Nov 13 2009
Sing for China: some reflections
“For nearly a year I had lived in a world that seemed, at first, like something original. It was obvious from the beginning that the menace bore little resemblance to its publicized image, but there was a certain pleasure in sharing the Angels’ amusement at the stir they’d created. Later, as they attracted more and more attention, the mystique was stretched so thin that it finally became transparent”
– Hunter S. Thompson, from Hell’s Angels
In September 2009, indie Beijing label Modern Sky put into action something that had been in planning phases for over 2 years. Sing for China was a hugely ambitious undertaking: 15 cities across the USA featuring 3 Beijing based bands – Queen Sea Big Shark, Hedgehog and Casino Demon. This is what we, after much thought, conclude from this laudable incursion.
The pumped-up images of Chinese rock eagerly propagated by Western media outlets (read: Time, Newsweek, The Guardian, The Economist) are fallacious at best. They call it blowback – the unintended and perhaps unforeseen consequences of one’s actions. When these part-time arbiters of truth peddle such neo-orientalist fodder to an audience craving bedazzlement, people actually begin to believe it – including the bands themselves. What we’re left with is somewhat akin to what Thompson found when the going got weird with the Hell’s Angels; a menace bearing little resemblance to its publicized identity. An image temporarily divorced from reality.
We detected similar sentiment in our analysis of a few conversations we had about Modern Sky’s Sing For China United States tour last September. The tour was successful from a variety of standpoints – Queen Sea Big Shark opened for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, some gigs were relatively well-attended, and an event was held at former VH1 president Ed Bennett’s house showcasing Chinese rock. However, the bands played in front of two people in Seattle on a Monday night, and also only sold 35 tickets for the L.A. show at Silverlake Lounge.
Then there was a problem with shouldering the demands of The Road. That is, couch surfing, hotels, long drives, and fast food. “The tour seemed to be a major shock to the system for everyone,” said Michael Lojudice, boss of Modern Sky Entertainment, USA, “long drives, constant shows, the prospect of sleeping on couches at times or cramming into hotel rooms, and American fast food were at times tough to handle for most…let’s just say that next time we need to better prepare the bands for life on the road in the U.S.”
You would have thought that the very fact these bands were on a tour of the US organised and funded by their label would have been enough to get them excited, no matter what the size and reaction of the audiences. We have seen bands from all over the world busting their proverbial balls in front of tiny, unresponsive crowds, because bands in the US, Canada and Europe know and understand how hard it is to break through, and know and understand how hard they will have to work. Alas, not for some on the Sing for China tour. Casino Demon in particular were often incredulous that they would actually be expected to play in front of a virtually empty house. Perhaps this is part of the problem with too much hype too soon.
Things can get a little twisted for bands playing in China – venues supply the heavy equipment (amps, drums, sound) so you don’t have to, the Chinese rock touring infrastructure (venues, transportation, logistics, etc.) is such that bands seldom go out on the road and thus have very minimal touring experience, the Mainland audience is so diverse (read: atomized) that they are probably still unsure about their own tastes, let alone how your music may fit into it.
America is a different beast – a distant land where the Dead Kennedys are more than just an expired political dynasty. Rock music is an American pastime. The stuff runs in their blood; Americans practically come out of the womb with Slayer tattoos, mothers singing Sweet Child of Mine. The US market is the pearly white gates of rock, and those who wish to roll through cannot expect to do so because someone in Beijing told them they were good. It sounds like the Sing For China tour may have been a sobering experience – one that pulls the collective feet of Chinese rock musicians back down to the ground.
For others that want to go, the journey will be long and arduous, the audiences small, the drives long, the boredom of The Road excruciating, and the van will definitely reek of old Taco Bell remnants by the end of the first week – but it’s these things that have provided the creative spark for some really good music.
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Great insights. I agree for the most part, particularly with the differences in expectations (third to last paragraph) between here and in the States.
On another level, at least, the tour did have a silver lining: it really inspired Hedgehog to push themselves harder and put more energy into building their careers.
They also forged some solid connections with their NYC counterparts, as well as with some potential producers for their next record.
For what it’s worth, Zo told me that they probably would’ve broken up if it wasn’t for the tour. So that’s cool.
Thanks Pete, and we appreciate your ongoing comments on the site…
Sure thing. Glad to contribute.
I saw the Sing for China gig at the Artistery in Portland, OR, a small basement venue/art gallery collective (very different than the Silver Lake Lounge, where they played in LA). The crowd of about 50 was interesting, probably split down the middle between Chinese expats on the one side, and more usual club-goers on the other. The club was definitely full enough to be a crowd, but far from packed.
I think the fact that it was a benefit show for the Sichuan Earthquake relief helped attract some people that might not have otherwise come out to see such unknown commodity.
Another (what I thought would be a) draw was that local rock outfit Panther were set to headline the show. Panther had met some of the bands when they flew out with the Kill Rock Stars people for this years Spring Modern Sky Festival (forgot the name). Panther is a band that is used playing packed shows, so the band was visibly annoyed when 95% of the audience left after the last Modern Sky band left. Panther played an abbreviated set to about 4 people, probably the smallest audience they’ve played to in years!
Hedgehog played far and away the best set I have ever seen them perform. If I had never heard any of these bands previously, then Hedgehog would have given the only performance that I would have considered following up on. Houhai Sharks were okay, but looked a little tire. Casino Demon were just terrible. CD didn’t put much energy into their set, and had a condescending attitude toward the audience. Casino Demon exemplified the type of band that is heavily hyped (and even plays mainstage at large domestic rock festivals), that comes to America is surprised that nobody bats an eyelash. Besides that, their cover of the Ramones “KKK Took My Baby Away” nearly cleared the dance floor, it was so bad. (Why do they insist on playing that song when the singer’s english is so bad, especially in front of an American audience…they schtick was cute for a while from HotB, but not for these guys).
Some of the musicians were nice enough to hang out with the audience between sets and talk about the Chinese music scene.
word, an oregonian? i’m from bend!
Thanks Alex. Great review. Really appreciate it.
It just seems that Casino Demon were the wrong choice for this tour…
These Chinese bands have these attitudes because 1) they are under the impression that this is what you need to do in a indie band, they’re heavily under the influence of second hand trendy hipster bands from the US, like yeah yeah yeahs, so a lot of them thinks you need to be drunk, wasted and piss on everyone to be in a rock band. Look at the dude from Joyside. This will also explains why most Chinese bands sing in English, cause they think it’s trendy and hip and it’s what Western bands do
2) A lot of the member of these indie bands are former 流氓s. I mean in China, if a kid, whose parent killed for them to go to the best highschool in the city, then go to a University, get them all properly educated, you think that kid’s gonna pick up a guitar and start a indie band? (I know the answer to that in the US is yes, but China, it’s HELL NO, their parents would slit their wrists). So the people that starts indie bands are …”special”…. well, you get the idea.
@Pat: How do you justify your 2nd comment? You are building up an association that cause there are some “special” people, they are in bands. I would like to state a couple of counter examples:
Mermaid / The Falling (BJ): The lead singer even went to study in the UK
Raging Mob: Some of the members have government jobs
studying in the UK or US doesn’t count, members of hang on the box studied in US as well. I’m talking about common, everyday Chinese kids whom went to Chinese highschool, Chinese University, which is most Chinese kids.
How do I justify, let’s see: fact, there are a lot of Chinese kids in China, like, A LOT. Fact, only small, small fraction of the Chinese kids will go to a University, ANY University. Fact, even if they go to University, they would still be a problem of them getting any jobs … and FACT: because of this reason, Chinese parents are like rats on speeds, fighting for ANY oportunity to give their kid ANY edge up in education, from sending them to a remotely better highschool, to even sending them to a remotely better class in a school, everything is like life and death to Chinese ultra dramatic parents. And all this is beacuse it is REALLY competitive to go to school in China.
(This is a little outside of my argument but my aunt spent 70% of her salary every month sending her kids to a highschool in the middle of a mountain where girls are boys arn’t allow to talk to each other, and other kids can act as wittness, if girls and boys talk, they stand outside of their classroom for 3 hours)
Now, out of all these, do you think it’s part of Chinese parent’s plan to have their kid pick up a guitar and start a rock band? Do you think any Chinese parents would understand the value of these things? (besides the select few special cases of course, if you give me your friend Jimmy’s cousin Bob who supports their Children to become a musician that makes no money and stays at home, that’s one, I’m talking about most) . And what could the kids do in the mean time? rebel their parents? then what, no money, no support from their parents…The problem starts with the Chinese school system and family and the constant pressure Chinese youth faces to do well in school, rock band would be the last thing on their mind.
As for your counter example of members of rock band have government job, my counter would be it must not be very high up, like most people working for the Chinese government, they are under constant pressure to climb up the ladder, and guanxi is very very important. Guanxi with fellow workers, guanxi with your boss, and when you are not to do any “strange” things to get you trouble. If you are up for a raise ect, these things will come back to hunt you
So that’s my reasoning
As a follow up 1) so what, Chinese bands are all going to start by kids studied in US/UK now? there are no bands started by born and raised in China kids? if there are, those kids are going to highschool, then University, then get a job? with this school system? give me a break.
2) with your raging mob example, if I am friend with these guy’s boss in the government, I can tell the boss “look at what they are doing” and then they won’t get any oportunity for future raises ect, or the boss can have them fired. Or, I don’t even need to be friend with the boss, every couple of months there’s a day where any body can go up to the boss in the government organization and complain, I just need to go tell them that and they’ll be in trouble….
Oy, to win an argument, now I’m getting myself all depressed
Pat, you’re a dope. Just among the few I know I can say that the singer from Snapline graduated in computer science from Tsinghua. The other two members, along with the singer of Carsick Cars, studied engineering at BIT, one in grad school. Beihang has students who play in Birdstriking. The singer of The K went to the top broadcasting school in China. Give me a couple of hours and I could triple this list. Christ, doesn’t D22 have Wednesday nights dedicated just to university bands?
arguments involving educational institutions are irrelevant.
While parents face considerable stress getting children into high-level schools and whatnot, let’s not forget the loving side of a family wishing to support the child.
Supposing children will be looked down upon by parents for not kao’ing a perfect on the gao kao and getting into Beida is a bit of a stretch. Parents are people too, you know? Capable of love beyond test scores, I suppose? It’s probably 50=5-, just like Western parents. Some are proud their children can express themselves, others are angry they’re not working in plush banking offices. Same ol Same ol.
My problem with foreign (or maybe not local) analysis of Chinese rock is that it comes from a bunch of laowai who think they get it. I really haven’t seen anyone quite yet able to grasp rock music within a Chinese framework. Rather, just a ton of people at shows sipping on small-boy qingdaos airing their own opinions, while expat paparazzi snap them in their bucket hats, large frame bifocals, and tight clothing. Fashion!
Over-analyzing disorder. Analyzing foreign music in a foreign framework. Trying too hard to make make something from nothing?
@Pat: once again: instead of making general statements based upon your own experience, why don’t you bring the whole discussion to a level of factual basis by just listing those bands or members of bands that fit into your description? Then set it against the total figure of active rock musicians (or an estimate of the same) and we see whether there is a ground for that statement.
casino demon was great at the purdue show…
stop trying to analyze this “phenomenon”. the artists love music, whether they have the support of their parents or not is irrelevant to them making music. please don’t make irrelevant generalizations about Chinese people as well, the vast majority of Chinese people aren’t aware of rock music anyway so why use them as support for your argument? STOOFOO and enjoy the music.
I disagree, if you want to keep Chinese indie within China, ie: only a Chinese audience will enjoy it, not knowing any other indie bands sound like outside of China, that’s fine. Your “artist love music” argument would stand.
The thing is Chinese bands are trying to break outside of China, which is great, but they’re competing with Western bands that have been doing this a lot longer, and have lived and breath indie music all their life. In that case the Chinese band would get their eyes opened real quick. And it’s frustrating you know, we want Chinese indie bands to be able to compete with the best of them, we want China to have a brand of indie music that is their own (like Swedish pop for Sweden, or Shibuya Kei for Japan), but the quality is simply not there. And if you give me the argument like “oh give it time, it’ll get there”, no, I think that’s a cup out, let’s find out what is going on and try to help in that direction. I’m not really trying to analyzing for the sake of criticising it (well, mostly I’m not) . But, by identifying the problem, one can work towards fixing it.
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