Musical Bar Stools: A Week of Beijing’s Open-Mic Nights

Making my way around Beijing’s open-mic nights, I discovered: One, they usually don’t start on time. And two, that an evening of music always goes well with alcohol. In fact, sometimes a drink is necessary to remedy the ache caused by grating vocals and jarring chord changes. If you want a live soundtrack to accompany your drinking, here are some musical evenings to fill up your week.

LUSH (Sun 9pm)
Lush’s open-mic night draws in the students as well as anyone happy to relive their unfettered college days. In that spirit, if you’re going to trek out to Student Central, shouldn’t you reward the long commute with the motherlode of bad decisions, a Jagerbomb or Carbomb (RMB 55)? Shisha fans can grab a hookah for RMB 45, one of the cheapest in the city.

Because this Wudaokou hangout keeps things acoustic, the stripped-down pop renditions mix more organically with conversation; you won’t have to shout across a blaring bass to be heard. We were told by organizer and former boy-band member Rich Akers that it was a slow night because the students aren’t in town. Even so, seats were still at a premium. Be prepared: If you’re even slightly more sociable than a fly on the wall, prepare to mix and mingle – and to be asked to perform. Everyone who steps off the stage will try to persuade you to take your own turn at the mic. I decided to keep my perch in the audience (despite insistent pleas to the contrary), happy to listen to laid-back tunes played to a conga beat, with beer in hand and enveloped in the scent of apple tobacco.

Drinks to order: Imported beer (RMB 25-50), mixed drink (RMB 30-55)
Instruments available: Acoustic guitar, conga drums, keyboard, tambourine
Organizer says: “Even if you’re terrible, the crowd will cheer you on – as long as you’re not being an asshole. But the best thing? Probably how often it doesn’t happen. Seriously, the talent we’ve had on that stage over the years is mind-blowing.”
Rules: 2-3 song limit and keep it snappy (no 20-minute renditions). Standup comedy is fine but there’s zero tolerance for discrimination.

4CORNERS (Tue 9.30pm)
This restaurant-bar’s “BYOPerfomance Night” is one of the newest open-mic nights in town. The prospect of 50 percent off on pho (also offered every Tuesday) made our journey to Gulou deliciously rewarding. As we worked our way through a full spread of delectable Vietnamese offerings, we nearly forgot that there were no performers on stage at the appointed time. Once the music did start, a lone guitarist (who later identified himself as 4corners coowner Tavey Lin) strummed out a mixture of acoustic rock, pop and ska tunes while we sat back with a bottled beer and soaked in the melodic harmony between strings and silky vocals. In the corner snoozed Chef Jun Trinh, lulled to sleep by his business-partner’s soothing tunes (a regular occurrence). More than any other bar, the intimacy of this event persuaded us to linger at the darkened corner table. When we finally decided to head home, our movements felt like the first disruptive ripples on a smooth, serene pond.

Drinks to order: Martini (RMB 45), Moosehead beer (RMB 40)
Instruments available: Acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass, a hand drum and “a drum kit that’s older than dirt.”
Organizer says: “I’m trying to encourage a safe vibe for performers and songwriters to present original material, which is something I feel is lacking in Beijing open mics.”
Rules: Expect a three-song limit if it’s busy – otherwise, “you’re free to give as much as you’ve got.”

V.A. BAR (Wed 9pm)
Guarding the entry of ever-more-trendy Wudaoying Hutong, V.A. Bar has garnered quite a bit of respect as a live music club. The (delayed) open-mic evening began with some terrifying words booming over the sound system: “Experimental jam.” Taking a large gulp from a bottle of Tsingtao, I braced myself for the worst. Luckily, it proved to be quite bearable. A three-piece band offered a jazz melody while an uninhibited singer let the music guide her lyrics and movements. Expect a lot of twists and lots of guts, this first act proclaimed.

Then, even with the experimenting out of the way, the evening continued to bring forth a steady parade of characters. A shy Chinese girl stepped on the stage, announced a “slow, slow song,” and proceeded to emit warbling soulful sounds that required no translation or comprehension. The brash new band Stiletto (see p16) came together for only their fourth time and needed to be dragged off stage. An American with a Southern drawl and swagger ran in when his name was called; after putting together a piecemeal backup band made up of audience members, he effortlessly hit the high notes of Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” and then solicited a free drink by improvising a song made up of just two words: “Complimentary beer, complimentary beer.”

Drinks to order: Tsingtao (RMB 20)
Instruments available: Keyboard, drum set, electric guitar, electric bass
Song you’re most likely to hear: “The Seeds (2.0)” by The Roots
Organizer says: “When you have to improvise and jam on the spot, it helps you improve how you feel and interact with others through music.”
Rules: A three-song limit (but you can play more once everyone’s had a turn). No nudity or violence.

THE BOOKWORM (Thu 7.30pm, once a month)
Probably the only one in town that
starts on time. But what else would
you expect from Beijing’s only classical
open-mic? Dubbed “Basically
Beethoven,” this evening stands out from the rest of the city’s mic nights. The vibe reminded me of my childhood piano recitals; you may have to accept one or two stumbling performances, but you’ll also be rewarded with flawless runs as fingers float across the keys. Anticipating a serenade of Shubert, Chopin and Mozart, I was ready to order a classical – and classy – red wine to match the mood, but the Slow Boat taps at the bar distracted me mid-order.

Since many of the regulars are music teachers (who teach at schools or give private lessons), I was told, summers are slower; more people show up when school is in session. Still, I heard a handful of duets (flute-clarinet, flute-piano) and a lot of encouragement for anyone new to this close-knit scene or who was willing to go it alone.

Drinks to order: Wine by the glass (RMB 37-44), Slow Boat beer (RMB 45)
Instruments available: Piano
Organizer says: “It is an opportunity for professionals and amateurs of all instruments and voices to perform in public, but also to meet other musicians, which often leads to new groups, duets, trios, etc.”
Rules: There are none. The organizer will make sure everyone gets a go and even song choice isn’t restricted to just classical music.

WHEN & WHERE TO GO

Sunday
Lush 9pm
Zajia Lab 9pm

Monday
VA Bar Jazz Jam 10pm
Migas 10pm

Tuesday
4corners 9.30pm
Migas 10pm

Wednesday
VA Bar 9pm
Salud 9pm
Migas 10pm

Thursday
The Bookworm 7.30pm (once a month)
Hot Cat Club 9pm

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