Weekend Live Music Roundup: Rock Icons Unite

Earlier this week, while I was having dinner in a restaurant in Gui Jie, He Yong walked in and sat at the table right next to ours. All of a sudden I felt my heartbeat accelerating. In order to explain my feelings to my friend – a financial journalist who has close to zero interest in rock music – I said: “Imagine if the ex-managing director of China Citic Bank just randomly walked in and sat down next to you.”

More than 15 years ago, in the spring of 1994, three men – He Yong, Dou Wei, Zhang Chu (aka “The Three Heroes of Mo Yan” 魔岩三杰 ) – released hugely significant albums at the same time. Later that year, they went on tour to Hong Kong along with Tang Dynasty. That concert is still considered a milestone of Chinese rock music. In the same year, Cui Jian released his third album, Balls Under The Red Flags. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call that year the climax of rock music in China. Too bad that the milestone probably marked the end of a highway. There have been many long discussions about whether the rockers walked further and further away from Chinese people’s impression of rock music or the struggle against “the powers that be” sealed the fate of rock & roll in China. It didn’t take much time for rock music to go back underground.

Why am I repeating all these clichés? Because all the abovementioned rock stars (except Dou Wei) and nine other bands and musicians are likely to set another milestone tonight at Workers’ Stadium at the Rock Heroes' Concert. The roster also includes names like Xu Wei, Wang Feng, Black Panther, Pu Shu, Zheng Jun, Shuang Zi from the mainland; Qi Qin and Xin from Taiwan; and Huang Jiaqiang (Beyond) from Hong Kong. If Dou Wei were to show up (as some rumors insist he will) along with Luo Dayou from Taiwan, and if Huang Jiaju, the former lead vocalist of Beyond, were to be resurrected for a single evening, tonight’s stage would feature practically everybody who has had an impact on Chinese rock music in the past 20 years.

In any case, you will be able to see Luo at the Greatwall Tanglewood Music Festival. And I was so curious about the rumor of Dou Wei (and Faye Wong?!) presence at the Rock Heroes' Concert that I screwed up my courage, turned to He Yong at the next table, and asked him if it was true. He denied it.

I’m not sure if it’s coincidence that Huang Yunling, another influential women in Taiwan’s music industry, also starts her first mainland tour tonight. And Hang on the Box and You Dao She, two bands who have built a solid fans base earlier this decade, will make their comeback concert tomorrow night after years of silence.

Perhaps years from now, we will still be talking about this weekend. Who knows?

Friday (August 27)

Absynthe Minded, MO & Grazz
Rock band from Belgium and hip-pop from the US, joined by Mr. Freeman.
RMB 80/60 (advance). 9pm. MAO Livehouse.

A Ji Nai
Youngsters sing stories from the grassland with traditional Mongolian instruments.
RMB 40/30 (advance). 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar

Bigger Bang, Free The Birds, Chasing Star , The Face
Zippo Hot List Night. Purchase a Zippo lighter at the Plastered 8 store and get vouchers for two free tickets for this show. RMB 80, RMB 50 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan

Candy Monster, Velvet Road, Residence A, me灌me, Yes No Break
Quadruple bill guarantees a long night in Wudaokou.
RMB 40/30 (students). 10pm. D-22

Full Bloom! Rock Heroes' Concert!
Cui Jian, Xu Wei, Tang Dynasty, Black Panther, Huang Jiaqiang (Beyond) ... 13 Chinese rock icons gather for the biggest Chinese rock music event of 2010. There are also rumors that Faye Wong might show up to support her rocker friends.
Tickets at 400 610 3721. RMB 180-1280. 7pm. Workers' Stadium

Huang Yunling
The singer and songwriter who has made a significant impact on Taiwan’s pop music industry for over 20 years has her first tour in the mainland.
RMB 280/380/580 (VIP/V-VIP). 8pm. The One Club

Li Daiguo, Tang Hongfei
Experimental music with traditional Chinese instruments next to the north second ring.
RMB 40/30 (advance, students). 9pm. Zuiyuefang Bar

Mirror, Miao
Indie Pop and electric folk at Fangjia Hutong. (Please notice the former noted Defy and Mojo will not play)
RMB 30. 9pm. Hot Cat Club

Point Eight, Harsh, Crime-x
Pop punk and pop rock.
RMB 60/50 (advance). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee

Sassy Kraimspri
Punk girl from Norway jam at Wudaokou with her band.
RMB 50. 10pm. 13 Club

Slap
The funny Beijing band welcomes you to slap.
RMB 50/40 (advance, students). 9.30pm. Gulou 121

Xiajia Piano Trio
Local star jazz pianist with his band.
Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Café

Saturday (August 28)

Golden Driver, Pork, Street Kills Strange Animals, Nakoma
Another four bands of rock at Wudaokou’s favorite venue.
RMB 40/30. 10pm. D-22

Hang On The Box, Rustic, You Dao She, Dancers
Hang On The Box and You Dao She come back to the rock scene after years of silence joined by the leaders of the new generation.
RMB 30. 8pm. Hot Cat Club

He Li, Wu Tun
Folk music with critical lyrics.
RMB 60/50. 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemam
HCG comes back to Dongmianhua Hutong.
RMB 30. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar

Stephanie Sun Yanzi
Singapore-born pop singer makes an annual stop in the Chinese capital, complete with multiple costume changes and lots of sing-along hits.
RMB 380-1,680. 7:30pm. Capital Gymnasium

Sub Jam Concert
If you missed Li Tieqiao and Lander Gyselinck on Thursday, here they come again, joined by more people. RMB 50/25 (advance, students). 4-5.30pm. UCCA

Trouble Maker, Kill Hatred, Five Point Zero, Min Zang, Jia Chong Bao Lei, Out of Countral
Hardcore metal heads wants to keep you up all night at Wudaokou. RMB 40. 9.30pm. 13 Club

Wan Jian Xin Wen
The 20-year-old local band takes you to travel through time with them. RMB 40/30 (students, advance). 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar

Zi Yue Qiu Ye
They want you to feel “very Chinese, very modern, very folk and very rock.” RMB 120/100 (advance). 9.30pm. The One Club

Sunday (August 29)

Burket
Flamenco night at Fangjia Hutong. Free (minimum consumption RMB 30). 9pm. Hot Cat Club

Outdoor Party/Afrokoko Roots
Celebrate the end of summer outdoors, listening to Brazilian group Afrokoko Roots at this afternoon event.
RMB 50. 4pm. 2 Kolegas

Sha Cong, Haozi
Folk music from the north west of China. Free. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar

Shi Li, Zhou Laoda
Folk and world music night with two performances.
RMB 30/20 (students). 9.30pm. D-22

Silk Socks Party
Country rock and metal for silk socks. RMB 60/40 (ladies with silk socks). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse

Summer Sunshine
The pop punk band brings their new album with their adolescence. RMB 40/40 (advance with a free CD). 8pm. MAO Livehouse

August 27-29

Greatwall Tanglewood Forest Music Festival
A three-day music festival for music lovers, along with two nights of the "Electric Picnic" of electronic music. Lineup includes Xie Tianxiao, Hedgehog, Re-tros, Luo Dayou, Maximilian Hecker, Pet Conspiracy, Perdel and Zhou Yunpeng. The nighttime Electric Picnic
inlcudes Acupuncture DJs, El-Mar, Lupen, Ou Yang and more. RMB 150 (1-day pass)/220 (advance, 3-day pass)/100 (advance, 1-day pass). Tickets at Lantern, Eric Paris Sanlitun, Luce, NLGX and other venues. Call 135 0134 8785 for more info. Express Bus 919 from Deshengmen bus station goes directly to the venue.
Shuiguan Great Wall, Yanqing District.

Jing Lang Music Festival
So many festivals, so little time. Acts include Carsick Cars, Pet Conspiracy, Xiao He, New Pants and Long Shen Dao.Tickets at 400 610 3721. RMB 200 (three days), RMB 90 (one day). Jinglangdao Park, Mentougou District.