Noise Pollution: Birdstriking, BoXuan, Narakam, J-Fever, Whale Circus, ReJianBeiShaShou
While Qingming Festival and Easter duke it out for our attention – wicker baskets, fire bins, and all – the music scene has other plans and could care less about who’s grave we’ll be sweeping or where your chocolate eggs are hiding. And I’m okay with that. More tunes to soak in over the long weekend, more opportunities to check out some new bands, and plenty of time to recover from whatever it was you ingested the previous night. It’s a whirlwind of a weekend – one full of reggae, noise rock, post-rock, metal, indie pop, and punk music in all shades of black. Happy holidays!
Friday, Apr 2
Jahwahzoo, Sky King Jack, The Sailor’s Grape 水手葡萄, Rolling Bowling 旋转保龄 at Omni Space
Old school sounds made with love, flair, and riotous appeal, tonight brings a quartet of bands that excel in the arena of reggae, ska, and rockabilly! The long-standing Chengdu-based big band style reggae outfit Jahwahzoo is a love letter to both the Jamaican-bred genre and to the concrete jungle of the Sichuan hotbed. There’s a patience and professional ease to their music, a leisurely air that surrounds their sound, and modest confidence that wins you over. Joining them are China’s premier rockabilly band, Rolling Bowling, a celebration of the music that flooded the airwaves between the 40s and 60s touching upon everything from doo-wop to jump blues. They’ve added a horn section since their stint on The Big Band last summer and simply put, are on fire. The horns don’t stop there as Wuhan’s own reggae-tripping ska-riffing jazz-flavored big band Sky King Jack looks to heat up the bill alongside all-star reggae ska outfit The Sailor’s Grape, featuring members of PK14 and Bedstars among others. Expect nothing but positive vibes at this one. 8pm. RMB 160/200
Birdstriking 鸟撞, springiscoming 虎啸春, Shouting Nerd 大叫控 at Yue Space
White Cat Laundry, Modern Sky’s offshoot indie rock label that’s been picking up steam over the past year, help welcome in the new season will a red hot lineup of our city's most riotous indie acts. Leading the charge is Birdstriking who has been my de facto live band since first catching them at D-22 a decade back. One of the most righteous, hot-blooded acts who leave nothing on the table at their shows, they have taken their sound from its scrappy noise-punk roots to an almost arena rock level while maintaining their sincerity and infectious energy. Joining them are up-and-coming indie rock contenders springiscoming, whose evocative and vital sound is layered in heavy doses of cathartic post-rock, downtrodden grunge, and rustic indie rock. Rounding out the bill are Shouting Nerd, the punk rock and rollers outfitted in indie-pop attire, and all the better for it. 8pm. RMB 150
Daydream 白日梦, Uncle Bad at School
Both a time capsule of a young Britpop band’s riotous early years and a prospect for the many adventures ahead, Beijing’s Daydream have invigorated themselves with their sophomore release, Back to Stage, even as they keep things aptly old school. With a spirited pop sensibility that reminds one to never take anything too seriously, the band sounds in many regards like a younger and leaner Joyside, keeping the melodies equal parts loose and undemanding, and the emotions earnest. Catch the scrappy rockers as they kick off a nationwide tour on their home turf, School Bar. Support from ska-punk favorites Uncle Bad. 9pm. RMB 80/100
gossamer sea游丝, Summer Palace Underground地夏宫 at nugget café
New sounds cooking up over at nugget café as gossamer sea make their debut. The indie duo consisting of Yiti and Dawei (of nugget café fame), blends an array of different sounds and textures – from ethereal guitar to washed-out synths – into soft, luscious, dreamy soundscapes. Meanwhile, psych-folk troupe Summer Palace Underground, led by singer/guitarist Yueyue, percussionist Didi, violin player En Zhou, and keyboardist Zhang Guo bring together the acoustic sounds of the world with "psychedelic, radical melodies on the considerations of life." 9pm. RMB 60/70
BoXuan 博譞 x Y.IN尹引 x Jiu Shang 九尚 at Aotu Space
An evening of world music, trance, and live painting as three pros turn Aotu Space into their own art studio. In charge of the soundscapes will be Bo Xuan, of Hedgehog and Nova Heart, whose been studying the Sitar over the past decade – even going as far as releasing a solo LP last year. He’ll join handpan master Y.IN and poet-painter Jiu Shang as they explore the theme of light and the fusion of art and music. 8.30pm. RMB 120/150
Gia Wang + Wen Liang + 安基宕 at UFO Space
Avant-garde and new media collide in the latest sonic exploration to unfold over in Sihui ‘s UFO Space as former Hang on the Box singer and musician Gia Wang join atmospheric producer Wen Liang as well as Anji Dang from the Experimental Art Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, who’ll be providing a live multimedia interactive VJ set with the two musicians. For those looking to get outside of their headspace. 9pm. RMB 60/80
Saturday, Apr 3
Gum Bleed 牙龈出血, Pizzface 披萨脸, Shochu Legion 烧酒军团 at School
One of the punk scene’s most steadfast outfits, Gum Bleed, going strong for 15 friggin years, are back with their latest call to arms, Punx Save the Human Race. Seemingly sifting through the wreckage of our post-COVID world order, there’s an urgency and resonance to the blunt potency of Gum Bleed’s words that’s unshakable. And filtered through the band’s old school, take-no-prisoners, meats-and-potatoes street punk, it feels more timely than ever. But above all, there’s the genuine notion that punk can still be a force of good in the world, something that the esteemed band radiates effortlessly on their album. They’re in the midst of a nationwide tour, and will be supported by none other than the always dashing Pizzaface and hardened punk veterans Shochu Legion. 9pm. RMB 80/100
Narakam 冥界, Dressed to Kill, Ready To Die, Dengel, Evil Thorn 恶刺, Dark Haze 霾晦, Yaozhan 腰斩 at Mei Live
Nothing says holiday like a good old-fashioned tribute to our ancestors via blood-curdling shrieks, thundering drums, and face-melting guitar riffs. The annual Qingming Festival Tomb Sweeping extravaganza of metal returns as melodic metal veterans Narakam celebrates with their friends the only way they know how – mosh pits galore! Joining them are speed metal purveyors Dressed to Kill, symphonic dark metal outfit Dark Haze, goth metal heartbreakers Dengel, and many more. All at Xidan’s new rock and roll hub Mei Live. 3pm. RMB 150/180
Deprive, Rat King, Flip House at UFO Space
Shanghai comes looking for trouble as some of its punk scene’s most abrasive characters converge upon UFO Space. Reminding you how infectious hardcore music can be – especially when it’s screaming in your face – Rat King, are a mischievous and lean hardcore outfit, a manic gleeful one-hundred-meter dash of blistering rock and roll that’ll leave necks reeling. Meanwhile, Fliphouse brings an upbeat and propulsive old-school emo punk energy to their sets, charging through with a whirlwind of fun. Representing Beijing is none other than multi-national brutal blast beats hardcore ruffians Deprive, a band that’s been making a name for themselves in the capital. 9pm. RMB 80/100
Yan Jun, Wei Wei, Meng Qi, Wang Chenhuai, Wen Zhiyong, Wang Xiaofang, Zhou Fengling, Soviet Pop, white+, Li Jianhong, Deng Boyu, PEI, Fung lok, SHAO at Sound Terminus 798
The countdown begins with Colin Siyuan Chinnery and Hong Feng's project Sound Terminus: Sound Park, a long-term multi-faceted art project that uses sound to explore the relationship between society, culture, and memory, particularly that of Beijing’s history. There’s not much out there in terms of tickets, but a full day of music performances will be kicking off Saturday afternoon at Sound Terminus 798 Studio in Beijing with sets from a panoply of sound artists, experimental masters, and producers including Yan Jun, Meng Qi, Zhou Fengling, Soviet Pop, white+, Li, SHAO, and many more. 3pm.
j-fever 小老虎 at fRUITYSPACE
Maverick hip-hop artist j-fever – one of the scene’s most respected (and underrated) acts – whose freewheeling, playful, philosophical, and sometimes downright surreal spin on the genre drops in on his old home turf of Beijing for a one-off performance at none other than fRUITYSPACE. The last time the chameleon and singular rapper played to the basement venue, the whole blocked filled up, so best get there early to grab your spot. 8.30pm. RMB 100
Axis Neptune, Rational Romance at nugget cafe
Indie pop and lo-fi hip-hop grooves over at nugget HQ as UK multi-instrumentalist and producer Axis Neptune showcases his genre-spanning sound which utilizes deep grooves, drum machines, live guitars, and electronic elements. Joining him is Rational Romance, a lo-fi/chill music producer from Beijing whose points to jazz and classical music as his inspiration. 9pm. RMB 60/70
Sunday, Apr 4
Bliss Illusion 虚极、Xiaotong 仙童、Deep Mountains 深山、Whale Circus 鲸鱼马戏团、Ritual Day 施教日、Sparrow 文雀 at Tango
Black metal and post-rock show their love and appreciation for one another with this sprawling festival that looks to capture the transcendent highs and guttural lows that the two genres are known for. On the black metal front, you’ve got veteran outfit Ritual Day, an indispensable part of China’s metal music scene for over 20 years, Buddhist scripture-inspired black metal troupe Bliss Illusion, and the atmospheric Deep Mountains from Tai’an. Meanwhile, on the post-rock front, there’s the cinematic instrumental collective Whale Circus led by prolific composer Lin Xingyu, rising stars Xiaotong, and veteran post-rock juggernauts Sparrow fresh off the release of their new lush EP. Big bands, big sounds – a hell of a night for music. 5pm. RMB 280
Pizza Face, Kenja Time, Car Drop 跳车, RNA 核糖核酸 at School
An eclectic evening of hungry punk and indie sounds as PizzaFace return for the second time this weekend to School Bar, bringing their ferociously sweet selves to the stage alongside up and coming indie soundscapers Kenja Time (one of Maybe Mars’ most recent acquisitions), hard-hitting punk kids, and the even heavier RNA. Rugged music to keep you pumped for your Monday off. 9pm. RMB 80/100
Hind Brain 反骨, Wacky Tobacco, 劣质烟草, The Pace of Time 淤泥与藕, White Crow 白鸦, Dirty Punk 脏朋克 at Mei Live
For eight years, bands across China have swept down the tomb of Kurt Cobain as they paid tribute to the genre-defining musician. This year is no different as grunge enthusiasts and loyalists hold the torch up high. And gotta say, the grunge scene is stronger than ever these days with recent purveyors like Hind Brain and Bad Crow joining seasoned vets like Wacky Tobacco and The Pace of Time. Let your hair down, whip out that flannel, and pay your respects. 8pm. RMB 100/150
Monday, Apr 5
WHAI, SHA!, Simplicity Lover 简约情人, Metropolis 大都会乐团 at Omni Space
Cold Neo teams up with Vibez for a sexy little Tomb Sweeping Day showcase featuring everything from city pop to prog-rock – sounds to soothe you and sounds to shake you loose. On the docket, you’ve got everyone’s favorite psych prog-rock group WHAI, who have been together since 2012 and have committed themselves to their heavy, offbeat brand of psychedelic rock and roll. Joining them are prog-rock instrumental mavericks SHA!, synth-heavy 80s evoking city pop outfit Metropolis, and Simplicity Lover, headed by Shi Xiaofei, a veteran of the indie-pop scene whose latest project matches her pop sensibilities with a rustic charm by wisely scuffing up her lush lyricism with an indie country-rock veneer. 8pm. RMB 80/120
ReJianBeiShaShou 热键被杀手 at Yue Space
Noise rock daydreamers ReJianBeiShaShou bring raw angst and sensitivity to the scene. Fresh off their new vigorous EP, the young Xiamen band are a force to be reckoned with, turning growing pains and adolescent dread into a swirl of guitar reverb, rising synths, and impassioned vocals. Noise pop with an emo heart, post-punk that’s still spry, whatever the case, ReJianBeiShaShou wear their hearts on their sleeves, sincerity jumping into the chaotic sea of emotions that comes with growing up too fast. Catch them as they swing through Yue Space as part of their latest tour as a five-piece band. RMB 80/100/120
READ: Lit Lovers Unite for "Spittoon Literary Magazine" Issue 7 Launch Party, this Saturday at Aotu Space
Images: Birdstriking, courtesy of the organizers
