Beijing Boyce

Thanks to The Village Grouch for this wrap on the 2 Kolegas fourth anniversary party held Saturday night.

The 2 Kolegas fourth anniversary party was essentially an extreme version of any other weekend at the place: ridiculous quantities of low-priced drinks, served promptly by two guys behind the bar; more annoying twenty-something expats than you could beat to a bloody pulp with a stick; and some absolutely blistering performances by bands that have made an otherwise bad club a must-go music venue.

Perhaps the surprise of the night was the Sea Band DH & Chinese Hellcats, a Chinese six-piece band dressed in sailor costumes that does 50s big band songs in English. The lead singer has one of the most terrifying tattoos I’ve ever seen, and looks like she was down at the wharf last night and won a fist fight — barely. That said, the band is as tight as (insert your favorite anatomical tightness simile here), and they’re totally into it, something that rubbed off on the crowd and kicked off the rest of the night. I would go so far as to say they called out Black Cat Bone with their set.

When they sailed off, they were followed by Ziyo. A note to singer Helen Feng: We love you baby, and you are a smoldering molten cauldron of rock and roll sexuality. But please, no more lycra tights. And while you’re at it, leave the keyboard at home. We want more of the rock goddess we came to know in your early performances.

They were followed by a four-piece band called SUBS. Very interesting goth-ish chick singer in a Flintstones-style leather miniskirt. Helen from Ziyo should fire her band and convince these guys to lose Betty Rubble. That would be an absolutely wicked musical combination. Guitarist was awesome, and another super-tight performance from a Beijing quartet.

And speaking of tight: the elder statesmen of Beijing’s small-scale live music scene, Black Cat Bone, reminded everyone what a great live performance is, and that is on a night where great performances were the rule. The suits, the glasses and the tunes — they are still the band to beat.

Two Bone notes: Would love to see these guys regularly double-bill with the Sea Band (AmCham 4th of July organizers — are you reading?). And speaking of exceptional musical events, it’s time to have Spring and Autumn’s Kaiser and Black Cat Bone’s Jamie face off in a guitar war. Wouldn’t matter so much who wins — the audience would be slayed in the process. Good times would be had. Who will step forward and host this mighty event?