Noise Pollution: Last Goodbye, Tengil, Eliza Koles, Harvey Mason, Kayu Nakada, Michał Ciesielski

Will Griffith | Oct 11, 2019 10:00 am | Add a comment | 142 reads

The haze of Golden Week may have lifted but the haze is still very much present, both literally and figuratively. And no better way to brush off the cobwebs then a jolt of rock and roll straight to the bloodstream – and with this weekend’s roundup, you’ll have no problem getting back on track.

Friday, Oct 11

Last Goodbye, Summer Vapour, The Claptraps at DDC
Live Beijing Music is looking to keep the flames of rock and roll simmering this week with an indie rock lineup that’ll have your earworms doing backflips. On the bill are magnetic dream-pop groovers Last Goodbye, fresh off their beautifully crafted debut brimming lush textures, elastic propelling melodies, and colorful aplomb; indie-pop outfit Summer Vapour, whose refined bubbly city pop laced with dreamy ethereal and surf rock has garnered them a ton of attention; and The Claptraps, whose reverb-heavy, engulfing noise rock sound has left a trail of devilishly good vibes. RMB 80

Tengil (Sweden), US:WE (TW), Rubur at Mao Livehouse
Described as "The Cure as influenced by black metal" Swedish outfit Tengil has made a name for themselves for their bone-crushing, emotionally devastating music that combines elements of post-rock, black metal, and post-hardcore receiving nods from Alcest and Explosions in the Sky. Joining them are Taipei post-hardcore outfit US:WE (short for Until Seeing Whale’s Eyes) and Shanghai shoegaze noise-rockers Rubur, fresh off the release of their killer debut LP. RMB 120

The Peppercorns, Macondo, 2D-Foil, Swarrm at School
The rollicking indie-filled series Keep Calm and Fly On returns to School Bar, with the always busy electronic post-rock outfit Macondo, artsy '70s rockers The Peppercorns, offbeat industrial metal trio Swarrm, and up and coming shoegaze-inflected indie rockers 2D Foil. RMB 80

Jaruco, Will Pope, Lil Yan, Great Buffalo Blues at Soi Baochao
Jaruco is looking to get down and dirty overt at Baochao – the rock trio with a fetish for playing simple upbeat songs featuring hutong cats and holidays gone wrong join singer-songwriter Will Pope, Lil Yan, and the always reliable Great Buffalo Blues. FREE

Blackwater, Old Tea at Temple
For a true Irish experience catch Blackwater, whose music draws from the rich traditional Irish repertoire from beautiful ballads to frenzied reels. These cats may just be the most authentic Irish punk rock band in Beijing and they’re looking for trouble tonight over in Temple alongside rockers Old Tea. FREE

Eliza Koles (Hungary) at Caravan
Join the Hungarian jazz singer Eliza Koles and her band at Caravan for a night of fresh jazz that brings together everything from '50s standards to modern hits, in a smorgasbord of languages as Koles is joined by trumpeter Daniel Görögh and guitarist Marton Valcz. FREE

Chen Fei and Pinecone at Jianghu Bar
Independent musician and producer Chen Fei (formerly Haozi), founder of Pine Cone Music Studio, brings a new take on somber Chinese folk-driven melodies that sink deep – as he invites his band to Jianghu Bar. RMB 100

Harvey Mason at Blue Note
The Mercedes-Benz Jazz Masters series brings the legendary, multi-Grammy Award-winning session drummer, producer, composer, and artist Harvey Mason to the stage as he champions his 10th solo record Chameleon and caps his legacy as a musical chameleon. RMB 360-460

Li Yongxiang and Friends at La Plantation
Headed by Hani musician Li Yongxiang, the ensemble established by the teachers and students of Oboe Music College Central University and looks to be a reflection around the artistic integration and innovation of Chinese and Western music. RMB 200

The Balcony at Mogu Space
Hailing from Derbyshire and London in the UK, The Balcony brings a mix of acoustic covers and originals to Mogu Space for a special unplugged performance. FREE

Zhang Qianqian, Di Rungan at Pink Moon
Veteran singer-songwriter Zhang Qianqian, a staple of the folk scene since her debut in 1996, gives a special showcase courtesy of Pink Moon alongside Di Rungan. RMB 88

Cui Longyang at 69 Cafe
Acoustics wonders and other goodies at Changping’s 69 Cafe as singer-songwriter Cui Longyang goes solo this evening. FREE

Saturday, Oct 12

Kayu Nakada (JP), Yuma Takeshita (JP), Hiroyuki Ura (JP), at Fruityspace
Avant-garde junkies will be very excited to hear news of these three esteemed Japanese musicians who will take the Fruityspace stage. They include "realtime pianist" Kayu Nakada, experimental/improvisational artist and electronic bassist Yuma Takeshita, and composer and snare drum performer Hiroyuki Ura. If that wasn’t enough, Beijing’s own experimentalists duo soviet Pop, Zhu Wenbo, and more will be on hand. RMB 80

Sleeping Brain, Reversing into Garage at DDC
The new generations of bands from Taipei, Sleeping Brain, an alternative rock group that mixes cold-tuned electronica with indie sensibilities, and Reversing Into Garage, a group of pedal-smashing, guitar riffing garage rockers, bring their debuts to DDC as they look to introduce themselves to the mainland. RMB 120

Ephemerality, Polarize, Left Behind Child, Lethe, Titan at School
Local promoters ZING roundup a powerhouse lineup of the scene’s hardest-working (and hardest-hitting) metal bands, including melodic death metal outfit Ephemerality, rockers Left Behind Child, electro hardcore metal act Polarize, death metal act Lethe, and metalheads Titan. RMB 100

Theory of Relativity at Yue Space
Hard-hitting alternative rockers Theory of Relativity hit up Yue space as part of their nationwide tour in support of their new album The World Needs Heroes, which looks at the idea of everyday heroes. Expect crunchy guitars and world-weary vocals. RMB 120

Peking Floyd at Soi Baochao
Beijing's premier Pink Floyd tribute band bring their vast and ever-increasing collection of cuts from Pink Floyd's most creative years, priding themselves on emulating their live performances during the 1970s when their improvisation and psychedelic jamming were at their best. RMB 80

Michał Ciesielski at La Plantation
Michał is a composer, arranger and jazz pianist from Gdańsk, Poland, living in Beijing. He completed his studies in the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, where he received his master's degree as a jazz composer and jazz pianist. He also studied for a year in the Institut of Jazz in Katowice. With over 100 compositions and awards under his belt, he’s one of the finest jazz players this side of town. RMB 200

Gou Mao at Jianghu Bar
Gou Mao grew up in Taiwan, heavily influenced by mainland music. The rustic rocker now appears at Jianghu Bar with his backing band, an eclectic group of professional musicians from the sleepy city of Lanzhou as they present their new EP. RMB 100

Terence Blanchard feat. The E-Collective at Blue Note
2018 USA Fellow and five-time Grammy-winning trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard appears at Blue Note this weekend with his Grammy-nominated jazz quintet, the E-Collective. RMB 340-440

King Lion Miguel, One Drop, Lush, Sistakilla, Rawhx Van Marley, General Huge at 13 Club
DB Bros brings the Cameroonian-born, Beijing based reggae, soul and dancehall artist King Lion Miguel to the stage of 13 Club joined by a host of other reggae artists, including Sistakilla, Rawhx Van Marley, General Huge, and more. RMB 100

Wang Erlang at Mao Livehouse
Part of a new generation of contemporary folk singers, Wang Erlang brings her distinctive, tender, and low-pitched vocalizations to Wukesong as the budding artist continues her nationwide tour. RMB 140

Mademoiselle et Son Orchestre at Modernista
Mademoiselle et son Orchestre return to Baochao Hutong 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

Amberworms, Cosmos Fish at 69 Café
Britrock-inflicted pop-rockers Amber Worms join hard-edged post-rock outfit Cosmos Fish for some jamming over in Changping. FREE

Zhou Juncai, Da Qiao at Mogu Space
Acoustic offerings in Xizhimen, courtesy of guitar slingers and tender singers Zhou Juncai and Da Qiao. FREE

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

Sunday, Oct 13

Guiguisuisui, Wen Liang at Aotu Studio
International Cassette Store Day is here once again, and Shining Dimensions, the series curated by Guiguisuisui and Aotu Space that aims to create an intersection between different dimensions of creativity, pays tribute to it the only way they know how, with some "awesome interactive performances and bunch of tapes from bands and artists we really adore." More specifically, they will be an installation piece centered around dakou culture as Guiguisuisui, fresh off their extensive European tour, and prolific performer and composer Wen Liang, join visual artists Nan Guazi and Shui Wong and dance and movement contact improv specialist Emily Wong alongside Xindi Chen. 7pm start. RMB 50

Manchufeierzi, Fung Lok at Fruityspace
The ever-elastic and indescribable band Manchufeierzi, who gleefully discards the traditional notion of “band” and “audience” and has no allegiance to genre or concept joins electronic artist Fung Lok at Fruityspace tonight. RMB 70

Kayu Nakada (JP), Yuma Takeshita (JP), Hiroyuki Ura (JP), Yan Jun, Sun Yizhou at Studio H
The avant-garde extravaganza continues as Japanese musicians including synth artist and "realtime pianist" Kayu Nakada, experimental/improvisational artist, and electronic bassist Yuma Takeshita, and composer and snare drum performer Hiroyuki Ura hit up SUBJAM’s apartment studio space with Yan Jun and Sun Yizhou also on hand. 4pm start. RMB 100 (RSVP at subjam@gmail.com)

Ultra Grey, The Coin Locker at DDC
The Coin Locker leans into their rustic, lo-fi stripped back indie rock sound that pays tribute to everyone from The Rolling Stones to Oasis, injecting in shoegaze, Britpop and garage rock into their robust palette as they hit up DDC alongside indie-pop soundscapers Ultra Grey. RMB 60

Zdev-Ogkm, PhunkyFeel, Double Sticker, Brotherhood, W-Shine7, C-Low at School
Closeout the weekend with a high-octane dose of hip hop as organized by local promoters The Base. Providing the entertainment is ZDEV-OGKM, PhunkyFeel, Double Sticker, Brotherhood, W-Shine7, and C-LOW. RMB 100

Zhao Zhao at Mao Livehouse
Shandong folk-pop singer Zhao Zhao, who’s been on the grind since the ripe age of 19, swings through Wuksong this evening as the trailblazing artist presents his newest album chock full of pristine, sincere, and heartwarming stories. RMB 280

Zhang Muqiusi at Jianghu Bar
Football referee, news reporter, musician Zhang Muqiusi has worn many hats in his life, and those qualities make their way into the folk singer-songwriter's music, which is full of low-key, universal themes that dig deep. RMB 80

Sejin Bae Quartet at Modernista
Beijing based Korean pianist, Sejin Bae and her Quartet of talented musicians will share with us, melodic pieces from her new album, Direction. FREE