Bands work, rest and play

It's just before dusk and band members from Dark Tranquility are doing a sound test for their debut performance in Beijing, at Yugong Yishan. Outside, their fans are chilling in the parking lot, drinking beers and preparing to scream themselves hoarse.

Over the past several years, the Gothenburg, Sweden, scene has been of great interest to metal heads in China. Dark Tranquility, one of the originators of the "Gothenburg Sound" - that blends speed, melody and brutality - has finally arrived.

"We didn't expect so many fans here in China. This is very exciting," says lead vocalist Mikael Stanne.

China's music scene has matured and it is common for big-name heavy metal bands to be seen here, not just on posters, but face-to-face with their fans.

In Beijing's bars, clubs, and live venues one can find names like Lacrimosa, Testament and Napalm Death.

And, if you're feeling lost in the choppy sea of punk rock and thrash metal that makes up most of the Beijing live music scene, there is also hip-hop and reggae.

"You would not have seen such a flourishing music scene in Beijing two years ago. It's hard to imagine world-class bands coming to China then," says Jiang Wei, publicity manager of Guitar China, the organizer of the Dark Tranquility concert in Beijing. "But now the situation has changed. They are right in front of you."

Last year, Beijing was like a big party for rock bands and their fans. Three-time Grammy-award winner Ziggy Marley ignited the reggae flame at Beijing's Star Live House at the beginning of the year and many bands stopped over on the way to Japan or South Korea.

El Caco plus Dave Stewart and Rock Fabulous delivered exciting live shows at the Midi Music Festival in May. The Beijing Pop Festival was one of the biggest outdoor music events in Asia, with big-name acts such as Public Enemy, New York Dolls, Brett Anderson of Suede and Nine Inch Nails, in September. The Modern Sky Festival in October was headlined by New York's Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Shanghai welcomed rock legends like Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and Linkin Park.

According to Jiang, who has been involved in promoting foreign bands in China since 2000, the main reason foreign bands are inclined to come here is the development of local music agencies and increasing recognition of foreign bands and singers.

The opening of the music market in China and cooperation between the music industries in China and Western countries has brought increasing numbers of foreign bands into China.

"There is a huge fan base for music in China. Watching live performances has become a way of life for music lovers," Jiang says.

Jiang also says that the construction of live venues in Beijing contributes to the booming music scene.

"Venus like Star Live, Mao Live House, 13 Club and D-22, from the small to the large, offer performers the chance to listen to high-quality equipment, the same as in Western countries," Jiang says.

"Bands can interact with their fans in China via the stage, in exactly the same way as in their home countries."

The situation was different two to three years ago, Jiang says.

"We introduced world-class guitarists into China very early but the response from audiences was not very good. Ticket sales were pretty bad."

Jiang believes this is because Chinese people did not have a habit of going to live performances at this time.

Compared to other countries, ticket prices are much lower in China, ranging from $6 to $40. Therefore, foreigners in Beijing are often a large part of the audience.

"Now we see more Chinese music fans coming to enjoy live performances," Jiang says.

He says concerts by foreign bands in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou do not make money but they will keep working at it.

"We are aware of one truth and that is, as music lovers, we need foreign bands. Watching their performances is not only enjoyable but also a chance for audiences in China to expand their horizons," Jiang says.

Music agencies and companies like Guitar China will continue to bring more music to Beijing this year.

This month, for instance, speed metal bands Skylark, from Italy, and Nightwish, from Finland, performed at the Haidian Exhibition Center. Dream Theater, one of the most influential metal bands of the 1990s, is presenting its "Chaos in Motion World Tour", along with the latest album Systematic Chaos, on January 22. Former indie singer Edson, Pelle Carlberg and pop duo Club 8 (Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergard) will perform on Wednesday at Yugong Yishan. Magyar Posse, a Finnish post-rock band, will debut in Beijing on Friday at Yugong Yishan, and later in Shanghai.

(China Daily 01/15/2008 page18)