The weekend gets to an early start over in Pudong as Cream Club hosts a trio of eclectic acts to jolt you out of your stupor. For those looking for some band kicks - High Kick will be offering up their mix of pop punk, city pop, and indie rock alongside sound designer and composer MORELLA BAI, on hand with perhaps her bass, synthesizer, and tape recorder, and finally, Yukes a Guzheng player from the United States who combines his deft instrumentation with synthesizers, stompboxes, groove machines and more - pushing the idea of traditional music into the modern age. Color me intrigued.
John Carroll Kirby, a Los Angeles-born pianist, producer, and musician, will take the JZ Club stage this evening for a special show. From collaborations with Solange and Frank Ocean to appearances at Fuji Rock and Asagiri Jam, as well as a US tour with Khruangbin and participation in a Hosono Haruomi tribute project, his latest album Blowout won Best Jazz Album at the A2IM Libera Awards. The music for this performance will revolve around the sonic framework of his album "Conflict," featuring a more ambient sound, blending delicate and psychedelic synthesizer layers with improvisation, and also showcasing some new tracks to be released this year. The opening performance that evening will be presented by esteemed and versatile Shanghai jazz songstress Voision Xi, whose vibrant, sensual, and aromatic garden of spiritual jazz, bossa nova, hip hop, neo soul, and electronic has enchanted listeners for years.
Stargazers and instrumental rock lovers converge on Mosh Space in Yangpu tonight for a delectable spread of bands with a knack for crafting vivid, stirring arrangements. Suzhou’s Tengguang Agency, which makes the kind of instrumental rock we need more of - lean and compact - yet with the kind of high-wire math rock musicality that's enrapturing. Zhuhai’s Galaxy Blind-box brings more of a trip-hop/dream pop quality to their sound. Hangzhou’s Reclock has been amassing fans left and right for their tender, evocative post-rock vignettes. Finally, Shanghai instrumental rock outfit No. 26 Negative has been making quite a splash these past couple of months with their poignant, narratively lush arrangements. Fine lineup there.
Luuv Label offers up a floral offering of indie pop, with a special afternoon showcase featuring three diverse female-fronted acts from Shanghai looking to evoke the spirit of spring. On the menu, you’ve got Xiamen-raised Shanghai-based indie pop Peach Illusion - whose affable, wistful lyricism and jangly synth pop have made them audience favorites. Forget Milton - who bring bubbly jazz pop sentiment to their cozy indie pop world which veers between synth-swelling ABBA-esque dance numbers and more flowery funk-laced jams. Finally, Green Young - known for their earnest, guitar-driven swaying rock and roll that taps into young adulthood with both sincerity and honesty. Should make for a soothing afternoon.
Xinjiang Kazakh musical genius Mamer, whose thrumming voice and nerve-racking layers of instrumentation have engulfed audiences for years – over the years he’s been a part of six bands (IZ, Kunakar, 51-Rayon, Mekrop, TAT, and Bande) whose styles vary from ambient, industrial, noise, improvised, experimental, to doom drone and dark drone. This is Mamur's first solo tour with the dombra - a traditional Kazakh two-stringed plucked musical instrument and will mainly feature tracks from his album Sky/星空Kêngistik, which I highly recommend checking out on Bandcamp. Special guest in the form of renowned improvisational saxophonist/flutist Lao Dan.
Psych blues rockers Poetry in Shorts are hitting the road for a mini three-day tour ending in Yuyintown, where they’ll be bringing their signature cigarette-stained romanticism to the stage. With a sound that’s rich in its details and swagger - its cabaret avant-pop sensibilities simmering just beneath its rustic rock and roll veneer and jangly jazz-inflicted instrumentation - it’s dangerously alluring stuff - one that has earned them accolades across the country. Supporting them are rustic, folksy hard rock throwbacks Chuanshan Youth, who are fresh off their debut LP.
