In a continuing display of band loyalty, the Radar, courtesy of Universal Music, attended Taiwanese indie-pop band Sodagreen’s concert at the Worker’s Gymnasium on Friday 16th October. It was the second big concert for Sodgreen in Beijing, after last year’s showing at the Beijing Expo Theatre (which we also attended). It was a big jump in the space of just a year from a 2700-seat theatre to a 6,000-7,000 capacity arena. We were curious, in several respects, if Sodagreen could pull it off – particularly given the fact that the “other” hot Taiwanese band of the moment (Mavis Fan & 100% Band) had a concert the same night back in the Beijing Expo Theatre.
The show itself seemed to be quite new and somewhat unpolished, yet the band seemed much more authoritative on-stage and comfortable with long periods of verbal repartee between band members. There was a long “cabaret” set in the middle of the show, with lead singer (the very cute and adorable Wu Qingfeng or “Greeny”) complete in all-white suit, acting as a top-hatted MC conducting extended “interviews” with each member of the band and the supporting cast of horn-players. Greeny is quite the entertainer and the crowd loved every minute of it. The cabaret/jazzed-up songs, taken mostly from their album “Daylight of Spring (春。日光）” released this spring. While the fans were supportive, the quality of arrangements and the live mix were lacking in comparison to their standard pop ballad material. Props to the band for putting themselves out there and trying something new. Perhaps it just needs some more working out and there is no better place to do that than on tour.
An hour and a half into the show, there was no signs of the band letting up and since the Radar had to move on to the Us3 show at Yugong Yishan, we bid Sodagreen a farewell until the next time. We heard later that the band continued to play for another hour and delved into a round of cover songs of the old giants Cui Jian and Black Panther. Surely, a fitting end to an eclectic and extremely entertaining show. Perhaps the most entertaining we have ever seen from a mainstream Chinese act.
On another note, we saw another sign of merchandise not really working in mainland China. Sodagreen were selling T-shirts for 170 RMB. 200 RMB package for the T-shirt and together with their second CD release of the year, “Fever.” According to the sales staff, they had sold only a handful. We learned later that that venue security made them close up shop just as the show ended, so they did not even have a chance to sell to exiting fans….oh China, the bands thank thee!
In terms of ticketing, the venue was close to a “sellout”, although we heard subsequently that only 3,000 odd tickets had actually been sold. We wonder if the actual sales were disappointing to the band and record label or just an expected bumpy next step in the promotional hype for the band in the Mainland. There is quite a void opening up in terms of upcoming Taiwanese and Hong Kong acts. Bands like this, with their own personalities, styles, and musical abilities deserve the chance and the platform to excel, so either way, the actual attendance was a good sign.
Keep tuned here for more Sodagreen news, they are the most interesting act to watch at the moment.