A Night With The Beijing Misfits - Part 1

Halloween is a scary and exciting time. So many drunken zombies, ghouls and serial killer types wreaking havoc on the streets of Beijing! That's why Loreli sent our newest reporter, Daniel Rothwell out on his own into the dark, dark night, armed with only a field recorder, a notebook, and a pen to go check out Beijing's legendary Halloween horror punks, The Beijing Misfits. If you're brave enough, you can catch them yourself at Temple Bar on Saturday, October 29th or at Hot Cat Club on Sunday, October 30th.

Posted October 28, 2016

A Night With The Beijing Misfits – Part 1

“The Beijing Misfits” could be described as a group consisting of 'those guys you've seen in that band that time' playing 'those songs you know', or alternatively, a 'Supergroup of Beijing's top talent in the Horror-Punk-Cover-Band industry'. Regardless, they play only once (or twice) a year, and this time their annual performance will be slightly different – they want you to get involved. We caught up with the band and friends at a super-not-so-secret practice in preparation for their upcoming shows, and asked a few questions about what's to be expected.

WHO:

Marshall – Vocals

Nevin – Guitar

Jinbo – Bass

Aaron – Drums

WHAT:

“The Beijing Misfits” - You guessed it, Beijing based Misfits cover band.

WHERE / WHEN:

Saturday 29th October 2016 – Temple Bar

Sunday 30th October 2016 – Hot Cat Club

M - ...It's not the original line up of the band.

N - Well, y'know, we don't have Danzig anymore so... Yeah it's just not the same without Danzig.

N - We're practicing for Halloween, which is the only time that The Beijing Misfits actually comes out of hiding. Well, it's actually not on Halloween. We've got one show this year at Temple, on October 28th, and then -

M – 29th.

N – Sorry. Temple, on October 29th, and Misfits KTV show at Hot Cat on the 30th

M – But those are also actually really sick shows because on the 29th we have: “Dress Code” (who are going to wrap up for a few months), and, “Free Sex Shop”, and this new really...dumb, great, happy-hardcore band from our last “Rock Against Jams” show that's now called... “Technoprisoner.de”

M – And then, and then the show at Hot Cat is actually great because we're supporting a bunch of really great, local Chinese punk bands, like “Hang Nail” and “Hind Brain”...also “Dress Code” again.

A – I saw, last year was my first year in Beijing, and my brother and I fucking wore dresses to get out to a fucking Beijing Misfits show, because we were so stoked to see what happened; and fucking, energy last year was fucking sick, I'm only hoping that this year we can emulate the same kind of fucking energy... so... hoping... but, pretty sure we're going to do it which is rad. Good line up.

N – Last year the night ended with someone taking a shit on the dance-floor. We never discovered who it is, I'm blaming Danzig.

M – Last year Halloween was on a Saturday, and I got home on Monday, so that's actually like a seriously awesome show.

M – So, like at least for the KTV show we have some people that we've practiced with today, who are totally prepared to sing the songs on Sunday, I think it went pretty well...

A – I've also been like doing a big shout out to everybody that I know in the last couple of weeks so there's a bunch of people who have not had any chance of practice, and have not really fucking had a chance to, like, give it a shot... But, they're going to come out and scream some stuff so it's going to be fun. This is still open for anybody else that still wants to come out, so if you want to come out, please come and yell stuff and have a really good time at Hot Cat on Sunday night.

Matteo – I'm Matteo, and I'm here to chill with the guys; maybe sing some songs.

Fish – My name is Fish and I want to do “Last Caress”, but we'll see how that goes. This is my first... I'm a stage virgin, so it's gonna, like, take a little coercing (and a little bit of roofies) to get me on stage – but eventually, you know, get me drunk enough I'll get some liquid courage, and get up on there and do it.

N – A bottle of Tsingtao is all the planning you need.

M – Jinjiu?

Oliver – My name is Oliver, and I'm gonna sing “Attitude”, and I'm gonna try to sing “Astro Zombies” with, maybe other people... and maybe just randomly throw out yells during choruses.

N – I've been playing misfits for Halloween for almost fifteen years now, and there was one year when I was a little more than drunk and ended up giving myself nine stitches in the head. But, it didn't stop me from finishing the show, and then playing pool, and basically hanging out until dawn anyway. I mean, blood's just part of Halloween, right?

A – Nevin is the secret she-pooper at Temple.

N – Oh I wish, I wish, I wish; but that was Danzig.

M – I mean, since I do work at Temple, I pretty much have like a nearly full bingo sheet of fucked up stuff that could happen in that place, and the only thing that hasn't happened at Temple, is someone dying. So, I'm really hoping that someone dies at our show.

F - More poop! We're upping the ante in the poop district!

M - The only thing that hasn't happened at Temple is someone dying.

A - It's Sunday night, it's Halloween, yeah we all gotta work on Monday, but y'know what, come out, have a couple of drinks, sing some songs, have a good fucking time. Misfits are fucking awesome, and our band is almost as good as they are! Not really, but anyway.

M – There's a bunch of stuff going on over the weekend, and the best thing about both of our shows on the 29th and the 30th is that we're, like, we have an opportunity to support a lot of fantastic Beijing, like Chinese Beijing punk bands. And so, like, the best thing about our weekend is that this is like the best Beijing punk has to offer. Especially for the young generation.

N – Then kill yourself.

M - At least after temple. Do it in Temple! If you kill yourself in Temple, then I can finish my bingo sheet. 

Club Paradise

Thanks to everyone who came out for Loreli's one year anniversary party! We had such a good time getting you all drunk and dancing - with much thanks to the boys over at Club Paradise, who provided all the party jams. Have a listen to this interview with them about how they got started and about David's awkward time with a magician. 

Posted October 19, 2016

An Interview with Proximity Butterfly

No trip to Chengdu would be complete without stopping to converse with local (and international) legends, Proximity Butterfly, who are currently in a fluctuating state of hiatus. Josh and Heather Love were kind enough to sit down with Loreli at the Chengdu Bookworm to discuss how they met, ended up in Chengdu, and have been able to make music in the least corporate way possible - complete with interruptions from their three music-loving children banging away on The Bookworm's drum kit! Sadly, Proximity Butterfly is on hold for right now, but the Loves gave us a heads up on their new project, called Dizzy Love, which will release an EP by the end of October. You can catch them at the Kanding Love Festival on October 23rd or at their debut personal art show at NUART Space in Chengdu on November 11th. Also check out a video of Dizzy Love on QQ or YouTube.

Posted October 13, 2016

About Proximity Butterfly:

Proximity Butterfly was founded in 2003, initially by Joshua C.Love (USA), Western Governor Chen (China), bovine Qingyang (China), Heather Judson (Canada) four people. Not mature enough at the time of the music environment, Proximity Butterfly quickly with their unique style attracted a large audience, causing no small vibration. Proximity Butterfly With the unique appeal of the deep timbre, eerie sound effects with color, slightly obscure lyrics, combined to folk, funk, soul, hip- hop, alternative rock and psychedelia and other elements of fusion, and gradually formed a very independent rock style. 
 
Proximity Butterfly issued seven albums, as well as some singles and live recordings, music collections, and original video. Uphold and adhere to the original tenets of "walking on the road" concept, they came from Inner Mongolia, Australia, in the way in the most We spread musical gesture, also accumulated a solid audience base. 
 
Proximity Butterfly's music is full of philosophical meaning and experimental color, like a collage of sound and concept, in an unusual gesture of approaching people's hearts, in Kill the Popstar, Tiptoes of Shiva and Dance of the Hanged Men of Salahoudin evident . Lyrics obscure fuzzy narrative metaphor unknown forces of this world, is a musical expression of nature and the mysterious power of Anthropology Perspective. 
 
In the interview often asked: "Why China?" Proximity Butterfly answer is unknown to the strong interest in nature, and the human instinct and try to understand the different representations. 


This year is the first color butterfly established 12 years, the new tour also progressed, we would particularly like to walk together with you in the future!