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Year of the Cockroach
Looking back on live rock in 2007 - By Dan, Jan 02, 08
While 2007 may have officially been the year of the golden pig, Shanghai's rock scene better resembled the resilience of a cockroach. Sure, it doesn't seem like a particularly glamorous mascot for a city that considers itself to be the capital of the new world, but the roach's trademark adaptability and indestructibility are the paramount attributes of this metaphor for describing the past year in rock music.
Of course, many readers will remember 2007 as the year noise-rock legends Sonic Youth came to Shanghai, or the year that teeny-metal-boppers Linkin Park played Hongkou Stadium, or even, perhaps, July's appearance by The Go! Team, but Shanghai's growth in 2007 is best exemplified by the birth and emergence of the S.T.D. brand. Already a promoting mega-power in the ever-growing underground live-music culture, S.T.D.'s SS, QNan, and R3 brought some of China's biggest bands: Hedgehog, Snapline, and New Pants; to Shanghai, yet it was the "Live and Undead" Halloween edition, featuring local acts Banana Monkey, Horror Business, and The Dropkicks, along with Xi'An dance-punks 24-Hour Party People, that topped their list of best show of 2007.
"To have that many people in one place, hot and sweaty, jumping around and dancing with four really dynamic bands was great," commented R3.
Another great story that demonstrates the maturing strength and buoyancy of Shanghai's live music culture is the continuing efforts of Zhang Hai Sheng and the staff at Yuyintang. After the beloved warehouse on Longcao Lu was forcefully shut down in May, Yuyintang sat in limbo for several months (occasionally putting on shows at The Dream Factories) until finally finding a new home on Kaixuan Lu. In the past month, the new, cozier and intimate, YYT has hosted some of China's biggest bands including PK-14, The Re-Tros, and Car Sick Cars, while also offering young bands a place to practice and hone their craft.
Bar shows are the real barometer for the overall health of any "scene," but 2007 will also be remembered for the large-scale festivals that brought bands from all around the world to the eyes and ears of Shanghai residents. While the cancellation of October's 1234 Rock Festival (for reasons that we are not officially allowed to discuss, but we all know) and the outrageously high prices of July's Rock It! Festival both displayed blatant disregard and lack of understanding for the fans, October's Yue Festival was a user-friendly success that did an excellent job of combining Chinese and International talent, broadening the aural palate of Shanghai's rock scene.
"The turnout at the [Yue] Festival was a little disappointing," claimed Archie Hamilton, Spli-t Works Managing Director and the man behind Yue. "But the vibe and feeling was really beautiful ... still we need to get Chinese people involved."
While Spli-t Works, Yuyintang, and S.T.D. all plan on expanding their offerings in 2008, independent promoter Abe Deyo (the man responsible for the summer concert series at ENO) has found another way to reach a bigger audience.
"I am looking forward to starting to do regular shows in Songjiang, giving the college students there a look at the scene and hopefully converting more people to the cause."
Although promoters and club owners dominated, and championed, the year in rock, no story would be complete without mentioning the people who make the music that allows us to pump our fists in the air and jump around like the A.D.D. misfits we are. In 2007, indie-shoegazers Muscle Snog broke through to the often Shanghai-phobic Beijing audience with their October performances up north, while garage stalwarts Banana Monkey made serious waves at the Modern Sky Festival and several club shows surrounding the "Golden Week" melee. While these two bands represent Shanghai's brightest hopes, it is clear that an organic community has begun to build around them, pushing these artists towards achieving greatness.
"The [Beijing] Modern Sky festival was kind of a Shanghai thing," explained Albert Yu, a.k.a. DJ QNan. "A group of us from Shanghai went: Banana Monkey and Booji and Reggie [Bape, a.k.a. R3,] representing Antidote and Muscle Snog, and we all supported each other."
The solidarity that Yu expresses in this anecdote is truly the only way for Shanghai to build upon the improvements of 2007 and make 2008 a banner year for live music in the city. Promoters need to communicate better, making sure that there aren't several great shows booked on the same night (as happened twice in December), bands need to support, push, and encourage each other, and of course, the most important people in the whole equation, the fans, need to continue to give their undying loyalty to a project that's still "in the works."
Main image of Banana Monkey at S.T.D. "Live and Undead" by Coca. Bottom image of the Yue Festival from Rodney Evans/Spli-t Works.
Of course, many readers will remember 2007 as the year noise-rock legends Sonic Youth came to Shanghai, or the year that teeny-metal-boppers Linkin Park played Hongkou Stadium, or even, perhaps, July's appearance by The Go! Team, but Shanghai's growth in 2007 is best exemplified by the birth and emergence of the S.T.D. brand. Already a promoting mega-power in the ever-growing underground live-music culture, S.T.D.'s SS, QNan, and R3 brought some of China's biggest bands: Hedgehog, Snapline, and New Pants; to Shanghai, yet it was the "Live and Undead" Halloween edition, featuring local acts Banana Monkey, Horror Business, and The Dropkicks, along with Xi'An dance-punks 24-Hour Party People, that topped their list of best show of 2007.
"To have that many people in one place, hot and sweaty, jumping around and dancing with four really dynamic bands was great," commented R3.
Another great story that demonstrates the maturing strength and buoyancy of Shanghai's live music culture is the continuing efforts of Zhang Hai Sheng and the staff at Yuyintang. After the beloved warehouse on Longcao Lu was forcefully shut down in May, Yuyintang sat in limbo for several months (occasionally putting on shows at The Dream Factories) until finally finding a new home on Kaixuan Lu. In the past month, the new, cozier and intimate, YYT has hosted some of China's biggest bands including PK-14, The Re-Tros, and Car Sick Cars, while also offering young bands a place to practice and hone their craft.
Appearing on a Magazine Cover Near You
Fresh on the heels of Linkin Park, a couple of big out-of-town acts are already slated for 2008, including Nightwish (Jan 23 @ Hongkou Stadium)¨Can Evanescence-ish metal band from Finland and Incubus (March 13 @ Yun Feng Theatre) ¨Can introspective funk-metal band for people who like the RHCP, but are more bummed out about life. Head off to Emma for tickets."The turnout at the [Yue] Festival was a little disappointing," claimed Archie Hamilton, Spli-t Works Managing Director and the man behind Yue. "But the vibe and feeling was really beautiful ... still we need to get Chinese people involved."
While Spli-t Works, Yuyintang, and S.T.D. all plan on expanding their offerings in 2008, independent promoter Abe Deyo (the man responsible for the summer concert series at ENO) has found another way to reach a bigger audience.
"I am looking forward to starting to do regular shows in Songjiang, giving the college students there a look at the scene and hopefully converting more people to the cause."
Although promoters and club owners dominated, and championed, the year in rock, no story would be complete without mentioning the people who make the music that allows us to pump our fists in the air and jump around like the A.D.D. misfits we are. In 2007, indie-shoegazers Muscle Snog broke through to the often Shanghai-phobic Beijing audience with their October performances up north, while garage stalwarts Banana Monkey made serious waves at the Modern Sky Festival and several club shows surrounding the "Golden Week" melee. While these two bands represent Shanghai's brightest hopes, it is clear that an organic community has begun to build around them, pushing these artists towards achieving greatness.
"The [Beijing] Modern Sky festival was kind of a Shanghai thing," explained Albert Yu, a.k.a. DJ QNan. "A group of us from Shanghai went: Banana Monkey and Booji and Reggie [Bape, a.k.a. R3,] representing Antidote and Muscle Snog, and we all supported each other."
The solidarity that Yu expresses in this anecdote is truly the only way for Shanghai to build upon the improvements of 2007 and make 2008 a banner year for live music in the city. Promoters need to communicate better, making sure that there aren't several great shows booked on the same night (as happened twice in December), bands need to support, push, and encourage each other, and of course, the most important people in the whole equation, the fans, need to continue to give their undying loyalty to a project that's still "in the works."
Main image of Banana Monkey at S.T.D. "Live and Undead" by Coca. Bottom image of the Yue Festival from Rodney Evans/Spli-t Works.
- The Divine Miss M - Kylie Minogue chats to us about life as a pop culture icon, big shows, short-shorts, cryogenics and more.
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- Get the ins and outs of Shanghai's latest 'exclusive' members clubs.
- Oct 13 » If You Teach Him, You Will Cum
- Sep 3 » Friends with Benefits
- Aug 11 » The Right Fit
- Jul 28 » New in Town?
- Jul 11 » Cheatin' Hearts
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