Weekend Live Music Roundup: Paris meets Beijing, Taste the Peaches, Farewell Sugar Jar

Things that happened last week were nothing but proof of no ____(please fill the blank yourself, I didn't say anything, I thank my country first, hail to harmonious society), no business. I'm not here to judge whether Mao Livehouse is innocent on the fire regulation and what not, all I know is "they appear closed during the day and open up at night when we are off duty. It is very hard for us to catch them."(words of a police officer at Jiaodaokou police station, according to Global Times) - so that means I can rob someone's cupcake tonight because no one's going to jail for that. Ace, I've always wanted to do that.

Another closure comes from Sugar Jar in 798 Art District, one of the most interesting record shops in town (or should I call it a library). The owner claims that the 798 wuye has been forcing them to leave since last July, and the shop will be closed by April 30, so it'd be a reasonable choice to check it out now.

Life goes on, rock n roll don't take no break. During the past few weeks, there are people around me have been calling Peaches (see interview here) a "dude" or "fella", I'm here to say this is probably the most dangerous thing ever happen to Beijing (unless Michael Bolton makes it here in June). Check out Yugong Yishan on Saturday night to find out why. Back to Friday, local avant-garde gurus Xiao He, Yan Jun, Li Tieqiao put on an improvising session at Star Theater with French band ETC as part of The Croisements Festival. The session continues on Saturday afternoon at UCCA, where Yan Jun and ETC are joined by guzheng experimenter Wu Fei - however, all of the ETC performances will happen under one condition: they can arrive in Beijing on time, considering that the Iceland eruption has made flights in Europe either canceled or postponed.

In other volcano related news, British rockers Puressence (see interview here) are performing (again) at Yugong Yishan on Friday because their flight can't find a place to land in England, meaning they are stuck here until May 4. Words also says they will play another intimate gig in The Pomegranate in Shunyi at a TBD date and time next week, we'll keep you posted. It won't take long for them to become Chinese if they keep staying. We can do it, power to the people, keep it real.

Check the Beijinger Directory for venue details

Friday (April 23)

Beats Royale
Jishuitan yo, by da lake, hip-hop don’t stop. RMB 30. 10pm. Obiwan (8322 1231)

Confucius Says
Ziyue: rock ain’t no walking in the park yo. RMB 120, RMB 100 (advance). 9.30pm. The One (5914 8087)

Da Yang, Sha Cong
Acoustic set from Beijing folkies. RMB 30. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

DJ Redial
Australian producer spins. RMB 70. RMB 50 (before 11pm, advance, students). 10pm. The Boat (6460 5512)

Early Bus, Toyhead
Ska and reggae in Fangjia Hutong. RMB 30 (includes a beer). 9pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

ETC, Wu Fei, Xiao He, Li Tieqiao, Yan Jun
Experimental musicians turn your daily routine sound into music pieces. RSVP at etc.startheater@gmail.com. RMB 80, RMB 50 (students). 8pm. Star Theater, 64 Chaoshao Hutong, Xuanwumennei Dajie, Xicheng District (6601 6549/8192 3695)

Happy Birthday ELVIS.T
Acupuncture DJs drop their remix. Free. 10pm. Lantern (135 0134 8785)

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemam
Blues baby, blues. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Huisheng Band
Pop band plant their groove in CBD. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Liang Ying Jazz Quartet
Swing jazz in Wudaoying Hutong. RMB 30. 9.30pm. VA Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Li Zenghui
Experimental saxphonist improvises. RMB 50. 8.30pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

Mademoiselle et son Orchestre
Up-tempo funky jazz blues. RMB 50 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. CD Blues Cafe & Bar (6506 8288)

ME:MO, Layer, Plou
Ambient electronic session after your meal. Free. 9.30pm. The Park Restaurant (6403 0311)

Ourself Beside Me, The Offset: Spectacles, Wanderlust, Ice Seller
Garage trio takes the alt undergrounds, joined by alternative rockers from Tianjin. See interview here. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

Puressence, C60, Boy#6
Manchester rockers stuck in Beijing, there’s no escape. See interview here. RMB 50. 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

R3, LIman, Howie Lee
DJs generate beats for the new opening in Wudaoying. Free. 10pm. School Bar & Party Project, 53 Wudaoying Hutong (6402 8881)

S.A.Ws, Unregenerate Blood, The Falling, Last Chance Of Youth, Final Message
Metal heats emo core. RMB 50. 9pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Sonja Moonear, Michael Fresh
Swiss tech emphasize Beijing night skyline. RMB 70. 9pm. White Rabbit (6417 2588)

The Lemons
Mongolian rock band shake Shuangjing. RMB 80. 9pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112)

Wan Xiaoli, Shan Ren, Ma Tiao, Dong Zi, Zhong Lifeng, Zhou Yunpeng
Folksters sing their ballad for Beijing before going on tour. RMB 120, RMB 100 (advance). 8.30pm. The Star Live (6425 5677)

Xia Jia Piano Trio
Jazz pianist operates on his keyboards. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Zhuobian Beile, The King, Poshangcun, Crime-X
College bands shooting for stars. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

Saturday (April 24)

Cam Butler, Maze, Sister Oriented
Australian composer/guitarist collaborates with Beijing’s cult underground kids. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 10pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

DH & Chinese Hellcats, SUBS, Steely Heart, 24 Hours
Sing that swing and rock that garage. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 10pm. 2 Kolegas (6436 8998)

DJ Ouyang, Eddie Lv
Local DJs stop by. Free. 10pm. Lantern (135 0134 8785)

DJ Reflex
Hip-hop from LA. Call 138 1085 8776 to book. RMB 50. 9pm. Bling (5905 6999)

ETC, Wu Fei, Yan Jun
Sub Jam experimental session at 798 on a Saturday afternoon. RMB 50, RMB 25 (students). 4pm. UCCA (8459 9269)

Hoochie Coochie Gentlemam
Blues band sing their original compositions. Free. 9.30pm. The Park Restaurant (6403 0311)

International Festival Chorus Beijing
Children’s choir, traditional African drumming and multimedia displays. Tickets at www.beijingifc.org. RMB 50-580. 7.30pm. Century Theater (6466 4805, 6468 3311 ext 3126)

Jin Song, Li Mo, Shay, Dong Yan, Eric Qu
Benefit folk concert in collaboration with WWF and Don’t Eat Friends. RMB 50. 3pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Jin Zi, Zhong Lifeng
Hand drum and guitar – if you can get folk simpler than that. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Lidong Band
Chinese folk songs from Ningxia. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)

Liu Yuan Saxphone Quartet
China’s jazz forefather keeps the Houhai shores smooth. Free. 10pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Mirage, Strange July, 3:00, Cecilia Chia, Ryan Mcccloskey & Mitch Trent, CISB, DJ Korelement
Rock, jazz, emo and hip-hop raise money for friend’s surgery. RMB 50, RMB 40 (advance). 8.30pm. Mako Live House (5205 1112)

Patrick Yu, Donald Summer, DJ Nakdak
Local heroes play house, DJ Nakdak from Spain spins tech house. Free. 9pm. White Rabbit (6417 2588)

Peaches, Dr. Feelgood, Pet Conspiracy, LIman, R3
Who doesn’t love Peaches? See interview here. RMB 260, RMB 200 (advance). 9pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Qin Xuan, Pacalolo, Self Sound Orchestra
Electro pop rock goes experimental. RMB 30 (includes a drink). 9.30pm. What Bar (1590 123 6743)

Trio Bang
Bebop, funk-jazz, bossa nova and French musette. RMB 30. 9.30pm. VA Cafe & Bar (5844 3638)

Zhang Tie
Pop rocker on tour. RMB 30. 9.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Zhao Zhao & Fig, Zhang Weiwei, Guo Long, Xiao Meng, Xiao Tong
Shandong folk singer Zhao Zhao releases debut album. RMB 40, RMB 30 (advance). 9pm. Tiny Salt Coffee Club (5900 0969)

Sunday (April 25)

Anthony Carcone, Jacques Foschia, DFF, Lao Yang
Members of avant-garde band ETC make collaborate efforts to greet the closing Sugar Jar record shop, supported by poetry reading from Lao Yang. Free. 2pm. Sugar Jar in 798 Art District (6433 1449)

Erbu
Singer-songwriter plays folk songs from the Yi people. Free. 9.30pm. Zuiyuefang Bar (6405 4482)

Joker, Ci Qin, Slack, Plastic Tree & Spinning Glass House, The King, Replica
Student bands gather at Wudaokou. RMB 30, RMB 20 (students). 8.30pm. 13 Club (8261 9267)

Moreno Donadel Trio
Italian pianist collaborates with a few Beijingers. Free. 9.30pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)

Song Yuzhe
World music session from one of China’s most renowned folk artists. RMB 40, RMB 30 (students). 9pm. D-22 (6265 3177)

The Flyx, Cold Case, Gum Bleed, Discord, XitneverhappenedX, Return The Truth, Unregenerate Blood
Metal power hits Fangjia Hutong. RMB 50, RMB 40 (students). 8.30pm. Hot Cat Club (6400 7868)

Yan Jun, Xiao He
Experimental soundscape session divided into three hours. Call 5900 4374 to reserve your attending hour. RMB 50 (per hour), RMB 120 (three hours). 4-5pm, 5-6pm, 6-7pm. The Shop, Rm1503, Floor B1, Bldg 15, Jianwai SOHO West Zone (5900 4374)

Zhang Yong, Guo Jian
Meditate with traditional Chinese guqin. Free. 9pm. Jiang Hu Liveshow Bar (6401 4611)