Weekend Live Music Roundup: Montreal Garage, Duanwu Fest, Cassette Nostalgia

Ever since being ended up with Denmark at an in-office World Cup sweepstake, I've been trying to remember how great the Laudrup brothers were and how Nicklas Bendtner has even come close to their highness. Conclusion is that since Serbia is participating this time, the Danes have zero chance of winning the champion (but they can probably give Netherlands a heart attack in the same way as they did to Brazil in France twelve years ago). Despite still thinking about the World Cup at this moment, I'll try my best to list the music shows going on over this working weekend, plus Dragon Boat holidays.

The French invasion continues tonight, as dub/folk/soul/rock...group Zenzile arrive at Yugong Yishan. Meanwhile, 2 Kolegas stages boogie-blues from Black Cat Bone and southern rock from Wu & The Side Effects (who have an album coming out next Friday, see interview here). On Saturday, world music fans are treated with genuine Dolan Muqam (Uyghur), Hanggai & Gangzi Tuliguer (Mongolian) and a jam session with local musicians playing instruments from India (the Asian one, thanks Christopher, you self-righteous jackass). Alternatively, Montreal garage undergrounds King Khan & the BBQ Show hit D-22 with 24 Hours, the Xi'an hard rockers; and Rustic, the best band in the world.

Zongzi and rock n roll usually don't fit for each other, but the Dragon Boat holidays are entertained with a three-day festival at 13 Club, with different themes on each day. Across the door at D-22 on Tuesday, The Offset: Spectacles (see interview here), one of my favorite bands in town, is putting out an EP collection with fellow hip monsters Soviet Pop (see interview here) and Hot & Cold. The only problem is you have to dig out your tape recorder since they are releasing it on cassettes. Not until age ten, I've always enjoyed pulling reels out of tapes. What was more satisfying, is the moment when I dropped them from the eighth floor balcony. Luckily they never hit anyone on the head, as far as I know.

For venue details, check the Beijinger Directory or see following

Weekend (June 11-13)

Friday (Jun 11)

Black Cat Bone, Wu & The Side Effects
“Thanks for leaving, glad that you’re gone,” says these blues cats. Wu Kejia and band of blues rock brothers support. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Dude, Dark Haze, Early Bus, The Dancers
Hard rock, ska and electro rock sing for the champions. RMB 50, RMB 40 (wearing shirt of any World Cup team). 8pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

El Johnson & The Taste of Soul
Real blues. Free. 9.30pm. Frank's Place (6437 8399)

Evening News
Beijing folk rock mainstays visit the recently opened venue. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance, students). 9pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)

He Li, Zhang Jing
Folk at Beiluogu Xiang. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Hell Savior, Vagus, Noiz Mob, G.O.U.M, Shelter, K. K. Bing
Metal and hard rockers keep rolling. RMB 40. 8.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Ma Valise, Nanwu
French world music group mix gypsy dances, French folk, dub and hip-hop. Tickets at the Alliance francaise in CCF, Xihai and BLCU from Jun 4. Free (with invitation). 8pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)

Mizang, Mr. Freeman
Blues rock in Fangjia Hutong. RMB 30. 8.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Streets Kill Strange Animals, Birdstriking, Carpet of Let, Paris
Boys and girls unite in the name of garage rock and lo-fi experiments. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Trio Bang
Jazz with a mix of funk. RMB 30. 9.30pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)

Wang Shengnan
Twee pop story told by a guitar. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Jazz pianist operates on his keyboards. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Zenzile
Long-standing French folk rock group pay Beijing a visit. RMB 100, RMB 70 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Zhong Lifeng
Folk poet is back from the road. RMB 50. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Saturday (Jun 12)

24 Hours, King Khan & the BBQ Show, Rustic
The Montreal duo plays New York underground with Beijing punk heads. RMB 60. 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Birdstriking, Pairs, Carpet of Let, Shouwang
Local noise makers welcome friends from Tianjin and Shanghai for an experimental session. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

Chiren
Folk rock in ultimate Lao Beijing flavor. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance, students). 9.30pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112/3)

Da Yang
Beijing-born folksy chap tells his on-the-road stories with a guitar. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Defy, Early Bus, Zhang Si’an
Watch England vs USA after ska dance, rockabilly asnd folk ballads. Free. 8.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Dolan Muqam, Askar Grey Wolf
The young generation of traditional Uyghur folk supported by Xinjiang rock n roll hero Askar. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9.30pm. Silk Road Restaurant, North Gate of Lido Park, 6 Fangyuan Xilu, Chaoyang District (6467 6467)

Gangzi Tuliguer
Mongolian hoomei with an acoustic guitar. Free. 9pm. Gulou 121 (8404 3430)

Hanggai
Throat singing brings the Mongolian grassland in urban condition. RMB 50. 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Jacky Danny, Lilisay, New Tank, Velvet Highway, D. B. Cooper
Up-and-coming bands showcase their talents. RMB 40. 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Liu Yuan Saxphone Quartet
China’s jazz forefather keeps the Houhai shores smooth. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Long Shen Dao
Bob Marley would jump out of his grave if he knew these guys can sing like him, in Chinese. RMB 50. 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Moonglow Cabaret 1935
Geniune Burlesque dance with classic jazz tunes. RMB 150-180. 10pm. The One (5914 8087)

No Name Quartet
French chanson and gypsy jazz. RMB 30. 9.30pm. VA Cafe and Bar (5844 3638)

Shanren
Sound of Yunnan make peace with bricks of Gulou. RMB 50. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

The Redbucks
Back to that old country in a siheyuan’er. RMB 40. 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

World Music Session: India
Sounds of tabla and sitar celebrate the re-opening of the Tongzhou-based utopia – good luck finding it. Price TBD. 8pm. Raying Temple (137 1698 0276, take a 6 kuai motor tricycle to West Gate of Yucai Middle School from Liyuan Station on Batong Line)

Zhu Guangyu, Feng Yan, Jingang Zhuzi, Xiao An
Folk singers gather for a single release, in a metal club. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Sunday (Jun 13)

Bloody Woods
Local bands test out medieval folk and Celtic ballads. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Ember Swift
Electronic folksters from Ontario. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9.30pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Gangzi Tuliguer
Throat-singing echoes in Beiluogu Xiang. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Li Mo
Dream pop in folk approach. Free. 9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)

Moreno Donadel Trio
Italian pianist collaborates with a few Beijingers. Free. 9.30pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Nightingale, Mythomania, Red Rock, Providence’G, SSS, Miss Freak
Gothic shadow falls upon dark metal. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Sambasia
Beijing’s samba drum beats for an afternoon carnival on the grass. RMB 50. 2pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

The Gray, Lazy Camels, Pork, Drunkard, The Grinding Ear, Dong Chang
Beijing bands pay tribute to the sound of Seattle – get out if you don’t like grunge. RMB 50. 8.30pm. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 9pm. MAO Livehouse (6402 5080)

Traditional Chinese Instrument Session: Ruan
Feel your peace with the plucked string instrument. RMB 50. 8pm. A Place For Music, Rm 211, Floor 2, Bldg 1, Dong Wai Compound, 3 Xin Zhong Dong Jie, Dongcheng District (6417 6292)

Dragon Boat Holiday (June 14-16)

Monday (Jun 14)

13 Club Dragon Boat Festival: Folk Day
Nanwu, Da Ya, Velvet Highway etc. play Chinese folk rock. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

People Mountain People Sea 11th Anniversary: Just the Two of Us
The Hong Kong indie label People Mountain People Sea presents an acoustic session featuring at17 and Jing Wong. Tickets at 400 610 3721 or 6417 7845. RMB 180, RMB 150 (students). 8pm. The Star Live (6425 5677)

Tuesday (Jun 15)

13 Club Dragon Boat Festival: Metal Day
The Falling, Army of Jade and Chinatown hit hardcore. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

People Mountain People Sea 11th Anniversary: The Future Sound of Taipingshan
The parade continues with piano rocks thrown by Pixel Toy, Chan Ho-feng, Jing Wong and Edgar Hung. Tickets at 400 610 3721 or 6417 7845. RMB 180, RMB 150 (students). 8pm. The Star Live (6425 5677)

Soviet Pop, Hot & Cold, The Offset: Spectacles
Synthesized sound stopped by a noise gate, where the three bands release their EP recordings – on cassette tapes. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Wednesday (Jun 16)

13 Club Dragon Boat Festival: Emo Day
Surprise, Dexter and Nower detonate the emo bombs. RMB 50. 9.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Live Blues & Jazz
House bands lighten up your wine mood. Free. 8pm. Enoteca (6587 1578)

Joris
Street blues and folk punk. Free. 9pm. Salud, Nanluogu Xiang (6402 5086)

Mini Skirt, Point.8, Rust Crown, Michael XS, My September, Electronic Watch
Student bands take test with the Wudaokou hipsters. RMB 20, RMB 10 (students). 8pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

No Name Quartet
Django Reinhardt covers plus accordion. Free. 8pm. Purple Haze Bistro (6501 9345)

People Mountain People Sea 11th Anniversary: Happy Together
Hong Kong indie label boss Anthony Wong and co. greet Beijing with, well, everyone in that company. Tickets at 400 610 3721. RMB 180-1,280. 8pm. Century Theater (6466 4805, 6468 3311 ext 3126)