It's summertime and we need music
By Brian Offenther |
July 26, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SUMMERTIME and the living is easy" is how George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, and DuBose Hayward described this season in their classic "Porgy and Bess." The song has been sung in its entirety, referenced, or played instrumentally by thousands since its inception in 1933.
It's a seemingly innocuous notion, but for hardcore music fans, it speaks to something scary. "Tell those guys to pick up their instruments and play!" can be heard as people (okay, me) scroll with disappointment at the lack of upcoming concerts. Let's go, guys!
Fortunately, a few acts have put out releases to hold us over until they hit the clubs with the same intensity we'd like. No, that we need!
An album released June 28 was the self-titled album by the Alec Haavik Friction Alliance. Haavik is a jazz saxophonist performing regularly at JZ Club (46 Fuxing Road, near Yongfu Road) and other venues. His group has expanded and contracted for years - he calls each combo a different part of the "friction universe." The current group features just a bass and drum rhythm section, with Haavik's sax playing using loops of sounds he plays with his saxophone and then triggers with gadgets he activates with his foot.
The album is jazz-fusion, using elements of traditional jazz along with bits of rock-based music, especially funk. Haavik's songs are dynamic, shifting rhythmically very quickly. Songs like "Step Into the Red Ball (… And You Will Expand)" are 15 minutes long, and have abstract lyrics and incredible complex melodies. What keeps it grounded is Alec's sense of fun and adventure. You can find this album at the JZ Club and JZ School (12 Wukang Road, near Hunan Road).
A bit more grounded is the work of local punk group Bigon Bijing, who released their debut album and played their last show on June 30. The album "College Companion For the Well Dressed Man" is straight ahead punk rock in the style of California groups in the early 1980s, such as the Dead Kennedys.
The group's focus is its strong point, with no-fuss songs keeping things local and tight. "We're the Live Bar Band" sings the group, referring to the rock club at 800 Guoshun Road E., near Shuangyang Road. "You're the Live Bar Crowd," they follow with, obviously. Some guitar, bass, and drums, a tiny bit of harmony vocals, and out. It's available on the band's Douban site (http://site.douban.com/bigongbijing/).
Finally, vinyl fans should check out the new album by AM444, a local electronic music duo featuring acclaimed local vocalist Cha Chia. It's available at upcoming shows, TBD.
It's a seemingly innocuous notion, but for hardcore music fans, it speaks to something scary. "Tell those guys to pick up their instruments and play!" can be heard as people (okay, me) scroll with disappointment at the lack of upcoming concerts. Let's go, guys!
Fortunately, a few acts have put out releases to hold us over until they hit the clubs with the same intensity we'd like. No, that we need!
An album released June 28 was the self-titled album by the Alec Haavik Friction Alliance. Haavik is a jazz saxophonist performing regularly at JZ Club (46 Fuxing Road, near Yongfu Road) and other venues. His group has expanded and contracted for years - he calls each combo a different part of the "friction universe." The current group features just a bass and drum rhythm section, with Haavik's sax playing using loops of sounds he plays with his saxophone and then triggers with gadgets he activates with his foot.
The album is jazz-fusion, using elements of traditional jazz along with bits of rock-based music, especially funk. Haavik's songs are dynamic, shifting rhythmically very quickly. Songs like "Step Into the Red Ball (… And You Will Expand)" are 15 minutes long, and have abstract lyrics and incredible complex melodies. What keeps it grounded is Alec's sense of fun and adventure. You can find this album at the JZ Club and JZ School (12 Wukang Road, near Hunan Road).
A bit more grounded is the work of local punk group Bigon Bijing, who released their debut album and played their last show on June 30. The album "College Companion For the Well Dressed Man" is straight ahead punk rock in the style of California groups in the early 1980s, such as the Dead Kennedys.
The group's focus is its strong point, with no-fuss songs keeping things local and tight. "We're the Live Bar Band" sings the group, referring to the rock club at 800 Guoshun Road E., near Shuangyang Road. "You're the Live Bar Crowd," they follow with, obviously. Some guitar, bass, and drums, a tiny bit of harmony vocals, and out. It's available on the band's Douban site (http://site.douban.com/bigongbijing/).
Finally, vinyl fans should check out the new album by AM444, a local electronic music duo featuring acclaimed local vocalist Cha Chia. It's available at upcoming shows, TBD.
- 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.
