Puxi's grip on the music scene is widely known. Even as livehouses get pushed out in the further depths of Hangkou or Changning (did you know there's a 2000+ capacity venue next to the Hongqiao airport?), our neighbors over the Huangpu River have always gotten the short shift. Until now.
Cream Club is the latest venue to grace our hearts - an authentic underground venue that feels like some kind of oasis in Pudong. Located in a sunken square surrounded by a sea of office buildings along the Huangpu River walkway, not too far from the TangQiao ferry, the establishment has been revamped by resident punk rock aficionado Huozi, who worked at Harley's Back Room and its adjacent Johnny's House over the last couple of years. Featuring ample concrete-floored space for night owls of all ilk, the venue features some pool tables, plenty of seating along its walls, and a stocked bar serving all your usual suspects (though having West Coast IPA on tap is always a plus). The stage is bare-bones, but that's the appeal - it's intimate in the way that when you watch a band perform onstage, you can feel the heat (and possibly sweat) radiating from them.
The secret sauce of Cream Club for me though is the back patio - a massive cobblestone amphitheater that houses various chuanr and snack stands; a giant projector playing KTV videos of yesteryear; a quaint pizza restaurant (that I'm told is passable and cheap) and a new craft beer joint that rotates out their taps every week. It feels like a third-tier Chinese city in the best possible way - no pretensions; no Shanghai superficiality - just a slice of old-school outdoor camaraderie that is all too rare these days here. You can sense there's really nothing else happening in the area - that you've discovered your own little paradise away from the hustle and bustle.
I usually am pretty hesitant to prop up newly minted music venues out of fear of jinxing them. But since opening in late February, Cream Club has been pretty consistent with their weekly events, which seem to touch on everything - from regular DJ nights to vintage Cantopop showcases; from modular synth-heavy electronic nights to rock and roll at its most combustible. And it seems to be attracting a wider range of customers so clearly the word is getting out. So those looking for a music video off the beaten path - or just want to give Pudong a proper night on the town then you really can't beat Cream Club.
