MAO Livehouse returns this weekend following almost two months of renovations. Will they have sorted out the sound problems? Will they have done away with the frustrating bar token system? Unfortunately, neither change is likely - seems all they've really done is a bit of work on the floor; it's gone from black to grey. No, really. Anyway, you can check out such revolutionary changes on Friday as New Noise bring Japanese sunshine rockers The fin. to town.
Elsewhere, the recent spate of permit problems has hit Friday night's bill at Yuyintang, with the originally stated Tempalay show 'cancelled' (nudge nudge wink wink), there's Thai retro synth stylings at Harley's (also on Friday) and British metal act Fathoms round out the weekend with a Sunday show at YYT. Oh, and don't forget it's The Temper Trap's show on Monday night too - we're giving you the chance to see the show and meet the guys for free.
FRIDAY
Tarra Conner Jones
Retro cocktail lounge and live music bar Heyday and swinging soul joint Shake introduce a new singer to their roster: Tarra Conner Jones. The Florida native has drawn comparisons to the likes of Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan and is already knocking audiences off their feet here in Shanghai with her varied repertoire of jazz and soul classics.
Heyday 50 Taian Lu. 9.30pm. 60RMB.
The fin.
Japanese rockers The fin. are New Noise's first show of 2017 and one of the first in the newly renovated MAO Livehouse. The young quartet cite WashedOut and Toro y Moi as influences, but their breezy guitar-laden pop sound owes more to the likes of Beach Fossils and Phoenix and if you didn't know otherwise, you'd probably guess they were from California rather than Kobe.
MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu. 9pm. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).
Rage of the Machine Night
Synthy electro-rock act Wasabi Bytes land in Shanghai from their native Thailand to headline a night named after their Afrika Islam-featuring song (watch below). Support comes from locally-based rawk outfit Round Eye, Popasuda founder Skinny Brown and DJ BO. There'll also be art on display from nightlife photographer Sesa Wu.
Harley's 265 Nandan Dong Lu. 9.30pm. 60RMB.
Shanghai Indie
Two of our Shanghai bands to watch in 2017 - art rockers Dream Can and Nonplus of Color - come together at YYT with support from Fuzhou-founded 尺口MP, who cite The Cribs and The Strokes among their main influences.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu. 9pm. 60RMB.
SATURDAY
Leon Music and Friends
This show at MAO Livehouse brings together products such as Bearbrick and Friends with DJ Lina K and Chinese bands The Samans, Nerve Resistance, St Rock and more.
MAO Livehouse 308 Chongqing Nan Lu. 7.30pm. 120RMB.
Denise Minnifield & Chico
Expect a soulful, R&B-filled night as these two locally-based singers join forces at retro cocktail lounge and live bar Heyday.
Heyday 50 Taian Lu. 9.30pm. 60RMB.
Ogenix
Beijing-based Canadian metalcore outfit Ogenix headline at Inferno with support from Shanghai hardcore favourites Spill Your Guts and metal act Hitobashira.
Inferno 658 Longhua Dong Lu. 9pm. 60RMB.
SUNDAY
Angie Evenou
French singer Anne Evenou selects a range of jazz classics and contemporary favourites for her latest set at retro cocktail lounge Heyday.
Heyday 50 Taian Lu. 9.30pm. Free.
Fathoms
Brighton-based band Fathoms come to Shanghai courtesy of local promoters/band collective Playful Warrior. Fathoms' sound fuses elements of straight-up metal with touches of hardcore.
Yuyintang 851 Kaixuan Lu. 9pm. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).
BOOK AHEAD
Owen Pallet
Canadian Owen Pallett has learned to play violin since his childhood, and he gave his first performance when he was 15. Later, he began to love indie pop, and cooperated with many famous indie pop groups, including The Hidden Cameras and Arcade Fire. Such communications enrich Pallett’s music, and he makes indie pop sounds gorgeous and complicated like Baroque music. His silky voice endows his music a kind of popular sense of hearing, and the dazzling arrangement will bring surprises to his audience at any time.
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall 1380 Fuxing Zhong Lu. Apr 22. 19.45pm. 80-180RMB. Long press and extract the QR code above to buy tickets.
