It's owned by some Japanese promotion company who controls booking, so its events are wonky and poorly coordinated. What's weird is that a space this quality is scarcely used, and perhaps this is why its weekly(?) shows often showcase obscure rock-bands of unremarkable talent and exaggerated price. Studies show that folks who pay more for a nite at the movies tend to rate that movie higher. I suppose the goal is to create a following by showcasing select bands in a good venue for a high price.

It's got a fanbase of Chinese rocker kids, but I've tagged along with some of them to check out shows for free and don't think the majority of the spectators drop a fen. If I'm not either, then I go, and spend my Commy Cash on Tiger Beer!

When I had just landed in Beijing back in July 2008 my friends took me to Mao livehouse, and to this day I have to say it has been my most pleasant surprise in China.

You enter the grungy dark hall with broken furniture and scribblings on the wall, pass the bar with a rather extensive drinks menu, walk pass the foosball table, and thats when you start feeling the vibrations, the bass, and the overall noise of the place. You walk through the doors and get into the mainroom where you see a group of a hundred Chinese headbanging to the heavy rock coming from the stage by a young and hopeful band hoping to make it. A lot of the people there I talked to are students, full of angst about their studies, money, careers, providing for their loved ones, and here at Mao they escape all that to just let loose, and enjoy the music and being in a crowd of people in a similar situation who have decided that tonight belongs to them and tomorrow will have to wait until tomorrow.

Its not that the music is always good, but the bands always have amazing energy, you can feel their pride at having made it so far and their dreams of landing that big record deal which will take them further.

Amazing place and congratulations to whoever founded this place!