Noise Pollution: Carsick Cars at Yue Space, Twink at DDC and Mogu Space, Abstracts at Omni Space

Everyone settling into the New Year okay? Has the cloud of excessive drinking finally been replaced by acceptance and aggressive well-doing? Either way, we’re here for you over at Noise Pollution as you set out in search of that sound that’ll carry you into the next week. So whether you’re looking to change up your routine and hang out with the punk kids, or escape to the folk-laced cafes beyond Gulou, we’ve got you covered.
 

Friday, Jan 4

The Sino Hearts, Ghetto Blaster, Pizza Face, Shitty Sister at School
Kick off the first weekend of 2019 with some good ol' fashion rock as supplied by four top-notch acts. Set to provide the entertainment are '70s power pop punk dudes The Sino Hearts, electro-rock 'n' roll with a bluesy vibe Ghetto Blaster, female-fronted No Doubt inspired act Pizza Face, and relative newbie trio Shitty Sister. RMB 80

Uncle Bad, Cherry Mor, War/N/T at Temple
Ska punk outfit with double male/female vocalists Uncle Bad returns to wreak havoc on Temple as they keep the good times rolling alongside pop-rock trio Cherry Mor and alternative punk rockers War/N/T. Mayhem will ensue. FREE

Los Crasher at Yue Space
Tight-jean-wearing preeminent sleazy glam hard rockers Los Crasher – the embodiment of classic rock and a staple of the scene for years, roll through Yue Space in support of their newest EP, Coz I’m Like No Other. With over 40 high-intensity tours under their belt, these cats know how to work for the crowd. RMB 100

Screaming Kong, Choitree, Make Tuzhou, BaiJiangQing at DDC
Riotous punk-infused trio Screaming Kong joins poet and avant-garde folk-rock singer Make Tuzhou, young rockers Choitree and singer-songwriter BaiJiangQing for an eclectic evening of tunes at DDC. RMB 80

G.G, Saber, T.$ONG, Wu ZhaoHui at Mao Livehouse
Up and coming hip-hop star G.G, winner of Netease’s Hip-Hop Singer Competition, kicks off his first national tour over at Wukesong with the help of fellow rap smiths Saber, T.$ONG, and more. RMB 150

Rey Cabrera Y Sus Amigos at Blue Note
After growing up in Santiago de Cuba mastering his art with the greatest Cuban musicians, like Eliades Ochoa, the youngest member of Buena Vista Social Club, Rey Cabrera became known as a profound singer and tres player (a small guitar with three double strings). Director of the Trinchera Agraria Orchestra, he has already released three albums here and is being accompanied live on the maracas and guiro (hand percussion), babybass, piano, percussion congas and bongo, and trumpet. RMB 120-320

Hee Young Lim at La Plantation
"A deeply gifted musician, with a full singing tone and exceptional lyrism," the cellist Hee Young Lim appears at La Plantation this evening to perform Bach. The programme will include Suite No. 1 in G major, Suite No. 2 in E minor and Suite No. 3 in C Major. RMB 200

The Great Buffalo Blues at Modernista
The electric four-piece band that explores funk, blues, soul, and reggae are back at Modernista with their unique musical style that’s unlike anything else. Expect a high-energy show that is guaranteed to keep you moving all night. FREE

Tommy, Gabrielle, Keith at Caravan
Three voices, three sounds, so many stories – Caravan’s singer-songwriter series brings you the stories behind the music with solo sets from UK-born Tommy, ukulele-wielding American Gabrielle, and blues-ridden Keith of Echo Flower. RMB 50

Nancy Jenkinson Brown Quartet at Bricks
Nancy Jenkinson Brown alongside with her ever-skillful band of troops presents a delicious cocktail of music and playful renditions of songs you know and love, providing listeners a new sense of joy for jazz. FREE

Eric Allen Woodshed at Blue Stream Bar
Eric Allen and his band Woodshed bring the sounds of Americana to Blue Stream combining a rocky style with authentic American Chicago, Texas, and Mississippi Delta blues. FREE

Diamond Dogs, Gangte Gongsi at Mogu Space
David-Bowie loving tribute band Diamond Dogs bring the fun and good times to Xizhimen with support from Gangte Gongsi. RMB 60

Ban Jianing, Tang Shunyi, Cheng Yufeng at Pink Moon
Acoustic offerings from an array of aspiring singer-songwriter including Ban Jianing, Tang Shunyi, and Cheng Yufeng. RMB 66
 

Saturday, Jan 5

Twink (UK), Birdstriking, Xiao Wang, Mystery Act at DDC
A bonafide legend of the 1960s UK psychedelic music scene, best known for his work with Tomorrow & Pink Fairies, John ‘TWINK’ Alder is one of a kind, whose name is right up there with Kevin Ayers, Syd Barrett, and Robert Wyatt. After releasing Think Pink III last year, Alder now touches down in Beijing in celebration of the original Think Pink’s 50th anniversary, where he’ll be joined by longtime collaborator Barnaby Bennett, Paul Napier (of Shanghai cowpunk band The Flood), Fabian (of Shanghai’s Battle Cattle and The Fever Machine), and Chachy (the wrangler of Shanghai’s one and only Round Eye). Supporting duties will be handled by noise rock favorites Birdstriking, punk swelters Xiao Wang, and a very special secret guest. RMB 120

Carsick Cars, Chui Wan at Yue Space
Two bands that need no introduction – Maybe Mar’s flagship bands and bands that have defined for many the underground sound of Beijing – bring it home this evening. Indie noise rockers Carsick Cars, who have been electrifying audiences, both home and abroad with their Sonic Youth, Steve Reich, and Velvet Underground inspired tunes since 2005 will join indispensable psychedelic rockers Chui Wan, who tie everything from Spanish dance to Arabic music into their intricate grooves that have an improvisational dynamism to them. Expect a packed house. RMB 160

Screaming Kong, HouLai De DaoYu, New Generation, Need Will Need, Summer Warz, Za Wu Jian at School
Local promoters Super School Fighter, who have helped many young bands find their voice across China, celebrate their six-year anniversary with a red-hot, stacked lineup of bands that broke out from their weekly series including electro-rock 'n' rollers Screaming Kong, mathy post-rock ensemble HouLai de DaoYu, female-fronted pop-folk outfit New Generation, punk ruffians Need Will Need, indie rockers Summer Warz, and funk foursome Za Wu Jian. RMB 80

Hell City, Pizza Face, Grey Silence at Temple
Mo-hawked metal head street punks Hell City return once again for Operation Mayhem over at Temple as the long-standing renegades bring fist-pumping goodness to the venue alongside 2018’s breakout rockers Pizza Face, whose No Doubt-inspired tunes and riotous energy has made them favorites on the rock circuit, and popcore outfit Grey Silence. FREE

Collision Dreamer, Awake Mountains at Mao Livehouse
Keep it emo, keep it post-hardcore, keep it fast and loose with Collision Dreamer – the Beijing easycore new school punk band that’s has been building a killer fan base since their formation five years back. They celebrate the release of their new EP with support from melodic post-metal act Awake Mountains, another band that’s been picking up quite a bit of steam over the past couple of years. RMB 100

The Robert Glasper Trio at Blue Note
With four Grammy Awards (from six nominations) and an Emmy Award under his belt, pianist and producer Robert Glasper is no joke. His many projects include an acoustic jazz trio and numerous electric bands that explore fusions of jazz and hip hop, as well as two fresh new projects including August Greene and R+R=NOW. In addition to touring Glasper keeps steady workflow as a film composer, producer and music director across many platforms. Catch him this weekend at Blue Note. RMB 360-560

Amber Worms, Big Dreamer at Caravan
It’s time for some fresh blood tonight at Caravan as the tasty, tuneful Moroccan joint host two up and coming bands – Britrock-inflicted pop rockers Amber Worms and folk alternative rockers Big Dreamer, whose singer hails from Ningxia. RMB 60

Balcony, Shitty Sister, Rudi and Prince at Blue Stream
Hailing from Derbyshire and London in the UK, Balcony brings a mix of acoustic covers and originals to Blue Stream. Joining them are Shitty Sister – Beijing's premier (only) alt-rock ukulele-fronted family band, and Rudi & Prince. FREE

Uighur Sama at Modernista
A mixture of traditional Arabic songs and lively Spanish rumba classics, with lyrics both in English and Uyghur, Uighur Sama continue bringing the energetic sounds of Xinjiang to China´s capital. FREE

Christian Li Jazz Quintet at The Bricks
Jazz pianist Christian Li leads his own groups and works extensively as a sideman. He has performed at a few festivals, including Newport, Panama, Monterey, Montreux, Detroit, and Jazz En Comminges. He has also performed at a few notable venues, including the Blue Note, Birdland, East Shore, and Carnegie Hall. FREE

Gun Er, Liu Jia at Snail Club
Indie folk-pop courtesy of these two aspiring singer-songwriters at the new and improved Snail Club off of Jiaodaokou and Nanluoguxiang. RMB 40

Steve Blaque, Mystery at Pink Moon
American artist and producer Steve Blaque, who played formerly in genre-bending rock band The Radiance, joins female singer-songwriter Mystery. RMB 66
 

Sunday, Jan 6

Purdur Chen at Yue Space
The freewheeling guitar playing and singing of Puyuma (Taiwan Aboriginal music) singer Purdur has made the artist an international sensation since the late nineties. Since then, Purdur’s simple and moving vocals have delivered the beauty and power of local Taiwan to the ears of the world and has garnered him multiple awards over the decades, including the award for Best Mandarin Male Singer and Producer of the Year at the Golden Melody Awards. Keep a rare performance of his at Yue Space this evening. RMB 180

Twink (UK), Dan Taylor at Mogu Space
A bonafide legend of the 1960's UK psychedelic music scene, best known for his work with Tomorrow & Pink Fairies, John ‘TWINK’ Alder is one of a kind – whose name is right up there with Kevin Ayers, Syd Barrett, and Robert Wyatt. In conjunction with his debut album Think Pink’s 50th anniversary, Alder gives an intimate performance at Xizhimen’s Mogu Space with long-term guitarist and collaborator Barnaby Bennett, with support from Beijing’s own singer-songwriter thespian Dan Taylor of The Harridans. 4.30pm start. RMB 60

Maybe Percussion, Yan Yulong, Zhang Shouwang at fRUITYSPACE
Maybe Noise Records - the new avant-garde contemporary music label (made up of some of Maybe Mars most influential characters) – are back with their latest installment of genre-breaking sounds with a performance by Maybe Percussion – which consists of an array of top-notch percussionists (Wang Xu, Bi Yuanfei, Li Fan, Maote, Wenzheng, Xiaoguo) getting their avant-garde on as well as performances from label runners Yan Yulong (of Chui Wan) and Zhang Shouwang (of Carsick Cars). RMB 40

Self-Portrait, Gentle Grapes, Fancy Wall, Pinky Cherry at School
Finish off the weekend with a smorgasbord of bands kicking around the scene and looking to make a name for themselves, including artsy Brit-infused indie rockers Self-Portrait, pop-punk rascals Gentle Grape, pop-rockers with a nu-metal twist Fancy Wall, and making their School Bar debut, female pop-rock trio Pinky Cherry. RMB 80

The Robert Glasper Trio at Blue Note
With four Grammy Awards (from six nominations) and an Emmy Award under his belt, pianist and producer Robert Glasper is no joke. His many projects include an acoustic jazz trio and numerous electric bands that explore fusions of jazz and hip-hop, as well as two fresh new projects including August Greene and R+R=NOW. In addition to touring Glasper keeps steady workflow as a film composer, producer and music director across many platforms. Catch him this weekend at Blue Note. RMB 360-560

Abstracts (JP) at Omni Space
The Japanese metalcore band Abstracts, known for their high-octane highly emotional vocals and face-melting riffs that will make you question just how many strings are on their guitars, swing through Omni Space as part of their Nocturne China Tour. RMB 120

Roy McGrath Quartet at DDC
Chicago based tenor saxophonist, composer and bandleader Roy McGrath, who was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico and educated in Boston, New Orleans and Chicago, brings to bear these diverse influences in his playing and composing. Catch his new and lively quartet this evening at DDC. RMB 70

Want to cut a rug instead? Check out this weekend's nightlife offerings here.

Photos: Will Griffith, courtesy of the venues