Congratulations, the bums won Mr. Lebowski. The D.I.Y. music movement has made huge strides in the past few decades. In the simplest form, D.I.Y. proponents want to create, produce, promote, and distribute their music independently. The first real big wave of the Do It Yourself ethos was spawned from genres such as punk rock, garage rock, hip-hop, and house music of the late 70’s and early 80’s. Technology played a big role, especially equipment like the TEAC Portastudio four-track recorder that debuted in 1979 and allowed musicians to take recording power out of the studio and into the garage. Then there were Xerox machines and affordable offset printers that allowed the cheap printing of record sleeves, inserts, and catalogs. However, in the early days the promotion and distribution took real gumption from bands. Music labels like Dischord from Washington D.C. proved growing an independent music scene was viable and promoted the idea that artists can make a conscious choice not to work with corporate labels. Fast forward 30 years later and musicians have access to high-end recording equipment for relatively low prices and the ability to promote and distribute their music without any need of corporate labels. Websites like Bandcamp.com allow thousands of bands to get take control of their own music. These advancements are great but do not replace one of the most important aspects of D.I.Y. music, which is playing live both locally and taking the show on the road. Shanghai band Pairs has been one of the hardest working bands in both supporting the local music scene and getting out there playing shows around the world. This week Pairs will be playing their last two shows before guitarist Rhys packs up and heads back to the thunder down under of Australia. While the last Pairs show on Saturday is an RSVP only gig limited to only 100 people they are also participating in a free outdoor show at Fudan University on Tuesday. If you have never been out to the Fudan University area this is your perfect chance, as the show also includes local bands like Chaos Mind and ManTo. For now let’s take a trip down the Pairs yellow brick road and explore a few examples of the thousands of recordings from their discography. Pairs - "I'm sorry to hear your partner wears a hat inside" Pairs - "Parasites" Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Zhuhai, Hong Kong, Tianjin, Dalian, Xi'an, Shenyang, Huainan, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wux, Auckland, Hamilton, Hunterville, Whanganui, Wellington, Tauranga, Dunedin, Christchurch, Indonesia, Surabaya, Malang, Ceribon, Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hanoi, Seoul, Daegu, Daejeon, and Busan. No, that isn’t the Bon Jovi –"Livin’ on a Prayer" tour of 1986, those are just a few of the cities Shanghai band Pairs have played over the past five years. With all the availability of recording technology and easy distribution that don’t’ mean piss without artists taking the time to cultivate local scenes, support touring artists coming into their scene, and taking their art on the road building relationships with other scenes. This is where Pairs, comprised of one Shanghainese female guitarist that simply goes by F and one Australian drummer/vocalist that goes by Xiao Zhong (aka Rhys), shines the brightest and dare I say they are possibly one of the hardest working bands in Shanghai at both supporting local bands and helping incoming acts traverse the silk road. Sometimes playing two or three shows a day for little or no money. One gig in particular that really stands out is when they rented a bus and did a free show picking up university students who might not usually be able to get out in Shanghai’s nightlife. On the same note Pairs (being half expat) have made a real effort over the years to setup shows and play alongside Chinese bands. These kind of efforts are what represent everything necessary about D.I.Y. beyond the technical side and hopefully future Shanghai acts will take note and do more of the same. Pairs – "Red Light Green Light" Pairs – "Oh Ghost" There has seemingly been an endless stream of Pairs material over the past five years and I’m curious if Shanghai will be able to survive without the split records and karaoke Christmas albums produced every month or so from the duo. Another innovative aspect about the band is their physical releases. Thanks to the help of the label Metal Postcard out of Hong Kong, they released one of the first vinyl LPs from a mainland indie band. Titled If this cockroach doesn’t die, I will, this was not only an LP but a double vinyl LP, something I don’t think has been accomplished by any mainland band since. Then there was the release of the Grandparent album on a sweet USB namecard. Two years later, mine remains firmly placed in my wallet, although the content of that USB has been replaced with a folder called "Furry Porn." Then of course there is the digital distribution of Pairs music via websites like Bandcamp and Douban. Nearly all Pairs music being available either for free or just a couple dollars. Check out the Beijing label Genjing { http://genjingrecords.com/ }records where pairs have a few vinyl pieces out too. Those bad boys are going to be selling out like hotcakes after this week’s demise of Pairs. First up is a song "Cosplay Girls" from the double LP and a track off that USB release Grandparent titled "Gig of the Week." Pairs – Cosplay Girls Pairs – Gig of the Week As I mentioned before, if you did not already RSVP for the last Pairs show then you are out of luck. The show is happening at a practice space in Yangpu district called left rock, here is the address if you want to storm the gates anyway: 269 Jingyu Dong Lu, near Yanji Zhong Lu. Most likely they are doing this show in a small space to share the last moments with their closest friends over the years. There are around fifteen bands playing and it should be quite a scene, man. One thing that comes to mind about the D.I.Y scene is the thin line between being creative and presenting your music in an innovative way and coming off as pompous / elitist. An example that comes to mind is back in the mid 90s in the California indie scene collectively decided they would not play on stages anymore taking most the shows to the ground floor of gigs. While this idea of bands being on the same level as their fans is great in theory. Logistically what we got was a year of only 5% of the tall assholes in the room being able to see the show and the 95% of the crowd starring at the back of those assholes' necks. Arguably some of the best music comes from bands that attempt to distinguish themselves at any cost, but it’s important to keep some levity when working in small independent scenes. For the most part I believe Pairs has kept a good balance of this and you should make the trek out to Fudan on Tuesday to see them. Their show time is 7pm. They have been working hard for you all these years. Well goodbye and good luck Pairs. Or more specifically goodbye and good luck Rhys, as guitarist F will remain in Shanghai and has other projects going like her all girl synth band Next Years Love also playing this Saturday. China won’t be the same without you. [Some band photos courtesy of Rachel Gouk] ***