Weekend Live Music Roundup: Second Hand Rose, Metal Feast

No matter if you like their teasing Chinese country-rock or not, Second Hand Rose is always fun to watch. Most people would agree that they are not a normal band, hence they don't release an album like a band normally would. The launch of their new album, Yuejing (乐经) has been going on for months. They decided to release only one song from the album each month. After song launches in Tianjin and Shanghai, they are finally revealing the fourth song in Beijing on Sunday at Mako Live House. The song holds the same name as front man Liang Long's ongoing art exhibition in Caochangdi, Chuanmen (Drop Around).

On Saturday, the same venue, Mako Live House will likely have the highest density of young Chinese metal diehards in the city. 20 bands will gather for the Night Of Shadows Rock Music Festival, a one day music festival. The lineup is mostly made up by young metal bands - actually none of the bands tag themselves as heavy metal, but do expect some heavy makeup.

Since the gallery/bar Aluss on Gulou Dongdajie closed, all its planned shows have moved to Amilal, in the same area. Even though the bar owner said that Aluss' closing was due to the unaffordable rent, the gigs at Amilal will all be free. Tonight, Mogolian folk artist Dolan plays there. Even more varieties of folk tunes will be played on the same night: northwestern folk Lidong at 2 Kolegas, experimental folk Shan Lin Niao Er at Gulou 121 and "stylish" folk The Tree at MAO Livehouse.

In case you didn't catch this and also care about it, Macy Gray is not going to perform in Beijing tonight.

Friday (July 8)

Break Thru With The New
Young rockers gather for the new. RMB 50. 9pm. Yugong Yishan

Dolan
New explanations of Mongolian folk. Free. 10pm. Amilal (8404 1416)

Lidong
Have a simple night with the northwestern folks. RMB 40. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Longjin
Reggae beats mixed with indie folk tunes. RMB 40. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar

Shan Lin Niao Er
The folk band brings whispers from the woods to the city. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Gulou 121

Salty Candy Jazz Quintet
A mix of traditional and contemporary Jazz. RMB 40. 9.45pm. V.A Bar (5844 3638)

The Tree
A stylish folk show. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Vital Time and Their Friends
Rock out over Wudaokou. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Have some jazz with electro, drum & bass and funk. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe

Saturday (July 9)

Christmas
They used to be retarded, now they think they are pernicious. Can you understand their original pop Chinese songs? RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A Bar (5844 3638)

Justin Grounds
Have an easy night with the one man band's comforting sounds. Free. 8pm. The Bookworm

Larry's Pizza, Summer Sunshine, Zebra Run!
Pop-punk joined by indie rock. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Liu Yuan Jazz Quartet
Meet the jazz master in his own bar. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe

Night Of Shadows Rock Music Festival
Death metal, gothic metal, thrash Metal, pop metal, nu metal... 20 local metal and hardcore rock bands gather for a head bangers' feast. RMB 80, RMB 60 (students). 1.30pm. Mako Live House

Paddy Whalen
Singer-songwriter blends British and American guitar folk songs. Free 10pm. Amilal (8404 1416)

Tosh, Lure, Sweet Rock, Strange July, Fuzzy Mood
The debut of Tosh, formed by Thin Man's bass player, Liquid Oxygen Can's guitarist and the drummer from Moyi. RMB 50, RMB 40. 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse

Sunday (July 10)

Electro Night
D.C Bros, Headmaster and Justin Culkin make you dance. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Limited Express
Japanese rockers merge into the Beijing underground scene with Birdstriking, The Flyx and New Tank. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse

Second Hand Rose
The Roses launches the fourth song of their new album. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 8.30pm. Mako Live House (5205 1113)

Photos from Douban.com/ershoumeigui, Douban.com/lidong and The Tree