MP3 Monday is a weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China (or coming to China, or thinking about coming to China, or whatever). Copyright holders: if you would like your song removed, please email us here, and we'll honor your request promptly.

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Please note: The Hercules and Love Affair concert is cancelled. Details here.

Don’t you just love living in Shanghai? We get all the most current acts of 2003 coming through town like once a week. It’s like living in BFE just waiting for that county fair to come so the one original member of the Doobie Brothers can make you feel like Shanghai is still on the map. Haven’t made an album in over 5 years? Well stop on by anytime! Okay. That’s a little harsh. And I admit I love, love, love the Hercules and Love Affair. They took the mid 00’s Nu-Disco craze up a notch with an amazing full live band set that was topped with vocalist Antony Hegarty (From Antony and the Johnsons). HLC has released one album titled ‘Blue Songs’ since that original 2008 debut which took a different direction hiring new vocalists. Producer Andy Butler has remained the band's heart, and while ‘Blue Songs’ didn’t produce the same magic as the debut, it’s still a solid album. And I’m still hitting the show up on Tuesday at MAO Livehouse. Pull out your bright pink tank top and do the same.







Ahhh... gypsies are truly the chosen people. Growing up, they got a bad rap in my house. My Dad would come home drunk from the bar screaming obscenities about how gypsies are responsible for the ills of the world. However I got a chance to see the Capitan Tifus, who are composed of five Argentine nomadic travelers, and they turned that club out. Literally getting every person in the room dancing with their samba / reggaeton / rap-rock / pirate sound. Check them out Friday at Yuyintang with Battle Cattle, just keep your wallets close, I still don’t trust those damn gypsies. What can I say? Old habits die hard.







Finally, four white dudes playing rock n’ roll named ‘Round Eye.’ Is that racist? I don't know. Nevertheless, they are one of newest additions to Shanghai's live music scene. They’re playing Saturday at Lune with another new band called Hu Jia Hu Wei. Round Eye, however, offer up a little something different: some sexy sax in their hard-rocking set. Fronted by vocalist / guitarist Craig "Chachy" Englund, who comes from a background of playing shows in the U.S. with some of punk rock’s greatest bands. Round Eye has a split LP Vinyl record coming out on the Beijing label Genjing Records later this year. Watch out for these guys, they’ll slip into your Winamp classic playlist and never leave. Rockers, I trust them less than gypsies.

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