Weekend Live Music Roundup: Spring Turns Autumn, Funky Side Effects and Lonely China Day

Ten years of being in a metal band isn't that easy, think about all the mocking you'd received - "metal is dead, and it's not as hip as the indie kids". Around this time last month, I saw the legendary Finnish band Stratovarius in Shanghai, and I was totally blown away - the songs might be cheesy to today's standards, but man what a loyalty from the fans! Not being one myself, I have the deepest respect for those guys - at least they know what they want. Months earlier at the Strawberry Festival, another metal set from Tang Dynasty caught me into nostalgia, realizing I could still sing along with all the lyrics and guitar solos. Then I thought, Kaiser Kuo was a founding member of that band. Now Ding Wu (lead singer of Tang Dynasty) is having difficulty hitting high notes, whereas Kaiser's other project Spring Autumn are still growing strong, celebrating their ten years' anniversary tonight at Mako Live House. After all, time can't be the excuse for everything.

Wu & The Side Effects finally have an album, I've been waiting for it since last August. Like Spring Autumn, those blues rockers aren't really hipsters, but they've made a hell of progress during the past few months by playing kick-ass hard partyin' rock n roll. Find out if that can be well presented on studio recordings tonight at 2 Kolegas. Another album release gig, also something I've been feeling excited throughout the week, is Lonely China Day at Mao Livehouse on Saturday night (see interview here). Deng Pei and his indie rock apprentices will shake the iron gate with This Readily Assimilative People - a collection of post rock arrangements and electronic soundscape with a less-lyrical structure. The album is priced at RMB 99.9, and that 1 mao change is not for charity, so please take it.

For venue details, check the Beijinger Directory

Friday (June 18)

Blackwater
Irish ballads in Beiluogu Xiang. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Buyi
Indie rock in folk tunes. RMB 50. 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Chiren
Beijing folk songs in rock format. Tickets at 8599 1188. RMB 50-120, RMB 50 (students). 8pm. Nine Theater, Chaoyang Culture Center (8599 6011)

Dexter, Trouble Maker, Help, New Tank, 1210, Any More
Fresh indies rock behind the iron gate. RMB 40 (students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

El Johnson & The Taste of Soul
Real blues. Free. 9.30pm. Frank's Place (6437 8399)

Europa Huang, Su Yu
Taiwanese indie pop star Europa Huang sings his guitar ballads. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 7.30pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Raging Mob, Rampant, Sacrifice, Dark Haze, Body Of Blood
From thrash to melodic death core, who says metal’s dead? RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Shochu Legion, The Discord
Get drunk with punk sprite. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

Spring Autumn
Kaiser Kuo and his metal co. turn ten years old. RMB 60, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)

The Big Picture, Bian Yuan, Wu Zhuoling
Swedish indie poppers share stage with former Joyside’s frontman and the touring Sichuanese songstress Wu Zhuoling. RMB 50, RMB 30 (advance, students). 9pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)

The Medullary Paralysis, The Me Guan Me’s, Residence A, Streets Kill Strange Animals
Italian alt rockers test on industrial effects with local experimenters. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

The Redness
Indie pop with mellow tunes. RMB 30. 9.30pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)

The Redbucks
Old country and bluegrass. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

Wu & The Side Effects, The Amazing Insurance Salesmen
These blues rockers finally have an album, Zhang Si’an and his rock project show support. RMB 40. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Jazz pianist operates on his keyboards. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Saturday (June 19)

Blackwater
The Irish charm now arrives at Wudaoying. RMB 30. 9.30pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)

Brain Failure
The punk rockers play acoustic inside an art gallery - talking about versatility. RMB 100, RMB 60 (advance, students). 4pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Evening News
Soft rock walks by folk lines. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Hot & Cold, White+, Xiao Hong & Xiaoxiao Hong
Noise and experimental undergrounds congregate in Tongzhou. RMB 20. 6pm. Raying Temple (137 1698 0276)

Hummingbird
Kazak band with salsa element. Free. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

Liu Yuan Saxphone Quartet
China’s jazz forefather keeps the Houhai shores smooth. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Lonely China Day
A long-waited third album from the Chinese Radiohead. RMB 79.9, RMB 69.9 (advance). 9.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Matthieu Chedid (-M-), New Pants
Quirky lads mix Paris and Beijing with electro rock and disco beats. Price TBD. 9pm. The Star Live (6425 5677)

Moxi Zishi
Folksy singer performs ethnic ballads of the Yi People. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Nanwu, Wang Shengnan, My September, Mr. Lizard, David Cui
Folk rock calms down the Gulou streets. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance, students). 8.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)

Shang Xia, SSS, Reading Fire, K362, Chinatown, DengeL, Logic Lose Control
Grunge, gothic metal and death metal share a stage. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Skyscraper, Lao Lang, TOOKOO, MC Webber
Beijing’s long-standing blues rock band release an album, friends of folk, emo and hip-hop support. RMB 50. 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

The Clamps, Lazy Camels, Bedstar, Me Too
Hard rock with a bit electronic taste. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Van Gogh, Andrographis, Sparrow
Experimental rock under ambient attack. RMB 50, RMB 30 (advance). 8.30pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)

Zhuobian’er Beile, Pacalolo, Zebra Run!, R.D.S
Run the electro power with these indie rockers. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

Sunday (June 20)

Misandao, Early Bus, Life For Drinking, Unregenerate Blood, Discord, Hell City
Emo, metal and punk make peace to raise money for Pet Orphans Home. Scare them, share them. RMB 50. 7.30pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Moreno Donadel Trio
Italian pianist collaborates with a few Beijingers. Free. 9.30pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Qing Tian
Yunnan folk singer plays Western covers. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Reflector, TOOKOO, Bigger Band, Larry’s Pizza
Punk, emo, ska and electro. Free. 7pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Shochu Legion, Laodong Guangrong, Metal Ball, S.I.F., No Words, Mile Xiangsheng Company
Metal, emo core and Chinese cross talk share stage in the name of helping blind children at Bethel Foster Home. RMB 40. 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

TOM
Folk duo plays self-written materials. Free. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

Wacken Open Air Metal Battle
Local talents offer as much as solo as you can get. RMB 50. 8pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)

Wu Tun
China’s noise rock forefather goes acoustic. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Zhao Zhao & Fig
Folkman makes a peaceful end for the weekend. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Zhu Guangyu
Topical singer-songwriter plays self compositions. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)