Talking Tunes: A Frickin Fine Fill for the Week
So after all the anticipation, how did you find Elton John? What's that – you didn't go? Many people didn't, hence the arena only being around 75% full. But maybe that's just down to the scandalously expensive price of tickets. Something about a Beijing arena show tells me organizers aren't so interested in bums on seats as they are bums on the expensive seats. Anyhoo, onward and upward.
Here are the highlights of the coming seven days: German acoustic techno trio Brandt Bauer Frick in town tonight at Yugong Yishan supported by Nova Heart, no less; Croatian ivory tinkler Maksim Mrvica, back for another tour of China at Beijing M Space; and English indie songbird Lucy Rose at Jianghu Bar on Wednesday evening. Throw into that mix a weekend visit from Shanghai rock duo Pairs as they launch their new release, and a show by French electro trio Geste at XP tonight, and you have quite the aural treat. Who said the turn of the year was a slow period for music?
Elsewhere this weekend, P.K. 14 (playing their first show of the year), Rustic and Skip Skip Ben Ben mark Maybe Mars' first winter show at Yugong Yishan tomorrow night (Nov 30), while at V.A Bar, The Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra give a performance, and on Saturday night, The Tore Down front V. A. Bar's Night Of Blues Rock.
A little further down the line: Beijing punksters Demerit will put an end to their one-year hiatus with a two-week tour between December 30 and January 13. The tour will take in eight cities (including Beijing, of course) and will give fans a first chance to see their new lineup as well as some new material. They're set to hit Europe for the first time in 2013 before raiding the US again.
And MAO Livehouse is to host the 2012 Beijing Super Pillow Fight. Starting at 8.30pm on Friday, December 21, the annual pillow fight is open to anyone between the ages of 10 and 80. Tickets cost RMB 120 on the door or RMB 120 in advance and organisers are saying it's a great way to relieve stress.
Playing us out this week is the best thing out of Germany since Kraftwerk (this according to a German acquaintance of mine): Brandt Bauer Frick, with their new single "Pretend".
Don't forget, you can find loads more music happenings this weekend and beyond in our events section.