Weekend Gig Guide, Dec 8-11: Pixel Echo AV Festival, Rolling Bowling, Zhong Lifeng, Beijing Chaos Attack Fest

We here at the Beijinger are pleased to present Live Beijing Music's weekend gig guide, written by head honcho Mr. Will Griffith. Will has been running around Beijing for over four years, documenting the city's shows and the requisite onlooking drunkards with various cameras/sound recorder setups, losing plenty of equipment along the away in his attempt to capture Beijing's aural spirit. You'll occasionally catch him pogoing like a madman when he's not got a camera in hand. Remember to add LBM on WeChat (ID: livebeijingmusic) for up-to-date and comprehensive gig updates and media. Take it away, Will ...

Spicy hotpot, hot chocolate, and feet warmers – just a few of my favorite things to indulge in during the winter season. But what really gets my blood going during these frigid months? Ridiculously dangerous decibels levels and enough bass to blow-dry my hair. So if you’re idea of a good time is bleeding perversely from your eardrums look no further cause your weekend gig guide is here to save the day! And a little heads up: Live Beijing Music will be throwing a pre-Christmas bash at DDC on December 23 – so if mulled wine and some of the season’s freshest talent sounds nice – come join us!

Thursday, December 8 and Friday, December 9

Pixel Echo Audio-Visual Festival at Omni Space
Some there’s a new stud in town that goes by the name Omni Space. In actuality, it’s the new Jiangjinjiu (a longstanding venue that resided between the Drum and Bell Tower) which its previous owners kickstarted together earlier this summer and opened last week just on the west side of the Temple of Heaven. Point is – it looks like they mean business. For their second week in circulation they’ll be hosting Pixel Echo 2016 – two evenings of audiovisual performances from musicians, sound artists, visual artists, experimental bands, programming artists, and dancers – basically, some of the most cutting-edge musicians around, including glitch artist Hong Qile, pianist Yue Xuan, guitar soundscaper Li Jianhong, iimmune, Gan Jian, and much, much more. Check out the poster above for the complete schedule and get the lowdown here. Very curious about this one. RMB 80 (one day), RMB 150 (two days)

Friday, December 9

Automat (Germany), Future Orients, WoGui de HuoChe at Tango
VICE returns with their annual year-end celebration and they’ve tapped quite the act – veteran German trio Automat whose ‘groove-infused take on neo-psych and Krautrock’ will surely have music geeks grinning. They’ll be joined by 2016’s hottest new comers – Beijing Foals-esque rockers rockers Future Orients and Nanjing indie trio WoGui de HuoChe. Hot stuff – tickets aren’t available anymore but it’s a free event so just waltz in or play dumb. Free

Rolling Bowling at School
Get to School Bar early cause everybody’s favorite rockabilly group, Rolling Bowling is back, and they’ve got a special two-hour performance waiting for you. The band, who have hit it big in the past year, with a major record deal and two tours of Europe, are ready to close out the year with a banger. ‘Bring your dancing and drinking shoes’ cause it’s gonna get wild. Free

The Big Wave at Modernsky Lab
New wave punk outfit The Big Wave return to Beijing to close out their forty-plus city tour and more importantly celebrate the release of their debut See The Sun – these cats have certainly elevated their game since their School Bar days – expect extremely kinetic synth rock that’ll have ModernSky Lab hot and sweaty (Extra tidbit: the second track on their album is simply named ‘02’ because Chinese censors couldn't handle ‘Chinese Live In Hong Kong’ – such nonsense). RMB 100 

Zhong Lifeng at Yue Space
Renowned urban folk singer-songwriter and Zhong Lifeng brings his majestic story-telling voice to Yue Space to celebrate his upcoming seventh album as well as his fifth book, released earlier this year. Literary jackpot people – as per usual with Yue Space nowadays, expect a packed house. RMB 150

Muppet at Yugong Yishan
Though my dreams of having the actual Muppets (the Jim Henson ones that is) perform have been scattered, the Beijing-based hard-edged emo rock outfit Muppet will be closing out their nationwide tour with a blowout at Yugong Yishan. The band has been riding high since their debut earlier this fall so head over and give them a pat on the back. RMB 100

Rhonda, Oldy Baby, Bastards of Imperialism, A. Borealis at Hot Cat Club
Explore the various facets of punk at this wildly diverse showcase at Fangjia Hutong hotspot Hot Cat Club including sets from outrageous punk folk outfit Oldy Baby, math rockers Rhonda, politically charged anti-establishment outfit Bastards of Imperialism, and more. Free

Bill Evans (USA) at Blue Note
World-class saxophonist and producer who made his debut on the international music scene in the 1980s originally with Miles Davis, hits up the jazz venue game changer Blue Note. With 24 solo albums, Grammy nods, and countless collaborations and tours under his belt – expect nothing but a class act. RMB 280-560 

Zhang Qianqian at 69 Café
Veteran singer-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene, since her debut in 1996 gives a special showcase courtesy at 69 Café. RMB 80

Lívia Frossard and the United Nations Co-Op at Caravan
It’s a Brazilian caipirinha party at Caravan with special guest Lívia Frossard whose bossa nova, samba, latin-flavored stylings will keep folks moving and grooving. RMB 50

Golden Buddha, Wang Zongxing, Yang Ming, Shao Ha Ha at Jianghu Bar
Longstanding jazz outfit Golden Buddha fronted renowned jazz musician Kong Hongwei bring their modern take on jazz alongside friends and fellow talented musicians. RMB 60

Orchid-Eyed Women, Marginal Park, 玺儿at Mars Livehouse
The Batong Line venue looks to dig it’s feet into the music scene pool ever more with an eclectic lineup that features all-female country rock outfit Orchid-Eyed Women. RMB 50

The Reaper at 13 Club
Break out the black eyeliner and fill that dark hole in your heart with some gothic metal courtesy of The Reaper who’ll be bringing the pain to Wudaokou. RMB 40

Saturday, December 10

Gum Bleed, D-Crash, The Flyx, The Demonstrators, Shave-N-Shut, Unregenerate Blood, Tumor Boy, Dressed to Kill, Hang Nail, Duff Beer at School
Local hardcore/punk collective H.B.K., which is centered around Shave-N-Shut, The Demonstrators, D-Crash, and Hell City, has put together one heck of lineup Saturday with ten bands with a knack for the extreme and punishing, bring chaos to School Bar. Hardcore, punk, d-beat – you get the picture. Get ready to mosh cause it’s gonna be a long one. 4pm start. RMB 100

Scar Constitution, A.J.K, Hind Brain, Ice Moon, Need a Name, Dr. V.agent, Ephemerality, Collision Dreamer, The Uncrowned Drunkard, Laisee, Devil Mask, OWAT, Mega Soul at Yugong Yishan
If one jam-packed lineup of the scene’s heaviest characters wasn’t enough, Yugong Yishan has gone ahead and tapped 14 bands that specialize in all things heavy – grunge, industrial, hard rock, hardcore, and metal galore – for a carnival of moshing, fist-pumping, and head banging. One last middle finger to 2016. Best come prepared. 5pm start.

Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Machine at 4corners
Audience favorites, Tavey Lean and The Solid Gold Dream Machine bring their impressive repertoire of classic soul, RnB, three-piece horn section, rock and roll fun to 4corners for their last show of the year. Free

Comp Collider, december3am at Fruityspace
Improvisational psychedelic Krautrock outfit Comp Collider will be releasing their latest album Secondary Drowning at Fruityspace – "a snapshot of the band’s developmental arc over the last 12 months." Support by the phenomenal and one of a kind december3am, a duo that knows no bounds. 4pm start. RMB 40 (w/ CD)

My Skin Against Yours (Taiwan) at Yue Space
Taiwanese indietronica band My Skin Against Yours bring their electrifying set to Yue Space to promote their latest EP Msays – for fans of energetic, sleek trip hop and electro pop this is where it’s at. RMB 80

The Jessica Stuart Few (Canada) at La Plantation
"Inventive genre-bending triple threat composer, guitarist, vocalist" The Jessica Stuart Few presents her "koto-playing indie soul-jazz (the koto is a traditional Japanese 13-stringed instrument) whose trademark red hair and genre-bending dancefloor grooves have taken her and her band on multiple tours throughout Asia and Australia." Catch the acclaimed artist on both Saturday and Sunday Night at La Plantation. RMB 150 (RMB 80 if you're a student or still wet the bed)

WHAI, The Felling Tree at Hot Cat Club
Trip-hop electro rock veterans WHAI bring their hypnotic sound to Hot Cat Club with support from folk act The Felling Tree. Free

Bian Yuan, Nathan Borofka, Nick Parsons at 69 Café
Folk rock crooner Bian Yuan (of Joyside and Lone fame) takes the small stage at 69 Café alongside regular folk singer-songwriters Nathan Borofka and Nick Parsons. RMB 70

Cool Rhythm at DDC
Blues funk outfit Cool Rhythm made up of guitarist Joan Gong, harmonica player Jason Zhang, and jazz drummer Wu Zhijun, bring some old-school swagger over to DDC. RMB 100

Lost Gravity, Missile Pigeons at Mars Livehouse
The Tangzhou livehouse located just outside the Communications University (and who have a stellar sound system I’m told) get wild this evening with a rocking lineup featuring a band named Missile Pigeons – sooo, points there. RMB 50 

Sunday, December 11

Jess Meider, Solaris, Moor Hick, Ani, Atelier II + Gene Earle, Nancy and The Fantastic at DDC
Make a difference this Saturday as a group of international artists get together for a fundraising event to raise awareness about the Syrian Crisis that’s been unfolding before our very eyes this past year. The event will include performances from six bands (like neo-psychedelic outfit Solaris and sultry jazz outfit Jess Meider) and a silent auction that will include 32 artworks donated by 12 artists. Good tunes for a good cause. Read more here. RMB 100

Kenichiro Nishihara (Japan) at Yugong Yishan
Composer, arranger, and producer Kenichiro Nishihara brings his jazz infused hip-hop oriented dance music collages to Yugong Yishan – "smooth, jazzy sounds of comfort and a sense of melody propelled by the piano – the artist is a sensation at home and abroad." RMB 220

Not in Catalog, BUOY at Fruityspace
Things take an unexpected turn as experimental free jazz collective Not in Catalog, headed by Zoomin Night head honcho Zhu Wenbo joins another merry band of misfits BUOY. 4pm start. RMB 40

The Second Kick, Need a Name, Triangle, Sweet Boy at School
A night of punk rock all the way from Langfang, Hubei – Beijing’s scrappy neighbor – with sets from skate punks The Second Kick, hip-hop punk outfit Need a Name, and more. RMB 60 

The Jessica Stuart Few (Canada) at La Plantation
The second night of The Jessica Stuart Few's stint at La Plantation. See Saturday listing above. RMB 150 (RMB 80 if you're a student or still wet the bed)

Codex, The White Papers, Mom’s Little Lucy, 37.5 Degrees, Beta at ModernSky Lab
ModernSky Lab hosts a slew of upcoming bands for an afternoon showcase. Meet next year’s next big hit? Come and find out. 2pm start. RMB 50

All Shall Be Well (Netherlands) at Modernsky Lab
All Shall Be Well, from Haarlem, play instrumental, cinematic music – "they build on themes, thresh out their melodies and look for unsuspected harmonies … and liken their music to stories rather than songs." Sounds good to me. RMB 90

Voodoo Cat at Hot Cat Club
Three of the scene’s hardest working musicians come together for to bring you the best of Jimi Hendrix. Free

Phew! Still hungry for more? For events, videos, and photos from Beijing's thriving music scene, head over to Live Beijing Music or check out all of our live music listings here.

Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers