The Beijinger Blog - Music

Crazy Music, Crazy Ducks

thebeijinger — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0800

We all know ducks can swim because of that coating of oil on their feathers. But did you know that music can be hazardous to duck health? Read on to learn more.

Bookshelf: Michael Pettis, Founder, D-22

thebeijinger — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0800

The book on my shelf with the most sentimental value is probably the very tattered copy of Selden Rodman’s 100 Modern Poems, which I picked up in high school and read obsessively for years. The introduction was brilliant and the selection of poems ended up defining my taste in modernism.

New Hope: Residence A Dreams Big

thebeijinger — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:00:00 +0800

Nowadays in Beijing, a lot of young rockers are eager to dive into the flow of the market, hoping to catch a big wave. Then you have the boys from Residence A, who for two years have simply been making the music that their heart tells them to – and the result is a seriously promising young band.

Power, Piers Morgan and Post-Rock: Mogwai Set For Modern Sky

thebeijinger — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0800

Quiet. Loud. Quiet again. Not the most accurate description of Mogwai's music, but not bad for a four-word introduction to one of the most influential bands ever to have come out of Scotland. We spoke to the band's resident multi-instrumentalist, Barry Burns, as Mogwai prepared for their slot closing out the last night of this week's Modern Sky Festival (Oct 3-5: For details on the festival lineup and ticket information, see our Live Music Roundup). We started by asking Barry about the band's Gremlins-inspired name ...

Weng Weng: He Used To Be A Guitarist, You Know

thebeijinger — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0800

You might recognize Weng Weng as the quiet one in the Acupuncture Records mob, most often seen sulking sternly behind resident pretty boy ELVIS.T. But don’t think of him as a supporting player. This is one of Beijing music’s elder statesmen, one whose passion keeps the scene going through thick and thin.

Agent of Rock: Ricky Sixx, Rustic Realtor

thebeijinger — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 10:00:00 +0800

You probably recognize him from Rustic, one of the finest, craziest young bands in Beijing. But did you know that he’s also a real estate agent?

Endless Sound Check: Let Yan Jun Test Your Neighbors’ Limits

thebeijinger — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0800

Yan Jun is a person who gets bored easily – he deals with it by starting a new project almost every other minute. He has published millions of words, worked as a radio DJ, organized events, established labels, gathered big musicians together for crazy ideas; nowadays he focuses his maverick thoughts mainly on making “music.” And his latest brainchild is to perform a live show in your living room. But only if you first invite him and pay him, of course.

Tiger Translate Battle of the Bands: Let Battle Commence

thebeijinger — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0800

Tiger Translate Battle of the Bands is gearing up to find China’s best band with 40 heats across China starting next week. Is that you and your motley crew? You'll need to send in an application here by tomorrow - Friday, July 15 – for your shot at stardom.

The lucky bands will get to support some of the biggest names in Beijing at gigs across the city. The overall winners of the competition get a chance to win RMB 100,000 and play the St. James Power Station in Singapore. Before all of that, though, they will need to negotiate the following gigs:

Preliminary Stages (Date: Venue/Headliner)

Love, Madness and Loneliness: Zhang Si'an's Playlist

thebeijinger — Thu, 26 May 2011 13:00:00 +0800

“Subterranean Homesick Alien” by Radiohead. When I was around 15, I was hoping for aliens to take me away from my boring life. It never happened ...

Festival Fashion Tips: What (Not) to Wear to Midi, Strawberry and Music Valley

twang — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0800

For once, we’re aiming to spend the entire long weekend in Beijing. Why, you ask? See here, here, here and here – need we say more?

Our Music Editor has been doing a fine job prepping us on what to expect from the music festivals. This year we can choose from Midi, Strawberry or Music Valley – or hit up all three, since they each take place over the span of three days (April 30-May 2).

Once you've settled on the lineups of your liking, however, you still face another dilemma: finding the perfect outfit.