Zhege, Beijing’s Answer to Weird Al, Hit up Modernista on Jun 7

If seeing a fellow Beijingers sporting lensless glasses or riding goofy Segways makes you giggle and spout a sarcastic “Ooooh, that’s so fashion!” then you’re in luck. That’s because quirky expat troupe Zhege (stylized ZHèGE or J个) are bringing their winking and satirical rock to Modernista on Jun 7.

The band found a following in 2015 when they shot a clip for their song “So Fashion” (watch the video here) as a means to poke fun at China’s most extreme fashion faux pas, primarily the "sprouts" hair clips that throngs of Nanluogu Xiang-trawlers had atop their heads. Jack Lecomber, Zhege’s bassist, singer, and songwriter recalls how that trend inspired him and his bandmates to riff on David Bowie’s classic track “Fashion”, taking the melody and incorporating lyrics about all of the zany attire that Beijingers love to flaunt.

“Originally the concept for this band was to steal ideas from Western songwriters and loosely reinterpret them from our perspectives as foreigners living in Beijing,” Lecomber tells the Beijinger. After penning the song, Lecomber and his bandmates had a laugh shooting a tongue-in-cheek music video in Gulou for which they donned some of China’s whackiest attire.

While the clip has since snagged 98,651 views, Lecomber says, “The feedback we have received has been a mixed bag. Many people who have lived in China seem to connect with it as they understand the cultural observations we are making. Others think it is stupid, naff, and even offensive.” That hasn’t deterred the members of Zhege, however. As Lecomber puts it: “I personally consider the music to be about misunderstanding rather than being mockery. For some people ‘Fashion’ is a noun, and for others an adjective; Why not write a song about it?”

Since then the band has recorded other songs, the best of which may be last year’s “Tug Of War” (watch the video here), which takes a catchier and dancier direction. Lecomber says he and his bandmates are working on fresh songs as well after taking a sixth-month break during which he returned to the UK for his studies, meaning the Modernista show will serve as a reunion of sorts before the band spend the rest of the summer honing that newer material.

Zhege will perform at Modernista on Jun 7 starting at 9pm and will be joined by opening act Dawei and The Social Poets.

Photos courtesy of Modernista and Zhege