Beijing's loudest, lewdest live acts
Shanghai might draw the big foreign music acts, but Beijing rules when it comes to homegrown talent.
And that talent likes to stand out, be it through its sound, style, on-stage antics, or all three. So when you're feeling a little too safe, a little too normal, let one of these acts shake you up inside.
1. Ricky Sixx
Two words: “crotchless” and “spandex.” What?
You read right, Ricky Sixx, the pink-permed glam rocker from 2009’s Global Battle of the Bands victors Rustic, has been known to perform with “little Ricky” in support in his self-named tribute act, Ricky Sixx.
And it’s a groin-grabbing riot. The 21-year-old has so much rock mojo, the midwives held up lighters when he popped out the womb (on his knees) to a double-time guitar solo.
On stage, he’s effortless, effeminate, and utterly compelling -- a camp banshee fuelled by tequila and fun, backed by a superb band that drills through everything from Motley Crue to Steppenwolf.
See him at:
D-22
242, Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing (海淀区成府路242号)
Tel: +86 (010) 6256 3177
For upcoming shows, check out: http://www.beijinggigguide.com/en/performer/Ricky-Sixx
2. Voodoo Kung-Fu
Described as looking like the “Village People from Hell” by MTV, Voodoo Kung-Fu is a gore-drenched, devil-dealing grindcore group with a quasi-religious sound born out of China’s 20th century spiritual wasteland.
Singer Li Nan, buff torso emblazoned with shamanic symbols and wrapped in tattered prayer cloth, performs on a stage done up like a sacrificial alter, belting out guttural throat-singing and Shamanistic wailing (native to Mongolia), over distorted power chords and haunting trills from the “horse head fiddle,” an ethnic grassland cello.
Standout track? The terrifyingly confrontational cover of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up.” That’s an order, heathen.
See them at:
Beijing Midi Festival
For 2011 dates and venue, visit: http://www.midifestival.com/english/index.htm
For upcoming shows, check out: http://www.myspace.com/01voodookungfu
3. Sulumi
For what is, on the face of it, just a bloke playing a Gameboy, Sulumi’s shows are sweat-drenched, fist-in-the-air parties you don’t forget in a hurry.
Lovingly mixed old school beeps, blips and samples travel from eight bit Nintendo to Apple to audience in a Mariokart-esque collision of German underground techno and IDM that tips a pixilated hat to Aphex Twin and Squarepusher.
Sulumi, a k a Sun Danwei, throws himself about the stage in the un-choreographed manner you might expect from a man who fiddles with retro games consoles for a living, but the crowd -- closet geeks one and all -- loves every second of it.
See him at:
Yugong Yishan
3-2, Zhangzi Middle Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing (东城区平安大道张自忠路3-2号)
http://www.yugongyishan.com
Telephone: +86 (010) 6404 2711
For upcoming shows, visit: http://www.myspace.com/sulumi
4. SUBS
SUBS’ last record, Queen Of F*cking Everything, goes some way to describing the on-stage temperament of fiery front-woman Kang Mao, known for her Marshall stack acrobatics, audience rants, crowd surfing and, in the great punk tradition, the odd bit of on-stage violence.
Mao’s relentless energy, leftfield looks and discordant, grating vocals are held together by airtight guitar and drums, as the band burns through tight punk standards influenced by the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Fugazi.
A European tour garnered record label attention and the cover of Chinese Rolling Stone but Kang Mao scared them off. You go, girl.
See them at:
Mao Livehouse
111, Gulou East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (东城区鼓楼东大街111号)
Tel: +86 (010) 6402 5080
For upcoming shows, visit: http://www.myspace.com/subsband
5. The Hip-Hop Grannies
Tai chi is so last dynasty. These days, Beijing’s blue rinse brigade is cutting up to the beats of South Central LA.
Straight outta Peking circa 2003, the Hip-Hop Grannies are a changing lineup of ladies, some pushing 70, who’ve turned their backs on traditional exercise for clown walkin, krumpin and other ghetto breaks.
Formed by Wu Ying, a senior citizen inspired to take it up after seeing hip hop dancers on TV, the group now performs at events around the city, sporting matching silver Adidas high tops, comedy wigs and wrinkles, though oolong tea is generally preferred over gin and juice.
See them at:
Private events around town.
For booking details, contact: ark.photo@yahoo.com.cn
6. The Chocolate Dancers
In the heart of Beijing’s Russian district, a tuxedo-wearing dwarf stands ready to escort club goers down a gold escalator into Chocolate, a big gay undressing of the puffed up, Philippe Starck-designed LAN Club down the road.
Inside you’ll find ersatz Persian décor, regal furniture, a Bank of Beijing and, most bizarrely, a kids play area.
The regular stage show features a house band, circus stunts and the irresistibly flamboyant Chocolate Dancers, flown in from Ukraine and choreographed by a man named Maximillian Pusiy, no less.
Two floor-to-ceiling poles flank a stage wired with sparkly things that explode at the touch of Maximillian’s trigger. Infectious fun.
See them at:
Chocolate
19 Ritan North Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing (朝阳区日坛北路19号
Tel: +86 (010) 8561 3988
Performances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening
7. Second Hand Rose
A decade old this year, Second Hand Rose’s unique brand of hard folk is genuinely homegrown, melding heavy guitars with old style Chinese horns and percussion.
Flamboyant singer Liang Long, not averse to makeup and a figure-hugging dress, warbles his tunes in a shrill tone that’s somewhere between Peking Opera and “crosstalk” -- a traditional, vaudeville style banter, whose gag premise is of the “Shirley, you can’t be serious” variety.
In fact, their onstage comic antics and attitude of not taking themselves too seriously have won then an ultra-loyal fan base -- live shows can feel like college reunions.
See them at:
Star Live
3/F, Tango, 79 Heping West Avenue, Dongcheng District
(东城区和平西街79号糖果三层)
Tel: +86 (010) 6425 5677
For upcoming shows, visit: http://www.myspace.cn/secondhandrose
