Noise Pollution: Kid Millions, Pharaoh, Louis Hayes, Glow Curve, Wang Wen, Nao Kakimoto

Will Griffith | Dec 15, 2017 10:00 am | Add a comment | 903 reads

Looks like the big guns are coming out as we sprint toward the end of the year with some seriously epic lineups and gigs so potent they make our ears bleed out of pure gratification. Yeah – that savory. So grab some Kleenex, some earplugs, and soak it in while you still can.

Friday, Dec 15

Kid Millions (US), Zhang Shouwang, Zhu Wenbo at Fruityspace
New York percussionist and composer virtuoso Kid Millions (read our recent interview with him here), who banged up a storm back in 2014 here in Beijing (eventually leading to a split release with Zhang Shouwang), returns with a massive collaborative three-day stint hosted by the rebooted Maybe Noise label (a experimental leaning sub-branch of Maybe Mars). Tonight he’ll give a solo performance alongside Zhang Shoulang, violinists Yan Yulong and Shengjie (performing their piece 'Oppose'), and Zhu Wenbo who'll have the White Ensemble, a multi-tentacled guitar-based improv group, perform a piece of his entitled “X=a？b. RMB 40

Goodbye Honey Boy at Aotu Studio
One of the biggest surprises this year was the sudden arrival of dream pop trio Goodbye Honey Boy and their debut Daydreaming Days – a bittersweet delight that’s particularly dripping in honey, sporting influences from Brain Eno to Beach House and more. And while the band has been in a state of purgatory since the summer as its guitarist studies in NYC, they'll be reuniting for a short and sweet winter tour, kicking off at the intimate revamped Aotu Studio by Beixinqiao. So yeah, last chance to see what the dream pop kids have been raving about the past six months here. RMB 90

Sixi at Yugong Yishan
Formed in 2014 in Nanjing – the four-piece female fronted indie rock trope has been making waves for years and hitting the country with their debut release TV Watch TV. Blending brit-pop, funk, psychedelia, new wave, garage, and other progressive elements the band combines retro and modern sensibilities. For fans of Da Bang, Queen Sea Big Shark, and so on. RMB 100

WHAI, Wasted Laika, Great Buffalo Blues, Redundant Seconds at Temple
The crosstown music festival finishes off its trail of destruction with a rollicking finish at Temple with some of the venues most dependable players. From veterans WHAI, new favorites Wasted Laika, as well as Redundant Seconds and Great Buffalo Blues, there's a bit of something for everyone. FREE

SheWeiGuo at DDC
Buddhist fusion folk troupe Shewei Guo, consisting of an array of classically trained musicians including Inner Mongolian Shi Lei on the handpan, Beijing singer Song Song, Dongbei flutist Zhang Di, as well as special guests Chang Jing on the guzheng, Song Zhao on cello, Xiao Ying on piano, and Wang Jia Men. Together they create a mesmerizing contemporary take on traditional Buddhist music. RMB 90

Krayzie Actor, Sweet, Krazy Fam, Drop Science Crew, CiEr, DJ Quaver at School
Volume 3 of School Bar's new "Open Fire" hip-hop series featuring a who's who of the Beijing underground hip-hop scene. Set to take the stage are rappers and hip-hop ensembles Drop Science, Krayzie Actor, Sweet, CiEr, Krazy Fam, and DJ Quaver. If you couldn’t tell, it’s gonna be kray kray. RMB 80

Penicillin, Solaris, Laisee at Communications University
Meanwhile, School Bar is giving back to the children and shifting their enterprise over to the Communications University of Beijing (on Batong Line) where three of School’s hottest commodities – Britpop outfit Penicillin, psychedelic troupe Solaris, and hardcore ruffians Laisee will perform at the Media University campus auditorium. FREE (7.30pm start)

Pharaoh, Toy, Lil Jet, Pavel, HA$ at Omni Space
‘Hip-hop drives Chinese youth culture’ – that’s the tagline for this evening’s hip-hop extravaganza at Omni Space where rap label AFSC will trot out their roster of mainstream rap stars Lil Jet, Toy, Pharaoh, and more. RMB 200

WHAI, Bobby’s Satellite, Heartland, Li Zhi at Yue Space
Prog rock, psychedelic folk rock, heartfelt ballads, and hard rocking pop rock – just another evening in the music scene for Beijing as four distinct bands hit the stage at Beixinqiao’s Yue Space. RMB 100

Luo Bing at Mao Livehouse
A prominent poetic and novelist first – Luo Bing, who has published more than one million words of novels and essays, took to the stage in 2010 as a singing performer, traveling the country. He returns to his home base Beijing for his debut performance here where he’ll be presenting his latest album Ghost Day. RMB 100

Rudra’s Sage at Mogu Space
Philippines-born sitar player Rudra’s Sage, a scene regular since the heydays of River Bar in Sanlitun, returns to Beijing with his sitar for an intimate performance in Mogu Space in Xizhimen where he’ll play original compositions, Indian classics, and music by The Beatles. RMB 80

Slow Pulse at Jianghu Bar
After half a year away, Slow Pulse, the offbeat jazz outfit is back in action. Catch them at Jianghu with an ensemble of talented musicians: jazz guitarist Simone Schirru and fellow artists sax player Nathaniel Gao and drummer Antonio Fusco, bringing you everything from original jazz to experimental trip-hop. RMB 60

Dan Taylor and Heike Wyler Christmas Special at Caravan
Frequent folk collaborators – Dan Taylor (of The Harridans) and cellist Heike Wyler – bring their "Celtic Baroque Folk" for a special holiday program of the two's favorites Christmas melodies and beautiful winter tunes from around the world. RMB 60

L-Force, Snake, Electric Sewage at Soi Baochao
Underground rapper from Urumqi joins fellow old-school hip-hop artist Snake and expat classic metal-punk outfit Electric Sewage (classic name there) for a bit of everything at the busy as ever Soi Baochao. RMB 40

Louis Hayes (US) at Blue Note
Legendary drummer Louis Hayes presents his latest critically acclaimed and six-time nominated Grammy album, Serenade for Horace, which also marked Hayes' debut as a leader on Blue Note Records. Catch him at none other than Blue Note this weekend. RMB 400

Horse Feather, Better Off Alive at Modernista
Funk alt-rockers Horse Feather join Better Off Alive, acoustic rock and rollers with muddy American, Celtic, and Eastern European undertones. FREE

The Black Magic Blues at The Bricks
Head to the Bricks on Friday for this free jazz show by American-influenced roots and blues group The Black Magic Blues Band. The group mixes elements from different American traditions: Texas, Memphis and New Orleans, and features a talented ensemble of local blues musicians on stage.

Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies at 4corners
The band is heading over to Ggulou to help 4c ring in the holidays! Come join us for some sizzling dance tunes, peppermint white Russians, and a jingle-bell-rockin' time with jolly ol' Stevie Mac! FREE

The Rebel 5 at Kirin Place
The Rebel 5, formerly known as The Rotten 5, is a soul, R&B, and funk music ensemble covering some of the greatest songs of all times. Catch them working the dance floor at Kirin Place in Wangjing. FREE

Saturday, Dec 16

Glow Curve, SNSOS, Steely Heart, Penicillin at Omni Space
A killer bill of local talent over at Omni Space which excites me quite a bit considering the sound system we're dealing with (yeah – Omni's system is ace). Sprawling, dense post-rock favorites Glow Curve, fresh-faced jangly instrumental rockers SNSOS (who'll be dropping their debut next week), rowdy scruffy electro punks Steely Heart, and the smooth and disciplined Britrock outfit Penicillin. Nice array of sounds and styles from some of the scenes hardest working bands. RMB 150

Wang Wen, Chinese Football, Little Wizard, Sparrow, 16th Floor, Sun of Morning (TW) at Tango
Dalian post-rock giants Wang Wen headline this massive bill at Tango alongside the freshest, most sought-after post-rock and math rock outfits across China including Wuhan's Chinese Football, Shaoxing's Little Wizard, Taiwan's Sun of Morning, and Beijing's own Sparrow and 16th Floor. That's a dream lineup right there (hell I'd even just take CF and WW and call it a day). Presale tickets pretty much sold out immediately so expect an eager, delirious crowd of fanatics and young hopefuls. RMB 260 (MOST LIKELY SOLDDL OUT)

SAW, Empty Eyes, Ready to Die, OWAT, Ice Moon, Fukedaifu, Purgatory, Dark Haze, Devil Mask, Dr. V'agent, The Uncrowned, Eternal Wings, Army of Jade Kirin, Scar Constitution, Collision Dreamer, Awaken, The Skin I Live In, Nobleman, Fire Monkey, Nuclear Bomb, Tomato Mayor at Yugong Yishan
Hard rock (and every form or offshoot of it) promoters Beijing Thug Brothers throw one last blow-out party and good lord do they really go all out each and every time. A whopping 21-band lineup kicking off at 3pm with all sorts of madness stuffed in there. Goth metal favorites AJK joining melodic death metal veterans Dark Haze, post-hardcore outfit Ice Moon, and even a few out of town bands like the awesomely named Tomato Mayor out of Nanning (whose mayor is in fact a tomato head) – I mean it's friggin' 20 bands – skip every third one and you're still indulging yourself. RMB 150

Kid Millions (US), Li Jianhong, Zhang Shouwang, Gogoj, Josh Feola, Wang Xu at Fruityspace
Day three of Kid Millions weekend residency (his second night at Fruityspace) finds collaborations of all ilk between the renowned New York percussionist – with guitar demi-god Li Jianhong, electric cellist gogoj, Zhang Shouwang, and Kid Millions sharing one another with reckless abandon before the artist joins Josh Feola (of SUBS) and Wang Xu (of white+) for a three-way drum orgy. Yeah – we getting intimate. RMB 40

Nao Kakimoto (JP), Shota Mizuguchi (JP), Tatsuki Hamasaki (JP) at School Bar
One of School Bar’s guilty pleasures is Japanese jazz electronica and folktronica. It’s what they get off on between punk ragers. So it's no surprise that tonight they’ll be hosting prominent ambient folk-laced electronica artists Nao Kakimoto with Shota Mizuguchi (from December) and Tatsuki Hamasaki (from Miaou). A different departure from the venue’s regular rough-housing but one that I’ll definitely be welcoming. Good stuff.

Horse Feather, Macondo, Swarm at DDC
DDC gets the jump on Christmas celebrations with an early Christmas party featuring an array of styles and sounds – with post-rock powerhouses Macondo, fresh on the scene experimental industrial post-punk trio Swarm, and funky altrockers Horse Feather. Bring your holiday spirit and DDC will bring the fun. RMB 60

Swarm, Uncle Hu, mystery guest at Caravan
Caravan getting downright sexy these days will some of their lineups - a fusion of industrial rock, post-punk, and prog rock – the three-piece Swarm will join lo-fi melodically pleasing indie rock band Uncle Hu as well as a special secret guest. RMB 50

Pacalolo, C60, Bang Bang Mary at Temple
No shame, no pretensions – just get your body moving in one direction or another - that's the basis for this Saturday hoedown at Temple where kitschy electro-pop duo Pacalolo joins C60 and Bang Bang Mary for some no-frills rock and roll. FREE

Samaga at Yichang Cafe
‘Indian, Middle Eastern, and worldwide musical influences with a joyful dash of modern harmonies’ – Samaga melts modern compositions into Indian ambiances, delivering their own interpretation of traditional Arabic maqam and Indian raga, constantly reinventing the soundscapes painted by the Indian sitar, Middle Eastern percussions, and the oud. RMB 70

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen at Jianghu Bar
Veteran blues-rock outfit Hoochie Coochie Gentlemen look to bring the good vibes to the cozy Jianghu Bar – harmonica, acoustic guitars, and some very merry singers. These cats are pros and have been working the crowds for ages – expect nothing less than a harmonica-infused evening of homegrown blues. RMB 100

Laisee, Duff Beer at Kirin Place
Alright – this Kirin Place in Wangjing is seriously perking my interest now. Consistently putting on free events, with an array of styles and sounds – there’s something brewing over yonder and I intend to find out soon enough. Tonight it’s punk with local noisemakers Laisee and Duff Beer duking it out. FREE

Stevie Mac & The Mac Daddies, Solid Gold, Bye Bye Kitty, Ricardo and the Sons of Thunder at Yue Space
A charity show benefitting CandleX – a Beijing-based mental health NGO. For your small donation, you can enjoy the inspired covers (and some originals) from Solid Gold Machine, The Mac Daddies, and more. RMB 80

Inxu, Malnutrition, The Coin Locker, Gravitational Force at Chen Livehouse
Soundtrack post-rock, hardcore metal, and other bombarding sounds to shake you loose this weekend – head to Chen Livehouse in 798 if you’re looking to break free from the masses. RMB 60

Orion, Frost, Black Lotus, Oceanic, Baihe Zu at 13 Club
Pop rock, tight jeans, girl groups and plenty more attitude with this eclectic lineup of young hopefuls at the Wudaokou center for music, 13 Club. RMB 50

Suzi, Zi Mu at Mogu Café
Suzi of the folk-rock troupe The Paramecia gives a special solo performance tonight at Mogu Space in Xizhimen alongside Zi Mu of defunct old school rock outfit Jacky Danny. RMB 80

Forbidden City Horse, Cats at Laifu Livehouse
Americana hard rockers Forbidden City Horse, whose southern fried 70s hard rock has may them quite the live act join the Chengdu act Cats, who like the animal, hide their emotions. RMB 60

Mengma, Better Off Alive at Soi Baochao
Join Mengma, a three-piece rock band started by twins, and rooted in country blues, folk and ethnic music, as well as acoustic rockers Better Off Alive, who gleefully blend blues, rock, and various folk traditions. Plus, a screening of an episode of some show called The Orville cause why not! FREE

Liron Man (IS), Gilberto Ali Romero Aguilar, Fraivan Concha Aponte at La Plantation
Handpan maestro Liron, the fastest handpan player in the world has worked with legends everywhere – Zohar Fresco, one of world's leading percussionists (Israel), Badi Assad, famous singer/guitarist-songwriter (Brazil), Jorge Pardo, award-winning flamenco/jazz flautist (Spain), Govinda Goswami, sitar master (India). He brings his skills and culturally rich and diverse sounds to La Plantation as he joins Latin musicians Gilberto Ali Romero Aguilar and Fraivan Concha Aponte on stage. RMB 200 (7pm start)

Mademoiselle et son Orchestre at Modernista
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre return to Modernsita. The premier gypsy jazz outfit has been igniting crowds left and right for endless years – a true joy to behold. FREE

The Basement at Blue Stream Bar
The Basement, the multi-national rock and soul outfit, ‘united through serendipity and the love of music’ get down with it over at Blue Stream Bar. FREE

Sunday, Dec 17

Wu Tiao Ren at Yue Space
An ode to the nooks and crannies of southern China, from the sprawling urban villages of Guangzhou to the wandering careers in the Haifeng county, Wu Tiao Ren continues to explore the lives and stories that reside and interweave in the rapidly changing urbanscape. The Guangzhou-based outfit, bring their low-key poetic charm bring their latest crowd pleaser Dreamy Lisa Salon to Yue Space. Folky guitar and accordion tunes, often in their native Haifeng dialect, these guys are the real deal, so expect a high turnout. RMB 120

Dastan Ensemble at DDC
DDC label’s flagship band, U-Dastan Ensemble, comprised of Uyghur musicians of the utmost musicianship perform at home base tonight. Dedicated to the interpretation, promotion and development of the world cultural heritage Twelve Muqams, and the Xinjiang regional classic folk songs the groups uses traditional folk instruments, combining rap Maqam, as well as national costumes, video, dance, and visuals to effectively share their culture. RMB 80

1043 Rap Team, Seppela, Krazy Family, Drop Science, Dj Crazy, DaWuTong, Bluso at School Bar
The hip-hop movement can’t be stopped as School indulges in its second hip-hop themed evening of the weekend as local promoters FanZui TuanHuo, gathering together MCs and rap troupes 1043, Seppela, Krazy Family, Drop Science, DJ Crazy, and more. RMB 60

Gentle Grapes, Self-Portrait, Panda Eyes, Brickleberry, Candle, Bai Jianqing, Later Island at Beijing University of Technology
Some of the scene’s hottest pop rockers – from fun-loving punks Gentle Grapes to the Britpop influenced Self-Portrait – head to the Beijing University of Technology for some fun. FREE

Hot Club of Beijing at Blue Note
The high end jazz club continues ‘Good Day Beijing Brunch’ series offering customers the fine pairing of brunch with top grade music – today they’ll host the multi-national gypsy jazz ensemble, the Hot Club of Beijing, fresh off their tour of China, who’ll bring their 1930s swinging jazz, hot Latin rhythms, and gypsy waltzes to the stage. RMB 248

Wu Gui, Qi Ming, Shang Zhen at Mogu Space
Southern China folk singer-songwriter Wu Gui brings his poetic full of bite and ridicule to Mogu Space alongside the Leonard Cohen influenced Qi Ming, and Shang Zhen. RMB 60

Samaga at DDC
‘Indian, Middle East and worldwide musical influences with a joyful dash of modern harmonies’ – Samaga melts modern compositions into Indian ambiances, delivering their own interpretation of traditional Arabic mMaqam and Indian rRaga. RMB 60 (3pm start)

Kolor (HK) at Laifu Livehouse
Hong Kong pop-rock outfit Kolor who established themselves in 2005 bring their swooning, adorably sweet natured non-offensive rock and roll to Shuangjing. RMB 100

Wongki Lee, Kyung Eun Na at La Plantation
Catch an engaging and special recital at La Plantation with the classically trained saxophonist Wongki Lee and pianist Kyung Eun Na. RMB 200

Still hungry for more? Check out all of our live music listings here. Alternatively, if it's nightlife that you're sprightly little legs are after, well, get on over here.

Photos: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers, jessmeider.com