Week three of LiveChinaMusic’s Winter Shuffle series at OASIS - the hidden basement sanctuary of the nightlife funhouse complex INS. If you’ve never been to INS - it’s pretty bonkers - a Disneyland of clubs, bars, game rooms, and photo opts for Shanghai’s young burden-less youth - all in one six-floor building. A frenzy of activity that’s hard to grasp one’s mind around in any given moment. LiveChinaMusic has invited three bands to inject a little rock and roll spirit into space, including UNTERWASSER, whose cold wave anthems are oozing in agony and intrigue. Joining are indie rockers Uncanny Other - who embed their angsty sound with barbed post punk grit, brooding cold wave demeanor, and sardonic 80s synth pop - and emerging indie rock outfit Ellogibirth.
Hailing from San Francisco and riding a wave of fandom across the globe, Wisp are the latest act to mine the ethereal sounds of shoegaze and alternative rock these past few years. Think heavy, dark walls of sound, bountiful distortion, earth-shaking riffs with Natalie Lu’s fragile, almost whisper-like voice hovering above. Both confrontational and vulnerable, it’s clear to see why the band’s been a hit with audiences. The band will be performing at VAS courtesy of Antigen, who have a pretty stellar track record.
Poo Platter are a full-course meal of funk-laced spiritual jazz - a bubbly mix of 60s soul, jazz, funk, and more - a busy yet fluid pastiche of personalities and sounds that feels both retro and novel. Chill as a cucumber and the perfect soundtrack for these frigid times, the band will be teaming up with singer-songwriter M!na - whose blend of indie pop, R&B, and electronic music is vibrant and alive - at wigwam - the chic nightlife spot located in C Park.
Polish black metal act BATUSHKA - known for channeling their music through the reverberant grandeur of ancient rituals of worship - return to Shanghai! Considered by some ‘a special brand of blasphemy’ their music and lyrics — the latter written exclusively in the Old Church Slavonic language — are inspired by the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the band wears habits and Eastern Orthodox schemas during live shows. Essentially, ‘using the tools of the divine to create the most evil-sounding black-metal brew possible’. Wild.
FENDER - legends that they are - are throwing a hell of a party this weekend at VAS est - the venue’s large-scale space at the West Bund - with a killer lineup featuring some of the indie scene’s hottest acts. Wuhan emo torchbearers Chinese Football - whose melodic subversion of Chinese pop and its embrace of emo rock’s instrumental playfulness has ignited the indie pop scene for over a decade - bring their emotionally grand and deftly assembled tunes to the stage alongside Chengdu’s Fayzz, who have become one of the most widely esteemed acts of the current Chinese instrumental rock scene. Joining them will be Wuhan’s A Wordless Orange, whose slinky grooves blend soul, jazz, shoegaze, and psychedelic music into an intoxicating concoction; emerging Hangzhou post punk act The Black Pillow, who lean into the fatalistic undertones of the genre with relish and methodical precision, and Zhaoqing funk-laced indie pop groovers Moonband. Hard to beat a lineup like this folks.
The Farmers - from Hangzhou - are an absolute blast. Beefy, chunky psyched out 60s era garage rock that’s riotous despite its old school vintage aura. Great energy - the kind of band that knows how to whip a crowd into shape. The young band is hitting the road, and they’re giving a free show at Yuyintang Basement with the help of their friends - falling nana and bicycle&dog - both bringing some emo-tinted indie rock flavors to the party.
Post-rock gets its due over at Cream Club in Pudong with an evocative, robust lineup featuring some of the scene’s emerging contenders. Shanghai instrumental rock outfit No. 26 Negative have been making quite a splash these past couple of months with their poignant, narratively lush arrangements. Meanwhile, Taizhou’s CetamoL has a seven-member lineup and mixes post-rock, drone, chamber music, and noise ala Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Finally, Round Seal is the solo post-rock project from Yuanxi.
