for the past two months, I the weekend off, except today when I’m playing the heavily, heavily hyped Thursday pick, so you might very well see me at ALL the pick events this weekend. If you do, you definitely win an awesome prize. Just take pictures of me at all the events and email them to me at mike(at)layabozi.com, and I’ll give you some of the special witch-salt that Mache did special magic on and which has made me insanely wealthy, or some fancy beers, YOUR CHOICE! Anyway, go to YYT on Thursday or else we will never affectionately refer to you as a duckling ever again.
Thursday:
Break for Borneo
Layabozi’s house band brings the rock-tinged reggae and reggae-tinged rock to YYT in their (our) first headlining spot as Zack moves from the percussion…area to the drum stool. Expect strong melodies, tasty harmonies, and rock alongs a-plenty. IT WILL BE AWESOME!!! COME OR ELSE!! THERE ARE NO OTHER GIGS! Opening are Whale and special late-addition Stegosaurus, and Gooda keep things rocking after.
YuYinTang, 1731 Yan’an Xi Lu, enter from Kaixuan Lu
9:30 start
No cover
Friday:
Dance for Haiti
Three Chord Truth puts on a benefit concert to help the victims of the (second most) recent Earthquake. The line-up is sick (Wayne’s Basement, Duck Fight Goose, Studio 188, Monroe Stahr, Lions of Puxi, Weghur) and all the money goes to charity, so if you don’t go to that show you are a bad person. Seriously, though, these guys are doing something great. Gilbert of the Lions was also a driving force behind the JZ Sichuan earthquake benefit (aka Together Day) two years ago, so especial mad props to him. I think it’s going to be only this pick today because it’s so awesome, though you wouldn’t be wrong if afterwards you went to hear Andy Smith (DJ for Portishead and others and apparently really sweet on his own) at The Shelter, or the JZ Latin Band (now that they have a capable bass player again).
Zhijiang Dream Factory, 28 Yuyao Lu Building B 4th Floor, near Xikang Lu
9:00
100 RMB (for charity as mentioned)
Saturday:
Mark Ernestus and Tikiman
Sub-Culture brings the influential German producer/DJ and his long time collaborator from Dominica (not the D.R.). In the 90’s Mr. Ernestus had an influential label for which he made influential tracks with hip and secretive label designs. Mr. Tikiman, a vocalist has been working with him for awhile, doing their cross-pollination between dub and techno. Supporting them on this fine Saturday evening will be B6, Deville, Drunk Monk, dji, ChaCha, Didje, Esia, and Arminda.
The Shelter, 5 Yongfu Lu near Fuxing Xi Lu
10:00 start
60 RMB cover
Sunday:
Theo Croker Sextet: The Path of Transcendence
Theo, who has been, I think fairly, called ubiquitous, is nevertheless rarely heard in a concert setting here in Shanghai. Here’s your chance to check out his new suite played by a killing ensemble in just such a setting, with Andres Boiarsky (tenor sax), Jon Parker (alto sax), Nicholas Bouloukos (piano), Curtis Ostle (bass), and Dr. Charles Foldesh (drums). Note, this is an afternoon concert.
Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, Performance Hall, 425 Dingxiang Lu, near Science and Technology Museum
3:00, so don’t sleep too late
Tickets available for 60, 100, 180, or 300 RMB
tags: Andres Boiarsky - B6 - Break for Borneo - ChaCha - Charles Foldesh - Curtis Ostle - Deville - Didje - dji - Drunk Monk - Duck Fight Goose - Gooda - Jon Parker - Lions of Puxi - Mark Ernestus - MC Arminda - MC Esia - Monroe Stahr - Nicholas Bouloukos - Oriental Arts Center - Stegosaurus - Studio 188 - The Shelter - Theo Croker - Three Chord Truth - Tikiman - Wayne's Basement - Weghur - Whale - YuYinTang - Zhijiang Dream Factory
February 27th, 2010 |
Posted in Articles, Live Music Reviews by zack
Sorry about that headline, but I just couldn’t resist.
The 81Fur.com show went off without a hitch on Thursday night. There was a good crowd there, people were perusing literature and fully aware of the cause for which they came. Check out Kungfuology for more coverage and pictures, including this amazing one.
On a musical note, I was sad to be the dude who shows up late and missed most of the Forget and Forgive set, but what I did catch was really cool. They have nice riffs and energy, plus a band member whose sole job (as far as I could tell) was to scream! And he’s good at it. So there’s that. Candy Shop played a Candy Shop show. It’s not my favorite stuff, but it’s catchy. The kids seem to like it. Damn, I’m old.
Great job to the whole team.
Afterward, some f us headed over to The Shelter for some Teenage Kicks. It was a pretty sparse crowd, but the beats and drinks were flowing freely. I even got to break out The Running Man. Props to DJs Wongton, Oh Snaps, Sacco, and Morgan (what’s your DJ name, Morgan?). Morgan chased me from the club with a little White Zombie. Good times.
tags: Candy Shop - DJ Sacco - Forget and Forgive - Kungfuology - Morgan Short - Oh Snaps - The Shelter - Wongton - YuYinTang
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
Hanggai
