With last weekend just barely in the books, now -- NOW -- is the time to already start getting excited for this weekend. Again in Shanghai, there's simply too much awesome stuff happening, and not even just pretend awesome stuff happening, but for real awesome stuff happening. No one even has to blow smoke up your ass for these shows; they're honestly good enough to recommend with a clear conscious. Here's three on for this Saturday:

***

The first one is THE MOTHERFUCKING GASLAMP KILLER (swearing and capslock from the artiste) at The Shelter. This one's being put on by FREE the WAX (again, it's their caps) in tandem with Sub-Culture, and out of the many FTW bookings in the past year or so (Daedalus, Dorian Concept, ONRA et. at) The Gaslamp Killer is up there with the best they've brought. And that's fitting because it's the last one their doing in Shanghai for a while. He's in town as part two of their Brainfeeder label showcase, which also saw a summer show from Samiyam (at MOCA, remember?).

But who is this motherfucker? Gaslamp Killer is some spazzy hairy dude out of Southern California that mixes psychedelic rock with dubstep with hip hop with funk, mostly. And he's "the shit" right now in underground hip hop DJ circles in the States. If you're interested in Kode 9 mixed with Trick Daddy mixed Portishead mixed with a Wurlitzer mixed with wika-wikka-wikka, there you go.





We'd also like to say thanks and good luck to the FREE the WAX kids, who are moving to Italy for a year or so to make sure The Strokes have enough mineral water in their dressing rooms. Thanks for the good times, FREE the WAX, you goddamn media whores!

Just kidding. Safe travels. Come back soon.

***



At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, and on the other coast, is New York synth trio Au Revoir Simone, who are also playing this Saturday but over at MAO Livehouse. They play subtle, atmospheric synth pop. It's lots of layered organ action and vocal harmonies, played by three girls who look like they grew up in a family of geniuses and decided to become librarians/serial killers. Seriously. Look at that picture. Do they want to discuss Derrida or feast on your flesh? Maybe both.

With accolades from Rolling Stone, Spin, NME, and even filmmaker David Lynch ("innocent, hip, and new"), you should be expecting and demanding icy cool awesomeness. Here's some songs from them, including a David Bowie cover. So precious.





Tickets for that one are 150rmb at the door or 100rmb through SmartTicket. Click here to order.

***



Also on Saturday is Rock for Roots & Shoots. We're sliding this one on here -- not because your humble MP3 Monday corespondent is involved on a direct level with some bands in this thing, god no -- but because it's for charity and it's local rock. Gotta support the home team. Gotta support a good cause.

This Saturday down at Yuyintang, some 90 bands are taking the stage to raise money for Roots & Shoots, which is some charity started by that ape lady, Jane Goodall. All the money from the 50rmb cover goes to combating desertification in Inner Mongolia. You show up, rock the EFF out, and someone will plant trees for your efforts. It's a good deal.

Here's the line-up: Resist Resist, Varde (weird hippy noise on tour through Shanghai from Germany or something), Duck Fight Goose, Boys Climbing Ropes, Triple Smash, Booji, and The Youth and the Destroyer. That's lots.

Here's the weblink for Roots & Shoots -- noble souls indeed.

***



One last thing: Don't forget Owl City is this Friday at the Dream Factory. That one's being put on by Split Works, and although Owl City, admittedly, kind of makes Postal Service look like GWAR, the opening act for that one is the delicious Ben Houge. He's more that worth the price of entry (120rmb pre-sales -- ticket info available here; 160rmb at the door). According to the promoters, ticket sales for that one are doing amazingly well, so if you want to get a jump start on your Saturday with a packed, feel-good Friday night concert, don't miss out on the Friday night Owl City show at the Zhijiang Dream Factory.

***

All Nightlife Articles » All Articles »

All Dining Articles » All Articles »

All Art & Stage Articles » All Articles »

All Activities Articles » All Articles »