Noise Pollution: Xiao Wang, Stereo Passanger, Rectal Wench, The Afro-Gent, AR刘夫阳
Whether it’s dread about a certain overseas election or the swift changing of the seasons before we’ve even had a chance to get our heating on, there’s one thing we all need this weekend: A straight shot of live music to the vein. Don’t care what’s your type – unapologetic post-punk, shimmering ambient music, or fickle matter infatuated grindcore – just get into my system already! Here’s your live music update.
Friday, Nov 6
Solid Liqui 固体李逵, Xiao Wang 小王, Dreaming Julie 发梦茱莉 at School
Shanghai's angular off-kilter post-punk trio Solid Liqui is certainly not for everyone, but they’re as original as they come. There’s a playful ingenuity to the way they attack every track – offbeat flourishes and twisted progressions that keep you on your toes and have you giddily looking forward to what’s around the corner. They’re in town as part of their China tour and they’re getting some top-notch support in the form of Dreaming Julie, the madcap freak jazz trio made up of renowned experimental and jazz figures Feng Hao, Liu Ping, and Yang, and kawaii core punk favorites Xiao Wang. 8.30pm. RMB 90/110
Mamer 马木尔 x Li Jianhong 李剑鸿 at RAM Brewery
RAM Brewery brings the noise this evening as two of the experimental scene’s most prolific and mesmerizing characters join forces. Xinjiang Kazakh musical genius Mamer, whose thrumming voice and nerve-racking layers of instrumentation has engulfed audiences for years as a staple of six bands – IZ, Kunakar, 51-Rayon, Mekrop, TAT, and Bande – varying from ambient, industrial, noise, improvised, and experimental to doom drone and dark drone. Joining him is guitar shaman and virtuoso sound artist Li Jianhong whose deft ability to improvise and breathe life into every distortion and sound that emerges from his instrument is one of a kind. 8.30pm. RMB 90/100
L+R王璐, TamiX, Sun Lingsheng 孙凌生, NIA YANG, Demone at Cloud Nine
Since its founding in late 2018 by Modern Sky, Sound Blanc has become one of the driving forces behind the resurgence in ambient music across China, and this year they’ve been keeping busy with a weekly ambient showcase featuring some of its deep talent roster. For their 28th episode, they once again go offline with a special show at Cloud Nine in Wangjing and a stacked lineup featuring Nia Yang, L+R, Demone, TamiX, and Sun Lingsheng. Expect modular synthesizers out the wazoo and some transcendent soundscapes to get lost in. 9pm. RMB 80/100
Car Drop 跳车, Radical Spinz 无敌风火轮, Labor Glory 劳动光荣 at Temple
Temple keeps the party going doing what they do best – a smorgasbord of punk rock that’ll have you throwing caution to the wind and more likely than not, three sheets as well, as ultras punk outfit Labor Glory, pop-punks Radical Spinz, and hard-hitting punk kids Car Drop bring the noise. 9pm. RMB 50
Stereo Passenger at Aotu Studio
Aotu Space has been increasingly taking up the mantle for Beijing’s experimental music scene and bless them for it! Cause sometimes you just need to take a leap of faith and explore different realms of sound and art. Tonight they host Stereo Passenger, an improvisational ambient duo who utilizes everything from drones to recorded voices, culminating in some seriously moody atmospherics. 8.30pm. RMB 60/80
Saturday, Nov 7
Zeming Xu at MTA Space
Following his own arrow, Kunming’s Zeming Xu is something of an outlier in the hip-hop scene, bringing an eclectic sense of genre-blending and pop sensibilities to the forefront of his sound. Tapping into the laid-back vibe China's southwestern province is known for, the multi-talented artist fuses rap, electronic music, rock, and hip-hop, creating a buoyant sound that goes down smoothly. He’ll be hitting up MTA Space this Saturday as part of his China tour in support of his debut LP with Merrie Records. 8.30pm. RMB 80/100
NUBEER, Chaos Kills The Pain, D’Vagent V博士, High Song 骸骨形态, Impure Injection 不洁净注射, Rectal Wench, A.J.K 玉麟军 at Mao Livehouse
Metal, hardcore, punk, and all their inbred cousins converge spectacularly upon Mao tonight as a ragtag team of bands with a penchant for stirring up trouble perform including Shandong grindcore act Impure Injection, Tianjin industrial metal band High Song, as well as Beijing hardcore veterans CKTP. Rounding out the lineup is nu-school metal outfit NUBEER, and the offensively hilarious Rectal Wench. Madness will ensue. 6.30pm. RMB 120/150
Time Capsule 时光胶囊, Fluoxetine 氟西汀, 524 at School
For nearly 15 years, Britpop outfit Time Capsule has graced stages across Beijing and the rest of China, sharing their crafty, melodic indie-pop songs with audiences. Currently,tThey’re on their latest tour and hitting up the home turf with the help of two up and comers – the jagged dream-pop outfit Fluoxetine and fresh-on-the-scene synth-rockers 524. 8.30pm. RMB 80/100
Djang San, yinyin尹引 at nugget café
Handpan artist yinyin brings his deft touch to the tiny stage at lo-fi stalwart nugget café as he simultaneously wrangles rhythm, bass, and melody on the ever-popular yet difficult-to-master instrument. Joining him will be the prolific Djang San, who will be giving a solo performance with his electrified zhongruan. 9pm. RMB 60/70
The Afro-Gent at Modernista
After a long hiatus, everyone’s favorite checkered floor bar is open for business and they’re getting back to basics with a weekend full of live music. Tonight they invite over The Afro-Gent, an Afro-fusion band that throws everything into the shaker – jazz, neo-soul, reggae, and R&B with traditional Afro-beats – to concoct one intoxicating cocktail that’ll have you dancing late into the night. 9pm. Free
Sunday, Nov 8
AR刘夫阳, KeyNG 杨和苏 at Mao Livehouse
Up and coming Guangzhou rapper AR (aka Liu Fuyang) joins the ranks of other alternative hip-hop stars who are veering away from their original trap stylings for something more novel and elastic, filling his arsenal with edible hip-hop bars that float on buoyant charm and mischievous glee. Once again making the rounds to his legion of fans, check out the rapper tonight in Wukesong. 8.30pm. RMB 200/230
Twisted Machine 扭曲机器 at Tango
For over 20 years Twisted Machine has established themselves as one of the most influential rock acts – both refining and keeping their infectious brand of nu-metal and hardcore intact. The band has been around since the beginning of time (aka 1998) making them one of the city’s longest-running metal bands. Led by Liang Lang – a beast of a singer – they’re a brash, sharp, and heavy-hitting band with legions of fans. Catch them at Tango as part of their nation-wide tour. 8.30pm. RMB 180
Boss First 领导先走, Forest of Memories 拾光森林, Time Street 时光街, XXL at Yue Space
Yue Space throws together a diverse lineup of 8-bit pop-rock, synth-pop, and more as newly formed electro-rock band Forest of Memories joins Tianjin’s seasoned pop-punk ruffians Boss First, and 8-bit inflicted pop-rockers Time Street, fresh off the release of their newest LP with Modern Sky. 8.30PM. RMB 80/100
READ: Booze News: Drinks Deals at La Musas, Ladies' Night at East, Cocktail Mondays at Bei
Images: Djang San, courtesy of the organizers
