Band can't beat city fame
By Georgina Ladd |
April 2, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Beat Appreciation Society is a folk-rock band that formed last year in Suzhou, bringing together eclectic musical influences in their debut album "Under the Influence."
It's all inspired by their life experiences, which, helped by a touch of fate, brought them all to a small city in eastern China.
The five members of TBAS traveled to China from the UK, United States and Japan individually for study, work, family and a love story, but ended up finding music too.
Suzhou may not seem like an obvious choice for a musician, especially in comparison with nearby Shanghai, but keyboard player Henry Curiel says the Suzhou music scene is definitely growing with the number of bands having quadrupled over the past few years, making the city a dynamic and exciting place to play.
"There is a great social scene between the musicians in Suzhou, we can jam with each other, bounce ideas off each other and support each other without treading on anyone's toes," says Rich Moreton, guitarist and front man, from London.
In addition to this, the Chinese music scene is not to be overlooked, says Jim "Smoothy" Snyder (trumpet), who previously played in a Chinese jazz band.
"Although Chinese bands often play a very different style of music from us, it is still great to play with them, learn from them and them from us, meet more people and share more music," Snyder says. "It is a shame that there are not more venues in Suzhou which allow both Western and Chinese musicians to play together, but hopefully that will change in the future."
The other band members are Yuki Kameya on bass guitar, and Spencer Potter on drums and percussion.
The band has played in a number of cities, including Shanghai,Wuxi in Jiangsu and Ningbo inZhejiang Province.
But for them, Suzhou is a real symbol of modern China, a mix of culture, history and innovation.
"You can be in the ancient district of Suzhou by a canal, walk a few blocks down the street and suddenly you will be in front of a modern shopping mall," says Curiel.
"This might seem superficial but it is the very thing that makes Suzhou the place that it is, the fact that it can embrace both the past and the present in such an accessible way."
In addition to the band's local haunts, such as Goodfella's and The Drunken Chef, there is a growing recognition of The Beat Appreciation Society throughout Suzhou, thanks to the great response their debut album "Under the Influence" attracted. It was well-received, a result of hard work and dedication over 18 months, Moreton says.
The band is now taking a break from gigging and working on its second album. Although Moreton is the main songwriter, the band interprets his ideas in their own way.
"It's like being given a template from which to fill out the music and make it our own," Potter says. "That's what drumming especially is all about, just going with the music and having the ability to change it."
For more information, visit http://thebeatappreciationsociety.com. The album is available on iTunes.
Meet the band
Rich Moreton
Vocals, guitar
Nationality: British
Biggest musical influences:Paul Weller and Neil Young
Henry Curiel
Keyboard
Nationality: American
Biggest musical influence:The Beatles
Spencer Potter:
Drums
Nationality: American
Biggest musical influence:His drum teacher
Jim Snyder
Trumpet, harmonica
Nationality: American
Biggest musical influence:Miles Davis
Yuki Kameya
Bass guitar
Nationality: Japanese
Biggest musical influence:Marcus Miller
Q&A
Motto for life
Moreton: "Keep on Keepin' on" - Curtis Mayfield
Snyder: It is what it is.
Favorite gig in Suzhou:
Snyder: Every gig is the best gig!
Favorite track from your album"
Moreton: Track 3 "Portland." You can really hear Kame's incredible bass playing!
Something you didn't know:
Curiel: I'm a magician! I don't speak Chinese, but I use magic to make friends and communicate with people. You get looked at as a foreigner, and since they have my attention, I like to do something to make them remember me, and that's magic. Everyone needs a little magic in their life once in a while.
Strangest sight in Suzhou:
Moreton/Curiel: An amazing sight is when you see a guy on a moped with about 100 wicker chairs strapped on the back. You have to wonder, how did he assemble it and get on his way! Or if it isn't wicker chairs, then it's a whole family!
Worst experience:
Snyder: I don't think I have a worst experience. If something happens, you just deal with it, although catching a taxi a certain times can be difficult.
Moreton: When someone asked me to sing an Enrique Iglesias cover.
How to improve Suzhou:
Curiel: When they eventually finish all the construction. As soon as something new is built, they start something else - it's never-ending.
Moreton: More gig venues for Westerners.
Potter: More festivals and park days.
It's all inspired by their life experiences, which, helped by a touch of fate, brought them all to a small city in eastern China.
The five members of TBAS traveled to China from the UK, United States and Japan individually for study, work, family and a love story, but ended up finding music too.
Suzhou may not seem like an obvious choice for a musician, especially in comparison with nearby Shanghai, but keyboard player Henry Curiel says the Suzhou music scene is definitely growing with the number of bands having quadrupled over the past few years, making the city a dynamic and exciting place to play.
"There is a great social scene between the musicians in Suzhou, we can jam with each other, bounce ideas off each other and support each other without treading on anyone's toes," says Rich Moreton, guitarist and front man, from London.
In addition to this, the Chinese music scene is not to be overlooked, says Jim "Smoothy" Snyder (trumpet), who previously played in a Chinese jazz band.
"Although Chinese bands often play a very different style of music from us, it is still great to play with them, learn from them and them from us, meet more people and share more music," Snyder says. "It is a shame that there are not more venues in Suzhou which allow both Western and Chinese musicians to play together, but hopefully that will change in the future."
The other band members are Yuki Kameya on bass guitar, and Spencer Potter on drums and percussion.
The band has played in a number of cities, including Shanghai,Wuxi in Jiangsu and Ningbo inZhejiang Province.
But for them, Suzhou is a real symbol of modern China, a mix of culture, history and innovation.
"You can be in the ancient district of Suzhou by a canal, walk a few blocks down the street and suddenly you will be in front of a modern shopping mall," says Curiel.
"This might seem superficial but it is the very thing that makes Suzhou the place that it is, the fact that it can embrace both the past and the present in such an accessible way."
In addition to the band's local haunts, such as Goodfella's and The Drunken Chef, there is a growing recognition of The Beat Appreciation Society throughout Suzhou, thanks to the great response their debut album "Under the Influence" attracted. It was well-received, a result of hard work and dedication over 18 months, Moreton says.
The band is now taking a break from gigging and working on its second album. Although Moreton is the main songwriter, the band interprets his ideas in their own way.
"It's like being given a template from which to fill out the music and make it our own," Potter says. "That's what drumming especially is all about, just going with the music and having the ability to change it."
For more information, visit http://thebeatappreciationsociety.com. The album is available on iTunes.
Meet the band
Rich Moreton
Vocals, guitar
Nationality: British
Biggest musical influences:Paul Weller and Neil Young
Henry Curiel
Keyboard
Nationality: American
Biggest musical influence:The Beatles
Spencer Potter:
Drums
Nationality: American
Biggest musical influence:His drum teacher
Jim Snyder
Trumpet, harmonica
Nationality: American
Biggest musical influence:Miles Davis
Yuki Kameya
Bass guitar
Nationality: Japanese
Biggest musical influence:Marcus Miller
Q&A
Motto for life
Moreton: "Keep on Keepin' on" - Curtis Mayfield
Snyder: It is what it is.
Favorite gig in Suzhou:
Snyder: Every gig is the best gig!
Favorite track from your album"
Moreton: Track 3 "Portland." You can really hear Kame's incredible bass playing!
Something you didn't know:
Curiel: I'm a magician! I don't speak Chinese, but I use magic to make friends and communicate with people. You get looked at as a foreigner, and since they have my attention, I like to do something to make them remember me, and that's magic. Everyone needs a little magic in their life once in a while.
Strangest sight in Suzhou:
Moreton/Curiel: An amazing sight is when you see a guy on a moped with about 100 wicker chairs strapped on the back. You have to wonder, how did he assemble it and get on his way! Or if it isn't wicker chairs, then it's a whole family!
Worst experience:
Snyder: I don't think I have a worst experience. If something happens, you just deal with it, although catching a taxi a certain times can be difficult.
Moreton: When someone asked me to sing an Enrique Iglesias cover.
How to improve Suzhou:
Curiel: When they eventually finish all the construction. As soon as something new is built, they start something else - it's never-ending.
Moreton: More gig venues for Westerners.
Potter: More festivals and park days.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
