Our live music picks for this weekend, picked by Will of LiveMusicChina.com
One of the guiding lights of the Russian instrumental rock scene, Moscow-based Mooncake has been bringing its mammoth, resonant, and atmospheric post-rock sound to the masses since 2006. Revolving around themes of the cosmos, science fiction, and philosophy, they are often compared to Mogwai or Pink Floyd - blending melodic, cinematic soundscapes with cello, keyboards, and dual guitars. Before heading over to Can Festival, the band will be giving a special show at Dream Hall - in the former Bandai Namco (now renamed Stars@ Culture Center).
Now based in the sun-baked delirium of Los Angeles, Alpine Decline - who cut their teeth with the Beijing indie scene and Maybe Mars over ten years ago continues honing their dystopian rock and roll sound with their latest tour across China. Led by vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Zeitlin and drummer Pauline Mu - with unofficial third wheel Yang Hailing (of PK14) holding his own on bass - the band is a nostalgia hit of of psychedelia, shoegaze, noise rock, and 90s indie - shifting across venues genres - including their more recent shift toward cosmic-Americana - striking a warmly tender and euphoric sound that comes across like the cosmic lovechild of bands like Simon & Garfunkel, Tama Impala, Cass McCombs, and 70s era psych pop. One of my favorites - catch them tear shit up over at Yuyintown Basement with support of emerging post punk outfit Fiery Medusa.
An electric unruly spread of performers over at the experimental freak out terminal - trigger - with a bit of something for everyone looking to get off the beaten path. Jamira Estrada & Miao Zhao explore the waltz between electroacoustic composition and live performance - with bass clarinet and electronica navigating the threshold space between drone, ambient music, and noisy traditions. Shanghai Oscillators Group is an amateur electroacoustic band, derived from an oscillator workshop previously hosted by sound artist MaiMai. Of course, Torturing Nurse is trigger’s resident harbinger of harsh noise. And finally, tonight sees the return of GUJI, the synth punk trio that’s a spirited glitter bomb of punk and new wave that’s playful, sardonic, and pointed.
Canterbury emo act Pen Name are as unadulterated as they come - echoing the sound of the late 90s - Sport, American Football, Mineral, Benton Falls, and the whatnot. Lots of twinkly riffs and evocative and vulnerable lyricism. No frills (save for the occasional brass instrument), emo rock, and catnip for the budding emo resurgence happening across China. It’s crafty, potent stuff - richly rendered and rapturous in its raw emotionality - riding a wave of reflective melancholy simmering with angst before it’s well-earned cathartic releases hit.
Beijing indie rock outfit Heat Mark - a staple of the Beijing scene has been dishing out their woozy and sultry garage punk for well over a decade now, coasting on tightly wound hooks and disarming charisma. Their fourth LP - Implosion - is a pulpy and at times irresistible welcome addition to the band’s robust yet buoyant catalogue. Dipping a bit more into the world of hypnagogic pop - hitting that sweet spot between 90s alt rock, breezy sun-bleached psych pop, and dance rock aplomb - there’s something soothing and reassuring in the pairing of Liu Pianpian’s raspy, airless voice and Wang Zhiwne’s refined, poppy riffs. Indie music at its trendiest and most scrumptious. Catch the band at Yuyintown this weekend.
The Brussels-based, genre-smashing collective known as ECHT! make live electronic music of the highest order - pushing the concept of EDM to new territories. Known for ‘blending a malevolent concoction of “Belgian Trap-Jazz” that oscillates through full-spectrum soundscapes of psychedelic bass, acid, footwork, drum & bass, U.K. garage, and instrumental hip-hop, among other experimental lanes of IDM,’ it evokes everyone from Aphex Twin to Flying Lotus, Skee Mask to Jonwayne. Focused, frenetic, and fierce, it’s a bombastic musical experience. Check the band as they roll through Sunday at Future House on the second floor of the Stars@ Culture Centre (formerly Bandai Namco).
Zhuhai represent! Two devilishly alluring bands from the coastal city head to Shanghai - Britpop whippersnappers The Jeweler's Hands and shoegaze act Muse Deconstruct. While the former were inspired by the likes of Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes, they aren’t afraid to inject everything from post-punk to hip-hop into their sound. Meanwhile, Muse Deconstruct are known for throwing in layers of pulsating trip hop, wide-eyed synth pop, and more into their simmering soundscapes. Lotta potential with these two emerging acts.
