Noise Pollution: The Molds, Shii, Gong Gong Gong, Papo Vazquez Quartet, and a Space EP

Will Griffith | Aug 23, 2019 8:30 am | Add a comment | 121 reads

Summer is just about over folks and that means the music scene is getting back to the good stuff – big names, wide lineups, and one wild 'n’ out live show after another. So whether your poison is boot-stomping oi! punk or bittersweet indie pop, it’s all there for the taking.

Friday, Aug 23

The Molds, Sleeping Dogs, Kaoru Abe No Future at Frequent Collaborative
The new makeshift venue between Fruityspace and C5 Art Space welcomes some of the underground scene’s most reputable ensembles, including cult favorites The Molds, whose "surf rock on methadone sound" took a breather when frontman Liu Ge moved to Australia earlier this year. Joining them will be afro-rock trippers Sleeping Dogs and experimental supergroup Kaoru Abe No Future. Read our overview of what to expect from Frequent Collaborative here. RMB 80

Hind Brain, Bad Clutch, Boss Cuts at Temple
Another annual Temple tradition, the rock and roll epicenter will be celebrating their beloved Michael Marshall’s birthday with one hell of a twist – they’re hiring the services of Spacespeak, an organization able to broadcast messages into space so as to send out a mixed tape with songs recorded live during the birthday shenanigans of the bands performing over the weekend. Night one will have punk rockers Hind Brain, metal kids Bad Clutch, and Marshall’s own surf rocking renegades Boss Cuts shooting off into space. FREE

Drunkard, Mandala, and Jungle Fever at DDC
DDC brings different shades of rock to the stage as bands from across the spectrum look to cause a ruckus including hard-edged grunge veterans Drunkard, Gufeng-rockers Mandala (roughly translated as a nostalgic trend), and the ever-lively genre-smashing punk act Jungle Fever. RMB 80

The Power Powder, Fancy Wall, Dark Blank,
MTA (which has a new swanky space over by Shilupu) presents the Road to Supernova, putting the spotlight on an eclectic batch of acts whose genre touch upon everything from soundtrack rock to folk, punk and more including sets from indie-pop veterans The Power Powder, pop-punks Fancy Wall, duo Yu Wei & Zhang Ziwei, and Dark Blank. RMB 60

Elenore, Husband Killers, Time Street, The Lightning Club at School
Indie rock trio with a Britpop twist Elenore return to the stage after a long hiatus and joining them are rustic Chinese Quyi inspired rockers Husband Killers, 8-bit electro-rock outfit Time Street, up-and-coming rockers The Lightning Club. RMB 80

#T.A.C.E, YKEY, SQ-7, DOUBLE-X at Yue Space
Rap and R&B hold hands tonight at part one of the Black Hole Music Festival, to be held over the next month at Yue Space. Tonight they welcome YKEY, Guangxi rap trio #TACE, Chengdu rapper SQ-7, and Guangxi duo DOUBLE-X. And yes, these names are ridiculous. RMB 120

Peking Floyd, Haze Maze at Soi Baochao
Beijing's premier Pink Floyd tribute band bring their vast and ever-increasing collection of cuts from Pink Floyd's most creative years, priding themselves on emulating their live performances during the 1970s when their improvisation and psychedelic jamming were at their best. Support from prog-rock hit-making supergroup Haze Maze. RMB 80

Galaxy Knight, Pao Pao, Suang Bang'er, Da Wutong at Mao Livehouse
Vaporwave collides with hip-hop tonight as an array of rappers and producers bring their future funk, deep house, and techno sensibilities to the vaporwave genre, injecting it with some life courtesy of the hip-hop scene’s most elastic wordsmiths. RMB 150

Papo Vazquez Quartet at Blue Note
Trombonist Papo Vazquez fuses Afro-Caribbean beats from Cuba and Puerto Rico with progressive jazz, creating something new and exciting. He’ll appear with Rick Germanson on piano, Ariel Robles on bass, and Alvester Garnett on drums. RMB 260-340

Templo do Samba at Modernista
Templo do Samba have been a leader in promoting Brazilian music culture in China, growing from a handful of people to a full-blown group of samba professionals with over 55 active members. Catch the drum ensemble this evening. FREE

The Great Buffalo Blues at Jianghu Bar
The electric duo that explores funk, blues, soul, and reggae are back at Jianghu with their unique musical style that’s unlike anything else. RMB 70

V89 at 69 Cafe
Melodic hard rock outfit V89 who have been kicking around for some time now, bring their charm and chops to Changping for a special showcase. FREE

Mao’s Girlfriend, Gun'er at Mogu Space
Acoustic offerings from rising singer-songwriter Mao’s Girlfriend and Gun'er. FREE

Saturday, Aug 24

Loft Beach, Lonely Cookies, Hoo!, Daydream Secrets, Peach Illusion, Then, Islands at Yue Space
Hazy Summer Nights – an annual showcase that looks to shine a spotlight on the new generation of bands across China – returns for volume two as they gather an array of acts with a penchant for conjuring up the feelings most associated with the season. The bill includes Wuhan indie-pop darlings Lonely Cookies, Xiamen fuzzy synth-pop wanderlust duo Peach Illusion, Chengdu’s robust Britpop pushers Daydream Secrets, Guangzhou indie rock scrappers Hoo!, Shanghai psychedelic surf-pop enablers Loft Beach, and Beijing’s own post-rock instrumentalists Then, Islands. An incredible opportunity to hear what sounds are emerging from across the country. Read our preview of the six up and comers here. 7.30pm start. RMB 150

Shii, Nocturnes at DDC
Sichuan-born, Wuhan-based singer-songwriter Shii presents her debut Floating Signifiers – a nifty piece of electro-pop that establishes the artist as someone both to be reckoned with in both pop and indie circles. Conjuring up a slick synth-pop world laced with IDM, glitch, darkwave, and dream pop elements, she twists ear-pleasing melodies in on themselves with surgical precision and a smooth sensuality. Catch the rising star at DDC along with dancer Nee (who’ll join for a ‘stimulated stage play’) and Beijing’s own indie duo Nocturnes. Read our interview with Shii before her Beijing arrival here. RMB 100

Gong Gong Gong, Li Jianhong at Frequent Collaborative
The new makeshift venue between Fruityspace and C5 Art Space welcomes another homecoming, as phantom rhythm duo Gong Gong Gong, who’ve been making a splash in the US (including a tour with esteemed cranial punks Parquet Courts), return to Beijing to release their debut LP. Joining them will be guitar noise shaman Li Jianhong. Read our overview of what to expect from Frequent Collaborative here. RMB 120

Husband Killers, Paths, Hazemaze at Temple
Another annual Temple tradition, the rock and roll epicenter will be celebrating their beloved Michael Marshall’s birthday with one hell of a twist – they’re hiring the services of Spacespeak, an organization able to broadcast messages into space so as to send out a mixed tape with songs recorded live during the birthday shenanigans of the bands performing over the weekend. Night two will have rustic rockers Husband Killer, prog-rock hitmakers Haze Maze, and poetry slamming Paths shooting off into space. FREE

Discord, Shave N' Shut, Hell City, Hangnail, D-Crash at School
Volume 19 of Chaos Weekend – all you need to know is best be ready for a night of punk rock, hardcore, and booze galore as Beijing punk legends Discord, return alongside oi punks Shave 'n' Shut, metal punk veterans Hell City, rising punk stars Hangnail, the one and only crust d-beat punk ensemble D-Crash. RMB 100

Residence A, Eating With China at Z-Lovi
Indie rock veterans Residence A, whose music has been captivating ears for nearly a decade give a special performance at the new Chaoyang centric space Z-Lovi. RMB 100

JiNK, VG, LOBO, 2mi & iLL 4OUR, HouTuYu at MTA Space
The new swanky MTA Space down by Shilipu hosts their weekly hip-hop night sponsored by collective WR/OC which puts a spotlight on the new wave of hip-hop innovators – so if you’re looking to see what the latest trends are the hip-hop world look no further. RMB 80

One Drop at Soi Baochao
With members from different corners of the globe, brought together for the love of music, One Drop is the city’s premier reggae outfit who since 2012 have promoted the good message of Reggae in China and in Asia, playing everything from "Roots Reggae" to "Lovers Rock." FREE

Tal Wilkenfeld at Blue Note
Bassist and singer-songwriter Tal Wilkenfeld is a unique instrumentalist who writes and sings from her own experience. See her at Blue Note as part of the Mercedes Benz Jazz Master Series. RMB 320-420

The Mantras at Modernista
The Mantras, previously known as Parakeet, are back at their favorite place with an eclectic mix of genres – joining friends and foes at Modernista to make us dance away to their fusion of pop and jazz. FREE

The Hunters at Jianghu Bar
Beijing’s hottest crowd-pleasers and one of the capital’s best foreign cover bands, The Hunters combine old school funk, soul, and rock classics with intoxicating delivery. RMB 60

Liu Donghong at 69 Café
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 at the newly opened 69 Cafe. FREE

BUA Seven at Pink Moon
The BUA Seven guitar club whose motto is “We are abstract singers in the sense that we abstract,” get down and jiggy at Pink Moon this evening. FREE

Sunday, Aug 25

The Hotline, Jah Wah Zoo, D.M.N, Yun at School
Local label and promoters D.O.G. close out the weekend with an electrifying lineup featuring the label’s own electro-rock swingers The Hotline who’ll join a roster of bands from Sichuan including reggae rockers Jah Wah Zoo, young (like teenager young) Britpop rockers D.M.N, and considered the "youngest reggae band in China" – Yun. RMB 100

Silent Speech, String, 9SHANG at DDC
A multi-faceted cross-border art and musical experience, tonight’s showcase and exhibition will feature calligraphy artist 9SHANG interacting live with indie rock soundscapers Silent Speech and improvisational instrumentalist String. RMB 90

This Time Around, Vanish In Mirage, Wei Warrior, Titan, V Kum at Temple
Things take a turn for the ominous and depraved as thrash metal kids Wei Warrior joins menacing ambient experimental outfit V Kum, hardcore outfit Titan, Vanish In Mirage Landing, and best of all, Michael Jackson tribute electronic band This Time Around. What an age we live in. FREE

Shuang Bang'er, Gem, Muti, Sun Mao, DJ RiRi at Yue Space
Hip-hop galore this evening at Yue Space as they host an array of hard-hitting rappers and spin doctors with TV credits to their name and online fame in their veins, including Gem, Shuang Bang'er, Muti, Sun Mao, DJ RiRi, and more. RMB 200

GIN (JP) at Mao Livehouse
Named the “strongest newcomer” in the Japanese fingerstyle guitar world by Isato Nakagawa, the godfather of the fingerstyle guitar movement, who considers him a spiritual successor, Japanese acoustic guitarist Gin is a beast in the unique niche. 2pm start. RMB 180

Luo Ning, Yi Bu at Mao Livehouse
Renowned jazz pianist Luo Ning whose chops even got him recognition in New York Jazz Weekly takes the stage alongside Xinjiang percussionist Yi Bu. 8pm start. RMB 180

Falcom jdk at Tango
The Falcom jdk ensemble takes swings through Tango as part of their 2019 Asia tour. The group plays music from Japan’s Falcom video game group, including music from iconic games like Dragon Slayer as well as more modern releases like Tokyo Lost City. RMB 380

Victor Bastidas Jazz Quartet at Modernista
To sum up a full month of jazz, Modernista brings back the electrifying Colombian drummer Victor Bastidas alongside saxophonist David Diao, guitarist Zhang Jing, and bassist Jongmoon Park. FREE

Ma Rong at Jianghu Bar
Known for his single ‘The Barefoot Ophran’ folk singer-songwriter Ma Rong swings through the cozy hutong spot as part of his nationwide tour. RMB 100

Cherry Core at 69 Café
Freshly formed pop-punk outfit Cherry Core influenced by Green Day, Ramones and Rancid look to stir up some fun in Changping. FREE