Weekly Update: Nothing will happen

By Josh, 2016年 3月 30日

I haven’t gone out to many shows this year. Beijing burnout. That said, I’ve made it to the two shows that Fruityspace has done so far, and while there are some issues (apparently the noise complaints started rolling in as early as 9:30 last weekend), it’s already the best new venue in the city for the homeless noise vagabond set. A few good ones there this week, first one being tonight (Wed March 30), when Yan Jun continues his Miji concert series. Tonight Yan performs with American artist Jason Kahn, who’s in town working on a field recording-based sound installation at Meridian Space that will open on April 10. Support sets tonight from Zhu Wenbo and Li Song + Tadashi Usami playing as a remotely networked duo.

Here’s a long compilation of recordings from past Miji shows to get you in the mood:

8pm (sharp) start, 50rmb

***

Dirty Fingers

School Bar also has quite the rager on tonight, a birthday party for “Blackout Queen of Gulou” Xiaoxiao. This one’s free and packs a heavy lineup, headlined by The Molds and visiting Shanghai punks Dirty Fingers. Two of Beijing’s best new-ish bands, Lonely Leary and Gate to Otherside, support. Here’s a live video of Lonely Leary’s characteristically tight & grim “Stay Ugly”, shot by Live Beijing Music (check out more deep cuts from Lonely Leary and Dirty Fingers in our Primate Anxiety mix):

FREE, 9pm ’til real late I guess

***

On Thursday (March 31), DDC will host the release of Dawei’s latest opus, a film companion to his debut album from earlier in the year using the same title: Lust, Scars, the Insulted Man. Recommended for anyone interested in CultRev gang life. Before/after the screening, Dawei will also be performing live in various guises. For one set he’ll play with regular Zoomin’ Night free sax freak Wang Ziheng, that should be interesting!

Check out our very long Dawei interview/profile here:

Part 1: 狂人
Part 2: 诗人
Part 3: 情人

9pm start, 50rmb

***

Maybe Mars has a nice double bill on Saturday (April 2) at Yugong Yishan, when global psych troubadours Chui Wan return to the stage after a long break to write new material. They’re dusting off their chops and unveiling some new tunes at this one before striking off to play Lisbon Psych Festival later in the month. They’re joined by Alpine Decline, who are preparing a month-long China tour to release their latest (double) album, Life’s a Gasp. That one’s a real stunner. They’ll be previewing it on Saturday at Yugong with PK14’s Yang Haisong on bass (he played on the record and will do the full tour with the band).

9:30pm, 80rmb

***

And we end where we began, at Fruityspace, with the debut of one of two brand new Zhu Wenbo-related projects, Not in Catalog. The other one is No Performance, which just slipped a CS30 onto the Zoomin’ Night label:

Not in Catalog has Zhu Wenbo on guitar and clarinet, A Bing (Boiled Hippo) on guitar, Zhao Cong (小红与小小红) on bass, and Zoomin’ Regular luodelai on drums. They’re playing with t6 (the duo of Ding Chenchen and thruoutin) and SOS, which features Wang Ziheng and Jojo who manage the speakeasy of the same name. Real house basement noise show vibe to this one, a nice springtime matinee (4pm start).

***
Recap:

Miji 34 with Jason Kahn = WED March 30 @ Fruityspace, 8pm, 50rmb

Xiaoxiao Bday = WED March 30 @ School, 9pm, free

Dawei film release = THU March 31 @ DDC, 9pm, 50rmb

Chui Wan + Alpine Decline = SAT April 2 @ Yugong Yishan, 9:30pm, 80rmb

Not in Catalog = SUN April 3 @ Fruityspace, 4pm, 30rmb

SHARE / 分享: