Beijing Boyce

Tag Team Records will hold its fifth annual Christmas Shindig this Friday night at 2 Kolegas (map). The lineup includes Lonely China Day, Arrows Made of Desire, RandomK(e), iLoop, Ziyo, and JRG_ONE, plus a jam finale with various band members – see the poster below. (I have the RandomK(e) CD in my drive right now – good music for blogging.) The show starts at 9 PM – “seriously” states the poster – and the entrance fee is RMB60. Baked goods and gluwein will be available and a donation will be made to the Philip Hayden Foundation. Consider wearing rubber boots if you plan to use the toilet.

Also, American folk musician and singer Abigail Washburn is making her seventh visit to China since 2004. You can catch here at Yugong Yishan (map) on Sunday at 10 PM (RMB70 at the door). More on Washburn here.

The prayers of The Village Grouch* have been answered: Black Cat Bone and DK and the Hellcats will team up this Saturday night from 10 PM at 2 Kolegas (map). Black cats meet hellcats, blues meets rockabilly, beer meet mouths… it’s all good. (* See Sailor costumes, terrifying tattoos & lycra tights: The Village Grouch on 2 Kolegas).

The Stone Boat (map) hosts local jazz band No Name Trio this Saturday night from 9:30 PM. Sitting in the park, listening to jazz, sipping a glass of wine… I can’t think of a better warmup for a vodka-guzzling, hookah-smoking, patron-ogling night at nearby Chocolate Club (map).

Once upon a time, Neo Lounge ranked as the hottest club in town. This Sunday, the China Cultural Center (map) will screen a documentary by Joanna Vasquez Arong that looks at some of the frequenters of this place (from 7:30 PM to 9 PM; RMB40). Arong will be on hand to take questions (more details here).

This one is dedicated to Traci Smith’s recent post on influential music joints in Beijing: rock band Wang Wen marks its tenth anniversary with a gig this Saturday night from 8 PM at MAO Livehouse (map) (RMB60). See here for more details / enigmatic text. Meanwhile, Carsick Cars releases its second album at Yugong Yishan tonight.

Canucks celebrate their national day early as the Canada-China Business Council hosts its annual party at the Canadian International School (map). The highlight tends to be The Beijinger chili-eating contest, though perhaps – hopefully – there will be a beer tent with more than a dozen stools as well as food stalls that don’t run out of grub two hours before the event ends. The fee is RMB100 for CCBC members, RMB120 for nonmembers, RMB60 for those aged five to 12, and free for those under the age of four.

And Canucks, if Sunday is your day of rest, the Goose and Duck (map) is holding a Canada Day bash on Tuesday to count down to July 1. The first 200 people get a free gift (I’m guessing its your choice between a goose or a duck – take the goose, it’s more patriotic). There will also be free snacks, a replay of game seven of the Stanley Cup finals, a beer-drinking contest, all-you-can-eat geoduck, and happy hour until the singing of O Canada at midnight. Did I mention this place has tabletop hockey?

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?

Some stuff to do when not paddling a dragon boat or eating glutinous rice this weekend…

2 Kolegas (map) celebrates its fourth anniversary with a handful of bands playing on Saturday, including Black Cat Bone and Subs. Chill on the lawn and have a few pints, with music from 10 PM. (RMB50 entry fee; RMB40 for students)

As mentioned earlier, Jimmy’s Thai Kitchen and Lounge (map) will serve as a venue for jazz, blues, funk, and more, with Girassol kicking things off at 10 PM on Saturday.  (RMB30, includes cover)

Beijing Playhouse will perform Romeo and Juliet on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at Block 8 (map). The invite states that this is a funnier and shorter version. (RMB300; RMB 260 in advance; contact 13718-908-922 or performance@beijingplayhouse.com for tickets).

Woodie Allen is wrapping up a series of performances on Saturday to mark the band’s new album. The music starts at 8 PM at Frank’s Place (map).

The countdown is on at Super Bar Street as it appears the end will come on Sunday. Last chance to visit Biteapitta, Afro Arena, New Get Lucky, Tim’s Texas Roadhouse, and other venues as well as to saunter down one of the most depressing streets in the city (though I think I spotted a blade of grass there the last time I visited).

RandomK(e)’s “Waiting” cover

Locally based band RandomK(e) recently released its first CD “Waiting” with a launch party at Mao Livehouse. According to the band’s MySpage page, “RandomK(e) was formed in 2004 and has been bringing its unlikely combination of spacey soundscapes, noise-funk-pop experimentalism and pummeling force that’s spelled R.O.C.K. to Beijing’s masses for over four years.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Actually, I couldn’t have come up with that description if I tried. Anyway, I asked each member of the band to list his favorite drinking hole in Beijing. Here they are…

Jon Campbell (drums)

While it’s obvious because we had our CD release and fourth anniversary extravaganza there on March 21, we feel more than a lot of love for Mao Livehouse (map). Nobody will mistake it for a good place to get a drink (many tell me it is difficult, though I personally can’t complain because the bartender knows me well enough that I don’t have to even order, and sometimes, instead of giving me whiskey, he might pour a complimentary paper cup of Chinese apple cider-ish stuff masquerading as Champagne – OK, only once). So… forget your rules. I’m choosing two, one for the rock and one for the drink.

First, the rock: 2 Kolegas (map). The guys are so committed to music that how can you not revel in the love and the general vibe, despite the grime of the joint. For playing or watching music, this place rocks harder than anywhere other than Mao, even though this is rarely recognized. For almost four years they have managed to walk the fine line between eliciting the nostalgia of the so-called ‘good old days’ (when there was a small rock scene that wasn’t tainted by international media attention, where the music and venues sucked, but because it was small, everyone was happier), and bringing up the standards enough to make you believe that we’re in the good-now-days. And I haven’t even mentioned the grass area or the kebabs or the stiff drinks they pour.

Second, the drink: Jazz Ya (map). Every time I go back I catch myself not believing that they’ve been doing what they do for all these years – and are still doing it better than so many others. Sure, the Long Island is rave-worthy, but to delve into their cocktail menu is to be rewarded with well-crafted and well-presented treats. They could use a third CD for their stereo, but then again, it’s nice knowing exactly what you’re going to get, even after, what is it, 15 years?

Jackson Garland (upright bass, laptop, samples,
sounds, knobs, buttons, vox)

For music and drinks: 2 Kolegas. I second everything said earlier by Jon about the place. Yeah, it’s grimy, but so is Beijing and everything I love about it. We’ve played some great gigs there, and I’ve seen and heard some great music there, occasional sound issues not withstanding. Dos Kolegas can’t be beat for both a late-night, borderline-sloppy drunken hangout and a music venue that could be called “daring” in its embrace of live music sporting all shapes, colors, and odors. Throw in a totally surreal location and regular evenings of cerebral joy and sonic assault in the form of Yan Jun’s Waterland Kwanyin series (hosted there on most Tuesday evenings), and you’ve got a winner in my book. I dig most of the live venues in town, but I always find myself coming back to the lawn.

Richard Todd (guitar/vox)

Cafe Zarah (map). Because it has a drink called The Swimming Pool in which it is possible to become lost for days on end. And a toilet into which several peering cats watch you pee.

Adam Pillsbury (bass)

Salud (map): Friendly, festive and effortlessly cool, this is a neighborhood joint worth traveling across town to frequent. As is the case at sibling establishments Ginkgo (map) and Cafe de la Poste (map), the good vibes here originate with French manager Nico, whose smile is unperturbed by thirsty crowds or, during a RandomK(e) set, visits from the local constabulary. He and his staff have good reason to grin, for they offer arguably the best pours in Beijing – wine glasses are filled to the rim – at prices more than fair. In the afternoon and early evening, Salud’s vaguely Mediterranean design – warm woods and terracotta paint – and the semi-privacy of its second story tables make it a fine spot in which to catch up with friends or recharge after a hutong adventure. But once the sangria and house spiced rum start to flow, or when a band takes the stage, things get raucous and the party goes late, often spilling into Nanluoguxiang. Yes, Salud has become enormously popular in the past year, but the crowd it draws is invariably amicable, and it has hosted some of the most memorable gatherings this bassist has attended in Beijing.

Andy Birch aka Rh1n0t10n (video)

Underground pool halls: In the concrete rabbit warrens that exist under most of the new Beijing high risers, department stores and restaurants, can be found a thriving pool and snooker community. If you’re willing to stick with one place, eventually the staff will come to realise that beer should be served cold and they might even turn the fridge on for you. Often a quick phone call 10 minutes before arrival ensures the beer is put into the freezer and the nine ball table is dusted off.

It’ll even remind you of your favourite rock club as the hall fills up with smoke and your clothes smell like a packet of Zhongnanhai, although the TV in the corner blasting out canto pop takes a little getting used to.

If you are lucky some of these halls will serve stronger stuff – a bottle of vodka will usually be found hidden behind those red boxes of Baijou if you dig around enough. There are no queues for the pool table, the beer is cheap, and after three hours of playing pool it’s rare if you spend more than 100 kuai.

And best of all, they are open 24 hours.

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Top fives:

• Andrew Schorr & Ellis Rahhal
• Pete Demola
• Shane Crombie
• Ben Shaw
• Kaiser Kuo
• Bjorn Stabell
• Phoebe Wong
• Diane Fermin
• Badr Benjelloun
• Elisabeth Tchoudjinoff & Katrina Arndt
• Paul Adkins
• Chandler Jurinka
• Kevin Shen
• Steven Schwankert