Noise Pollution: Electric Cherry, Kaoru Abe No Future, springiscoming, SummerVapour, SiXi

Holy cow! I did not expect mid-December to be this crammed with gigs. Two hours straight of astonishment going through this weekend’s roundup and there’s not an ounce of fat. Bands from all across China – Chengdu, Wuhan, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Dongguan, and Qinzhou, wherever the heck that is! It’s an onslaught of genres, seasoned pros, new indie rock favorites, and avant-garde renegades. You’re spoiled Beijing, so do yourself a favor and get out there already!

Friday, Dec 11

Fayzz, 48V at Omni Space

Seasoned post-rock acts out of Chengdu, 48V and Fayzz bring their immersive and distinct takes on the genre to Yuyintang this weekend as the bands continue their nationwide tour across China. Fayzz (who share members with 48V actually, for all you kids trying to figure out ways to save money on touring) bring tender and playful elasticity to their vibrant ear-pleasing concoctions, tossing in elements of math-rock, chill-out, and even hip-hop flavored jazz, crafting an innovative and euphonic harmony-rich sound. Meanwhile, 48V – who have been around for well over a decade – invokes a more classic post-rock sound - albeit one that’s not afraid to tap into glitch-filled indietronica stylizations and more atmospheric soundscapes before dipping back into sweeping crescendos. Simply put, this is top-notch instrumental rock. 8.30pm. RMB 100/120

Pacalolo, Uncle Bad, Entropy+ at School

Speaking of seasoned pros, no one knows School better than these high-wire party starters who have earned their School membership card through sweat, tears, and plenty of beer. On the bill, you’ve got the always riotous and reliable Pacalolo, whose quirky tongue-in-cheek electro-rock has only crystallized over the years. Joining them are ska punk favorites Uncle Bad, whose boy-girl dual vocals are just one ingredient to their uproarious sets. Finally, hip-hop stylings courtesy of Entropy+, a trio of rappers and hip-hop enthusiasts that includes 1AO, Rtruenahmean, and RapaciouzC. 9pm. RMB 100/120

UchoKika 宇宙企划, Poetry x Music at nugget cafe

Uchokika – previously known as The Cosmic Project – brings world music and the dance floor together with their wildly hypnotic sound. Headed by two of Beijing’s hardest working musicians, Boxuan (of Nova Heart) on sitar and Yinlu (of Queen Sea Big Shark/Casino Demon) on synths and drum machines, it’s a transporting experience, one that works in both clubs and livehouses (or better yet, a psytrance or drum & bass festival deep in the mountains). Joining them at nugget are the aptly named duo Poetry x Music, consisting of classical guitar maverick Liane Halton and poet wordsmith Anthony Tao. 9pm. RMB 60/70

Electric Cherry 电气樱桃, Guiguisuisui 鬼鬼祟祟 at Aotu Space

Promoters MusicDish China takes their Behind the Music Series to the stage with a special showcase featuring two live electronica duos – Electric Cherry, who integrates their stimulating sound with elements of trip-hop, techno, trance, future bass, and more, as well as the ever-prolific Guiguisuisui, whose electric psych and synth-filled apocalyptic soundscapes are a feast for both the eyes and ears. Organizers will also be premiering a video by Norwegian artists Sturle Dagsland and award-winning film director Eirik Heggen. 8pm. RMB 60/80

524, The Claptraps, Insulator 绝缘体, LargeGreenBomb 十度燕京 at RAM Brew

RAM Brew gets back to giving Lido-based music fans the goods with a rough around the edges lineup full of potential – featuring the return of reverb-heavy noise rockers The Claptraps, minimalist synth-wave group 524, hardcore insinuators Insulators, and pop-punk inflicted rockers Large Green Bomb (or a Yanjing at ten degrees). Down and dirty rock and roll just the way I like it. 8.30PM. RMB 60/80

Prism, Kaoru Abe No Future at fRUITYSPACE

fRUITYSPACE getting back to what it does best – offbeat, full-blown experimental sets of endless fascination. Avant-garde musical destroyers of structure Kaoru Abe No Future, led by some of Zoomin' Night’s most prolific characters, including Liu Lu, Zhao Cong, Zhu Wenbo (and special trumpet guest Dong Xing) joins Prism, a hip hop folk trio with an "unplugged primitive musical sound." Color me intrigued. 9.19PM. RMB 50

Saturday, Dec 12

Li Jianhong, gogoj, Yan Jun, Liu Lu, Zhao Cong, Zhu Wenbo, Xing Dong, Yizhou Sun, and Wei Wei at UFO Space

Jia Ma 甲马, a festival of sound and art, is essentially the biggest avant-garde, experimental music festival we’ll get this year in Beijing  – an alliance between SubJam, Zoomin Night, C.F.I. Records, WV Sorcerer Productions, and the newly erected UFO Space in Sihui, featuring a murder’s row of acts in the underground scene. Highlights include guitar shaman and virtuoso sound artist Li Jianhong, Sheng Jie aka gogoj, an electronic cellist with a penchant for swimming deep into the waters of drone and noise, and maverick (and utterly unpredictable) experimentalist Yan Jun. Filling up the deep lineup is  Liu Lu, Zhao Cong, Zhu Wenbo, Xing Dong, Yizhou Sun, and Wei Wei. It’ll be interesting to see the experimental scene swift westward but if there’s one thing these cats are good at it’s exploiting any space to its full potential. 8pm. RMB 90/120

Hardcore Raver in Tears 白纸扇, springiscoming 虎啸春, The Bootlegs靴腿, Under The Neon 霓虹之下 at Yue Space

A killer showcase of indie rock with a bite as new favorites take the stage at Yue Space including breakout jangle lo-fi indie-pop trio The Bootlegs out of Qingdao, Wuhan’s new wave disco-punk outfit Hardcore Raver in Tears (led by Lu Yan of AV Okubo fame) which mines synthetic kicks amongst ethereal lyrics and deadpan mischievousness. Representing Beijing is springiscoming, the young indie rock band that’s been stirring up a storm amongst audiences across China with their heavy mix of cathartic post-rock, downtrodden grunge, and rustic indie rock – and gut-busting metal riff-filled J-rock outfit Under The Neon. 8.30pm. RMB 150

Awake Mountains 醒山 at Tango

Metal, emo, post-hardcore, and yes, even pop blur together into Beijing-based outfit Awake Mountains’ magnetic and deeply felt sound. Juxtaposing guttural razor-sharp aggression with the more melodic, poppy, and impassioned catharsis found within the genre's many offshoots, the band transports listeners into a cyclone of swirling emotions that leaves you pulverized. It really shouldn’t work – and at times the whole thing threatens to collapse under its own weight – but Awake Mountains understand the connective tissue that holds together an uplifting track, the solemn sincerity needed to inject even the more extreme sounds out there with heart. Catch them on their nationwide tour. 8pm. RMB 150

Runaway Snail, Young Drug 暴走蜗牛, Time is Running Out 时间不够以后, WaChi 蛙池, Lost Wave 失浪潮 at Mao Livehouse

Shanghai promoters WhatzMusic has coordinated a hell of a party on Saturday, with an assortment of acts that are catching fire with the newest generation of rock and roll fans. First up, one of my favorite live acts of the year – Dongguan’s WaChi, whose magnetic anthemic indie rock is deft in its melodic pull and with just enough edge to keep them earlobes engaged as they charge through a fine catalog of catchy singles. Next, you’ve got Young Drug from Qinzhou, who I saw just less week throw fans into a frenzy with their sharp-edged punk-fueled rock and roll. Rounding out the bill is Chengdu’s Time Is Running Out, who meld together a bit of Radiohead falsetto cooing, some synth-infused indie swagger, and lots of Britpop bombast, plus the ever shameless synth-pop outfit Lost Wave. 8pm. RMB 150

SummerVapour 夏至梦, MFmachine 没发霉 at School

This week Beijing indie-pop outfit Summer Vapour brings their shameless mix of bubbly Britpop and surf pop to the masses as they head to School for a special year-end showcase. This year saw the release of their debut EP, Tangerine Sweat, full of top-grade, refined bubbly city-pop laced with dreamy ethereal and surf rock allure. Not one ounce of fat on these boys – genuine, pulpy indie-pop that never falls into a gimmick and isn’t afraid to bring a little noise to the eardrums whilst delivering the goods. Support from label mates MFMachine, whose lo-fi indie-pop will pair up nicely. 9pm. RMB 120

Ramblin Roze, Insulator 绝缘体, A.D.S at Temple

Bananas, tight jeans, and luscious locks of hair as the one and only Ramblin Roze return to their favorite watering hole, Temple, for a glorious evening of blues-infused hard rock. No bullshit, no gimmicks (well as earnest as gimmicks come) – just southern rock ala Skynard with a splash of Sabbath and Vaseline smeared lens in the heyday of MTV. Joining them will be fellow hard rockers A.D.S and hardcore outfit Insulator. 9pm. RMB 60

Noooodle King, Water Grass Project at nugget cafe

Some of electronica’s more offbeat roads are taken tonight at nugget café as experimental nomad duo Noooodle King, whose music reflects their "emotions and fantasies" joins dub-infused jungle rhythm duo Water Grass Project, comprised of bass player Da Yang and electronic music producer x4m. 9pm. RMB 60/70

Sunday, Dec 13

The Or, The Speed of Sound 音速飞行 at School

School hosts two rising stars in Chengdu’s indie rock scene, The Or and The Speed of Sound. The former specializes in dirtied up garage rock that keeps the arrangements and vocals blunt and forceful with enough mystery to keep you coming back for more. The latter dabbles in psychedelic rock with a post-punk edge and a noise rock heart, spurred by whirls of vitality and go-for-broke musicality. Young and impassioned, and fresh off of debut EPs this past year, this might just be the sleeper gig of the weekend. 9pm. RMB 100

SiXi 肆囍 at Mao Livehouse

Formed in 2014 in Nanjing – the four-piece female-fronted indie rock troupe has been making waves for years, returning this summer with their latest single "Filter." Blending Britpop, funk, psychedelia, new wave, garage, and other progressive elements the band combines retro and modern sensibilities into an intoxicating concoction. 8.30pm. RMB 120/190

VON CITIZEN at Omni Space

Guangzhou-based instrumental progressive metal band Von Citizen brings their kinetic, bone-crushing sound to Omni Space as the band closes out their China tour. Injecting their sound with djent influences, they’ve been compared to such acts as Animals as Leaders, Periphery, and Intervals, with a lean, mean, and crisp sound that’ll have you head-banging and geeking out in equal measure. 8.30pm. RMB 100/120

Deprive, Hidden Power 海胆公园 , Old Tea 老茶,  Pure 纯 at Temple

Sunday refuses to go quietly into the night – at least over at Temple – where they’ve rounded out a devilishly delectable offering of punk, grunge, hip-hop, and deathcore that feels oh so right. It’s great to see the return of grunge pranksters Pure, whose madcap sets are a sight to behold. Also, instrumental rockers Old Tea, multi-national brutal blast beats hardcore ruffians Deprive, and hip-hop crew Hidden Power. 9pm. RMB 50

Gaoyang Li Quintet at fRUITYSPACE

Gaoyang Li , one of the city’s finest saxophonists joins double bass player Hu Hao, percussionist Kevin Gao, guitarist Sun Yuanfei and trumpeter Zhang Haorui for an impromptu night of free jazz. 8.30pm. RMB 80

READ: Lunch Deals at Las Musas, Food Lovers E-Bike Tour, Winter Hot Pot Buffet, Whiskey Tasting Dinner

Images: LiveCNMusic, courtesy of the organizers