2011 Dec 29 Weekend Live Music Roundup: P.K.14, Carsick Cars, AV Okubo
Six years ago, D-22 was opened to give young bands more opportunities to play. Somehow it became a paradise for punk heads and indie kids. Then Beijing's "noisiest" youngsters also claimed it as their base, conducting their musical experiments there. Most people don't actually go to D-22 very often because of its location, but the club's existence is indubitably symbolic. It's a place where a gig can be delayed for over two hours because the sound system is acting up ... yet no one gets mad or anxious. Facing the end of a year and the end of an era, I don't know which one's harder to believe: that 2011 is done or that D-22 is closing.
Some say this weekend might be your last chance to try jumping around in the crowd at D-22. P.K. 14, Carsick Cars and Ourself Beside Me will be on stage to celebrate the New Year's Eve. Each one of them alone would be too big for the venue, but since you won't be able to avoid the crowds anyway, don't you think it's better to be stuck with people you like? But if those three bands aren't your "must-sees," Friday might be a better time to go up to Wudaokou. AV Okubo, Snapline and The Gar are playing -- and that combo is even more unlikely.
Of course there are plenty of other wonderful acts to be caught as the year draws down and the new one begins. Find them in the listings below.
Happy New Year!
Thursday (December 29)
Frank van der Ploeg
Former drummer of Alt Senior shows you an unlived deja vu. RMB 50. 9.45pm. V.A. Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)
GrandKey
Japanese world musicians hit Dongmianhua Hutong. RMB 30. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)
One Band
Have a simple ska night. Free. 9.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430 )
Residence A, The Gray, Lazy Camel, Youxi, Elenore
A night with ambitious young rock powers. RMB 60 (includes a free drink from Vampire In Beijing), RMB 40 (advance, students). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)
Skip Skip Ben Ben, Chui Wan, Birdstriking
Beijing’s most active and ubiquitous underground rock experimentalists come together. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9.30pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Friday (December 30)
Ah-Q Jazz Arkestra
Celebrate the end of 2011 with the electric and eclectic mix of original modern jazz compositions. RMB 50. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)
AV Okubo, Snapline, The Gar
A rare pairing of Wuhan’s premier indie electro band with Beijing’s avant-garde rock royalty. RMB 60, RMB 50 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Electronic Music Party
Yantiao, Alpine Decline and more of Beijing’s live electronic powers gather. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)
JSan, DJ Tribune
Rock- and pop-infused hip-hop echoes in Fangjia Hutong. Free. 10pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)
Rolling Bowling
Catch the rockabilly group before they get on with their national tour. Free. 9pm. Temple (131 6107 0713)
Trio B
One of the most creative Jazz bands in Beijing. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A. Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)
Saturday (December 31)
Dafay & Skyscraper
Welcome the new year with the simplest compositions and a straightforward attitude. RMB 40. 9.45pm. V.A. Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)
DH & Chinese Hellcats, Rolling Bowling, The Flying Mantas
Get your best rock dance moves ready for the new year. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)
Slap
Say goodbye to 2011 with some cynical Beijing folk rock. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9.30pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430 )
French Jazz Meets Chinese Jazz
Jazz standards, Latin jazz, Italian, American and Chinese pop songs re-arranged. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)
Gangzi Tuliguer
Throat singing brings you to the grassland. Price TBD. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)
Hoochie Coochie Gentleman
The unique Beijing blues group releases two albums at once. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 9.30pm. Mako Live House (5205 1113)
Perdel
Beijing's pop-rock pride welcomes the New Year with a new album. RMB 90, RMB 70 (advance), RMB 60 (students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)
P.K. 14, Carsick Cars, Ourself Beside Me
The star power of this lineup will attract a line a mile long. RMB 100, RMB 80 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Sunday (January 1)
Glow Curve, Streets Kill Strange Animals, Me Too
Kick off 2012 with some post-rock and post-NYE hangover drinking. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 9.30pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
Hao Yun
The best folk musician of 2011 (as crowned by the Midi Awards) says hello to the new year. RMB 150 (buy four tickets, get one free), RMB 100 (advance). 9pm. Tango (6551 9988)
Irish Traditional Music
Come to gain energy and a happy mood with new band Steerage. Free. 9pm. Modernista (136 9142 5744)
King Kong Production
Give 2012 a heavy start. Celebrate with metal heads Four Five, Army of Jade Kirin and more. RMB 80, RMB 60 (advance). 8.30pm. MAO Livehouse (8402 5080)
Made in Ningxia
The northwestern folk-rockers have their monthly gathering. Lineup includes Buyi, Lidong and more. RMB 60. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)
The New Year Jazz Night
Liang Jun Quartet will play classic jazz tracks from great Jazz musicans, like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane etc. RMB 30. 9.45pm. V.A. Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)
Tribute to Townes Van Zandt
Honky-tonk bluegrass Randy Abel Stable show their respect to the country master. RMB 30. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)
Wu Hongfei & the Happy Avenue
Singer-songwriter Wu Hongfei celebrates the New Year with her indie love songs. RMB 60, RMB 50 (advance). 8pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)
Monday (January 2)
Buyi
Ningxia’s folk rock pride keeps Dongmianhua Hutong rocking. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 5269)
Tuesday (January 3)
The Terry Hsieh Collective
The Oberlin jazz collective returns to Beijing for the third time. RMB 50. 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)
Xiaohong Yu Xiaoxiaohong, Deadly Cradle Death
Wudaokou's experimental sound keeps rocking. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)
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