Posts Tagged friend or foe
November is Friend or Foe month
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on November 2nd, 2011
My Claw is Never Limp is the new album by Friend or Foe and it’s coming out next week. Rabshakeh, Manhadan and Bill II are really excited about it – so excited that they’ve decided to share a track with you before the actual release. Luwanrock is very proud to present track 2 off the new record – Lie to Me. Just hit the Play arrow on the player below.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
As you’re probably aware by now, the album was co-produced by the Acid Pony Club and Nichols from Rainbow Danger Club. They’ve all worked really closely to bring you a simply awesome sounding disc. And it looks good too – the graphics have all been hand drawn by Ivan Belcic of Moon Tyrant. Here’s a little teaser of the artwork:
So if you can’t wait until the official launch party on the 12th of this month, there’s a listening party at Dada tomorrow night. Here are the flyers for both:
Vox Populi* ^
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on June 24th, 2011
Hold on to your hats, Wuhan – Shanghai is coming to you.
It’s a traveling circus featuring The Dudettes, Rainbow Danger Club, Moon Tyrant, Stegosaurus, and X is Y as well as the awesome and erudite DJBO and the fabulous Tina Sprarkles on the visuals. It starts tomorrow night and it ends in the wee small hours of Sunday.
There’s a pretty cool write-up of it at Shanghai 24/7. I don’t really have much to add, except that I’m going in order to document everything for posterity, and also to play a few tunes with Moon Tyrant and The Dudettes.
To make this post seem a little heavier on the content, here are some pics from last week’s ritual slaughter at the LOgO re-opening.
The next morning
* Google translate does Latin. Mirabilis
^ Loving the footnotes
Another Saturday night, another night of rock at Yuyintang
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on November 25th, 2010
Moon Tyrant are my latest clients – I began working with them on their new album a few weeks ago. This was meant to be their record launch but I’m glad it’s not. I am looking forward to seeing them as I haven’t yet had the pleasure, despite becoming quite intimate with their tunes. It’s a kind of classic-rock/metal hybrid with a few nice melodic highlights and groovy bass lines in amongst the growly vocals and sharp riffs provided by Murray the Tasmanian. I believe they’ll be on last on Saturday night, after the pleasant metal stylings of Fearless. Also appearing is X is Y and a band that just doesn’t get mentioned enough on Luwanrock - Friend or Foe. They have a new line of stickers out that you should get your hands on. Happy Turkey Day.
Will the chicks on the flyer be there?
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on November 9th, 2010
There’s another big night of rock at Yuyintang this Thursday. Come and hear Friend or Foe deliver their philosophy – their songs are short, sharp and poignant, and contain witty observations about the minutiae of life. Also appearing are my old pals, Stegosaurus?, and Androsace, about whom I know nothing except a positive comment I read on Andy’s blog.
If you want me to plug your gig, just drop me an email with a flyer and some bullshit to say. I’m anyone’s. gunsella at gmail dot com
Rocktober II
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on October 25th, 2010
It’s been a pretty solid month already, with The Vasco Era and Fever Machine and Friends at Yuyintang, as well as a free Jagermeifter show at Mao last Friday featuring Triple Smash, Pairs and Friend or Foe. Friend or Foe’s outfits have been getting increasingly erratic of late. I just don’t know where they can go from here. Photo courtesy of Fish Zhao.
The awesome continues this week with another two gigs at Yuyintang and a real “Last Shout” at LOgO. First up we have American troubadour and multi-instrumentalist, Daniel Hart, at Yuyintang this Thursday 28th. He has a quirky, left-field kinda sound that you’d expect from someone who lists The Polyphonic Spree and St. Vincent as acts to which he offers sonic contributions. In describing his music, I could use Of Montreal as a starting point, and throw in some Sufjan Stevens for good measure. I’m not sure what kind of show he is bringing with him but I am sure it will be enjoyable. If you want to hear some of his music you can check his myspace and douban. 40 RMB.
On Saturday 30th it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for. As a Halloween celebration four of our favourite bands are getting dressed up and presenting tribute sets by acts with some historical significance for rock music.
Pairs as Wham!, X is Y (plus members of Moon Tyrant and Rainbow Danger Club) as Joy Division, Boys Climbing Ropes as The Misfits and The Fever Machine (plus me) as KISS. No, no, it just doesn’t get any better. And if that wasn’t enough for you, after that there’s a Toshi-sponsored Trash-a-Gogo on at LOgO featuring The Dudettes along with Friend or Foe, and Japanese trash-garage-surf-rock 3-piece, The Paralyz (they will also be on at Yuyintang on the 29th). Though LOgO is officially closing on the 31st, I have strong feeling that this show will be the last blow-out for LOgO.
We’ll miss you. So many good times. So many lost nights.
The Vasco Era @ Yuyintang
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on October 7th, 2010
Last night Australia’s The Vasco Era stunned audiences at Yuyintang with their powerful three-piece trashabilly. Frontman, Sid O’Neil, has a captivating voice and stage presence, and he broke the classic Yuyintang mid-song silence with some actual back-and-forth banter. Mostly with Zack.
We can see Sid using a resonator guitar here, this one apparently made by Fender. These guitars have a more metallic tone and sound great both clean and really distorted. He told me afterwards that he plays this guitar because he can’t play with a pick and he doesn’t feel comfortable on an electric guitar. Whilst a standard acoustic guitar feels more natural for him than an electric guitar, these are also prone to feedback issues. Hence the resonator guitar – it feels like an acoustic, sounds dirtier and doesn’t have wild feedback at high gain settings.
These guitars are typically associated with slide guitar and often have a higher action (distance between the strings and the fretboard) than most guitars. Last night Sid used the classic bottle slide to get the room rocking. It looks like Budweiser.
If you want to hear some of their tunes you can check out their Douban page. You can read the blog of their China tour here, along with some interviews from some of the other bands on the Sino Australia Music Exchange, an initiative that is kind of like exchange students but for rock bands. PK14 and Carsick Cars will be heading to Australia soon too.
They were ably supported last night by Friend or Foe, who are going from strength to strength with their stage shows and their outfits. Last night was simple but effective – masks and no shirts. Six manboobs on stage. Not to be missed.
Also supporting where X is Y. Unfortunately I missed them but I am sure they were excellent.
Smegma Riot – Italian Hardcore direct from Yun’nan
Posted by gunsella in Uncategorized on September 27th, 2010
Be afraid, Shanghai. Be very afraid. Kunming’s finest export is coming our way – the Italian punk band Smegma Riot are playing at Yuyintang this Wednesday night. It’s been at least three years since they invaded Live Bar as part of their China tour. Now they are back, bringing with them an incendiary show and their new album, Evolve or Die. Please trust me, this is not to be missed.
Wednesday night, the Vaffantour. Also featuring Friend or Foe, Pheel and the Mad Dogs and Androsace.
Luwan Rock- Solar/Lunar: The Legend May 11, 2012
- The Illumin8tors Solar/Lunar CD Release April 18, 2012
- When it rains it pours, 50s-60s style April 11, 2012
- Eatliz – Art Rock from Israel March 18, 2012
- Last Minute Operatic News (and nothing to do with the Illumin8tors) February 19, 2012
- Enter the Dragon February 8, 2012
what are the people saying?