Beijing Music Scene Buzzes Ahead of Japanese Hardcore Band Envy's Jan 20 Gig

Kyle Mullin | Oct 23, 2018 10:02 am | Add a comment | 1876 reads

On Jan 20 you'd best brace your body for a bruise-inducing mosh pit, prepare your ears for some deafening scream-singing and guitar squealing, and breathe deep enough to holler along with one of hardcore's most legendary acts. That's because long-running, notoriously heavy Japanese post-hardcore band Envy will pummel what is sure to be a huge crowd of fans at Beijing's Omni Space on Jan 20.

Considering post-rock and alternative punk are among the most beloved genres for the capital's gig-goers, this show is sure to be one of 2019's most memorable. But even music buffs who are unfamiliar with Envy's enviable legacy will find plenty of incentive to check them out during their Beijing stop. After all, there aren't many acts that have managed to maintain their momentum for more than 25 years, and there aren't that many Japanese bands that have earned a big enough worldwide fanbase to be signed to an iconic label like Glasgow's Rock Action Records, which also plays host to mammoth post-rockers Mogwai.

Beloved music blog Pitchfork described Envy as "Japanese post-hardcore titans" and Punk News has hailed them for penning songs that are by turns brutal and beautiful. And while Envy has certainly left their mark on the international press, they also hold a very special place in the hearts of Beijing post-rock fans. Yang Haisong, the frontman for one of China's most lauded indie bands, P.K.14, says he's not only looking forward to Envy's upcoming gig but can also recall when the Japanese outfit played a pioneering show in the nascent days of Beijing's music scene: "Our drummer Jonny [Leijonhufvud, nicknamed Tan Tan] organized the first Envy Chinese tour in 1997. We loved them from the very beginning."

Yang has gone on to introduce Envy's hard-hitting tracks to his peers and labelmates, like Wen Yuzhen of fellow Maybe Mars band Birdstriking. He can still remember the day that Yang showed him videos of Envy's shows and how "they really shocked me. There's a strong sense of sadness in their music, but also bursts of really heavy aggressiveness too."

Zeyang Chen, guitarist for emo-inclined Beijing band SNOS, is even more excited for Envy’s gig. “Envy is a very distinctive Japanese band. Many fans call them ‘men's tears’ because of their desperate hardcore roar and their graceful atmospheric post-rock,” Chen says, before going on to laud their music for its fearlessly depressing moments, and also its ability to uplift and inspire. “Envy is very strong in the post-rock the scene, and at the same time [frontman Tetsuya Fukagawa’s] vocals are also world-class.”

Alison of rising Beijing band Wondersea also counts himself among Envy devotees, saying "I like their noise. It always stimulates my nerves and makes me excited. I've watched videos for their songs like 'A Warm Room' hundreds of times. Once I heard they were coming to Beijing, I bought a ticket straight away."

So clearly the Jan 20 show won't just kick off Beijing's gig calendar in earnest in 2019. The show will also be packed with a who's who of the capital's top rockers, all crowding up to the stage to see a band they've long looked up to. Or, as Wen Yuzhen of Birdstriking puts it: "Hope the show is loud enough. I don't mind. Rock 'n' roll should be loud."