Noise Pollution: SPICE, D.A.N, Zhou Rui, Gum Bleed, Constant & Change, Zhou Yunpeng

Autumn is just about here and the music scene is finally cooking up once again, as bands and audiences look to show off their new concepts, sounds, and styles. So whether your poison is psychedelic electro-rock, veteran nu-metal, avant-garde art rock, street punk, and music from the wide reaches of Xinjiang, Beijing has got you covered. Bring it on. 
 

Friday, Sep 7

SPICE at Yue Space

After three years of silence, Hangzhou’s Spice returns with a bold new sound. Playing on a wider sonic stage, with layering effects, and melodies that immediately hook you, the most notable difference here are the vocal performances, which are now front and center, compared to the band’s earlier more instrumental work. Full of new age disco ballads, psychedelic electro-rock, and irresistible dance numbers full of ‘powerful bass lines, solid drum grooves, lush electronic soundscapes, and that signature dash of strange that open the portal to the world of Spice’. Catch them as they roll through Beijing on their nationwide tour. 8.30pm. RMB 100. Yue Space.

D.A.N. (JP) at Yue Space (moved from Yugong Yishan)

New Noise brings over D.A.N. – the highly talented trio from Tokyo whose contemporary sound falls somewhere between the minimal alt-pop of The xx and the electronic dynamic grooves of Caribou. They’re coming off the acclaimed new album and a stint at the Fuji Rock Festival. With influences ranging from underground house and techno through to psychedelic and African music, the three-piece are equally at home in underground clubs as they are on a festival stage, and are being widely touted as the most exciting prospect to emerge from the Tokyo scene in many years. We sat down with them earlier in the week and got the lowdown on making it rain (literally), playing with James Blake and more. 10pm. RMB 150. Yue Space

Guiguisuisui at fRUITYSPACE

Guiguisuisui, the avant-garde electro art rock duo that crosses all genres and mediums return from their European tour with some new tricks up their sleeve. They’ll be presenting their new live painting/music crossover, Shining Soundscape. The evening will also double as the release for Nasty Wizard Recordings latest cassette drop – a split between Zhuhai-based UK ambient producer Lastboss and German producer Emerge. 8.30pm start. RMB 40. fRUITYSPACE

Gum Bleed, Boss Cuts, The Sino Hearts at DDC

DDC cuts loose tonight with a punk-filled evening of righteous and riotous rock and roll courtesy anti-establishment punk veterans Gum Bleed who have been providing cathartic punk rock anthems for years, surf rock crusaders Boss Cuts, always a blast, and power pop outfit The Sino Hearts, fresh off their debut release and subsequent Japan tour. 9pm. RMB 70. DDC

The Hotline, Day Dream, Hang Nail, Screaming Kong, Mons. Boulevard, RST at School

Local label and promoters D.O.G. are back at it again with their annual "All Good Girls Can Drink" show – ladies who chug down a "drink bomb" at the door get in for free. On musical duties are electro-indie rockers The Hotline, young punk outfit Day Dream, street punk ruffians Hangnail, and talk of the town, Screaming Kong – as well as Zhengzhou indie ensemble Mons. Boulevard and Tianjin Celtic punk rockers RST. Expect a lively, buzzed evening. 9pm. RMB 100. School

Hang on the Box, The Glamour Manifesto at Temple

Hang on the Box – the veteran trailblazers of Chinese rock and Beijing's first all-female punk band bring their extensive catalog of punk anthems and indie rock ballads to Temple Bar alongside electro-industrial punk duo The Glamour Manifesto. 10pm. Free. Temple

H.O.G, Da Wu Tong, Double Sticker, Cloudy Tunnel at Omni Space

Beijing based hip-hop band H.O.G. aka Honor of the Ghetto which features rappers with razor-sharp bars and instrumentalists keeping the flow team up with Cloudy Tunnel, Da Wu Tong, and Double Sticker for some spitfire rhymes and hip-hop flair over at Omni Space. 8.30pm. RMB 120. Omni Space

Therion (Sweden) at Mao Livehouse

Therion (formerly Blitzkrieg, Megatherion) is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded in 1988. Originally a death metal band, Therion adjusted its musical style by adding orchestral elements, including choirs, classical musicians, and even a full orchestra at their concert performances and in the process becoming true pioneers of the symphonic metal genre. 8.30pm. RMB 330. Mao Livehouse

Wen Hui Tsai (TW) at The Bricks 

The Taiwanese jazz singer who got her start on the Taipei jazz scene hone her chops in Belgium where she studied in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels - it was there she developed a unique style and has sung in different projects, performing in Taiwan, Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Poland. She rolls through Beijing this weekday along with her multi-national band of talented musicians. 9.30pm. Free. The Bricks

Sio, Saber, Rtsunami at Laifu Livehouse

Dungeon Beijing graduates Sio, Saber, and Rtsunami bring the hip-hop to Shuangjing with this evening jam over at Laifu. RMB 160. 8.30pm. Laifu Livehouse

Joker’s Belief at Modernista

The five-piece fusion of funk, rock, and Neo-soul, made up of five different nationalities, hit up Modernista for some fun. Free. 10pm. Modernista

Zhou Rui at Tango

Zhou Rui – pop star sensation, former boy band member of Mr. BIO, and most recently actor of such fare as I Am A Killer Maid, is kind of a big deal. Think 'legions of female fans tearing their hair out and stalking his every move on Weibo’ big. He’ll be eating dim sum next door to Tango before performing to a packed house. RMB 608. 8.30pm. Tango.

Canzilians at Pink Moon

Transnational duo Canzilians – who play a blend of Canadian tones and Brazilian rhythms combined with pop covers, hit up Pink Moon. RMB 66. 9pm. Pink Moon

Wuzhang Fa at Mogu Space

World folk music outfit Wuzhang Fa made up of Wu Zeqi and Zhang Qiang and featuring guqin, flute, and guitar bring their experimental improvisational take on traditional Chinese music. RMB 80. 9pm. Mogu Space
 

Saturday, Sep 8

Lonely Leary, Pure, Last Goodbye, 4 Channel Clubs at Temple

Beijing loses another fine member of the music community tonight as Ting Ting, the fiery face of promotion label Borderless, tour manager, music aficionado and all around badass, bids farewell for Shanghai (seems to be the theme of 2018) – but not without a blowout send-off at Temple Bar with some of her favorite (mine as well) bands including post-punk ruffians Lonely Lonely, who are preparing for their European tour, shoegaze groovers Last Goodbye, uproarious grunge scrappers Pure, and 8-bit soundscaper 4 Channels Club. Expect hugs and heavy drinking. Free. 10pm. Temple

Discord, Ouch, Shochu Legion, Labor Glory at School

Old school punk legends Discord head home to School with their new album in tow. The evening also marks the fifth edition of the ‘Beijing Power’ punk series named after the Discord favorite. Come celebrate with Discord as the band celebrates their homecoming with ska punk legends Ouch, old-school punk trio Shouchu Legion, ultras punks Labor Glory, and plenty of secret guests. RMB 80. 9pm. School

Spiders, Claptraps, Acid Accident at DDC

Spiders, the Slint tribute band made up of present and past members of Rhonda (Tommaso, Zhang Yiyi, Diego) and Meltin’ Pot (Zhang Pengfei) hit up DDC alongside the new noise rock craze Claptraps and post-rock heavyweights Acid Accident for an evening of dangerously alluring sounds. RMB 60. 9pm. DDC

Twisted Machine at Tango

Over twenty years Twisted Machine have established themselves at the top of the metal roster in China all the while keeping their infectious brand of nu-metal and hardcore intact. The band has been around since the beginning of time (aka 1998) making them one of the city’s longest-running metal bands. Led by Liang Lang - a beast of a singer – they’re s brash, sharp, and robust heavy hitting band with legions of fans. Catch them at Tango as part of their nation-wide tour. RMB 388. 8.30pm. Tango

Constant & Change (TW) at Mao Livehouse

Taiwanese post-rock outfit Constant & Change focuses mainly on instrument performance delivering their pure feeling about music. Combining their diverse music styles, it consists of members of such bands as Infernal Chaos, We Save Strawberries, Candy and Clubs of Three. Their 2016 debut caused quite a stir with a unique atmospheric sound with a nimbler of metal flavor. RMB 120. 8.30pm. Mao Livehouse

0190, Bomb Golf, Hz, BIU, Hangnail at 13 Club

As the school year starts up over in Wudaokou, 13 Club kicks it up a notch with a killer rocking lineup featuring the ever-feisty Hangnail, Tianjin pop punks Bomb Golf and plenty more noisemakers ready to sweep the students off their feet. RMB 80. 8pm. 13 Club

Li Eryang, Zhang An, Wu Gui at Aotu Studio

Poetic, avant-garde musician, psychedelic wonder and a man of mysterious allure, Li Er Yang hosts an evening of music, visuals, and poetry Aotu Studio by Beixinqiao. Guest collaborators will include ambient improvisers Zhang An and singer-songwriter Wu Gui. RMB 60. 7pm. Aotu Studio

Bilal (US) at Blue Note

Known as one of the most dynamic artists of our time the Philadelphia born soul singer Bilal draws from gospel, jazz, soul, blues, and hip-hop. Since 2001, the singer has been releasing one acclaimed album after another, receiving a Grammy nomination for his song ‘Little Ones’ and eventually working with Kendrick Lamar on ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’. Catch him this weekend at the jazz institute. RMB 200-400. 7.30pm. Blue Note

Sayrax Jarmukamet, Beilkhan Haliakbar at Yue Space

Kazakh masters Sayrax Jarmukamet (from Qinghe, Xinjiang) and Beilkhan Haliakbar (from Urumqi), highly trained legendary performers of the dongbula and the kubuya, prepare to release their world music albums on the Modern Sky World Music label.RMB 150. 2.30pm. Yue Space

Liu Sheng Wan Ju at Yue Space

Folk singer-songwriter from Shandong, a hotbed for folk music bring his catalog of small-town story-telling songs to Yue Space as the artist heads north on his tour. RMB 100. 9.30pm. Yue Space

Boogie Man, Eric Allen & Woodshed at Soi Baochao 

Singer-songwriter Eric Allen brings the soulful sounds of America's heartland to the China stage. Following the traditions of Robert Johnson, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle, he’ll be performing alongside his band Woodshed this evening with support from Boogie Man. Free. 11.30pm. Soi Baochao

Célia Oneto Bensaid (FR) at La Plantation

Accomplished soloist and chamber musician Célia Oneto Bensaid from France, whose performances have taken her to the Paris Philharmonie's Great Hall, Swedish festival "Sounds of a summer night", Spain and Italy as well as leading French venues the Folle Journée de Nantes, and La Roque d'Anthéron bring her pianist skills to La Plantation. RMB 200. 7.30pm. La Plantation

Yang Ming Trombone Quartet at The Bricks

Yang Ming, representing the top level of trombone musicians of China, founder of the F.O.S. Jazz Union gets down and dirty over at The Bricks. Free. 9.30pm. The Bricks.

The Rebel 5 at Modernista

The Rebel 5, formerly known as The Rotten 5, is a soul, R&B, and funk music ensemble covering some of the greatest songs of all times. Catch them working the dance floor at Modernista. Free. 10pm. Modernista

Scarlet Horizon at Omni Space

Beijing visual kei outfit brings their theatrical death metal to Omni Space. The band just released their latest LP Mist – which explores different genres and styles of modern metal elements onto deathcore, bringing VR music (what the hell?) to a new era. RMB 80. 8.30pm. Omni Space

Wang Wu, Gun Er at Pink Moon

Northeastern Chinese singer-songwriters, Wang Wu, whose loose hair and vibrant voice made him one of the finalists on one of the country’s top-rated American Idol clones, performs alongside female singer Gun Er. RMB 66. 9pm. Pink Moon

Li Xiaochuan and Friends at Jianghu Bar

Trumpet-led jazz coming at ya this evening at the cozy Jianghu Bar. RMB 70. 9.30pm. Jianghu Bar
 

Sunday, Sep 9

Jahwahzoo at DDC

Whether or not reggae and ska filtered through Chinese sensibilities is your thing, there’s no denying the charm, talent, and love put into Jahwahzoo’s music. The long-standing Chengdu based big band style reggae outfit released their debut Zoo Party this summer – a love letter to 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 a modest confidence that ultimately wins you over. RMB 100. 9pm. DDC

Until Seeing Whale's Eyes (TW), Tractor at School

On this evening Until Seeing Whale's Eyes from Taiwan descends upon School Bar for the final show of their China tour. Drawing on hardcore and post-hardcore inspirations, the band has shared the stage with the likes of Envy, Heaven in Her Arms, Devil Sold His Soul and more. Catch the Taipei heavyweights alongside local metal-punk outfit Tractor. RMB 100. 9.30pm. School

Zhou Yunpeng at Yue Space

The folk singer, guitarist and poet Zhou Yunpeng became blind at the age of 9. Since beginning his musical career in 1994, he’s released five studio albums and several books of poetry. He’s received several awards for both his music and his written work. Dude’s a legend. RMB 120. 8.30pm.Yue Space

Bobby’s Satelittle, Outspoken, 30 Degrees Latitude, Candle at Laifu Livehouse

Psychedelic-tinted indie pop, upbeat blues rock, hard rock and more this evening down in Shuangjing as Booby’s Satellite joins Outspoken, 30 Degrees Latitude, and Candle at Laifu Livehouse. RMB 60. 8.30pm. Laifu Lifehouse

Echoloop, Wu Gui, Lan Qian Ruo at Mogu Space

Improvisational electronic musician echoloop joins freewheeling folk singer Wu Gui and more this evening in Xizhimen. RMB 60. 8.30pm. Mogu Space

Xing Yi Fan Jazz Quartet at Modernista

A member of the CMA Big Band and Ah-Q Jazz Ensemble and an active member of the Beijing jazz scene, cello bassist Xing Yi Fan is one of the best in the scene. Catch him and others at Modernista at the weekend's end. Free. 8.30pm. Modernista

 

Want to cut a rug instead? Check out this weekend's nightlife offerings here.

Photos: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers