Like a ghost from beyond the grave I’m writing you this as I attend the MENT Festival in Slovenia where I’ll be checking out what the music scene in Europe has to offer (quite a bit) and to share my experiences, and more importantly, spread the word and sweet sweet tunes from Beijing and the rest of China. So while I do my part you do your part and continue to support the cause and get out there! Here’s your (unfortunately) abridged version of Noise Pollution. I hear if you bug The Beijinger’s managing editor he’ll add in whatever gigs you want before Friday night.
Friday, Feb 2
SNSOS, special guests at School
Beijing outfit She Never Sings Our Songs (SNSOS) unveil their debut self-titled LP – a warm slice of post-rock pie that’ll have genre fans clamoring for more. It’s a great display for the band’s sound – nurturing instrumental rock and roll with shades of math rock playfulness and dream pop pulp and post-rock crescendos that’s spirited, intricately assembled, and brimming with life. Catch their release this evening where special guests and bands will be on hand to celebrate. RMB 80
Ephemerality, Dark Haze, Die From Sorrow at Yugong Yishan
Yugong Yishan gets back to the goods – bone-crunching metal to scream your heart out to. On the bill are some of the scene’s best including death metal outfit Ephemerality, melodic metal group Dark Haze and Die From Sorrow – each you have certified their spot on the metal team in the past few years. RMB 120
SuSu, Xiao Liu, No Trace at DDC
Folk singer-songwriter SuSu joins indie pop singer Xiao Liu and avant-garde post everything outfit No Trace who is a band that needs to be seen to be believed – in the best possible way. RMB 60
Jurat, fofox, Li Er Yang, Wen Liang at 69 Café
The relocated 69 Café gets back to basics with a solid lineup of psych-folk artists who take inspiration from the otherworldly sounds of the 60s and 70s including Xinjiang raised singer-songwriter Jurat, Li Er Yang, and fofox. Plus an electronically enhanced piano set from Wen Liang. RMB 60
Mississippi Boy, SKOLAR at Mogu Space
The beijing-based experimenter, Skolar, known for blending acoustic song with electronic beats joins the new Southern-fried American blues act Mississippi Boy from singer and pianist Li Yan. RMB 60
Jiang Ershi, Liu Shi, SuSu, Xiangrikui at Jianghu Bar
Dive deep into the soul of folk music with this folk-oriented lineup at the ever cozy Jianghu where an array of indie folk singers take the stage including Liu Shi, SuSu, and more. RMB 80
Loston Harris Trio (US) at Blue Note
A piano virtuoso who combines a percussive left hand and fluid melodic touch with a suave vocal delivery, Loston Harris has for more than a decade headlined the legendary Bemelmans Bar located in The Carlyle in Manhattan’s storied Upper East Side. Blending traditional jazz, gospel, and blues with his own unique stylings, catch the renowned performer this weekend at Blue Note. RMB 400
Saturday, Feb 3
The xx (UK), Re-TROS at Beijing Exhibition Center
Well, that’s a doozy. Modernsky is running full speed ahead with their slate of international catches and if the price of this bad boy is any indication, we’re gonna be in for some trouble come to the rest of 2018. Nevertheless, The xx are probably one of the biggest indie pops bands at the moment, who blew up onto the scene back in 2009, and only got better and more ambitious as they rolled on forward, with their latest opus, I See You being their biggest success yet. So yeah, if they are any tickets left, good luck. Support from Re-TROS. RMB 480-1,280
Diamond D (US), Purple Soul, Half a Blunt (US), DK Kut Daily (US), Believe (US) at Yue Space
Renowned New York producer Diamond D, who stormed onto the scene with his 1992 debut Stunts, Blunts, & Hip Hop and became a fixture of hip-hop’s golden era in the '90s having a hand in everything from A Tribe Called Quest to the Fugees, gets down at Yue Space tonight alongside Beijing’s own Purple Soul, as well as Atlanta hopefuls Half A Blunt, Believe and DJ Kut Daily. RMB 200
Early Bus, Shave N’ Shut, Uncle Bad, Labor Glory, Discord, Hang Nail, Shochu Legion at School
Hooliganism is what School’s excels at already so when they say they’re gonna to racket it up even more in celebration of ‘rock n’ roll, beer, and football’ you best believe it’s gonna be a night to (not) remember with an explosive lineup featuring oi punk rockers Shave N’ Shut, new skinhead ruffians Uncle Bad, ska punk veterans Early Bus, street punks Discord, Hang Nail, Shochu Legion, and China’s only ultra-punk outfit Labor Glory. Bring your liver or an extra one if you’ve got them lying around. RMB 80
Ember Swift at Yichang Café
Known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals, the Canadian born Beijing based singer-songwriter Ember Swift has been a fixture of the Beijing music scene for years releasing an array of LPs (her most recent being Sticks & Stones) and fusing Mandarin, English, and French lyrics into a single intoxicating package. She’ll be chilling at the cozy hutong space 27 Yuan and its adjacent café. 7pm start. RMB 80
The Spice Cabinet, Struggle at Modernista
Celebrate Mardi Gras Spice Cabinet-style as the ‘the instrumental jazz machine that slices, dices every pop number into the frenzy of a pop modern dance beat of wonder; joins San Jose, California five-piece dream rock band Struggle. RMB 60
Samaga at Yichang Cafe
Samaga melts modern compositions into Indian ambiance, delivering their own interpretation of traditional Arabic Maqam and Indian Raga. 730pm start. RMB 80
The Great Buffalo Blues, Mr. S at 69 Café
Great Buffalo Blues is a three-man electric blues group who’ll bring their story-telling grooves to 69 Café alongside local blues pop group Mr. S. RMB 60
Madame and the Houseguests, Cui Longyang, Cao Qin, Cheng Yafei at Jianghu Bar
Night two of Jianghu’s deep dive into the folk world as Madame and the Houseguests, an up-and-coming quintet that blends rock, folk, and psychedelia, joins others for some comforting folk tunes. RMB 80
Liu Heng, L-Force, Zhugi YouYou at Soi Baochao
Soi Baochao continues their streak of hip-hop oriented shows with this low-key rap battle. Plus sets from L-Force and more. FREE
Jordan Darling, Tang Luyao, Wang Xingzhi at Mogu Space
Indie songstress Jordan Darling joins fellow singer-songwriters for an evening of acoustic story-telling in the cozy Xizhimen space. RMB 60
Wireless Puppet, Hang Nail, mystery guest at Tango
The rowdy hard-hitting punk outfit Hang Nail bring the fun alongside pop-punk outfit Wireless Puppet, straight out of high school thus forced to break up for the time being. Aw shucks. RMB 88
The Beijing Beatles at Salud
Beijing’s foremost Beatles cover band, The Beijing Beatles who’ll perform all your favorite Beatles hits – from their early stuff to Abbey Road and Let It Be in costume – at Salud. FREE
Loston Harris Trio (US) at Blue Note
A piano virtuoso who combines a percussive left hand and fluid melodic touch with a suave vocal delivery, Loston Harris has for more than a decade headlined the legendary Bemelmans Bar located in The Carlyle in Manhattan’s storied Upper East Side. Blending traditional jazz, gospel and blues with his own unique stylings, catch the renowned performer this weekend at Blue Note. RMB 400
Sunday, Feb 4
Backspace, Agoraphobia at DDC
One of my favorite rock bands of the past year, the jangly psych-driven frenzied madness that is Backspace, who recently finished up recording with Yang Haisong for their debut album, out later this year on Maybe Mars. They’ll join another band I’ve been keeping an eye on Agoraphobia – the young indie rock outfit that’s been quietly building a catalog of adolescent-ridden indie pop singles while preparing for their adult lives. Killer pairing. RMB 60
Ember Swift at School
Known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals, the Canadian born Beijing based singer-songwriter Ember Swift has been a fixture of the Beijing music scene for years releasing an array of LPs (her most recent being Sticks & Stones) and fusing Mandarin, English, and French lyrics into a single intoxicating package. RMB 60
Images: Live Beijing Music, courtesy of the organizers