Shit review for a good band.

IN...BLOGS

Went to Yuyintang on Tueday.
Saw a band.
Biubiu.
Really liked them. Real fun..
Played 5 originals. The last three were pretty balls out good.

Doesn’t really matter what I say. There are some videos below. Watch them and make up your own mind, yih.
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/M38uFJdNYZQ/
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/J47IHw9sUkI/

Guess which video I took. If you said the real shit out of focus one, you’re right.

If you like it, here’s their douban: http://site.douban.com/biubiubiu/
Here’s their email if you want to get in touch and book them: 30477090@qq.com
If you don’t like it, that’s cool. Whatever works for you.

xxoo

D Club

IN...BLOGS

Simple blog post, yih.
Went to D Club today, a new bar under the guts of some building out in Yangpu, just near Dalian Lu subway station on Line 4.
Place was pretty ace. Had some good gear and a nice set up. I know a few bands have played there. Battle Cattle helped put me in touch and when I was there I saw a video of Androsace playing there. Also saw a video of Scary Magic playing in D Club to a rabid crowd full of crowd surfing.

The owner, Pheel, was heaps nice to talk to and open to pretty much any idea I threw at him and had some real good ideas himself. All about the musician and the good time.

I reckon if you’re looking for a new place to hit up to play a show, or some new crowds to play to be pretty good word to go hit up Pheel at pheel.shanghaidclub@gmail.com or 13916615970.
A bunch of universities and students out in Yangpu. Pheel’s cool with organising drink specials, whatever kind of ticket system you want and up for going as late as you want. Pretty aye oh kaye.

Just saying. Go in for a chat and get the idea ball rolling if that's something you're interested in.

xxoo

NEW SUPPORT BANDS, PLEASE

IN...BLOGS

2011 was a super good year for Shanghai bands touring about the place, releasing stuff, working hard and chucking together heaps sick parties.

Can we please try and make 2012 the year of different support bands?

I don’t reckon I’m alone when I say I’m tired of the same line ups and same support bands at every second show. I realise Pairs is part of the problem, and we’re going to try and be part of the solution next year.; by finding some new bands and bringing them in to the circle jerk.
But really, if it’s a big show in your honour and there is no real danger of there not being a crowd; can we pick some bands that haven’t already played Yuyintang 4 times in the last month?

I know the thing about playing with friends and keeping it in the family and how often the bands supporting all the time are the most oganised and easiest to book, but shit’s becoming tiresome.
If you’re putting together a show, do a quick Douban hunt for Shanghai bands or some band in Hangzhou looking to come to the bigger smoke or ask around – I’m sure there are heaps of bands around there ready for a chance to play some shows who don’t really know how to go about it.

Know I’m going to get the shit kicked out of me in the comments and probably in real life and I’m coming across like a real preachy cunt and all that, but the line ups are getting fuck boring and whilst there are shows every weekend and that's awesome, it’s like Groundhog’s Day at the moment. Hurts the brain hard.

xxoo

THINGS WE'VE LEARNED FROM HANGING OUT WITH ROCKSTARS

IN...BLOGS

Things we've learned from hanging out with rockstars.

Having your other band members set up your stuff whilst you sit back stage is bullshit. Having them play an intro song so you can walk out after them is double bullshit. Everyone in your band is equal. Just because you’re the singer doesn’t make you the most important member.

If you’re a booker and you aren’t communicating with performers, sending worksheets, constantly sending information, making sure things run on time, helping with promotion and if you aren’t constantly reflecting and saying ‘what can I do better next time?’ then you are the problem and you are holding back a bunch of talented musicians and people who are there to pump money in to your venue. Get organised, get proactive and get friendly otherwise fuck off and think of some other money making scheme.

Being in a band doesn’t give you a right to be rude to anyone. Strumming some guitar strings and singing about your ex-girlfriend doesn’t give you a license to treat people like shit. Be nice, everyone has hobbies. Just because your hobby is being in a band doesn’t make you better than anyone else.

What’s going on with that one band member of every band who feels the need to dress up? Looks odd when 4 members are wearing their normal clothes and one guy is in some rainbow suit with a gasmask and a headband. Was there some kind of miscommunication at band practice?

If you want a show, ask for it. Don’t wait for people to call. Not how shit works. Be active, email and call bookers and remind them that you’re alive. It’s the best way to get shows. Complaining about never getting any shows and then going home and sitting on your couch waiting for the phone to ring is moronic. Take the first step.

One hour to sound check is too much. Hurts the brain and the ears. It’s called a sound check, not a band practice. Check your levels, do half a song and get the fuck off the stage.

Waiting for more people to arrive before you start is super rude to those people who got their early to see you. Don’t punish the early birds by waiting for the lazy unorganised jerks to get to the show.

Hey band, I know you have 7 songs. 6 old classics and a new one that you just gotta show off, but learn to pick your set and understand that you’re only doing yourself a disservice. You could be the greatest band in the world, but too long is too long. Leave us wanting for the next show. Advertise what time the bands will play and stick to those times. Good for everyone. People can plan their night, bands know what’s happening and the show can run smoothly. Nothing worse than leaving a friend’s birthday party early to rush to show to see a band only to learn they are playing in 2 hours time.

When you get an email, just reading it is not enough. Reply to it. Let others know you got it and understand it. Can’t over communicate. Don’t be lazy, yeah.

Yo boys, be nice to your girlfriends. We always see them helping carry gear, sticking around til the end of the show so you can get your money, sitting through your sound check, watching your shitty practices, listening to you talk about your band whilst you do your hair, making red bow ties from paper so you can look nice for 28 minutes on stage and running to All Days to buy you some snacks and a bottle of water.

Yo girls, read the above and then think about whether or not you still want to date a guy in a band.

Get a thick skin. Not everyone is going to like your music. Do you like every band you hear? People will share their thoughts and criticisms. Don’t take it too personally. Just because they said ‘new song isn’t as good as your old song’ doesn’t mean ‘you’re a shit person and I hate you’ – just means ‘not digging your new stuff, no problem let’s still be friends!’ And honestly, your new song probably sucks.

Other bands aren’t your competition. Everyone wants the same thing. People at the show having a good time. Work together, yeah. Promote together, be nice to other bands, put on a good show that everyone can enjoy. Don’t sit in the backstage area patting yourself on the back and giving dirty looks to the other bands and pretending to be a rockstar. Support other bands by going out the front and watching them, talking to them, being a generally nice human being. Just because you saw it on a Michael Learns To Rock video doesn’t mean you have to do it at your show.

Drummers; you don’t need to show the crowd how to wave their arms back and fourth; people are people, they’ll do it if they want; don’t treat them like cattle.

Doing an encore when no-one cheered for it may be the worst thing ever.

Thanks for reading!

Love Pairs
xxoo