A little before the weekend we checked out 生肉 (Raw Meat) at Dada Beijing, a regular series which helps Beijing’s up-and-coming talent to cut their teeth and participate in the slow but steady incubation of China’s (someday) booming electronic scene. We got the impression Dada’s usuals were wiped out from New Year celebrations, which was a shame as there were some banging tunes on the go from new faces Puzzy_Stack and DJ Oops2.
The Shelter was the dance floor of choice on Friday with Raw Data ft. Christiaan Virant (of FM3), and at 30RMB it left us wondering whether pricing the duo’s show at On Stage the next day at 140RMB was justified. It was quite the spectacle, with the crowd paying a lot of attention to Virant’s dexterity. His take on Gary Numan’s Cars made us smirk, but it did take some effort to get into his set.
Word from one of our Wooozy pals on the FM3 show on Saturday:
14 years ago FM3 formed in Beijing: 14 years later, on the 4th Jan 2014, FM3 performed their new album “Listen and Say” live in Shanghai. And in order to make it a quartet of perfect 14s, they decided to price the tix at 140rmb.
The decision didn’t really do them any favours; there were round 40 people including some of the bands’ friends and relatives in the venue watching them playing a heavily new classical/ambient-leaning set with visuals. The reception to the music was ok; Zhang Jian and Christian bantered throughout the set but without a mic on stage this was lost on most of the audience, which was a shame.
After the show, Zhang Jian and Christian chatted away with new and old friends, not seeming that bothered by the poor turnout. It seems attracting a big audience was never their goal for the new album after all.
photo credit : GONZO WOOOZY
Finally there was Made In Shanghai at Yuyintang.
Though it’s tempting to be critical, with this series of shows, being awesome isn’t the end game. Made In Shanghai is one of few initiatives that helps to nurture Shanghai’s next generation of rockers.
Three bands took part: VIO / HOWHY / V-Day. VIO played a predictable brand of hardcore which the three girls upfront digged. HOWHY (a play on How Why) took us by surprise opening with Funkadelic’s One Nation Under A Groove. Once they loosen up a bit and get some more originals under their belts they’ll be set. (Guitarist killed it, steamed through his solos like a funkified Eric Johnson). V-Day were a lot more polished (pretty convincing Gallagher-esque British accent going on) and have an EP under their belts already.
A bit of everything this time round. Any comments, give us a shout.