UPDATE: Just got a message from Lezi to say that the second round of the Zhulu Hefeng university tour has been going really well so far with over 400 students turning up for the Donghua University show (pictured).This blog and Andy's basically focus on gigs that take place, and bands that play, at a handful of venues around town: Yuyintang, MAO Livehouse and occasionally Zhijiang Dream Factory. Now and again, one or other of us will make it up to 696 or Live Bar, but otherwise we pretty much stay in our city centre comfort zone. And why not? There's nothing else going on out in the sticks anyway, right?
Maybe. But recently Micah Sittig left this comment on a post on Andy's blog.
Maybe. But recently Micah Sittig left this comment on a post on Andy's blog.
'> There has been(?) a move of focus from the centre to the suburbs /> closer to the universities by local bands.
This is something I've wondered about for years. When I was living in the city center and had more time for shows (about 5/6 years ago), it seemed to me like the YYT/Gua2 scene was bringing to a more urban audience the "cream" that rose to the top of the university scene. I somewhat regret that I never took the initiative to explore that scene, but with the universities being so far out and the metro system not yet reaching them it meant several-hour bus rides, searching out new people, etc.'
Andy responded thus: 'Hmmn, someone needs to look into this and report. I may have to lean on Jake.'
Well he didn't and I haven't exactly investigated it thoroughly, but there are a few things happening out at the universities that point to a steady growth of live music activities on campus. Firstly, there's the second round of the Zhu Lu He Feng university tours, which started last week and will take in eight universities by the time it finishes at the beginning of December. Read more about that here.
Well he didn't and I haven't exactly investigated it thoroughly, but there are a few things happening out at the universities that point to a steady growth of live music activities on campus. Firstly, there's the second round of the Zhu Lu He Feng university tours, which started last week and will take in eight universities by the time it finishes at the beginning of December. Read more about that here.
Then on December 1st, Stegosaurus? are playing an early evening show at Jiaotong's Minhang campus as part of the third SJTU Music Festival. There's ten bands in total, it's free and there's more details here if you fancy going.
Also, in Songjiang on December 5th, bands like Triple Smash, Momo and Da Fresh are playing a Sunday afternoon show in a square at the Foreign Trade University. Details here.
Finally, on December 10th, Stegosaurus? return to university land with a show at Corner Bar Livehouse, which I wrote about before here.
If anyone reading this makes it to any of those shows or the Live Bar Wujiaochang opening this weekend, I'd be interested to know how they go.
Hi Jake,
I went Live Bar last Saturday.
The closest Subway station is Huangxing Park (Line 8). The bar is about 15 minutes walk from the station. It is located at the first floor of a pretty cool looking art building. The bar itself is the same size as YYT's main room but it's on 2 levels.
Equipment wise, they have a standard setup with 2 guitar amps, a bass amp, drums. The drums are properly miced except the cymbals.
Only 60 people were at the show even though there were at least 5 bands playing. The sound check finished between 9:30pm and 10:00pm.
Sound wise, it was a bit muddy, and the bass was often way louder than guitars. But the place has the potential to sound as good as YYT, it's just a matter of spending time on the soundcheck.
G.
Hi Jake,
I went to Live Bar last Saturday.
The closest Subway station is Huangxing Park (Line 8). The bar is about 15 minutes walk from the station. It is located at the first floor of a pretty cool looking art building. The bar itself is the same size as YYT's main room but it's on 2 levels.
Equipment wise, they have a standard setup with 2 guitar amps, a bass amp, drums. The drums are properly miced except the cymbals.
Only 60 people were at the show even though there were at least 5 bands playing. The sound check finished between 9:30pm and 10:00pm.
Sound wise, it was a bit muddy, and the bass was often way louder than guitars. But the place has the potential to sound as good as YYT, it's just a matter of spending time on the soundcheck.
G.
Hi G,
Thanks for your comment, appreciate it. Sounds promising, I'll try and get up there to check it out soon...