Noise Pollution: Gao Jiafeng, Chinese Football, Hyde, The Soft Moon, The Foreigners

Will Griffith | Mar 28, 2019 3:22 pm | Add a comment | 608 reads

Things are heating up this weekend as March bids farewell with a jam-packed weekend of music – full of surprises and new beginnings – from math rock-inflicted emo rock out of Wuhan to alternative karaoke pop out of Shanghai – there’s a lot to dig your teeth into as spring emerges.

Friday, Mar 29

Gao Jiafeng, Lows0n, Pao Pao at Mao Livehouse
Chameleon Shanghai musician and prankster Gao Jiafeng – self-described as a ‘karaoke/alternative pop/comedy project’ is at it again. An electronics producer, saxophonist, musical instrument designer, rapper, and talk show host, his topsy-turvy style touches on vaporwave, disco, future bass, city pop, hip-hop, trap, and then some – all filtered through his homemade cool-waste aesthetic VJ and TED lecture styles. Tonight he invites rising Xiamen hip-hop star Lows0n (serious talent there), and Pao Pao for an evening that’ll be as unique as they come. RMB 118

Great Buffalo Blues, Pizza Face, Show Hand, The Lightning Club at School
Blast off into the weekend with this firecracker of an evening at School Bar - on the docket are bluesy rock outfit Great Buffalo Blues, the in your face female fronted glam punk ensemble Pizza Face, old-school punk trio with "Chinese characteristics" Show Hand, and alternative rock newcomers The Lightning Club. FREE

Nocturnes, Royal As Purple, Synth Cells at Temple
The atmospheric, sultry, and immersive indietronica duo Nocturnes return to Temple. The band, whose melodic and ethereal sound has built their a loyal fanbase will be premiering some new songs from their forthcoming EP to be released later this year, which showcases a new direction to their sound. They join electropop outfit Royal As Purple as well as electric drum n’ bass duo Synth Cells for what will surely be a riotous evening. FREE

Djang San at DDC
East-meets-West fusionist and veteran show stopper Djang San – a jack of all trades include ‘zhongruan player, philosopher, poet, composer, guitar hero, DJ, one-man orchestra, and explorer of new sounds’ bring their buck wild tunes to DDC as he releases his latest ‘Mask Music’. Support from noise pop act The Playcat and electronic artist Anxt. RMB 80

Hyde (JP) at Beijing Century Theatre
Japanese rock star Hideto Takarai, known exclusively by his stage name HYDE, first gained prominence in 1991 as the lead singer for L'Arc-en-Ciel, and for his prolific output as a solo artist. Keeping tight to the genres of hard and alt-rock with a dash of theatricality-obsessed visual kei, he's released four solo albums and eight singles in his time, and provided the title song to the third season of "Attack on Titan." He’s back with a full-on hard rock sound, kicking off the Asia stretch of his world tour in China. RMB 580-1480

The Peking Floyd, Prost at Modernista
Beijing's Premier Pink Floyd tribute band bring their vast and ever-increasing collection of cuts from the watershed psychedelic band, emulating the live performances of them during the 1970s when their improvisation and psychedelic jamming were at their best. Support from up and comers Prost. FREE

DNV Pro Jazz Group at Jianghu Bar
Founded in 2018, the band is part of Flow Fluence, a jazz brand owned by DNV Music Group. The jazz composer and jazz singer Yang Ming is the band's leader and all the band members are outstanding students from DNV PRO – a music edification program for music lovers and musicians, including music theory, vocal training, ensemble, composition, composition, salon, master collaboration and more. RMB 80

Huang Li Ge, Bamboo, Tsong, Mercy, SeanT, Ugly G, Ode, Laoz, DJ Flvcko at Yue Space
Spring break is here and that means a bonafide hip-hop party must underway – head over to Yue Space where a gaggle of rappers, DJs and hip-hop enthusiasts take the stage including Bamboo, Tsong, Mercy, SeanT, Ugly G, and more of the ilk. RMB 120

Sinne Eeg (Denmark) at Blue Note
Raised in the Danish countryside by a very musical family, Sinne Eeg has played and studied music all her life, eventually being accepted to the prestigious the Danish National Academy of Music. Influenced by Nancy Wilson, Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, she adds her own personal touch of soft darkness influenced by Scandinavian melancholy to her music. RMB 100-300

Mukai Taichi (JP) at Omni Space
Japanese new-gen pop singer Mukai Taichi takes the stage at Omni Space as part of a three-city tour. His influences come from the American South, bringing together elements from funk and jazz in his music. RMB 360

V89 at Mogu Space
Melodic hard rock outfit V89 who have been kicking around for some time now, bring their charm and chops to Xizhimen for a special showcase. FREE

Duo Gemini at La Plantation
The duo consisting of Danish chamber musician Kehan Zhang and pianist Ramez Mhaanna, give a special recital that’ll include renditions of Beethoven, Ravel, and even Hans Zimmer. RMB 180

Li Eryang, Mr. Nick, DJ Bananafishbones at Caravan
Seventies-evoking singer-songwriter Li Eryang joins Serbian guitar player and blues-filtered singer Mr. Nick for an evening of "dark seed songs" that’ll pay respect to everyone from Nick Cave to Leonard Cohen. RMB 60

Colleen Andrea Quartet at The Bricks
The versatile singer, with a powerful voice, who is now in China offering the best of her talent to liven up our nights, brings the rhythms of Bullerengue, cumbia, currulao and more to Sanlitun tonight. FREE

Steve Blaque, Da Qiao at Pink Moon
American artist and producer Steve Blaque, who played formerly in genre-bending rock band The Radiance, joins singer-songwriter Da Qiao. FREE

Saturday, Mar 30

Chinese Football at Yue Space
It only took three years (and change) but Wuhan’s emo stalwarts have hit the big time (it ironically sits right next to American Football’s new EP on the best selling page on Bandcamp) and their latest EP Continue? further solidifies the band’s tight musicianship and sound. The math-rock infused emo-rock outfit is on a nationwide tour now, and have already sold out pretty much every city they’ve hit so far. Expect a packed house as the breakout successes bring their sincere sound to the masses. RMB 100

Return to Delicate Past, Zoogazer, Wonder Sea, Acid Accident, Default at School
Set to play are the decade-old post-rock quartet out of Henan province Return to Delicate Past, Xuzhou shoegaze dream-pop foursome Zoogazer, the talented Beijing post-wonders Wonder Sea and the groovetastic post-renegades Acid Accident. And a secret appearance from Beijing shoegaze blazers Default, fresh off their luscious debut album and primed to hit the road next month touring across China. RMB 120

All Unknown, Strong Shell, Hz, Qiong Ke, Old Waste Park at 13 Club
Back to basics over in Wudaokou as the long-standing 13 Club gathers a batch of hard-hitting, infectious, youthful rockers that fall somewhere on the pop-punk spectrum, including veteran ruffians All Unknown, up and comers Strong Shell, and more. RMB 70

Electric Lady, Bang Bang Mary at Caravan
Shit’s getting heavy at Caravan with their latest ‘Diplomatic Incident’ featuring two powerhouses bands rocking late into the evening including stoner rock favorites Electric Lady and alt-rock outfit Bang Bang Mary. RMB 60

Camilla George (Nigeria) at Blue Note
Born in Eket, Nigeria, Camilla has been interested in music from an early age and particularly in the fusion of African and Western music. Camilla’s love of fusing African and Western Music to make her own unique style made her a firm fixture on the new London Jazz scene alongside peers such as Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, and Zara McFarlane – a hypnotizing blend of Afrofuturism, hip-hop, and jazz. RMB 120-320

Liang Huan at Tango
Musician, a talk show host, film director, and one of China’s foremost online stars, Liang Huan is a jack of all trades entertainer. He returns to Beijing for a special performance that takes a look back at some of the star’s biggest hits, reimagined and rearranged with the help of visual artist Linyouxie and the singer himself. RMB 200s

ECS at La Plantation
Cello Ensemble consists of eight young cellists. They got to know each other in Central Conservatory of Music, and now they working various famous music schools and orchestras. They build this cello ensemble, with the intention of conveying the beauty of music to the audience with the excellent sound of the cello. RMB 180

Vladmir Kharin at Shunyifornia Theatre
Pianist Vladmir Kharin joins Beijing for a concert and master class in support of Roundabout. Interpretations of classical works by Bach, Rachmaninoff, and Chopin, accompanied by other amazing classical artists. After the concert, three audience members will be selected for the master class. RMB 150

Liu Donghong at Mogu Space
Liu Donghong, dusty blues singer of Sand, China’s first ‘cold rock’ band, and a scene player for over twenty years gives an intimate performance at Mogu Space. FREE

The Spice Cabinet at Modernista
Follow the death-bop path of the eclectic Spice Cabinet this evening – as they turn jazz into upbeat pop and pop into jazz – all sprinkled with funk, hip-hop, bebop, rock and a heavy dose of the avant-garde. FREE

Hutong Rap Battle Vol.14 at Soi Baochao
Head to Soi Baochao and lay down your best rhymes as an array of rappers compete and jam to their heart's content. Let host L-Force and DJ Funkylicious get the good times rolling. FREE

Nancy Jenkinson Brown Quartet at Bricks
Nancy Jenkinson Brown alongside with her ever-skillful band of troops presents a delicious cocktail of music and playful renditions of songs you know and love, providing listeners a new sense of joy for jazz. FREE

Wu Sa at Jianghu Bar
The folk-rock ensemble made up of members of the Yi minority in the Liangshan mountains, bring their homegrown sound to Jianghu Bar. RMB 80

Sunday, Mar 31

The Foreigners, Derby Day at School
Britpop finds refuge down in humid trenches of Guangzhou via The Foreigners - whose no-nonsense commitment to melody and catchy lyrics wears you down till you throw your arm up in elated surrender. The Foreigners have risen through the ranks quickly since forming in 2017 and are now signed to local heavyweight label Modern Sky. Their full-length LP is a loose, emo-infused, melodically tight, and extremely replay worthy introduction to a band that has serious potential. Catch the band as they roll through Beijing on their tour. RMB 120

The Soft Moon (US) at Omni Space
American post-punk band from Oakland, California led by producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Luis Vasquez brings their otherworldly sound – which touches on everything from darkwave to industrial rock. With four albums under his belt, they tap into the dark side of contemporary music, where heavy rhythms that dip into EDM, krautrock, and synthesized punk. RMB 240

Omnium Gatherum (Finland) at Mao Livehouse
Finland’s Omnium Gatherum returns to slay Beijingers this Sunday. The metal act got their start in 1996 when they emerged onto Europe’s vibrant metal scene with gusto and visceral force. Since then, they have evolved, challenging their sound in more and more daring ways. RMB 320

Mayuan Poet at Yue Space
Hard rock outfit Mayuan Poet, much in the vein of XTX, play though-provoking lyrically-rich old school rock and roll with bits of grunge and folk through in for good measure. Catch the band perform at Yue Space as they continue their nation-wide tour. RMB 130

Simona De Rosa at Modernista
Italian award-winning singer, composer, educator Simona De Rosa has established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the NY jazz scene and continues touring internationally. FREE