Another year; another onslaught of new releases to comb through. With the indie music scene at a much more fortunate place than say last year, it was clear that 2021 was going to be packed to the gills with new releases from every band and label under the sun. While many labels came out swinging this year, such as Maybe Mars, Ruby Eyes, and Eating Music, I noticed a lot more bands releasing their own music or, at the very least, holding back on releasing their music with some of the bigger names. I’m getting the sense that lots of people are approaching the musical landscape with more perspec ..read more

Too many gigs, too little time… My days of going out on the weekend are numbered. Simple truth. Between trying to keep my body in one piece, raise a newborn daughter, and find a more profitable, less physically exhausting hobby – I give myself another year max. And in typical passive-aggressive fashion, I’ve vowed to get in as many shows as possible till that day arrives. Do I dare count the number of shows I’ve been to this year? All I know is I’m ending the year with the back pain of a 60-year old man, a busted camera, and mountains of student debt. But damn, those were some kick-ass gigs ..read more

THE BOOTLEGS 靴腿 – 鬼 (Qingdao/SJ Records) Backspace 退格- 彩虹兔 (Beijing/Maybe Mars) Floating in the Mist 悬在雾中 – 阴影 (Dalian/Cold Neo) The Molds – 艺女忧伤 (Beijing/Space Fruity Records) Fayzz – 江河日上 (Chengdu/New Noise) Silent Speech 沉默演讲 – 预兆 (Beijing/Ruby Eyes Records) Wutiaoren 五条人 – 活生生的生活 (Guangzhou/Modern Sky) Qunxiang 群像 – 奶酪士兵 (Chengdu/Modern Sky) Sweet Sister Session – Moon Trance (Wuhan/Self-Released)  Wasted Laika 丢莱卡 – 春天音乐 (Beijing/TaiHe) The Claptraps-On My Surround (Beijing/nugget records) Oh! Dirty Fingers 脏手指 – 我想有个家 (Shanghai/脏手指武工队) Little Wizard 小巫师 – 囚岛 (Shaoxing/Space Circle ..read more

Live China Music’s Carpe Diem returns with a vengeance this weekend, welcoming in 2022 with a bang. For the occasion, we’ve rounded up a motley crew of unruly, defiant, and ruthless bands that’ll turn the neon-soaked halls of C’s Bar into a moshpit of wild-eyed debauchery, uproarious disorder, and fist-pumping comradery as Hangzhou punk outfit Against All joins Shanghai’s own hardcore ruffians Rat King, pop punk renegades Taco Tuesday and grunge-inflicted alt rockers Kill Automation.  LCM主办的Carpe Diem系列演出本周末即将复仇归来，要给2022一记重击。这种局不来几个狠角色就撑不起C’s霓虹饱和的地下角斗场：杭州的朋克乐队Against All将与上海的硬核流氓Rat King ..read more

Sense Print Shop 涂闻打印店, Daydream Secrets 白日密语, Zoogazer 动物园钉子户 – Modernsky Lab 2021.12.23 It’s been a fine year for Shengjian Records. The label seems to have transformed itself over the past year into the defining go-to-label for indie pop in China- everything from The 尺口MP’s debut to Jo’s Moving Day has been top of the line stuff. They seem to have an eye for building up bands with word-of-mouth and sly marketing – all done with a deft personable touch. Said personable touch was there last Thursday night at Modernsky Lab where the label held their annual Tropical Christmas showcase – deckin ..read more