Noise Pollution: Wild Dog Fest III, Yangji, School Bar Music Awards, Awake Mountains, Fancy Wall
Thought I’d run off, did you? No worries my beloved Beijing brethren – your weekly roundup of the live music scene’s most ferocious gigs is here to stay – even if I’m stuck across the ocean in a hostel full of young, horny backpackers who have yet to be dragged across the concrete that is life. So while this week’s edition may feel a bit on the short end, fret not – it’s still loaded to the gills with gold. So without further ado – let’s jump right into it.
Friday, Jan 10
King of Lazy, Never Before, D-Crash, Ramblin Rozes, Rectal Wench, The Last Resort, The Bob Blockhead Quartet at Yue Space
Beijing’s premier sludge metal band Never Before, merciless and face-meltingly awesome in their might – celebrate the third coming of Wild Dog Fest – an underground festival for all things doom, metal, punk, hardcore, grindcore and general badassery. Some of the scene’s most ferocious thrashers and rockers converge on Yue Space from 7pm onwards, including Kunming’s King of Lazy, Never Before, D-Crash, Ramblin Rozes, Rectal Wench, The Last Resort, and the Bob Blockhead Quartet. RMB 220
Yangji x GG Lobster, Milu, Sourtower at School
Hangzhou transplant Yangji, one of this year’s breakthrough artists – an ex-punk rocker who has re-outfitted her sensibilities into an off-kilter indie pop persona complete with chainsaw KTV aesthetics and a quirky demeanor – teams up with electronic producer GG Lobster for a new EP titled I Miss My CPU and a wild evening mish-mash of "karaoke, hardcore, electronica, lights, dancing, and basketball." Support from crazed Wuhan artist Milu and indie post-punk wave artist Sourtower. RMB 100
Larry’s Pizza, Wireless Puppet, Curry 3000, Gentle Grapes, Diagon Alley at Mao Livehouse
Pure unadulterated rock and roll in the heart of Wukesong as Mao Livehouse hosts a murderer’s row of pop-punk and indie-poppers, including veteran skate punks Larry’s Pizza, rising indie-pop troupe Diagon Alley, and supergroup Curry 3000, composed of members of New Pants, Mr. Chelonian, Reflector, and Human Centipede, whose tunes touch on hardcore, pop, dance, and then some. RMB 160
Twinkle Star, The Twenties, Sugar-Free Monster, Black Mint, Sixi, Daydream Secrets at Tango
Local promoters Rock Brothers kick off their two-year anniversary bash with a killer lineup at the mighty Tango. Set to play are Nanjing indie dance favorites Sixi, fresh of their latest LP, rising Chengdu Britpop-infused rockers Daydream Secrets, indie rock greats The Twenties, returning from a hiatus with aplomb, as well as plenty more. RMB 280
Blackwater at Temple
For a true Irish experience catch Blackwater, whose music draws from the rich traditional Irish repertoire – from beautiful ballads to frenzied reels – these cats may just be the most authentic Irish punk rock band in Beijing and they’re looking for trouble tonight over in Temple. FREE
Peking Floyd, Ezy Rider, Led Baron at DDC
DDC cooks up some fun with a psychedelic old school tribute night. They’ll be bringing some of Beijing’s most iconic cover bands to stir up a storm with some classic deep cuts, including Peking Floyd (Pink Floyd), Ezy Rider (Jimi Hendrix), and the Led Barrons (Led Zepplin). RMB 80
Zhou Chao at Jianghu Bar
An evening of rustic alt-folk from the seasoned guitar virtuoso Zhou Chao who hails from Dali and whose music invokes the tranquil majestic nature of that region. RMB 100
Hu Xiao Chun at Mogu Space
Up and coming indie rockers Hu Xiao Chun, whose laid-back rustic charm has made them one of last year’s breakout bands, go unplugged tonight in Xizhimen. FREE
Sons of Thunder at Modernista
Started by four members from Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies, this new explosive cover band looks to indulge in everyone's favorite songs of the late '90s and early '00s. FREE
Saturday, Jan 11
2019 School Bar Music Awards at School
Screw the Golden Globes! To hell with the Nobel Peace Prize! The School Bar Awards are where it’s at – voted by fans over the past month – find out which bands made the biggest impression at School Bar! Awards will be given for best new band, best live performance, and more, with winning bands set to play. Expect more surprises, guests, and secret guest performances as well throughout the night. RMB 100
Awake Mountains, Laisee, Larry’s Pizza, Brickleberry, Fancy Wall at Yue Space
The rock scene’s most lively performers descend upon Yue Space for a night of propulsive pop-punk, riotous hardcore antics, melodic metalcore, and indie-pop aplomb as an array of acts hit the stage with a vengeance including the ever-passionate core troupe Awake Mountains, the aerobatic party thrashers Laisee and much more. RMB 130
Rhonda, Paths, Coin Locker at Temple
Spoken word poetry-weaving post-punk group Paths, made up of some of the scene’s hardest working musicians, rolls up on Temple alongside hard-edged instrumental barnburners Rhonda, and indie rockers Coin Locker for an evening of high-octane fun. FREE
Better Off Alive, Eric Allen Woodshed at Soi Baochao
Eclectic, raw, and fun, Better Off Alive weaves in and out of psychedelic rock and folk with punchy drums and bass. Their music floats on the sound of various woodwind instruments, vocal harmonies, and distorted guitar riffs. Catch them as they release their new single with the help of Eric Allen and the Woodshed band. RMB 50
The Hot Club of Beijing at DDC
Multi-national gypsy jazz ensemble brings their 1930s swinging jazz, hot Latin rhythms, and gypsy waltzes to DDC so best bring your dancing shoes. RMB 70
Mark Allen Felton at Blue Note
A Chicago native, saxophonist extraordinaire, Mark Allen Felton AKA Panther is an extraordinarily gifted artist and will be sharing the stage with some of the most revered artists and musicians in the world of smooth jazz and R&B this weekend. RMB 240-320
Liu Donghong at Mogu Space
Liu Donghong, dusty blues singer of Sand, China’s first ‘cold rock’ band, and a scene player for over 20 years gives an intimate performance in Xizhimen. FREE
Sunday, Jan 12
Fancy Wall, Radical Spinz, Boss First, Fatiao Kamusuo at School
Local promoters Rock Bros finish off their last show before the Chinese New Year with a bang in holding their two-year anniversary party. Set to play are pop-rock outfit Fancy Wall, pop-punk outfit Radical Spinz, new school punk trio Boss First, and Tianjin-based rockers Fatiao Kamusuo. RMB 100
Dark Haze, Die From Sorrow, S.A.W, Xuji at Mao Livehouse
Some of the metal scene’s most acclaimed acts join forces for an epic evening of shrieking vocals, guitar-riffing, and thundering drums that’ll leave you grinning ear to ear. The lineup features WACKEN music festival graduates Die From Sorrow and Dark Haze, plus S.A.W and Xuji. RMB 180
Remedios at DDC
The five-piece ensemble Remedios, named after the perplexing character from One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez – defy social conventions and musical genres bring an exploratory indie rock sound to life at DDC this evening. RMB 100
Wen Zhaoji at Yue Space
Rising indie R&B singer-songwriter, who signed with Modern Sky over last year, breaks through with his newest LP, which looks at the countless intersections of love and hate, life and sorrow – finding meaning in the smallest moments of life. RMB 150
Soi Shin Jazz Quartet at Modernista
Korean vocalist Soi Shin and her jazz quartet brighten up Sunday evening with some vocal jazz tunes. Accompanying her this evening is guitarist Hyunwoo Han, pianist Sejin Bae and drummer Anthony Vanacore. FREE
READ: The Best New Beijing Bands of 2019
Images courtesy of event organizers