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Just before the recent national holiday, Kunming got its second look at one of the bands at the forefront of China's modern rock scene when P.K.14 played Speakeasy Bar as part of its current national tour. The band was well received by a modest weeknight crowd that seemed to generally enjoy the show and demanded an encore at the end. After finishing up their sound check, Beijing-based P.K.14 - listed as one of the five Asian bands to watch in 2008 by Time Magazine – joined GoKunming for some across-the-bridge rice noodles and a chat about how things have changed since the band last played Kunming in 2004. Since then, vocalist Yang Haisong (杨海崧) and drummer Jonathan Leijonhufvud (雷坛坛) have been joined by guitarist Xu Bo (许波) and bassist Shi Xudong (施旭东, also of Guai Li, Subs and previously Brain Failure) and are now on their own label, Maybe Mars Records (兵马司). Yang and an American friend founded Maybe Mars Records a year ago in Beijing with the goal of being self-reliant and more focused on innovative sounds based on its own aesthetics. "I think we need a self-reliant system which can fully support the new music and more concentrated as well," said Yang. The label is now home to notable Beijing bands such as Carsick Cars and Joyside. The band is currently touring in support of its new album City Weather Sailing (城市天气航行) on Maybe Mars – it had previously released two albums on Beijing label Modern Sky Records. The new album returns with the band's combination of thrashing chords, dark bass lines, post-punk beats and neurotic vocals, yet with more string melodies and a darker feel. Yang explained it was inspired by the theme of death. "I was feeling blue because of a friend's death, and didn't realize the music had become so gloomy and full of despair till we had made it," Yang said. When asked about the process of music making, he added, "We usually compose the music together and I write the lyrics either later or before. It is quite spontaneous. We just express our emotions and thoughts during the composition without defining exactly what these things are. The message is left for various interpretations."
Bassist Shi said that the band prefers to think of itself as a rock band rather than be pigeonholed in trendy subgenres such as post-punk or new wave. Shi emphasized the band's diverse musical tastes. It may not be surprising that the band claims Fugazi and Joy Division as musical influences, but they also draw inspiration from Bob Dylan and 1960s British Mods. Yang said he is also influenced by 20th Century American writers and French existentialists. According to Yang, who is also the band's songwriter, the name P.K.14 evolved out of the original name Public Kingdom for Teens as it was easier for audiences to remember. Samples from P.K.14's album City Weather Sailing can be listened to on the band's MySpace page. Band image: Neocha.com Concert image: Kris Ariel Tags: Beijing, Jonathan Leijonhufvud, live music, Maybe Mars Records, Shi Xudong, Xu Bo, Yang Haisong
The recent wave of popular neo-folk musicians coming through Kunming continues tonight when Beijing-based Zhong Lifeng (钟立风) plays Halfway House tonight. Originally from Zhejiang province, Zhong moved to Beijing in 1995 and began to write and perform of folk songs, some of which became well known when covered by Chinese pop acts such as Shui Mu Nian Hua. In 2004 Zhong signed with Chinese label Taihe Rye Music and released his first solo album Beside the Road in 2006. He also played the Chaoyang Pop Music Festival in Beijing the same year. Zhong Lifeng's show at Halfway House on Tuesday starts at 9:30 pm. Admission is 15 yuan per person. Tags: Halfway House, live music, neo-folk, Taihe Rye Music, Zhong Lifeng
Gansu folk musician Zhang Quan (张佺) is to perform in Kunming this Saturday at Halfway House, his first performance in Kunming since January 2007. Strongly influenced by Chinese northwestern folk music as he grew up, Zhang Quan joined the now-defunct Beijing folk band Wild Children in 1995 and until one of his bandmates passed away in 2003. Zhang was also the co-owner of the influential folk music venue River Bar in Beijing. Zhang moved to Yunnan in 2004 and in 2006 he had a solo tour that passed through Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. Currently Zhang Quan plays the dombra, a Kazakh instrument with a sound similar to a banjo or a lute, and harmonica. This Saturday night's show is entitled Ballad of the Yellow River, which will include re-presentation of Zhang's earlier works, Chinese northwestern folk songs and his recent dombra and harmonica works. The performance will start at 9:30 pm, tickets to the show are 15 yuan. Tags: Beijing, dombra, Gansu, Halfway House, Wild Children, Zhang Quan
One of the more popular bands of the moment in the Beijing rock scene - Queen Sea Big Shark (后海大鲨鱼) will bring its live show to Kunming Saturday night, when it performs at Laowo Bar across from the main gate of the Yunnan Art Institute. Formed in 2004, Queen Sea Big Shark has quickly emerged as one of the more active bands in Beijing. The twentysomething band's music, often described as 'dance rock', features retro-style 80's beats, plus a smattering of punk and surf rock and English lyrics. In addition to the domestic status that comes with being on the Modern Sky label, Queen Sea Big Shark has also opened for international acts performing in China including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Maximo Park and Mando Diao. Its self-titled debut album on Modern Sky was released on the last day of 2007 - the band has been touring China to promote the album since the beginning of March. Admission to the show is 25 yuan (20 yuan for students) including a beer or a non-alcoholic drink. Showtime has yet to be confirmed – call Laowo Bar at 2924115 for more information. Video: Queen Sea Big Shark Tags: Laowo Bar, Modern Sky, Queen Sea Big Shark, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Yunnan Art Institute Kunming will be host to a performance tonight by Guangzhou folk musician Ye Lang, the most recent performer in a wave of neo-folk artists from China's coast to pass through town. Guangxi native Ye Lang, who has been performing in Guangzhou for the last ten years – both solo and with his band Southern Barbarian - is considered one of the top three folk musicians in Guangzhou. Often characterized as melancholic, Ye Lang's songs feature traditional folk guitar as well as harmonica, bawu and other instruments – even the occasional throat-singing session. Ye Lang is already a veteran of China's nascent festival scene, he has performed at the Beijing Midi Music Festival, the Dashanzi Neofolk Music Festival (part of the Beijing Dangdai International Art Festival) and other events in the country's coastal cities. Click here for a short video clip of Ye Lang at the Midi Music Festival. Ye Lang plays tonight at Halfway House at 9:00. Admission is 10 yuan. Related articles: Wan Xiaoli to play last-minute show Mongolian band Hanggai to play Friday night Tags: folk music, live music, Midi Music Festival, Ye Lang
Finding the underground scene in any city always takes a little digging - last Friday night it meant searching around a sketchy former 'KTV' near Kunming's north rail station. We were searching for No Answer (打死我也不说), the all-girl punk band that stole the show at a night of music at Shelter Bar earlier that week, despite being the opening act. After making our way down a narrow alley and up two dark flights of stairs, we came upon a red hallway with pink lighting and small rooms named after the Western zodiac. The entire floor of small rooms had been converted into small practice spaces rented by local bands. At the far end of the hallway a rock band was practicing loudly. We were greeted by Shi Yang, No Answer's 18-year-old guitarist, who led us to her band's practice space. Shi Yang and bandmates Jiang Yuhan (bass, 21) and Yang Yang (drums, 19) have been practicing together every day in their small rented space since forming two months ago. Although they've only been playing together for a short time, they are already one of the city's tightest and more interesting musical acts. As with most Chinese punk bands, No Answer is heavily influenced by Western punk bands - Bikini Kill, Action Pact and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs being their favorites. So far Their favourite song to play at the moment - all of their song lyrics are in English - is the edgy "Big Aunty", which explores the feelings of crankiness that accompany premenstrual syndrome. Although Kunming's music scene is typically dominated by men - many of whom dismiss the girls as having too heavy a feminist slant - No Answer said they're just writing about their experiences and feelings. Drummer Yang Yang, who's been playing drums since age nine, said the band wasn't interested in being pigeonholed as feminist. "We're just making music about our lives," she said in between puffs on her cigarette, "Making music that other women can relate to is a way for women here to have more self-respect." Elder band member and bassist Jiang Yuhan said that although the trio is currently playing punk they are also beginning to develop a more New Wave sound with the songs they are currently writing and practicing in their slightly cramped practice space. According to Jiang, the band loves punk but wants to explore other musical styles. "Good music has no style - it's anything that touches one's heart," she said. For the short term, No Answer is working on new songs in preparation for an upcoming demo. The band will also be playing their first festival gig at the Kunming Outdoor Music Festival this Saturday in Taiping town outside of Kunming. They are scheduled to take the stage around 7 pm. Tags: Jiang Yuhan, KTV, Kunming Outdoor Music Festival, live music, No Answer, punk, Shi Yang, Yang Yang
Beginning this Saturday, Bunny clothing store on Longxiang Jie will host "1981", an exhibition focused on the 'post-80s' generation in China and beyond. Sponsored by Shanghai's Zendai Museum of Modern Art and indie clothes label The Thing, this satellite exhibition - the main exhibition will be held in Shanghai - will run from Saturday through October 8. Kunming curators of the exhibit are still collecting works to display, contact Bunny store at 5310223 for more information. Works can include toys from childhood, art and design works or music. Items from outside of China with a post-80s background are also welcome. In addition to the exhibit, Bunny will also hold a swap meet. If you have anything new or used that you would like to trade for, bring it to the venue to try your luck. Bunny 4-5B Longxiang Jie Tel: 5310223 Tags: arts and entertainment, Bunny, Zendai Museum of Modern Art Kunming bands Strange Day and Minjian Funk are scheduled to perform at Halfway House this Saturday night, the first night of a local music concert series. Organized by Wheatfield Bookstore and supported by Halfway House, the show is the first installation of the Halfway Music festival, a series of upcoming music events conceived by organizers Ma Li and Li Fan, owners of Wheatfield Bookstore and Halfway House, respectively.
The show begins at 9 pm on Saturday night. Admission is 10 yuan per person and there is a limited seating of 150 people, as Halfway House is not very big and the organizers wish to keep the setting relatively comfortable. Tickets go on sale at the door on the night of the show. Halfway House 半山咖啡 Intersection of Dongfeng Xi Lu and Kunshi Lu 5352702 Tags: arts and entertainment, Halfway House, live music Next 1 2 3 |
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