Noise Pollution: The Tricks, Pink Martini, The Burning Deck, Hutong Rap Battle, Halloween Gigs Galore

Will Griffith | Oct 26, 2018 2:41 pm | Add a comment | 1938 reads

How’s it going Beijing? Feeling a little nippy? Groggy from all the pollution? Hotpot got you on the toilet again? Well, I’ve got just the thing for you – non-stop live music to make all your woes go away. From indie rock to electronic fusion there’s something for everyone out there, so instead of wasting away at home this weekend get yourself out there and let the tunes be your keeper.

Friday, Oct 26

The Tricks at DDC
The Tricks, the Hangzhou indie rock quartet have, swing through on their tour in support of their debut Interstellar Caravan. Taking the intricate pleasures of math rock, the grandeur of post-rock, a splash of flamenco stylings, with a hefty slab of emo-pop aplomb that mainly comes through it’s My Morning Jacket-inflected vocals and it’s surprising accessibility, Tricks are checking off a heck ton of boxes and pull it off with gusto. Expect this band to be talked about a lot come next year. RMB 100

Octopouple (KR), Hang Nail, Synth Cell at Temple
Come get your scares with Seoul-based one-man band Octopouple, who's back in town and bringing his brand of hardcore, all set to projections of himself and a whole cast of characters. Joining him is street punk band Hang Nail, who will present their Sex Pistols addition special. Also, expect things getting wild with electronic rock band Synth Cell and sexy DJ Major Tom. Read what we wrote about Octopouple last time he swung through town here. FREE

Yishi at Yue Space
Yishi – a folk band based on the dialect of Sichuan Yibin gives it their all at Yue Space. Formed in 2010 in Zhuhai (Guangdong province) by animal vet You Miao and teacher Lin Quan Hong, and featuring an extensive cast of musicians from just about everywhere in China, the band combines elements of just about everything – from reggae, blues, ska, jazz, folk, Chinese opera, and even the songs of local boatmen (hells yes) – to create something that’s brimming with life. RMB 100

Pink Martini at Tianqiao Theater
Pink Martini bring their unique brand of eclectic loungecore to the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center. Fusing Latin, classical, jazz, and classic pop to "bring a little bit of Breakfast at Tiffany’s." With nine albums under their belt as well as appearing on TV shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman, The Sopranos, The West Wing, and Sherlock, they’re the real deal – a multi-national ensemble whose repertoire includes songs in 25 different languages, from Armenian to Japanese. Read more about what to expect here. RMB 100-680

Dark Haze, Stabbing, Cave Have Rod, Silent Elegy, Anduril at 13 Club
Things get appropriately heavy in Wudaokou for their Halloween bash featuring some of the metal scene most melodic death curling acts such as Dark Haze plus the return of grindcore band Cave Have Rod, infamous for their song about tapes worms (expect tapeworm props). RMB 100

Saber, Dj Quaver, Rtsunami, Undacover, Bad Blood, FreeWalk at School
Volume 8 of the Dungeon Beijing sponsored hip-hop show "Open Fire!" As always, expect this one to be packed to the gills - set to take the take the stage tonight are hip-hop heavyweight Saver, DJ Quaver, Rtsunami, Bad Blood, and making the trek in from Taiyuan for a special appearance, Freewalk. RMB 80

Fenni at Aotu Space
Aotu Space hosts experimental indie music producer Fenni for a night of crazy music, sounds and visuals. Fenni presents Strange Orbit, an ambient darkwave performance that’ll bring chills to your spine and a Halloween vibe to your weekend. RMB 40

HydrKlank (JP), Shihpin Lin (JP), Ding Xin, Li Song at fRUITYSPACE
Japanese live coders HydrKlank (made up of Tadashi Usami and Maeda Yasuyuki) and Shihpin Lin bring their geekware to fRUITYSPACE where they’ll perform alongside sound artists Ding Xin (of Liquid Palace) and Li Song. RMB 50

Dreaming Julie at Mao Livehouse
Free jazz experimental supergroup Dreaming J, made up of renowned experimental and jazz figures Feng Hao, Liu Ping, and Yang Tao, mixes up traditional instrumental with postmodern sounds gets down and dirty in Wukesong. RMB 60

Scott Henderson Trio at Blue Note
A blues-rock mainstay for decades, once voted by Guitar World as the #1 Jazz Guitarist, Scott Henderson has toured over 50 countries, playing music from the solo albums as well as music recorded by the legendary Tribal Tech. RMB 160-400

Nicola Lancerotti Quartet at The Bricks
Double bass master Nicola Lancerotti brings his crew of skilled jazz musicians this evening at Sanlitun’s The Bricks – featuring Daniele Martini on sax, Quentin Stokart on guitar and Antonio Fusco on drums. FREE

The Flip Side at Modernista
Party with the ghosts of Studio 54 as Beijing’s only live disco band the Flip Side perform iconic disco classics all night long! Come as such greats such as Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, John Travolta, The Bee Gees, David Bowie, Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Elton John, or Olivia Newton-John. FREE

King Lion Miguel, Nikita Iradukunda Heaven, Rawhx Van Marley, Lucky Roots, DJ Sowl at Soi Baochao
Get your reggae on with this good vibing lineup featuring the scene’s highest contenders including Cameroonian singer-songwriter King Lion Miguel, hip-hop artist Rawhx Van Marley, duo Lucky Roots, and much, much more. RMB 70

Puneet Vohra, Micah McCauley at Caravan
Indian Musician, Puneet Vohra, known for being the lead vocalist and founder of the New Delhi based rock band Soul Inclination, performs at Caravan alongside Micah McCauley of Moor Hick and Better Off Dead who’ll be ‘channeling his inner Kurt Cobain with original bourbon-infused grungy compositions’. RMB 50

Los Amigos at BSP Livehouse
Beijing’s first homegrown band to focus on Latin American jazz – Los Amigos – whose members are all lecturers and professors at the Beijing Conservatory of Modern Music take the stage at the stage at BSP Livehouse. RMB 120

Xian, fofox at FM Live
Instrumental composer and performer String aka Xian, who combines 'world music, Chinese traditional melodies and spiritual/religious themes, joins singer-songwriter fofox this evening at FM Live – located south of Xitucheng. RMB 55

TYZ, Jamie at Pink Moon
South African singer-songwriter TYZ (of Tydi Knots) joins Jamie (of Bang Bang Mary) for some acoustic loving over at Pink Moon. RMB 66

Forte Piano Trio at La Plantation
Enjoy an evening of chamber music from this Italian trio. RMB 200

Saturday, Oct 27

The Burning Deck (India), thruoutin, gogoj at fRUITYSPACE
Shining Soundscape and Live Beijing Music join forces for an immersive, musically stimulating and visually enticing evening of audio-visual improvisation/feedback and fusion – on hand is visiting Mumbai award-winning bassist, film composer and electronic artist Sandeep Madhavan aka The Burning Deck. With influences that span everything from '70s prog-rock and jazz fusion to the Bristol sound of the '90s, while assimilating elements of hip-hop, dubstep, and drum 'n' bass, he creates lush with detail and global flourishes. Joining will be the locally based thruoutin and gogoj, whose intricate productions and forays into experimental music and sound design have made their live shows a unique experience each and every time. Joining the musicians will be several visual artists, including Nan Guanzi and Angie who will be illustrating live during the performances. Read more on what to expect here. RMB 50

Pacalolo, Click#15, Da Wei and the Social Poets, Reatmo (JP) at School
Whether you are a Scorpio or a "non-Scorpio," get ready to dance, as tonight features a handful of artists that specialize in funk, beat-boxing，disco, and hip-hop – with electro disco punk trio Pacalolo, the uber-talented funk group and China's answer to Prince Click#15, hip-hop ensemble Da Wei and the Social Poets, and visiting beat-box artist from Japan, Reatmo. RMB 80

MyManMike (KR), Boss Cuts, Peking Floyd at Temple
Temple has a very theatrical Halloween night in store, with some of Temple’s favorite bands playing tribute to the greats – with surf rock outfit Boss Cuts as The Cramps, Peking Floyd performing "Dark side of the OZ" and, South Korean fastcore/power violence act MyManMike in town getting all sorts of crazy. FREE

A-Fuzz (KR) at DDC
The incredibly talented, extremely unique, jazz-fusion, funk-infused, vocals-not-required quartet, A-Fuzz – based out of Seoul bring some light funk jams to DDC this afternoon. 3pm start. RMB 60

Kafe Hu at DDC
Chengdu rapper Kafe Hu, whose widely acclaimed takeover of the underground rap scene since his debut release a couple years back included signing with Modern Sky and winning the CMA Best Rapper Award, is back with his latest – Fame/Fake – expect jazz hip-hop influences galore and a self-aware laid-back attitude. RMB 150

Amber at Omni Space
Post-rock label 1724 Records, going strong for 12 years, holding the post-rock torch high and proud invite Xi’an outfit Amber, regarded as one of the most romantic and graceful post-rock groups in years, to Omni Space as they release their new vinyl. RMB 150

Time Capsule at Yue Space
Five years in the works, the Britpop influenced indie rock outfit Time Capsule are proud to release their new album Dust. So if you’re in for some melodic indie pop swooning and solid songcrafting then hit them up at Yue Space. RMB 100

Hutong Rap Battle Vol. 9 w/ Dojo Shaolin at Soi Baochao
Head to Soi Baochao and lay down your best rhymes as an array of rappers compete and jam to their heart's content. Plus a special (perhaps hip-hop filled) set from the Canadian-born Beijing based singer-songwriter Ember Swift, known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals. FREE

FORQ at Blue Note
FORQ is an instrumental quartet with a dynamic sound and a penchant for sonic exploration. The group is composed of world-class improvisers, whose genre-blending songs have made them darlings on the circuit. They have toured across the US and Europe and performed at international festivals including the North Sea Jazz festival, Jazz A’ Vienne, Udine Jazz Festival, Upstream Festival, and the GroundUP Festival in Miami Beach. RMB 200-400

Dr. V’Agent, Nightingale, S.A.W, Broken Halberd, Beilu Shimen at 13 Club
13 Club continues to hold down the fort for metal fans with a heavy lineup featuring scene regulars S.A.W, Nightingale, and much much more. RMB 100

The Hunters at Modernista
Beijing’s hottest crowd-pleasing outfit and one of Beijing’s best foreign cover bands The Hunters combine old school funk, soul, and rock classics with intoxicating delivery. FREE

Golden Bamboo Orchestra at Jianghu Bar
A special performance from the Guizhou orchestra – Golden Bamboo – who combine native music from the southwest with modern day instruments and innovation. RMB 66

Zhang Qianqian at Pink Moon
Veteran sing-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase courtesy at Pink Moon. RMB 80

DMC3+1 Jazz Quartet at The Bricks
Featuring the dynamic Jess Meider on vocals, San Francisco jazz guitarist Doug Martin and more, the DMC3+1 outfit is looking to ignite your Saturday night. FREE

Sunday, Oct 28

The Burning Deck (India), DFA1989, Bye Bye Fish at Temple
This rambunctious Sunday night, Live Beijing Music and Temple Bar get their mask party on as they host Mumbai based award-winning bassist, film composer and electronic artist Sandeep Madhavan aka The Burning Deck whose influences range from '70s prog-rock and jazz fusion to the Bristol sound of the 90s. He’ll be joined by maverick guitarist Jukka as well as one of Beijing’s most mischievous, earth-shaking, righteous, and spiritually deviant acts – DFA1989 – the infamous doom drone collective, ‘with a constantly shifting line up of musicians with a diverse repertoire of instruments and talents’, who concoct doomy noise symphonies of the highest order. Last but not least, a special set from Bye Bye Fish, the avant-garde folk project formed by the leading duo behind the beloved punk outfit SUBS, whose hypnotic, enchanting, and sometimes malevolence songs that feel like they’ve emerged from a dark fairy tale. Read more on what to expect here. FREE

All Unknown, Stay Gold, Radical Spinz, Yewai Leigui Zhinan at School
Local promoters Rock Brothers end the week with a Halloween Pre-Party with entertainment courtesy of female fronted pop-rockers All Unknown, pop-punk dudes Stay Gold, melodic punk newcomers Radical Spinz, and reggae outfit Yewai Leigui Zhinan. RMB 40

Qi Ming, Future Orients at DDC
Chinese singer-songwriter known for her dream pop-laced ballads teams up with indie rock group Future Orients for a special collaborative performance where the singer will join the band on stage. RMB 80

Mixed Theory, Ban, Three-Quarters Dead, Panda Eyes, Skyfire, Left Behind Children, Nightingale at BSP Livehouse
BSP Livehouse by Chaoyangmen gets ambitious this Sunday with a full day festival featuring over eight bands – from indie pop to hard rock – each looking to get in their licks. RMB 100

Xing Yi Fan Jazz Quartet at Modernista
A member of the CMA Big Band and Ah-Q Jazz Ensemble and an active member of the Beijing jazz scene, cello bassist Xing Yi Fan is one of the best in the scene. Catch him and others tonight at Modernista. FREE

Echoloop, Wang Chenhuai at Mogu Space
Guitar musings, acoustic improvisations, and folk songs aplenty to get you nice and cozy this Sunday evening. RMB 60