I've been planning on writing this since early March when I first saw this month's event calendar at Nuts Club.  It is rare that I get genuinely excited for shows(concerts) since moving to Chongqing, and a weekend full of excitable performances is near unheard of.  For over a month I've been thinking about what to say, and how to convince the faithful few of you to get off your asses and check out some of the best bands China has to offer.  And for over a month I have put it off, knowing that more often than not, my words fall on empty ears, and yet another night(or in this case 3) will pass, and great talents will go unheard.  Until now, roughly 3 hours before the weekend's live music extravaganza kicks off, and the guilt of not sharing my knowledge of said talents is settling in.  I know that regardless of what I say, it doesn't really matter.  You may read this, and think, "oh cool, there actually is something exciting happening on Chongqing for once.  Maybe I'll go see what this 'Nuts Club' is all about."  But chances are, you won't.  Despite the fact that China's most revered indie-pop band, and participants in last fall's prestigious CMJ music week in New York CIty, Hedgehog will be playing tonight, you'll probably stick to the same old song and dance, be it Cotton club, The Harp, KTV, 88, or any of a number of the monotonous nightlife options this cits has to offer.  And Hedgehog, is just the tip of the iceberg, for Saturday and Sunday's bands are easily the most popular of China's indie contingency.  

Saturday brings the hottest ticket in the country to our fog filled city, in the form of Queen Sea Big Shark.  Playing to sold out crowds of foreigners and locals alike, and fresh off a showing at Austin's South by Southwest(SXSW) music festival, this garage/dance rock outfit's reputation for high-energy, charismatic live performances has been on the up and up for the past couple of years, and is showing no signs of slowing up.  Being that this is their first showing in Chongqing, I expect the heads to be out in full force, dancing from the first note on through the encore.  

And though QSBS is the hottest thing this side of the pacific, Sunday's act, Mogolian folk-rockers Hanggai, are no slouch.  Their blend of traditional Mongolian music, including the infamous throat singing, played in a rock & roll(dare I say punk?) structure, has gained them praise around the world.  Pitchfork.com, the website responsible for making Rolling Stone magazine all but obsolete, gave their album a rating of 8.0, better than both Radiohead's latest album and Jay-Z's greatest hits.  

Granted, live music is not for everyone, and even if it is your thing, maybe the styles of the three bands presented aren't up your alley.  That being said, I've heard the ole, "there's nothing interesting going on in Chongqing," and "this city is soooo boring," more times than I'd care to, and if you're one of those people, and you fail to give these up and coming bands the slightest of chances, consider this a back handed bitch slap in your face.  

Neither a band, nor a single man, Sighborg takes on as many incarnations as the possible spelling of its name.  Some times SIghhhhhhborg, others ssiigghhbboorrgg, the one thing that remains constant is the order in which the letters fall.  Fitting for a band...er...artist...er...uhhh... music making entity, who'm  is as likely to improvise, as it is to make music.  

Prior to next week's Nuts Club performance(Monday, 4/4), we had the opportunity to talk with Sean Maylone, the man behind Sighbooooorg about, Sighhhhhhborg, cyborgs, and "nerd rage."

CQSCENE: Can you explain a little bit what sighborg is all about?


Sighborg: Ripping tunes in a stand-out fashion tween the rock vibe and computer vibe, with an incomplete of either tradition.

CQSCENE: Listening to your music, particularly the 8-bit elements, it would seem that you draw inspiration from video games.  What game(s) have had the most impact on you and your music?

Sighborg: All the mega mans are really good spazz jazz stuff. A lot of games have fun calypso kinda styles i like. the final fantasy series had a few heartbreak sound tracks before declining into self-satirizingly awful,  batshit insane JRPG reality. No one but nerds might know what i mean by that, and nerds tend to forgive/overlook, but seriously, google final fantasy and you'll see just ridiculous stuff, guys with 12 foot long swords and wearing 5 or 6 belts. nerd rage!

CQSCENE: Do you get a lot of the cos-play kids to your shows? I imagine they might dig it.

Sighborg: There is a masquerade style of fan that dig it

CQSCENE: Does sighborg dream of electric sheep?
Sighborg:  I can cuss things on fire. I can cuss so bad, fires start.

CQSCENE: So. are you taking responsibility for the roof?

Sighborg: "my lips are seals"

CQSCENE: Who's the better cyborg? Van Dam(via Cyborg), Shwarzneggar(via Terminator), or Robo-cop?

Sighborg: Robocop is the tin man, he's got a heart in there! arnold is rad though. with james cameron's help they both created the suspension of disbelief that the future would need to send buffed-out cyborgs back in time wearing sunglasses and that actually SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF US!

CQSCENE: Musically,  which of history's many cyborgs best personifies Sighboorg?

Sighborg: Probably the six million dollar man. by the way, i just thought- do cyborgs use the expression "pre-op/post-op", like people who undergo sex changes?

CQSCENE:  I read somewhere that your shows often take on themes.  Have anything planned for the Chongqing show, or China tour in General?

Sighborg: We've been doing improv work that shapes out via sampling in the room and also the tone of the line-up. there are always a few punky songs, and IDM-style jams, but the set can go in other directions with the room. also different masks/vibes we choose after watching the collaborating bands. we like to jam with interesting local types on the fly at times too.

Sighborg plays Nuts Club, Monday, April 4, 20:30(30 rmb)

It wasn't long ago that if one wanted a cold, reasonably priced beer, in a relaxed environment in Chongqing they had to go to the "outside bar," aka "the umbrellas," in Jeifengbei.  And if the weather were (as it is now) miserable, you were better ditching the beer for the 'warmth' of your own home, or over-extending your stay at a hot-pot restaurant(if that's even possible) to slurp down bottles of Shan Cheng away from the elements.  

Thankfully my friends, those times are no longer upon us, as Chongqing now has a variety of well priced, non-deafening watering hulls that appease to both foreigners and locals alike.  With a growing beer list, featuring brews from Laos(15RMB Beer Laos) to Germany, and properly made cocktails such as the signature "Caribou Lou," the newest of which, billed as Chongqing's 'only reggae bar,' is Da Rasta.  

Located in the student-centric hub of Shapingba, Da Rasta, with its reggae, or 'rasta' inspired motif is a great new option for those who enjoy pool/billiard, darts, or conversation with their booze.  As befits the name, a steady stream of island rhythms makes up the typical soundtrack at Da Rasta, though the friendly staff are willing to accomodate a variety of musical tastes, just so long as it isn't death-metal or something equally obtrusive that you yearn for.  And if you fancy yourself an intellectual, or just need an excuse to drink on Tuesdays(for free if you win),  Da Rasta is host to Chongqing's only trivia night, every week at 21:00

Address: 重庆沙坪坝区(汉渝路/工人村)优派青年公寓B懂(near Hanyu Lu Bus station)
Phone: 18623364003

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As 2010 comes to an end, I'm left to reflect on the year that was.  Doing so evokes memories of events, and changes Chongqing has seen in the past year; CQ beer festival, legitimate western food, an Irish Pub, and main-stream media coverage. But what stick out in my mind most of all is the music.  For 2010 was a great year for music in a city often referred to as a cultural desert.
 And as I look out my window into a thick haze of urbanization, I try to recall where, for me, the year started.  Of course I could say January 1, or February 14(Chinese lunar new year), but anyone who's been here as long as I have knows that due to the perma-grey skies, and bone chilling weather December through February,  new year's  day in Chongqing might as well be March 1.  Or in my case, March 13.

March 13 is when I was blown away by Shanghai via Guizhou singer/MC ChaCha at Nuts Club, where many of my fondest memories form 2010 took place.  Not to mention a mere few days later when I had a night out with the infamous Dead Elvis, which included a vomitus high schooler, and a tranny-bar. Or on April first when a Norwegian Jazz trio played, featuring one of the sick-nastiest drummers I'd ever seen.  And later that spring when, 2 of China's best producers of electronic music, Liman and Sulumi(particularly Liman) rocked CiCi Park, Carsick Cars(in its original line-up) and 24Hours, played great high-energy sets at a near empty Nuts Club, Reptile Retard taking the energy through the roof with their unique style of "techno-soul," and Maybe Mars' return to Chongqing with Ourself Beside Me before the lull of summer.
And as the weather started to drop, the calendar began to fill-up, beginning in September with three nights of non-stop music from bands both foreign and local to celebrate Nuts Club's 3rd anniversary, featuring Chongqing's best Narrenschiff, BendT., The Wheels, and The Deep Green Sea.  As well as spectacular performances by Seattle freak-folksters the Cave Singers, and 'psycho-billy' band Knuckle Bone Oscar from Denmark.  October saw the return of ChaCha, this time with the entire Uprooted Sunshine Soundsystem, as well as legendary reggae producer Clive Chin. And later that fall when, recently named 'best band in China' Miserable Faith played to a packed house, Beijing up-and-comers Guai Li made their Chongqing debut and American instrumentalist Daniel Hart  pulled off an excellent rendition of 'One Night in Beijing,' with his violin and dance-pad.  Before the year was rounded out by two of my favorite bands from China's east coast, Dalian's Wang Wen, and Boys Climbing Ropes from Shanghai.  

Its hard to believe so much has happened in so little time.  It was no more than a year and half ago when Chongqing's live music options were limited to the odd show in a dark, dank, basement of a youth hostel, and the even more rare occurrence of 'dance' or 'electronic-music' parties.  And to think, the above is a mere selection from the artists' performances that stick out in my mind, having left out acclaimed artist, both foreign and domestic.  

The aforementioned local band The Deep Green Sea celebrated their 8th anniversary on New Year's day.  Having seen them a dozen or so times, I was once again captivated by their somewhat eerie, somewhat funky, chilled-out sound.  And if Chongqing's first 2011 show is anything to go buy, we should be in for yet another great year music, in what may be the only 'desert' in the world that is not expanding, but shrinking. 

This Friday, October 15th, Nuts Club plays host to Shanghai's Uprooted Sunshine Soundsystem's 5th anniversary tour.  A multinational crew of DJs, MCs, Singers and producers, with a reputation for turning out reggae infused rhythms, from roots to drum & bass.  In the run up to this weekend's Chongqing party we had a few word with one of Uprooted's founders, and an integral presence in the Shanghai music scene Garreth "Gaz" Williams aka DJ Drunk Monk. 

Us:  We'll start off with names and nationalities/home towns?

Them:  Ok, the two remaining founding members are Gaz AKA Drunk Monk from Manchester, UK and Israel AKA dji from Montrael, Canada. Then we have DJ Blaise Deville from Geneva, Switzerland, ChaCha from GuiZhou, China, Esia from France, Didje from Tahiti and Arminda from Portugal. Plus on this tour we have special guests Clive Chin from Jamaica and Selector Twice from New York.

Us:  How did UPROOTED come about in the beginning?

Them: Uprooted Sunshine was formed in November 2005 by Drunk Monk, dji and DJ Yo. Yo was doing a small reggae party in a bar called The Eager Beaver called 'Sunshine Is...', and after responding to a post on a forum asking for people to start a reggae night, Drunk Monk and dji met up for the first time at C's bar and decided to start a reggae night. The first party at C's was called Uprooted Sounds. The first party was a great success and after that Yo, dji and Drunk Monk joined forces to make Uprooted Sunshine. A few months later, Blaise Deville arrived in Shanghai and came to C's for an Uprooted night and soon after joined the crew. Uprooted continued there monthly parties at C's, but at the same time started a new night in a, then new, bar called Logo. Whilst on holiday in Shanghai, Didje came to one of the Logo parties and jumped on the mic, tearing up the party. He returned home, but soon after returned to Shanghai to join Uprooted. A year or so later, an unknown singer called ChaCha came to One Love (the weekly uprooted party at Logo which lasted for over 2 years) and got on the mic. After joining the parties a few times, it wasnt long until she was a proper member of the crew. Not long after, Esia and Arminda were introduced to the crew by a mutual friend and, after a short time in Korea, they returned to Shanghai to join Uprooted. This is just the short version of the story, there were many other members along the way, most notably Yas and Yufah from Japan, Don Dada and Saru from France and Boombadil from Italy.

Us: How has where you're from as well as you are now, influenced the music you make/play today?

Them:  We all share a love for reggae and jamaican music, but as we are all from different countries and backgrounds we all bring our own individual taste and experiences to the music. Some of us have a hiphop background, some drum and bass background, some a rock background, some of us even used to make pop music. We have all also had our own experiences in the music industry, from events management to performing and producing, so this is also a good aspect of the crew as we can all concentrate on the areas that we specialise in. Its quite a unique thing to have a group of 7 people who are all from different countries, and so with our individual styles and backgrounds we can appeal to a much wider audience. At the end of the day though, we are all the same really, we just like reggae music and want to spread it around china.

Us:  Gaz and Cha Cha, were in Chongqing last March with The Antidote, and if I remember correctly, Gaz was (understandingly) a bit upset by the early exit of most of the audience.  For those who haven't experienced an Uprooted party, can you tell the audience what they might expect, so as to assure they are properly prepared?

Them: The night is going to be a show from start to finish, so dont think about leaving early this time! The night will start off with dji's signature opening of dub grooves and heavy bass, followed by a special guest artist from ChongQing. After that we (Uprooted Sunshine) will perform our new live set which we have been putting together over the last few months. There are some brand new tracks in there (one written especially for the tour), plus some of our old favourites. After that is the main event - Mr Clive Chin and Selector Twice! Clive has been digging out some serious tracks for his set, including a Rocksteady tune from the early 60's sang in Mandarin, and also a track he made in the 70's entitled 'Shanghai'. Im sure the Uprooted MCs wont be able to stay off the mic for too long too....

Us: Any last words?

Them: We are all incredibly excited to be going on tour, and me myself (Gaz) am very happy to be playing back at Nutz. I had a great time last time (although it ended too early :) ) and this time I am with the full crew so its going to be a big one! We are putting every last bit of energy into the show, so we hope that you (the crowd) can give us that energy back!