Noise Pollution: Taiwan Showcase, Dawei & The Social Poets, Fang Shier, Tulegur, Junko Onishi Trio

Will Griffith | Jun 28, 2019 10:57 am | Add a comment | 118 reads

July creeps up and the music scene heats up. And, like a spiced up hot pot dinner, you should expect a heavily flavored broth of rock and roll followed by the numbing sting of post-punk, punk, electro-rock and more that have your mind swirling in gratifying disarray by Sunday night. So grab a bib and let’s get right into it.

Friday, Jun 28

Deca Joins (TW), Midnight Ping-Pong (TW), The Fur (TW) at Tango
Taiwan’s leading independent record label – Airhead Records – celebrates seven years of mining the new wave of indie rockers from the island with a killer showcase featuring some sickeningly good bands including four-piece jangle indie poppers Deca Joins, who became overnight sensations following the release of their 2017 album Bathroom, and for good reason, as their music matches tender melodies with a laid-back slacker rock charm that’s downright irresistible. Also on the bill are fellow indie-pop outfit The Fur and Midnight Ping-Pong, returning after a delightfully riotous set earlier this year. RMB 220

Ninjablad, Solent x Shining Dimensions
Shining Dimensions – the new series curated by Guiguisuisui and Aotu Space that aims to create an intersection between different dimensions of creativity hits its fifth edition under the theme ‘Becoming a Photographer.’ Featuring the music of producers Ninjablade and Solent, the Tagtool visuals of Nickolai, the photography of Graeme Nicol, and the live photography of Xinrou – audiences will invited up to interact with and become part of these new creations and be photographed by Xinrou and Graeme. RMB 50

Screaming Kong, White Book, Derby Day, The Lightning Club at School
Some of Beijing's best new contenders on the indie rock scene are storming the stage at School this evening ready to ignite – on the docket are punk rockers Screaming Kong, post-punk outfit White Book, Britpop ensemble Derby Day, and alternative rock group The Lightning Club. RMB 60

SHAS, Led Barons, Rothwell x Jukka x Lie at Temple
Beijing sludge and doom quartet Stinky Humans Abuse to Subsist bring their down and dirty sound to glorious suffocating light to Temple Bar to celebrate Iris’s birthday with the help of Led Zeppelin tribute band Led Barons and the trifecta meltdown of Rothwell, Jukka, and Lie (ex-SHA members). FREE

Old Tea, Bastion, Windsor Forest at DDC
Britpop, melodic metal, and psychedelic music – all the makings for a rollicking good time over at DDC as longstanding Britpop outfit Windsor Forest joins old school melodic metal ensemble Bastion and psych-infused instrumental rockers Old Tea. RMB 60

A.J.K, Dr. V’Agent, Devil Mask, Tibia Shape at Mao Livehouse
Everyone’s favorite goth industrial metal bands, A.J.K, known for their charismatic, Rob Zombie-esque metal shenanigans joins industrial rockers Dr. V’Agent, Devil Mask and more for a heavy evening of rock and roll. RMB 150

Jose Feliciano at Blue Note
Let’s list off the ways in which Jose Feliciano is a legend - Guitar Player Magazine has awarded him “Best Pop Guitarist,” placing him in their “Gallery of the Greats,” and he’s been voted both “Best Jazz and Best Rock Guitarist” in the Playboy Magazine reader’s poll, as well. In 1996, Jose was selected to receive Billboard Magazine’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.” If that wasn’t enough, he’s been immortalized with a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and even has a public school named after him in New York City. Enough said. RMB 400-500

ZaZaZsu at Yue Space
ZaZaZsu brings a feminine and feminist sensibility to retro songs about falling in love. They take their name from the Spanish language and they bring a light, romantic touch to their traditional pop and jazz-pop creations. Catch the duo as they release their new EP tonight. RMB 120

Marco Paccassoni Jazz Quartet at La Plantation
Marco Pacassoni will present a program of original songs composed by himself and Enzo Bocciero plus songs of famous artists such as Chic Corea, Pat Metheny, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Zappa, Oliver Nelson, playing different styles from jazz to fusion, swing to Latin for a musical evening where the vibraphone and his magical sound is the protagonist of the stage. RMB 200

Li Eryang, SJ Benny, Chris Perry, Three Mosquitoes at Soi Baochao
Cangku Stock returns to Baochao Hutong. Join them for an eclectic evening of music featuring subversive indie guitarist Li Eryang, Kazak flamenco guitarist Danek Nuerlan, singer, Memphis-born spoken-word artist, and songwriter SJ Benne, Reprobates frontman Chris Perry, and funk rock Martians the Three Mosquitoes. FREE

The Great Buffalo Blues at Jianghu Bar
The electric four-piece band that explores funk, blues, soul, and reggae are back at Jianghu with their unique musical style that’s unlike anything else. Read our recent interview with them here. RMB 60

Sons of Thunder at Modernista
Started by four members from Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies, this new explosive cover band looks to indulge in everyone's favorite songs of the 2000s. FREE

Yu Tian (TW) at Omni Space
Yu Tian, part of the new generation of Mandopop singers born in the '90s, brings his ‘Magic Tan’ fame to Omni Space, where the Tianjin born star, known as ‘China’s Ricky Martin’ will appease rabid fans. RMB 220

Victor Bastidas Quartet at The Bricks
Columbian Percussionist Victor Bastidas known to some as ‘one of the best drummers live in Beijing’ will be hitting up Sanlitun this Friday with his quartet. FREE

Jing Xinzhou, Ariane at Mogu Space
Folk artist Jing Xinzhou joins American singer-songwriter Ariane for some easy-going fingerpicking vibes in Xizhimen. FREE

BUA Seven at Pink Moon
The BUA Seven guitar club whose motto is “We are abstract singers in the sense that we abstract” get down and jiggy at Pink Moon this evening. FREE

More Feel at 69 Café (Changping)
Indie synth-pop duo More Feel share, as you can imagine, their feelings over in Changping alongside special guests. FREE

Saturday, Jun 29

Deadly Cradle Death, Simon Frank, sourtower at C5 Art Space
The devilishly alluring duo Deadly Cradle Death, whose toxic, anti-club music; a bombastic assault on the senses that gloriously veers off into the deep end and revels in undertones of hip-hop, drum 'n' bass, and experimental music join post-punk solo act Simon Frank and sourtower, one of this year’s most intriguing new acts, a female-led cold wave post-punk outfit who’ll join visual artist and illustrator yayeci AKA Vision – all at fRUITYSPACE’s new shared space with C5 Art Space in Sanlitun called frequent collaborative. RMB 80

Larry's Pizza, Pure, Pizza Face, Radical Spinz, Dear My Friends, The Second Kick at School
‘Rock Your Night’ – the theme of the evening and School Bar’s general year-round motto. And with a pun-filled lineup like this you know they mean business – set to lead are long-time skate-punk trio Larry's Pizza, who’ll join female-fronted grunge outfit Pure, glam rockers Pizza Face, pop-punkers Radical Spinz, Dear My Friends, and making the trip up from Langfang, The Second Kick. RMB 80

Dawei & The Social Poets, Cherry Mor, Jungle Fever at Temple
Funk hip-hop outfit Dawei & The Social Poets, led by the impulsive, fierce, and battle-prone rapper Dawei, bring their genre-flirting explosive performance alongside pop-punk outfit Cherry Mor and alternative rockers Jungle Fever. FREE

Tulegur at Jianghu Bar
Tulegur, the veteran Inner Mongolian folk-rock duo whose grungy revisionist take on throat- singing and the rich Inner Mongolian musical tradition, mixed with modern acoustic rock influences, has won acclaim both here and aboard, performs tonight at the hutong mainstay. RMB 100

Fang Shier at Omni Space
The Chinese singer-songwriter, known for her unique sound and distinctive voice, brings her ‘future oriental’ music to Omni Space. While influences of pop, electronic, and world music can be heard in her music, the singer refuses to be pigeonholed and thus has earned quite the fanbase. RMB 120

Czecho No Republic (JP) at Mao Livehouse
Japanese rock group Czecho No Republic was formed in 2010 by Masami Takei & Shotaro Yamazaki, who just thought the word “Czecho” sounded cool. Their music has been featured in Dragon Ball Kai and Dragon Ball Super. J-Rock at its finest folks! RMB 300

Dafay at Yue Space
Esteemed blues musician Dafay brings his rich instrumentation and twenty years of experience to the stage as the mainstay continues his latest China tour. RMB 150

Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies at DDC
The ever-expanding (ten members deep at the moment) jazz-pop troupe Stevie Mac and The Mac Daddies bring their vintage approach to contemporary music to DDC for a celebration of none other than the OG Mac Daddy himself. RMB 60

Sofar Sounds at Taikooli
Sofar Sounds turn the ripe age of ten! What started as a little side hobby in a London flat with just eight people is now in over 400 cities around the world. Join them in kicking off the next decade of music discovery with some of our favorite alumni artists and good friends – all on a secret spot in Taikooli. RMB 125 (apply at https://www.sofarsounds.com/beijing)

Junko Onishi Trio at Blue Note
Onishi, a pianist, started working in New York after graduating from Berklee College of Music, and has played with many jazz greats. Today she is considered a leader in Japanese jazz. See her perform with Yosuke Inoue on bass and Shinnosuke Takahashi on drums tonight at Blue Note. RMB 240-360

LDR Rap Battle Vol.17 w/ Cypher 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 hip-hop filled set from Cypher as special guests. FREE

Mademoiselle et Son Orchestre at The Bricks
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre return to Sanlitun for some foot-tapping fun. The premier gypsy jazz outfit has been igniting crowds left and right for endless years – a true joy to behold. FREE

The Flip Side at Modernista
The Flip Side is Beijing’s only live disco band. Bring your boogie shoes and come prepared to freak out, shake your booty, get jiggy with it and celebrate good times! FREE

Liu Donghong at Mogu Space
Liu Donghong, dusty blues singer of Sand, China’s first ‘cold rock’ band, and a scene player for over 20 years gives an intimate performance in Xizhimen. FREE

Chen Hongyu, Tang Qingqing at La Plantation
A special baryton and piano recital courtesy of Chen Hongyu and Tang Qingqing who’ll touch on all the greats – from Schubert to Rachmaninoff. RMB 200

Steve Blaque at Pink Moon
American artist and producer Steve Blaque, who played formerly in the genre-bending rock band The Radiance, joins friends tonight at Pink Moon. FREE

Sunday, Jun 30

The KVB (UK) at Omni Space
The KVB – the duo made up of multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Wood and keyboardist Kat Day – who specialize in dreamlike coldwave music with a grim shoegaze crush, and share a love for analog churns and shimmering guitar melodies, head to Omni Space as part of their Asia tour. The pair who evoke everyone from Suicide, Kraftwerk, New Order, and Spacemen 3, have been riding a wave of success since the release of their sixth studio album Only Now Forever, full of spiraling synths, industrial beats, tender lyrics, and other offbeat flourishes. Check out our recent Q&A with them here. RMB 160

Gentle Grape, Perpetual Motion Machine, Need a Name, Qiong Ke at School
Local promoters Xian Sheng celebrate their anniversary with one heck of a Sunday evening gig to end the weekend. Set to play are indie poppers Gentle Grape, alt-rock outfit Perpetual Motion Machine who rarely play small venues anymore, pop-punk Need a Name, and indie rockers Qiong Ke. RMB 100, RMB 20 (for two)

Acid Android (JP) at Tango
Acid Android is the solo project of Yukihiro, drummer of the Japanese rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel. To date, Acid Android has released three albums, one mini album and EP, two singles, and three live DVDs. The band, in contrast with L'Arc-en-Ciel, uses a harder, faster sound, more stage lighting and mechanics to further energize their concerts. RMB 520

Whistling Chambers, 2D-Foil at DDC
An atmospheric evening of shoegaze, psychedelic waves, and indie rock stylings as veteran indie rock outfit Whistling Chambers known for grunge-filled breakdowns joins up and comers 2D-Foil who are receiving a lot of good word of mouth from the shoegaze kids these days. RMB 50

Mandara, Black Bone at Temple
Rock and roll with Chinese characteristics – it’s time to inject an old-school yaogun flavor to Temple as Mandara bring their Black Panther/Tang Dynasty-era hard rock alongside Black Bone. FREE

Li Juntan and Polygon at Mao Livehouse
Indie pop singer-songwriter Li Juntan, who shot to acclaim with her self-titled debut following competition wins left and right, brings her band the Polygon to Wukesong. RMB 100

Wu Zhangfa, Idiot at Jianghu Bar
Cross-talking folk-rock outfit Idiot brings their modern take on the classic genre alongside world music group Wu Zhangfa who use the guqin and other traditional instruments to explore new sounds. FREE

Shi Yuji Jazz Trio at Modernista
Join Modernista this Sunday as saxophonist Shi Yuji and his trio of talented players puts on an elegant performance. Playing with him this evening is bassist Xing Yifan and guitarist Xiaji. FREE

D.C, K-Free, Yuan Yuan, Han Zhiren, pini, XiXi, G&T Star G, G&T, Jezzy-Yang at 69 Café (Changping)
Hip-hop makes its way to Changping as 69 Café hosts the Disparate Hall crew who specializes in all things new school – from trap music to boom rap. Expect things to heat up. RMB 50