MP3 Monday: The Gar
By Morgan Short, Mar 16th, 2009 | In Nightlife
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). Right click on the links and choose "Save Link As..." to download 'em. Click play to rock 'em.
The weather being the way it is -- what with the sun shining down on your shoulders and all -- this week here's some good-time indie rock from Beijing three-piece, The Gar.
If it rained again today, it was going to be some Ministry or some KMFDM, but seeing how it's such a great day, here's a couple nice tunes for you to download and go on a bike ride or something.
Formed out of the dregs of another Beijing band called Ne Zha, The Gar have only been around since 2006, but have quickly garnered a little following in Beijing for their idiosyncratic brand of quirky, mid-90s indie rock, that's been updated to a contemporary Beijing sound and look. These songs are off their debut disk released on hotbuzzhotbuzz label Maybe Mars.
The singer does some weird falsetto stuff, which I like. I like singers who embrace their weird voices. If you sound weird when you sing, you might as well go all the way with it. Damn the torpedoes. The Gar played last year at Yuyintang, and it was one of the shows from that year that stuck out for me, as a guy who still likes the Pavements, and the Guided By Voices, and the Dinosaur Jrs., and the Yo La Tengos.
The Gar are coming back to Shanghai at the end of next month, so keep an eye out for them and their first CD which will be hot selling of the shelves. As a bonus track, also download that Sebadoh tune, which should be played at full volume in your apartment with all the windows open.
The Gar ¨C Circles
The Gar ¨C New Order
Sebadoh ¨C Brand New Love
Here is the band's MySpace page.
Here are some links to some older MP3 Mondays for shows that are upcoming in the near future. My timing with these articles ain't great.
Saturday, Mar 21: Fucked Up @ LOgO Bar
-MP3 Monday: Fucked Up
Saturday, Mar 28: Battles + PK14 + LAVA/OX/SEA
-MP3 Monday: Battles
-MP3 Monday: PK14
-MP3 Monday: LAVA/OX/SEA
Hassle free ticket purchasing and delivery for Shanghai's cultural and concert events:
fangtron, Jun 2nd, 2009
Where can i buy the gar's album?!Please sign in or register to comment