Kicked off my Mayday holiday by heading over to Modernsky Lab to say hi to an old Shanghai confederate and also see what all the hype around Belarus’s Molchat Doma was about. The Russian-speaking band from Minsk revels in atmospheric synth-heavy dark wave sounds – think sleek moody synths, hip-swaying drum machines, catchy guitar melodies, and earthy baritone vocals – straight out of the 80s.

Playing to a sold-out crowd – filled with a mix of locals and expats – the band jumped head forth into a long set filled with brooding gothic cold wave, jagged and nervy post punk, and highly danceable synth pop – all handled with modest yet deft musicianship and almost hypnotic propulsion. It’s a tricky balance (especially sans drummer) but after one track I was onboard. A nice surprise.

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Neo Bar – the legendary live music venue deep in the heart of Yangpu’s university district – has been giving solace to the young corruptible souls and raising some of Shanghai’s most beloved music acts for a whopping twelve years (across three different locations)! The bright red lights; the dueling movie screenings; the fridge full of Asahi bottles; and its motley crew of rabble-rousers keeping the place afloat – it’s iconic! 

As expected, the team celebrated the only way they knew how last weekend – with two nights of music – with some of my favorite acts to have graced the stage over the years. 

I wisely avoided night one out of fear for my liver – and subconsciously made up for it on night two. Things got messy. Night two featured two of Xinxiang’s most feverish live acts – punk stalwarts Pumpkins and Colombian Col, who have turned their madcap, visceral and  irreverent noise rock into sermon – developing cult-like status in just under a year. Joining them were Beijing rap rock outfit Cypher T and Shanghai’s own psych blues rockers Poetry in Shorts. 

A symphony of debauchery it was – one that my body is still reeling from. And if anyone can find my broken glasses please do reach out to me! 

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Hainan-born electronic producer Guzz, known for his dreamlike pastiche of traditional Asian sounds spliced with contemporary electronica is simply put, one of the finest in the scene – a visionary whose ability to create lush, fantastical worlds of sound never ceases to amaze me (he ever produced some of my favorite albums over the past couple of years including last year’s Fantasia in the Wind 风中的幻想曲). So was hard to pass up an opportunity to check him out (and avoid my eventual demise over at Neo).

Truly striking work – Guzz performed a slew of his tracks taking over duties of piano and melodica – the latter instrument which has never sounded better or more evocative. The artist also gave listeners (most of whom wisely took to the floor to soak in the stunning visuals) a taste of his roots with – with a couple of repurposed Hainan folk songs stuck in the middle. Really love how he splices and terraforms electronic sounds into something contemporary and orchestral – making me wonder if someone will ever give this man a full-blown orchestra in the future. It’s soundtrack music that’s deeply woven. Support from Hangzhou’s own sound explorer Cai Lanbing of kirakiro and Jimaoda.

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There’s nothing more exciting than going into a show not quite knowing what to expect. Under the guise of a ‘scouting’ trip, I headed over to NEO Bar last Friday to see check out some of new bands that have been causing a stir in the neighboring regions – with a group of bands from Jiaxing, Suzhou, Nantong, and Wuhu converging on the Yangpu rock and roll hub. There’s something heartening to see bands build networks like this – a motley crew of young, spirited, and wide-eyed artists looking to make some noise. Even more impressive, was how much of a punch these four bands packed. 

From the reverb-heavy shoegaze-laced pop of Wuhu’s Opposite, an act that wasted no time in leaving their mark and cementing themselves as one of the best new bands out there. 

To the refined rustic post punk theatrics of Jiaxing’s 0311 and the more cerebral noise rock-inflicted Blue Liquid of Nantong – who both have gone through quite the sonic overhaul in the past year to great effect. 

To finally, Acid Room, out of Suzhou, whose combustible mix of grunge, post punk, and noise rock felt cathartic – the perfect way to close out the evening. A hot-blooded, rip-roaring evening of rock and roll and proof there’s plenty of the new generation has to say.

The post Gig Recap:Opposite, 0311, Blue Liquid, Acid Room (2024.4.19) first appeared on .

Popped over to Yuyintang last week to check out Wuhan’s Sweet Sister Session – the three-piece psych rock outfit out of Wuhan. Fresh off their debut, the band were in a midst of a nationwide tour. 

SSS is a band all about vibes, and they laid it on thick – layers of electric organ, noise feedback, show-stopping drums and distorted vocals – thrusting audiences into a trance. Was pleasantly surprised how full-bodied it sounded – even without a guitar or bass on hand – with just enough sonic diversity within their catalogue to keep your ears intrigued. 

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