New Pants at Zhijiang Dream Factory in Shanghai
Originally uploaded by photog37
Photos from the SUBS show will be coming soon. In the meantime, here's another pic from last week, this one with a retro 70's-esque vibe.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
New Pants at Zhijiang Dream Factory in Shanghai
New Pants at Zhijiang Dream Factory in Shanghai
Originally uploaded by photog37
Tracking blog censorship in the PRC
Hong Kong-based scholar Rebecca McKinnon has an informative online presentation on recent tests comparing Chinese web censorship among blog providers. One thing I thought was interesting to note: YahooCN and MySpace are listed among the blog providers pulling down web content, according to the study.
Following the chain
Interestingly enough, immediately after I posted the excerpt below from Nicholas Kristof's article on acid attacks in Asia, this blog drew a block from Chinese web censors (the blog had been viewable once again over the last few days).
Terror against women: all too common in central Asia
Nicholas Kristof writing in the New York Times:
"[A]longside the brutal public terrorism that fills the television screens, there is an equally cruel form of terrorism that gets almost no attention and thrives as a result: flinging acid on a woman’s face to leave her hideously deformed.
Here in Pakistan, I’ve been investigating such acid attacks, which are commonly used to terrorize and subjugate women and girls in a swath of Asia from Afghanistan through Cambodia (men are almost never attacked with acid). Because women usually don’t matter in this part of the world, their attackers are rarely prosecuted and acid sales are usually not controlled...
This month in Afghanistan, men on motorcycles threw acid on a group of girls who dared to attend school. One of the girls, a 17-year-old named Shamsia, told reporters from her hospital bed: 'I will go to my school even if they kill me. My message for the enemies is that if they do this 100 times, I am still going to continue my studies'...
Since 1994, Ms. Bukhari [of the Progressive Women's Association] has documented 7,800 cases of women who were deliberately burned, scalded or subjected to acid attacks, just in the Islamabad area. In only 2 percent of those cases was anyone convicted."
Full story here.
"[A]longside the brutal public terrorism that fills the television screens, there is an equally cruel form of terrorism that gets almost no attention and thrives as a result: flinging acid on a woman’s face to leave her hideously deformed.
Here in Pakistan, I’ve been investigating such acid attacks, which are commonly used to terrorize and subjugate women and girls in a swath of Asia from Afghanistan through Cambodia (men are almost never attacked with acid). Because women usually don’t matter in this part of the world, their attackers are rarely prosecuted and acid sales are usually not controlled...
This month in Afghanistan, men on motorcycles threw acid on a group of girls who dared to attend school. One of the girls, a 17-year-old named Shamsia, told reporters from her hospital bed: 'I will go to my school even if they kill me. My message for the enemies is that if they do this 100 times, I am still going to continue my studies'...
Since 1994, Ms. Bukhari [of the Progressive Women's Association] has documented 7,800 cases of women who were deliberately burned, scalded or subjected to acid attacks, just in the Islamabad area. In only 2 percent of those cases was anyone convicted."
Full story here.
The Wrestler
“It’s a well-established genre of movie, the creative genius who’s somehow tortured by their art,” Mr. Siegel, 37, said in a recent lunchtime interview over a bowl of matzo ball soup at a diner in Chelsea. “In this case his art is running around in lime-green tights, whacking people with folding chairs."
-Former Onion writer Robert Siegel being interviewed in the New York Times about The Wrestler, his upcoming movie starring Mickey Rourke and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream)
-Former Onion writer Robert Siegel being interviewed in the New York Times about The Wrestler, his upcoming movie starring Mickey Rourke and directed by Darren Aronofsky (Pi, Requiem for a Dream)
Fierce trouble: the SUBS rock Shanghai
The SUBS blew away Zhijiang Dream Factory last night and just about any dispute as to who is best live act in China. I'm not even a fan of hardcore music but their stage presence was awesome. (Not those Subs. The Chinese rock band.)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Quote of the Day: TIME and censorship
"But I now see why the authorities like censorship. With our blog blocked in China, there are far fewer commenters who log in and label us idiots. Censorship, it seems, has confirmed our brilliance."
-Austin Ramzy, TIME reporter, writing about China's recent block against all Wordpress-based blogs (including TIME Magazine)
-Austin Ramzy, TIME reporter, writing about China's recent block against all Wordpress-based blogs (including TIME Magazine)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
For those who never sleep
Shanghai apparently has a new club opening with a 3 a.m. opening time. No word on whether they serve breakfast.
New Pants at Zhijiang Dream Factory in Shanghai
New Pants at Zhijiang Dream Factory in Shanghai
Originally uploaded by photog37
Punk disco stylists the New Pants (新裤子）tour in support of their "Equal Love" album, Nov. 22, 2008 at the Zhijiang Dream Factory in Shanghai. The Fire Balloon and Boys Climbing Ropes were openers.
Monday, November 24, 2008
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Originally uploaded by photog37
Another shot of the Zurich Ballet performance in Shanghai..
Trouble in Longnan
A blogger has posted an article and photos related to the Longnan riots on Sina.com. The Washington Post reports it like this:
"On Monday, about 2,000 people rioted in Gansu's Wudu district over plans to move the Longnan city government offices, which had been damaged in the May 12 Sichuan earthquake, to a nearby county. Fearing the move would reduce property values and threaten their livelihoods, Wudu residents protested again Tuesday, clashing violently with police and looting government offices, the Gansu Daily reported."
"On Monday, about 2,000 people rioted in Gansu's Wudu district over plans to move the Longnan city government offices, which had been damaged in the May 12 Sichuan earthquake, to a nearby county. Fearing the move would reduce property values and threaten their livelihoods, Wudu residents protested again Tuesday, clashing violently with police and looting government offices, the Gansu Daily reported."
Friday, November 21, 2008
Growing pains at Facebook
Saw this message at the top of my Facebook scroll today, "Unfortunately, your email notification settings have been lost. You can reset them on the Notifications page. We're sorry for the inconvenience." Not the kind of message you want to hear from a service that is also storing a large volume of email, photos and videos.
Speaking of Facebook, let us officially note that the new Facebook sucks. I don't have time to run through all the reasons right now but I'll note down a few:
1) Old news keeps popping up at the top of the feed.
2) Stuff I wanted on my main page was bounced to back pages... if you select on the move-to-Wall option, instead of moving it the Wall, Facebook erases the application entirely.
3) Status updates, often involving someones personal choice in tea or school homework, are always on the top of the feed.
4) The photo previews in the news feed are too small to see.
5) The new walls are awkward-looking and difficult to navigate.
6) Etc.
Speaking of Facebook, let us officially note that the new Facebook sucks. I don't have time to run through all the reasons right now but I'll note down a few:
1) Old news keeps popping up at the top of the feed.
2) Stuff I wanted on my main page was bounced to back pages... if you select on the move-to-Wall option, instead of moving it the Wall, Facebook erases the application entirely.
3) Status updates, often involving someones personal choice in tea or school homework, are always on the top of the feed.
4) The photo previews in the news feed are too small to see.
5) The new walls are awkward-looking and difficult to navigate.
6) Etc.
A tight weekend: New Pants, Yoko Ono, et al
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army": cover to cover
Well, I never did find the particular cover I was looking for... but here's a mini-roundup of some of the "Seven Nation Army" videos that can be found online...
Original music video.
The White Stripes live (Under Blackpool Lights).
Afra & Incredible Beatbox band.
Living Colour looking very hard up with Vernon Reid on vocals.
An erotic video from Punk Division.
Boss Hoss does a Southern rock/hillbilly version (audio only).
Tomer G does a Tom Jones-esque beach version.
Talia provides a tutorial on playing the bass lines.
Morgan does a home-recorded coffeehouse acoustic version.
Mashed up with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".... doesn't work.
Original music video.
The White Stripes live (Under Blackpool Lights).
Afra & Incredible Beatbox band.
Living Colour looking very hard up with Vernon Reid on vocals.
An erotic video from Punk Division.
Boss Hoss does a Southern rock/hillbilly version (audio only).
Tomer G does a Tom Jones-esque beach version.
Talia provides a tutorial on playing the bass lines.
Morgan does a home-recorded coffeehouse acoustic version.
Mashed up with "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)".... doesn't work.
Blocked again
This blog is blocked again today in China. My guess: this blog is getting tied up from keyword blocks as result of headlines that are appearing in the news feed from other China websites around the web. My take: blocking websites is juvenile.
White Stripes cover Dylan's "Love Sick"
While we're on YouTube... here are the White Stripes doing their take on the opening track to Bob's Time Out of Mind album.
Ryan Adams "Let It Ride"
Just felt like hearing the song today. On Letterman. A rough acoustic cut. A smoother recording with Neal Casal. Any which way. Let it ride.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shanghai Grand Theatre
A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shanghai Grand Theatre
Originally uploaded by photog37
More photos to come...
Friday, November 14, 2008
The vice-presidential candidate has no clothes
Palin has been busy unveiling herself to the media over the last few days, an apparent effort to lay the groundwork for a presidential campaign in 2012 and/or undue the damage done by her bizarre candidacy. Among other things, she claims to have little knowledge of how the hundreds of dollars of clothing purchased in Minnesota ended up in her wardrobe. The only thing she ever asked for was a "Diet Dr. Pepper." (Campaign aide Nicole Wallace also used this phrase in interviews, apparently the diet soda was a canned line).
So among other noticeable developments, Palin gave her first "press conference" since being nominated as the Republican vice-presidential candidate several months ago. All of four minutes and four questions.
One passage from the New York Times article caught my eye:
Ms. Palin tried to play down her celebrity (even after a week in which she was featured in interviews on NBC, Fox News and CNN). In her speech, she tried to shift the focus from herself to the work that Republican governors must now do, including developing energy resources and overhauling health care.
“I am not going to assume that the answer is for the federal government to just take it over and try to run America’s health care system,” Ms. Palin said. “Heaven forbid.”
If she's staunchly against government involvement in health care, what does she mean by "overhauling health care"? Sounds like she means freezing in place the status quo: close to 50 million Americans without health insurance, health insurance policies that flip every time you change employers, health employers that drop the sick and only cover the healthy.
Well, this website is going to dedicate itself to a true pro-life cause: health care reform in America. In the months and years ahead, look for many postings here outlining the failure of the current health care system in America and the government strategies that could be used in order to ensure adequate health care to all Americans–not only the wealthy upper crust and people with clean bills of health.
So among other noticeable developments, Palin gave her first "press conference" since being nominated as the Republican vice-presidential candidate several months ago. All of four minutes and four questions.
One passage from the New York Times article caught my eye:
Ms. Palin tried to play down her celebrity (even after a week in which she was featured in interviews on NBC, Fox News and CNN). In her speech, she tried to shift the focus from herself to the work that Republican governors must now do, including developing energy resources and overhauling health care.
“I am not going to assume that the answer is for the federal government to just take it over and try to run America’s health care system,” Ms. Palin said. “Heaven forbid.”
If she's staunchly against government involvement in health care, what does she mean by "overhauling health care"? Sounds like she means freezing in place the status quo: close to 50 million Americans without health insurance, health insurance policies that flip every time you change employers, health employers that drop the sick and only cover the healthy.
Well, this website is going to dedicate itself to a true pro-life cause: health care reform in America. In the months and years ahead, look for many postings here outlining the failure of the current health care system in America and the government strategies that could be used in order to ensure adequate health care to all Americans–not only the wealthy upper crust and people with clean bills of health.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Fifth Black Eyed Pea... or who is DJ Motiv8?
Needless to say, we were intrigued when we saw that a "DJ Motiv8 of the Blacked Eyed Peas" is coming to Bonbon in Shanghai. While Bonbon is widely known as a place for foreign exchange students to get sloshed, it is not known as a mecca for megastar recording acts, certainly not on a Thursday night. A perfunctory web search only deepened our curiosity. DJ Motiv8's name was mysteriously left off the band's history on allmusic.com. Monroe Walker (aka DJ Motiv8) had his Wikipedia entry deleted for "blatant advertising."
Google cache pulled up the deleted Wikipedia entry:
"Dj Motiv8 came across William Adams at an early age, at the time (Will 1X) was taken under Motiv8's wing to be taught the ways of music production, studio recording, and overall stage presence. Along with Will there were three other MC's: Allen Pineda, Dante Santiago, and Mookie Mook(Burning Star). The Four became known as The Atban Klann and signed to easy E's "Ruthless Records" in 1992. The group recorded an album in 1994 entitled Grass Roots, which was supposed to be released on "Ruthless Records" but wasn't do to the death of Eazy E.
After the tragedy, the group changed it up adding Jaime Gomez as Dante Santiago left to pursue a solo career. The Group would now become the "Black Eyed Peas". With Will.i.am (Will Adams), apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda), and Taboo (Jaime Gomez) being the MC's, and Motiv8 being the groups official Dj... Motiv8 has become a frequent celebrity guest of honor in Shanghai China. On his third trip there this year, Motiv8 is laying foundation for the upcoming Black Eyed Peas tour following the release of their upcoming 2009 album The E.N.D (The Energy Never Dies). Furthermore, Dj Motiv8 has been featured on many projects for artist such as: Madonna, Bel Biv Devoe, Kid from Kid n Play, Billy Idol, N-sync, Shifty of Crazy Town, and Kylie Monogue to name a few."
A booking listing on A&M Entertainment had additional self-promotional details:
"... Today they are known in the world as AplDe Ap, Taboo and Will.i.am Now better known as the World Famous Black Eyed Peas. For years they worked and lived together in pursuit of making there love for music into more than just a passion for hip hop. By 1993 they were signed onto Easy Es record label Ruthless Records under the group name the Atban Klann. In 1994 the record came out which was produced by DJ Motiv8. Unfortunately shortly after the records release, Easy E passed away due at an eraly age due to a publicly unknown infection of the A.I.D.S. virus. The Atban Klann were then released from Ruthless Records.
Motiv8 continued Djing on artists tracks such as Kylie Minogue always remaining busy at work in the studio producing tracks for many artists. Also touring as a solo artist in countries such as the Philippines, Japan, and Australia where he has headlined overseas tours with MC Supernatural. By this time, the Black Eyed Peas had been Created and Motiv8 since The Atban Klann days remained as their official group DJ. Touring all over the world and appearing in many of the early music videos from albums such as Behind the Frontand Bridging the Gap.
Furthermore he is the only featured scratch DJ for the Black Eyed Peas from the first album to the current and upcoming projects. Although touring took up a large part of his time, Motiv8 has always found time to work with some of the worlds biggest and respected artists. Producing tracks for Music Legends like Madonna ("Ray of Light album"), Billy Idol and the Coors,etc..."
A movie listing on Yahoo made similar claims to the A&M agency: "DJ Motiv8 is widely lauded throughout the hip-hop world, mostly for his work with Black Eyed Peas. As a producer he has worked with such luminaries as Madonna, Billy Idol, N-Sync, and more. This solo outing is a soundclash of hip-hop and drum and bass, all digitally remastered for the stunning DVD-Audio format."
Finding corroboration for some of this information proved to be a bit difficult. Walker is not mentioned in either the production details or credits for Madonna's "Ray of Light" album, at least as quoted on Wikipedia. Discogs.com also makes no mention of any work Walker did on the album.
DJ Motiv8's credit listing on discogs.com offers up a more modest summary: production credit for an Atban Klann promo single, "Puddles of H20." Atban Klann, as mentioned in the bio above, were a predecessor group to the Black Eyed Peas signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records label. Motiv8 is also listed a scratcher on two tracks from the Black-Eyed Peas' 1998 album Behind the Front. On the 2000 followup (and breakthrough album) Bridging the Gap, a "DJ Motive" (presumably Motiv8) is listed as being the turntablist for six tracks. The website did not credit him with any contributions to Elephunk or Monkey Business.
Wikipedia lists another "DJ Motiv8," Steve Rodway, who produced a remix for Kylie Minogue. More on the other Motiv8 is here...
That's as far as I was motivated to delve into the matter. I don't know if Walker is a good DJ or not, but if you're in Shanghai you should be able to find him at Bonbon tonight and most other nights from now until December 9. If nothing else, you can get sloshed for 100 kuai on a Thursday night (50 kuai if you're a chick). And who knows, maybe he'll play a little Black Eyed Peas.
Google cache pulled up the deleted Wikipedia entry:
"Dj Motiv8 came across William Adams at an early age, at the time (Will 1X) was taken under Motiv8's wing to be taught the ways of music production, studio recording, and overall stage presence. Along with Will there were three other MC's: Allen Pineda, Dante Santiago, and Mookie Mook(Burning Star). The Four became known as The Atban Klann and signed to easy E's "Ruthless Records" in 1992. The group recorded an album in 1994 entitled Grass Roots, which was supposed to be released on "Ruthless Records" but wasn't do to the death of Eazy E.
After the tragedy, the group changed it up adding Jaime Gomez as Dante Santiago left to pursue a solo career. The Group would now become the "Black Eyed Peas". With Will.i.am (Will Adams), apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda), and Taboo (Jaime Gomez) being the MC's, and Motiv8 being the groups official Dj... Motiv8 has become a frequent celebrity guest of honor in Shanghai China. On his third trip there this year, Motiv8 is laying foundation for the upcoming Black Eyed Peas tour following the release of their upcoming 2009 album The E.N.D (The Energy Never Dies). Furthermore, Dj Motiv8 has been featured on many projects for artist such as: Madonna, Bel Biv Devoe, Kid from Kid n Play, Billy Idol, N-sync, Shifty of Crazy Town, and Kylie Monogue to name a few."
A booking listing on A&M Entertainment had additional self-promotional details:
"... Today they are known in the world as AplDe Ap, Taboo and Will.i.am Now better known as the World Famous Black Eyed Peas. For years they worked and lived together in pursuit of making there love for music into more than just a passion for hip hop. By 1993 they were signed onto Easy Es record label Ruthless Records under the group name the Atban Klann. In 1994 the record came out which was produced by DJ Motiv8. Unfortunately shortly after the records release, Easy E passed away due at an eraly age due to a publicly unknown infection of the A.I.D.S. virus. The Atban Klann were then released from Ruthless Records.
Motiv8 continued Djing on artists tracks such as Kylie Minogue always remaining busy at work in the studio producing tracks for many artists. Also touring as a solo artist in countries such as the Philippines, Japan, and Australia where he has headlined overseas tours with MC Supernatural. By this time, the Black Eyed Peas had been Created and Motiv8 since The Atban Klann days remained as their official group DJ. Touring all over the world and appearing in many of the early music videos from albums such as Behind the Frontand Bridging the Gap.
Furthermore he is the only featured scratch DJ for the Black Eyed Peas from the first album to the current and upcoming projects. Although touring took up a large part of his time, Motiv8 has always found time to work with some of the worlds biggest and respected artists. Producing tracks for Music Legends like Madonna ("Ray of Light album"), Billy Idol and the Coors,etc..."
A movie listing on Yahoo made similar claims to the A&M agency: "DJ Motiv8 is widely lauded throughout the hip-hop world, mostly for his work with Black Eyed Peas. As a producer he has worked with such luminaries as Madonna, Billy Idol, N-Sync, and more. This solo outing is a soundclash of hip-hop and drum and bass, all digitally remastered for the stunning DVD-Audio format."
Finding corroboration for some of this information proved to be a bit difficult. Walker is not mentioned in either the production details or credits for Madonna's "Ray of Light" album, at least as quoted on Wikipedia. Discogs.com also makes no mention of any work Walker did on the album.
DJ Motiv8's credit listing on discogs.com offers up a more modest summary: production credit for an Atban Klann promo single, "Puddles of H20." Atban Klann, as mentioned in the bio above, were a predecessor group to the Black Eyed Peas signed to Eazy-E's Ruthless Records label. Motiv8 is also listed a scratcher on two tracks from the Black-Eyed Peas' 1998 album Behind the Front. On the 2000 followup (and breakthrough album) Bridging the Gap, a "DJ Motive" (presumably Motiv8) is listed as being the turntablist for six tracks. The website did not credit him with any contributions to Elephunk or Monkey Business.
Wikipedia lists another "DJ Motiv8," Steve Rodway, who produced a remix for Kylie Minogue. More on the other Motiv8 is here...
That's as far as I was motivated to delve into the matter. I don't know if Walker is a good DJ or not, but if you're in Shanghai you should be able to find him at Bonbon tonight and most other nights from now until December 9. If nothing else, you can get sloshed for 100 kuai on a Thursday night (50 kuai if you're a chick). And who knows, maybe he'll play a little Black Eyed Peas.
More on DJ Shadow in Shanghai
Shanghaiist came out with its review of the DJ Shadow show in Shanghai and their assessment was the exact same as mine:
"So one of the world's best DJ's came to China this weekend and where did he choose to play... Richy, one of the worst places on earth unless you happen to be a gangster, a 15 year old Shanghainese girl, a strange man that likes rubbing people's legs while they dance (this happened to us the last time we went there) or an Edison Chen wannabe. As for the show Shadow played an amazing set (the best we've ever heard him play... he dropped Organ Donor about 5 minutes into his set) but the crowd was just confused. Hipsters and Puxi trendies clashed with Chivas and green tea drinking dice players for space in ridiculously over crowded club. Richy completely over sold the tickets to a dangerous level and the bouncers were really aggressive in dealing with everything from taking photos to drawing on the posters outside the club."
For a glimpse of Shadow at his finest, check out the Organ Donor video on YouTube. Fine stuff. Yo Shadow, next time play the Shelter!
"So one of the world's best DJ's came to China this weekend and where did he choose to play... Richy, one of the worst places on earth unless you happen to be a gangster, a 15 year old Shanghainese girl, a strange man that likes rubbing people's legs while they dance (this happened to us the last time we went there) or an Edison Chen wannabe. As for the show Shadow played an amazing set (the best we've ever heard him play... he dropped Organ Donor about 5 minutes into his set) but the crowd was just confused. Hipsters and Puxi trendies clashed with Chivas and green tea drinking dice players for space in ridiculously over crowded club. Richy completely over sold the tickets to a dangerous level and the bouncers were really aggressive in dealing with everything from taking photos to drawing on the posters outside the club."
For a glimpse of Shadow at his finest, check out the Organ Donor video on YouTube. Fine stuff. Yo Shadow, next time play the Shelter!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sexy Beijing: Eat Me
Author Linda Jaivin talks about China's cultural rebirth and sexual awakening in the 1980's with Sufei of Sexy Beijing.
Jens Lekman to tour China
Swedish indie-pop songwriter Jens Lekman will be touring China next month, with stops at MAO Live in Beijing (Dec. 2), JZ Club in Hangzhou (Dec. 3) and Glamour Bar in Shanghai (Dec. 4). Lekman comes from the same musical family as Tom Waits and the Magnetic Fields. He has an ability to keep his songs sappy yet sublime. Personal favorites: "If You Ever Need A Stranger," "Julie," and "Black Cab." Some tracks can be previewed on his MySpace site.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Why read Nerve.com when you have China Daily?
Today China's government-run English language publication had these listed as its "most read/commented upon" stories from the last 48 hours:
· College girls go nude before camera for eternal beauty
· Serena Williams and Brett Ratner
· Mom shows body to teach sex
· Top 10 world's sexiest women unveiled
· Carmen Electra shows her open sexy legs
· Porn company to release Paris Hilton sex video
· College girls go nude before camera for eternal beauty
· Serena Williams and Brett Ratner
· Mom shows body to teach sex
· Top 10 world's sexiest women unveiled
· Carmen Electra shows her open sexy legs
· Porn company to release Paris Hilton sex video
Sunday, November 09, 2008
DJ Shadow at the Richy: Super Cool DJ, Super Shitty Club
DJ Shadow in Shanghai
Originally uploaded by photog37
DJ Shadow played Shanghai last night. The title above sums it up: great musicsmith, lame-ass venue. Yo Shadow, next time play the Shelter!
DJ Shadow came out of the influential Solesides/Quannum crew at UC-Davis in the mid-90's and has been laying down killer tracks ever since, sampling from his voluminous record collection and collaborating with other like-minded hip-hop and electronica artists like Lateef, Lyrics Born, Blackalicious, Cut Chemist, etc. His first set in China started off with about two hours of hip-hop and concluded with an hour of techno. The club briefly got rocking around 2 a.m. as Shadow threw down tracks from Bloc Party and UNKLE (of which Shadow was once a member).
But in the cool DJ versus cool club department, it's hard not to emphasize the importance of a cool club. I'd take a house DJ any night of the week at the Shelter over a name DJ playing a place like Richy on a Friday night. The name says it all: Pretentious, asinine, playing to every stereotype of the more corny Chinese clubs (no surprise, this club was brought by the makers of Babyface). The listed cover price of 100 RMB shot up to 180 RMB while Shadow was playing his set... $26 just to get in the door. The dance floor in the center of the room was so full of cocktail tables that it was difficult to even walk in between the bar stools, let alone dance. Morose-looking guards in black were everywhere advising people on everything from which way to walk across the room to diving in to descend on anyone who took a photo without a permit. They were pretty polite but their sheer numbers brought back flashbacks of being at the Beijing Olympics.
Air quality in the room also left something to be desired. Richy had the fog machine blowing continually: fog might have a nice effect once in awhile, maybe as an opening for the night, but when it's blowing through every two minutes it's incredibly annoying, kind of like having a light version of mace sprayed in your face. Coupled with the cigarette smoke, it was almost impossible to breathe in there. For all its pretension, the club is not particularly large. The single room has a plain squarish layout, black walls and silver disco balls.
Shadow gamely played through his set, starting off with an explanation for why it took him so long to play China: clubs (according to his explanation) just wanted him to do straight DJ stuff, not his own music. So tonight he said he would be playing a mixture of DJ stuff and his own original tracks. He seemed unsure what do with the crowd at hand, although some of them certainly were diehard fans. Typical banter: holding up a 45 record and saying, "Do you know what this is?" Uh, yeah. The slight saving grace for the evening was that the music was pretty good and it was nice to see Shadow at work. Next time he arrives in Shanghai, here's hoping we can go see him at a real club.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Blogspot blocked in China?
I was having difficulty yesterday. Don't know if it was the recent Taiwan negotiations, the Dalai Lama's press conference in Tokyo, or simply my own crappy Internet connection.
An ongoing chronology of on-again, off-again blocking of Blogspot can be found here.
As a general note, web browsers in China are advised to use Hotspot Shield, Witopia, or other similar software.
An ongoing chronology of on-again, off-again blocking of Blogspot can be found here.
As a general note, web browsers in China are advised to use Hotspot Shield, Witopia, or other similar software.
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