EVALUATION: Black Violin @ MAO Livehouse
By Daniel Cheng

The name isn’t entirely creative, but the music certainly is.

Things can get pretty stagnant around here. Sure, you can go to Muse for the third time this week, but as for good live music, your choices are limited.
Not to fret: the duo from Florida, Kev and Wil, put on a spectacular show Thursday night at MAO Livehouse, sponsored by the USA Pavilion. Kev and Wil are no strangers to touring, having just returned from performing for the troops in Iraq. Full of spirit and vigor, BLACK VIOLIN gave non-stop energy to their performance, covering top 40 hits by Rihanna, Drake, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and of course, Flo Rida. Black Violin takes music to an astral plane – beyond the normal sound systems and microphones.  A strong sense of pride was in their music, exemplified by their synergy as a band. Beyond the covers were beautiful originals and modern renditions to classical pieces.
Who wants to hear some Bach?
Check out their comprehensive blackviolin. There’s plenty of free samples to listen to.
 

The participants in the dance party that erupted towards the end of Teengirl Fantasy’s set at YuYinTang last night would have been completely worn down by the end of the night if luck hadn’t blessed us with some miraculously cool weather - or at least as cool as Shanghai can get in August.  Thankfully, we were greeting with much needed (somewhat) fresher air after the show.

Earlier, Pairs had opened the show, with their half sloppy, half spazzy noise-rock markedly dividing the crowd. Perhaps unsurprisingly considering the confrontational nature of their music (especially compared with the many more conservative Shanghai bands), quite a few people had strong reactions to Pairs. Many I spoke to afterwards told me they hated them, although others professed to love them. I count myself a fan, and although their tunes can be a bit hit or miss, buried under occasionally jarring deliveries are some pretty great songs. In any case, the divisiveness of their music suggests that Pairs are certainly an up and coming band to watch on the Shanghai scene – there are definitely good things coming from these guys.

Teengirl Fantasy took the stage sometime past eleven, and from the get-go their blissed-out synth washes, an array of diverse samples and Nick Weiss’s animated dancing told the crowd they were in for something special. Called back for two encores, the crowd loved their slowly morphing and crescendo-ing dance tracks, even looking for a third encore after the already unexpected second. Often lumped in with the current chillwave bunch, Teengirl Fantasy actually started up before last years “summer of chillwave”, and their set last night drew from a much broader sound palette than most musicians of the genre; disco, trip-hop, house and even elements of dubstep were all showcased. They played every song I’d heard by them, along with a few that I hadn’t – presumably from their upcoming True Panther debut, 7AM. They seemed like pretty cool guys as well, as a friend of mine who hung out with Logan at a bar afterwards will attest to.

In all it was a great time; rad tunes and a lot of fun. Shanghai will definitely welcome these guys back should they return.
 

"This song is about cold, hard cash."

Dan Boeckner and Alexei Perry, the duo which makes up the Montreal based indie-rock band Handsome Furs, was back again for another overcapacity show in Shanghai @ YuYinTang- this time remaking the world and creating a better future for all of us. Immediately they won the crowd over with their comment on our gaudy sightseeing tunnel. And the obvious acknowlegement, that yes, it was fucking hot.

Playing songs from Plague Park and Face Control, Handsome Furs hit it home with every song with incredible amounts of energy. Dan and Alexei have astounding stage presence, and their focused vision is what exemplifies it. The greasy weather seemed to add to the grunge ambiance. They wanted us to dance. They wanted us to interact. Moshing, crowd surfing, cigarette smoking while crowd surfing; all part of the cauldron of grime that seemed to be boiling and waiting to explode all over your face.

Alexei constantly pumped out smooth beats and Dan brought intense riffs. "Radio Kaliningrad" was full of decadent fuzz and well-executed sharp beats. The indie spirit was high and the overture proved it. It's a detachment from the masses and a free flight home for those who long for indie rock. Unfortunately the set was short (just under an hour), leaving us craving for more.
Introductory economics tells us that the demand for indie rock in Shanghai is high, yet the supply is low. The venues exist, and so do the fans.

CocoRosie at MAO Livehouse – August 4^th 2010

Comprised of sisters Sierra and Bianca Cassidy, CocoRosie are something of an enigma. From their unusual upbringing to bizarre publicity shots in which the Cassidys have been known to don fake moustaches, CocoRosie are a group that never ceases to shun expectations and mystify their audience.

 

Last night’s performance however, simply amazed.

 

The animal-shaped balloons that adorned the stage, along with the contrast between Sierra’s skin-tight bodysuit and Bianca’s backwards cap, lacy top and baggy shorts mirrored perfectly the weirdness of the duo’s music - and perhaps set off alarm bells in the heads of many. Indeed, CocoRosie’s music is known for its divisiveness, with its detractors often criticizing it for being overly cutesy; a claim that is perhaps fair in light of their frequent use of toys in their music, or Bianca’s Joanna Newsom-esque coo.

 

Nevertheless, they played to a surprisingly large audience, especially considering the pitiful turnout at Marnie Stern’s recent show at Mao Livehouse. Once the show had begun however, it became apparent that the size and enthusiasm of the audience was certainly warranted as the sisters and their backing band - including an extremely impressive beat boxer – played an excellent fourteen song set and returned twice to the stage for encores.

 

Although they drew mostly from their latest release, 2010’s Grey Oceans, songs from Noah’s Ark and The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn also found their way into the set, and despite the notable lack of tracks from their 2004 debut, La Maison De Mon Reve, the show was an enormous success. Though CocoRosie are often branded “freak-folk”, there is really little that is “folk” about their music, as their live show’s numerous hip hop beats, bass drops and unexpectedly infrequent use of acoustic instruments can attest to. Songs like K-Hole and RIP Burn Face were injected with serious amounts of bass and transformed into incredibly danceable pop/hip hop/opera tunes, much to the crowd’s delight. Fan-favourite Werewolf, performed as the first encore song, was a particularly notable moment. As with many of the night’s songs, it was structured slightly differently to its recorded counterpart, and the omission of the chorus until near the end of the song proved for a powerful conclusion to the performance.

 

Admittedly there were a few points at which the audience’s interest dwindled - mostly when songs featured too much of either Bianca’s nasally rapping or Sierra’s operatic vocals (the best ones balanced both) – but on the whole the show was truly great. The Cassidys and their super-tight band took what were personal, quiet songs on record and turned them into danceable but still beautiful ones live. What resulted was a pretty stellar live music experience that was paradoxically both intimate and communal.

 

 

Setlist –

RIP Burn Face

Undertaker

Black Rainbow/Rainbowarriors

The Moon Asked the Crow

Lemonade

Animals

K-Hole

Tez (Beatboxing)

Hopscotch

God Has a Voice, She Speaks Through Me

Grey Oceans

Happy Eyez

Promise

Fairy Paradise

 

Encore One:

Werewolf

Tranny Power

 

Encore Two:

Beautiful Boyz

What’s the strongest memory of your latest transatlantic flight?  Double or nothing says it’s the curve of that sweet stewardess’ hips and not those drinks you downed to take the edge off.  Pray tell: what stopped you from making those fantasies a reality?  What force could have stopped a person so young, so vital?  Oh yes, that’s right.  Common decency.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Da Tong Mill, where common decency is usually found hanging somewhere by the door next to your best friend’s Zegna jacket.  The only, and I mean only, way to complete a neighborhood like this is to top it with man’s greatest phallic symbol, then light the joint up with the most libertine color in the spectrum.  

D10 Ultra Lounge has landed, and this airplane of a club is more than a little aware of its provenance.   Coats in the overhead compartment, DJ in the cockpit—just when you begin wonder if it’s too novel to be convincing, you realize you’re playing 100% into the fantasy.  And with such friendly, fastidious service from uniformed boys in crisp hats and dolls in short shifts, be prepared to indulge (and I mean indulge a few extra bills, because some of the electric bill is in that drink).    

Hip hop beats and decent booze keep the conversation wet, while the purple glow—despite its striking resemblance to a Virgin America flight—keep things hypnotic.  The buzz is hot and cool down this shaft, and oh what a length of shaft it is.

Wait—that there?  Could it really be that sweet thing from your last flight?  Just make sure it’s not the purple haze talking.

I shouldn’t really have to say much more, however if you are not savvy to this hip movement, here’s the deal. Tom gives a new pair of shoes to a kid that needs them every time someone purchases a pair. We can all get behind a movement in humanity like that, right? Not to mention, these are quiet possibly the most comfortable shoes ever made, I think I will be wearing my ash grey pair until they fall off my feet. For a woman with hundreds of shoes, that’s a pretty incredible statement.

Guys can rock them with just about anything, and the cutest girls I’ve seen in TOMS are wearing shorts or rompers (the hot pant kind of rompers!)

For putting this look together in Shanghai… I’d suggest ordering your TOMS online & then getting your H&M on in town.

One for One.

I wonder what kid is getting to enjoy a pair of TOMS as much as I am.

 
Ciao!

Crystal

Summer is finally showing her colors in Shanghai cityscapes and the windows of your local wears are starting to brighten up as well.

This Spring, make it your earth friendly goal to recycle all the old plastics in your house ~ you know that drawer filling up with bags you had to buy because you forgot to carry your stylish shopper to the market. Toss them out to the recycling carts and for the love of fashion, don’t forget to leave your Crocs at the corner too.

This season focus first on your footwear. The more people there are in a city the more time you will spend looking down at their kicks. Make yours shine and you might even be able to rock them at M1nt this summer.

There are a few great places in Shanghai to satisfy sneaker fiends, my favorite place to look is a street culture staple on Xinle lu, Source. You can find everything trending there from minimalism to rock solid bling and limited edition artist collaborations. Peek around a little longer and you might find something else that catches your eye to complete the look… and hopefully you’ll be dropping jaws in the metro too.

Street style has a wonderful way of being easy to assemble. Now that you have your kicks in order ~ find a great pair of jeans. Shredded, faded, tumbled, washed, worn, ripped, skinny, and just waiting for you to rock them all summer long. For girls I’d even go as far as to suggest getting yourself extra fit that you can rock the ever present shanghai staple also know as ~ the denim hot pant. Was there ever a greater design idea? Its arguable… just make sure you sport a well worn wash this season, pair it with the highest heels money can buy you on Shaanxi nan lu and you’ll be ripe for the picking this summer.

Last but not least…. Tee’s, Tee’s, and more Tee’s ~ the attack of the T-shirt is coming this Spring like you’ve never seen it before. Graphics are everywhere, in Shanghai, you’ve Uniqlo, American Apparel and H&M cranking out new styles every two weeks, so there’s plenty of room for updating your look. Girls can even get on the retro trend and try out loose shapes or even create your own custom look by cutting off the sleeves, or cutting out the neckband to make a boat neck or an off the shoulder tee….

Last but not least… grab some gold accessories. They are sexy, and so hot on trend you might be caught digging through your granny’s jewelry box to find forgotten treasures.

Peace & Love,
Crystal
 

Game*Bling is a new venue opened by the people that give you the ever-popular Bar Rouge. The harbinger of a revolution, the party expert Mattia Visconti brings to you PERVERT, a leather fetish party. The result: a twisted marriage between a sexy Halle Berry Catwoman and a certain scene from Pulp Fiction. Seldom does Shanghai have trysts for these types of events, but when it does occur, it certainly does not go unnoticed. Most party goers adhered to the strict, albeit naughty, all black or leather dress code for the night, trading their inhibitions for the callipygian ideal.

The beats were minimal house, creating a strange ambiance of beautiful, walking art in a gothic environment. Imagine in the middle of the club, there lay a boxing ring. Adorned with a dominatrix. Bar to your left, over sized bird cages to your right, and behind all of that, a glass wall. Behind that glass wall stood three anatomically perfect incognito human beings, as mysterious as their windblown hair was. To top it all off, both figuratively and literally, upon the highest platform stood a charmingly decorated leather midget.

Divinity has been found in Shanghai. In the form of handcuffs and a leather whip.

Daniel Cheng

Let me start this by saying that deep down I really do love the Shanghai music scene. Yes, I am prone to talking shit about it on occasion, but when you’ve been going to shows here since thirteen you inevitably develop a bond with it. In a way it’s a familial kind of thing, having grown up with it and all, except that I’ve always felt like somewhat of an outsider. In previous years I think it was because I was so much younger than the rest of the crowd at the shows I went to, but more recently I feel like I’m becoming alienated from some of the music itself. There’s a sense of stagnancy in the creative output of certain local acts as of late that’s been increasingly hacking away at the love I have for this city’s scene. Needless to say, certain up-and-comers have really not been doing it for me.

Indeed, mediocre three-chord rock bands are seemingly multiplying in terrifying numbers. Who knows? Maybe they’ve always been here, but the increasing frequency of shows and venues for them to showcase themselves is making their presence more known. All I know is that there are some bands that seriously need to take some cues from Dan Shapiro (ex-Rogue Transmission, current Fever Machine) and co., or the now-defunct Banana Monkey, and observe how a rock and roll band can not induce yawns in its audience (harsh but true).

Don’t get me wrong though, I still have love for a lot of bands here. Like the ventures of Dan Shapiro, Boys Climbing Ropes are another local group who are always consistent in delivering a solid show. Their blood-soaked Halloween ’08 performance opening for Subs – complete with Little Punk crowd surfing over a packed Yuyintang crowd literally pushing the venue to breaking point - is still the stuff of legend.

And when one tires of garage rock and indie pop there is always the more experimental side of Shanghai music, the post-punk, shoegaze and math-rock influenced bands of which - although admittedly not quite as prevalent as their poppier counterparts – do exist in thankfully increasing numbers. At the heart of Shanghai’s experimental rock scene is Miniless records, founded by Hefei-born, Shanghai-based musician Han Han (of the super-good Lava Ox Sea and Duck Fight Goose). Its roster includes Boojii, who recently opened for Xiu Xiu at their Shanghai show, and the excellent Muscle Snog, along with a whole host of acts that are pushing the boundaries of Shanghai rock music.

I could continue and delve into the radness of venues like Yuyintang and the Shelter, or the insanity of Torturing Nurse and NOIShanghai, but everyone already knows how central they are to music in Shanghai. Instead, I’ll end by saying that what I’m really hoping for in the coming years from Shanghai music: a continuation of the trend begun by the Miniless crew in the sonic branching out of new bands, and a divulgence from the path of pop-rock done wrong.

Good Morning Shanghai,

Welcome to Your new City Moments 3.0!

Some of you might already know us since we took our first steps with This guy chasing every party ready to shoot everyone who could not hide. Since then we underwent several phases such as the implementation of Facebook Connect which gave us a kick-start just to take us 3 steps back as Facebook was blocked in China! Bad luck…..
Since then we saved every single Yuan to build what you see right now, City Moments 3.0

What is new?

First of all we dressed up a bit matching the long night of Shanghai. For those who don’t like dark colors don’t cry as we will introduce a white version sooner or later as well.
Photo Booster, a little toy to play around and rate pictures with Cute, Cool or Sexy tags….later you can see the top rated pictures in an overview.
Radio….yes we have one!! We partnered up with Udance to make your time on our site not only pleasant for your eyes but for your ears as well.
City Feed, the stream where you see what is happening throughout your city!
You might see this Like it! button spreading throughout the site and wonder what you can do with it!? Click on it to add an event to your calendar, add a picture or hangout to your favorites and show others some love with it.
What else is new? Ah yes we finally have community features implemented! You can now upload pictures, create a profile and write all these sexy girls n guys out there, tag people and comment on their pictures. Start right here.
Invite your friends to join you and share some special moments together.

All this is just the beginning and there is more to come….so keep on coming back to check on our famous event pictures, have a look at our event listing where you can check out what’s on tonight and vote for the next ICON (coming in 1 day).
For sure we want to know your opinion about everything and therefore we are happy about every comment may it be good or bad!
Positive criticism is the key to success.

Your City Moments Team

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