Shanghai Mushrooms: Pupu Tells You How They Grow

I don’t know if you guys agree but Beijingers are not particularly friendly to visitors, especially when they come from Shanghai - a city we hate and being hated for...well, so far I still can’t figure out why. This Friday (March 26), Shanghai hard rockers The Mushrooms (www.myspace.cn/themushrooms) will perform their first ever Beijing show at Mao Livehouse as part of JUE Festival. We had a chat with lead vocal Pupu to see how they intend to plant the mushrooms into our gloomy capital.

the Beijinger: How did the mushrooms come together?
Pupu: Back in 2005, we met each other in the basement of Huashan Lu in Shanghai. The Mushrooms started off as a nu-metal band, then we combined it with more genres.

tbj: What are your day jobs?
PP: I quitted my job as a designer last July, and now this band is my only job. Our guitarist Zhang Xiao works in the government, drummer Xiao Ling is a sound engineer, bassist Nai Niu works in a suit shop and Hua Hua is still a student.

tbj: How did you involved with JUE Festival?
PP: We’ve been looking forward to playing in Beijing for quite a while, so it all worked out when Splitworks invited us.

tbj: Is there a band of similar genre in Beijing that you like a lot?
PP: Can’t think of any really, we do a bit of everything.

tbj: What’s the biggest change happened to Shanghai live music scene comparing to when your band started?
PP: There are more people going to gigs now, lots of young people are playing music. People have started to express themselves through music, and the stereotypical understanding of rock music has changed.

tbj: When did you get the band name?
PP: Because back in 2005, our hair all looked like mushrooms.

tbj: Who would you consider as your influences?
PP: Lostprophets, The Music, The Used, Linkin’ Park, Damien Rice and Incubus.

tbj: What are you listening to?
PP: Some old stuff, like garage rock and grunge. I’m also listening to some electronic music, which could be used in our music.

tbj: The Mushrooms have opened for many bands, what are the differences between preparing your own gigs and doing that as a supporting band?
PP: We don’t prepare anything as a supporting band, haha. As for our own gigs, it takes one or two month to prepare, you know, to get ourselves familiar with the songs. Also, you need to save enough physical strength to finish a whole show.

tbj: Describe what Beijng means to you.
PP: It’s the political, financial and cultural center of the country, talents from all over China lives there, it’s a place people want to go as musicians.

tbj: Describe what Shanghai means to you.
PP: Life in Shanghai is pretty fast - lots of competitions and very realistic. But I think pressure makes you grow. You put yourself through the mill, but the result can be quite rewarding.

The Mushrooms play at Mao Livehouse on March 26 (Friday), indie rockers Arrows Made of Desire and King Statue support. RMB 50. 9pm. 111 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District (6402 5080) 东城区鼓楼东大街111号

Want to go? We've got two pairs of tickets to give away - just answer the following question: According to Pupu, how do The Mushrooms prepare for their performances as a supporting band? Send your answers to danedwards@truerun.com