Finally, around half eleven, we met our contact person who supplied us with some smoke.  After a few hits on the peace pipe and receiving a couple of texts asking were I was I finally headed off, to the event of the night, the grand opening of the new club in town, the Free Bar. 

So anyway, here I am, slowly walking up the drive way to this building that was emanating the light beams into the heaven.  I walked slowly, like a predator stalking on his pray, sniffing, looking around, taking in the sounds and everything.  And while I was moving myself closer to the entrance I thought to myself, oh my god, what kind of place is this?  The whole front facade lit up in colourful luminous lights, big letters spelling out the name, Free Club, and a host of important, semi-important, and drunk looking people standing around, some coming, some going, some doing both or neither, I couldn’t figure that out as I was to occupied trying to look occupied, calling my friend Ash to get me some tickets so that I didn’t have to pay the exorbitant entrance fee of 200 kwai.  The whole place just looked deadly slick, so slick that it almost felt as if the club would automatically repel me, if I tried to enter into it, spit me out for wearing the wrong shoes – flip flops, being in the wrong state of consciousness – stoned to the bone, and not even intent to drink myself into delirium.  Well, it didn’t.  In fact I slipped right through the door, past the Welcome-girls, the communications officers with their walkie-talkies, the security personnel in their camouflage uniforms and combat boots and the diverse other staff and guests mingling around the entrance. 

I slipped right through the metal detector, smuggling in my nail clipper and my miniature Xin Jiang jackknife.  I cleverly engaged the doorguard in confusing English conversation, and so distracted him from his duty of searching me and my full pockets. 

By now I felt I was in the Guantanamo Bay Prison camp, there were so many people in combat boots and camouflage uniforms, caps and earplugs.  Only this was Guantanamo on mescaline or LSD, or Guantanamo from an Alice-in-Wonderlandian parallel universe – a totalitarian party regime… tight security and everything, I was waiting to see someone with a automatic rifle, a sub-machine gun or at least a tazer gun… or some well-trained German Shepherds or something like that, but before that could materialise, I had miraculously obtained a ticket and found my way inside.

From here, there is no point in trying to describe the situation.  There were simply too many flashing lights to be able so make out anything and the combined music from two dance floors amalgamated into a slur of indistinguishable offbeat, spaghetti bass, vocal thingamajig that removed any last doubts whether one was dealing with actual music or with a military noise surge. 

It seems that whoever designed the place was convinced that there is a tight correlation between number of bright-flashing moving lights and the enjoyment factor of the audience.  There more, the better.  While the place is packed with glitzi decoration, mirrors, colours, disco balls, laser guns, glowing tables, and Christmas decoration, someone forgot to leave some room for a dance floor.  Well, at least in one of the rooms.  Are people supposed to dance on the tables or what?  Or rather under them, which is perhaps the safer option for the club, after dishing out free hard drinks the whole night to night revellers who soaked up the booze like sponges. 

It’s truly bizarre.  A great room full of tables, an elevated stage where 4 people seemed to be Djing, three galleries for people to stand and stare down at the people who are sitting at their tables and staring at the four people mixing up sound and lights who are staring at their control panels, Laptops and other gizmos. 

Bizare, I just couldn’t make any sense of it, not even after I had got hold of my 5^th drink.  Something just didn’t feel right.  Perhaps it was the guy in camouflage and combat boots standing behind be, telling me to take a step away from the doorway, maybe it was the disco lights that looked more like CCTV equipment, maybe it was the peace pipe that I had smoked before. 

 After walking around, desperately looking for some meaning in the Free Club, I finally found it when I realised I was free to leave at any time.. .ha ha… I left rather spontaneously, feeling there was nothing there to make me stay, not even the free drinks (save the wonderful expat community who had gathered there that evening, good people, but it just seems too futile trying to have conversations when half the words don’t make it into each other’s ears – perhaps I should have texted them…)

Around eight o’clock there was already a crowd gathered in front of the venue which is at other times home to the ChangQingTeng Drum Club（长青藤鼓乐俱乐部）.  By half past eight, something upward of 50 people were queuing, waiting to be let in – a mixed audience, only a few foreigners.  In the entrance hall, posters of past gigs adorned the walls – UK band Mike TV, Ling Yi（零壹） from Inner Mongolia, both who had performed at the JOWO club（酒窝吧） earlier this year;  A whole range of Djembe drums standing on a table and various messages and websites written on the walls.  The odd anti-fascist t-shirt could be spotted, too – Nazi Punks: Fuck off!

Soon the doors opened and shortly after The Witch played their set to a crowded house, definitely a band who got their shit together!

However, everybody was obviously waiting for Joyside and when they started to play, the party really kicked off and people were dancing punk-rock style to the hard but melodic songs.  Joyside are Red（小虹） on guitar, Liu Hao（刘昊） on bass, Guan Zheng（关铮） on drums and Bian Yuan（边远） singing.  The four of them sent out relaxed vibes, and Bian Yuan has a quality about him that reminded me of the likes of Jim Morrison; plain, sincere, straight forward; what you see is what you get, no bullshit!.  Some of the songs reminded me of John Lennon, others of The Grand Funk Railroad.  But they definitely have their own unique style, ranging from melodious tunes to hard and fast punk-rock. It seems futile to try and describe music with words, so I’ll leave it to you to check out some clips you can see of them on Youtube, their Myspace profile and any of the five albums they released so far. 

Before the gig I had a chance to chat with Bian Yuan and he told me a bit about himself, the band and the music scene in China.

Joyside has been around for 8 years and is signed with the Berlin based music label Fly Fast Records.  In 2007 they toured Europe, playing in Germany, UK, France, Austria and Switzerland and besides that performed in many Chinese cities.  In 2003 the American Film maker, Kevin Fritz made a documentary about the band, titled Wasted Orient.  In it, he accompanied them on a tour through China. After the gig in Dalian, they were going to play at a music festival in Shenyang.   

I asked Bian a few personal questions and this is what he replied:

Your early influence? 60s and 70s Rock and Roll and Glam Rock
Stuff you listen to now?  Leonard Cohen, Brian Eno
Good music scene in China?  Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu
People buying less CDs?  That’s ok
Joyside tracks to download on I-Tunes? I don’t think so
Fans and other people?  Some love us and others hate us
Other cool bands?  A lot of new bands in Beijing, a lot of clubs playing Rock and Roll, it’s better than before
Good New Bands?  Casino Demon（赌鬼）, Queensea Big Sharks（后海大鲨鱼）, The Gar（嘎调）
What about British bands? The Libertines, Baby Shambles
How about Dalian?  I like it, I like the ocean
Any tour lined up?  Some cities in China, maybe in October again in Europe
Festivals in China?  A lot of festivals here, especially this year

 If you were at the concert and want to thank someone for bringing Joyside to Dalian and making the concert happen, it will have to be Geng Xin (耿鑫) and Zhou Lian Jiang（周连江）.  Geng Xin is guitarist with the band Wang Wen (惘闻) and owner of the legendary JOWO bar.  He is friends with Joyside and called them to see if they were up for playing in Dalian.  With JOWO and the various gigs that he organised there, he has definitely done a whacking great job to promote alternative music in a City which still feels for many foreigners like a cultural desert.  Right now, JOWO is closed because the stadium at Olympic square is being demolished, but Geng Xin is busy looking for a new place and is optimistic that in two or three months it will reopen in a new location. 

Zhou Lian Jiang（周连江） is drummer for Wang Wen (惘闻) and runs the ChangQingTeng Drum Club in the lovely venue Chang Chun Lu 196. This has been open since October 2008 and will hopefully house many more gigs like this.

Photos and translation: Qian Qiao (Unicorn)

Anyway to cut a long story short, Dalian has many surprises on offer.  All it needs is you!

As it was my day off today I went for lunch with my friend Rainbow from the Aurora English School.  After lunch my plan was to find a music shop on Taiyuan Street.  A friendly sales clerk in a shop called Fuyin Music, close to Olympic square, had told me about it after I asked him about rehearsal studios.  Anyway, as I was walking down Chen Gren Jie, coming from Jiefang (Liberation) square, I noticed a music shop just on the corner before Zhongshan road called Qizhi music 2002.  I went inside to find out more and realised it was a music school, too.  They have a couple rooms with pianos and one room with a drum kit and PA system.  Apparently that room can be rented for rehearsals from 10 RMB per person per hour.  That was a nice find!

I continued my afternoon walk down Chen Gren Jie and turned left onto Wusi road.  After a few houses there suddenly was a shop with a big display of trays outside, each of which was full of green grass, growing.  I hesitated and asked the owner who had come outside what it was.  He invited me to come inside and explained that this was all Wheat Grass that he was growing.  It’s a very healthy food supplement that can be used in Salads or pressed to make a drink. 

I realised I had walked right into a Wheat Grass bar, as this shop sells a  freshly pressed Wheat Grass drink at the counter.  Of course I ordered one and while I waited, the owner showed me books which were full of photos, recipes and nutritional information about raw food, salads and other vegetables – Pretty nouvelle cuisine if you ask me.  Something for food lovers, health and body conscious people and perhaps new age hippies who like the buzz of vitamins and minerals once in a while.

(I’m munching the pressed Wheat Grass left over as I’m typing)

Anyway, I continued along Wusi road, up Baishan road and down to Wusi Road again, looking for this music shop / rehearsal studios.  The whole area, I think it’s the continuation of Chen Gren Jie, is quite nice – a pedestrianised road with some nice unusual shops around. Interestingly, the motorbike taxis there weren’t playing techno through their boom boxes, but Rock and Roll guitar solos. 

Anyway, still searching for the music shop, the smell of incense suddenly came to my senses.  And I found the source in a small shop dedicated to devotional items and Buddhist paraphernalia.  Lovely, I felt like home! (I used to work in a similar shop in London)  Besides Buddhas, Quan Yins, bronzes, wall hangings, Malas (prayer beads), crystals, jewellery and Tibetan prayer flags they sell a wide range of incense.  So I bought a few items and continued.

I finally found the music shop at the Western End of Wusi road, just on the corner of Taiyuan road.  It’s called Fusion Monopoly Store.  They have a nice selection of guitars, and other music stuff, but unfortunately no rehearsal studios, at least that’s what seemed to transpire from the very limited communication with the guy who was working there and playing guitar solos on the guitar that hung around his neck. 

Oh well… so for rehearsing it would have to be that other place I found earlier.  I hopped on the number 6 bus that took me back to Xi an lu.

But the Wheat Grass is still giving me a buzz. 

Personally, as it has been getting warmer and I’ve been outside more, I’ve been introduced to and finding new places on a weekly basis.  Starting with the funky Korean cafes and bars around Malan Square in Dalian’s far West End, the Echo Café and shop close to Olympic square, the underground (not literally) Transformers Bar on Shengli Road and a nice looking European style Café in a small square close to Wusi Square, where a couple of English Schools are located.

Dalian seems to have many more surprises in stall for those who are staying here for a while!

The McDonalds is almost entirely filled with students who lounge around on chairs and tables with books, notebooks, pens and other equipment lying around – studying, working, reading, drawing, some sleeping, or dozing off.  But most seem to be absorbed in their studies.  I catch a glance of two girls at one table behind us drawing.  I go over and ask what they’re doing.  They are working on their submission pieces for this term.  Kind of sketch-like technical drawings, but really impressive, at least for someone like me who, at the most, scribbles randomly on bits of scrap paper whilst on the phone with somebody.  One of their friends is sleeping on the chair, curled up.

Amazing… I sit down again.  The boy and the girl next to us, have their books open and are busy writing things down.  We lean over and ask what they’re doing.  Studying maths comes the answer. 

At half past 2 two at night in MC Donalds?… Why not? the boy replies.

While we enjoy the rest of our midnight meal, we gaze around and watch the students.  It’s a lovely atmosphere, so calm and peaceful. 

At other times, coming back from nightclubs in the early morning hours, I had encountered a group of old men sitting around one of the bar tables, papers, brushes and many other things lyhing around.  They were drawing caligrapahy.

When one customer left, one of the men would go to the table, clear the things together, take the paper lining of the tray and bring the rest to the collection point.  The lining served as the next bit of paper for the next piece of caligraphy. 

I was even given one beautiful piece saying something about traveling and books – I didn’t get an acurate translation yet, but the topics suit me.

Strange, at home, in England and Germany, I remember 24h McDonlads turning into the repositories for wasted partygoers, homeless alcoholics, and other random drunk characters,… kind of barrel scrapings…

I prefer the Mc Student scene.

Well, you don’t need to go that far for a good outdoor experience.  Da Hei Shan, the Big Black Mountain between the Dalian Suburbs of Jin Zhou and Kai Fa Qu caters for all needs.  Within easy reach it offers stunning views over Dalian’s outskirts, overlooking the Yellow Sea to the East and the Bohai Sea to the West.  If you are looking for a relaxed and easy ascent, start from Jin Zhou, here you will find a beautiful path leading up the mountain through a deep canyon.  Passing streams, picnic areas, pagodas and lush greenery on all sides, you only remember you are in a rocky mountain valley when looking up and seeing steep cliffs and the massive rock faced sides of the canyon. 

The well maintained path with steps and handrails at some places finally leads up to Shigusi temple, the highest temple on the hill, and one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Southern Liaoning.  While renovation work is currently going on a the temple (May 2009), the entrance seems to be for free.  Inside the complex there are many nice buildings, flower gardens and impressive statues and shrines. 

The walk continues through this temple and further up the hill where there is, perched on the hill top, a Taoist Temple called Tangwangdian.  This is somewhat smaller, and is limited to a square building with a place of worship inside and a viewing terrace on the top.  From here you see the two seas that surround Dalian, the Yellow and the Bohai Sea. 

From here you also see a collection of buildings, watch towers and telecommunications facilities on the very top of the hill.  This is part of a military complex and most of it is not accessible to the public.  One can, however, follow the road towards it, walk up the steps about half way and then follow a path that leads around the mountain and towards the Kai Fa Qu area.  This is a lovely path which is still fairly easy to walk, however there are no steps or handrails. 

Choosing this path is choosing uncertainty, because there is no one way down the other side.  There are only various possibilities, most of which involve rough terrain and somewhat difficult paths that have to be found.  If you are an outdoor enthusiast and not afraid of a bit of climbing and getting lost, then this is a good option. 

If you make it down the hill, you will find yourself very close to Dalian Da Shue, Dalian University, a big and modern campus.  At the foot of the mountain there is a Quan Yin temple, built into the mountain side. From here it is about a 10 minute walk to the campus and just outside the main gates there is a bus stop with regular bussed leading back to Dalian. 

Whichever way you decide to explore Da Hei Shan, it has a lot to offer and is a truly beautiful place to go.  Just take a good pair of shoes, enough water and snacks and you’ll be fine.

One way to get there:

Take a bus to Dalian University in Kai Fa Qu from behind the Dalian Main Train Station on the corner Jianshe Jie and Yun Yang Lu, opposite of the You Ho restaurant.  The fare is about 6 RMB and the ride takes about 70 minutes to the last stop, Dalian University.  This bus also has a few stops on the way: Anshan Lu, close to the Ricoh Store, and at Xianglujiao (where Metro and Ikea are).  When you get to Dalian University, walk through the campus and out of the North-Eastern back exit.  From here you follow a paved road that takes you to the foot of the mountain.  Just follow your nose up the hill and, while there are good paths at first, later you have to find your own way to the top.  If you manage that, you will find a good path on the top that leads to the Jin Zhou side.

A very short history of the environmental movement

Within the field of International Relations and politics, the beginnings of the environmental movement are often dated back to 1962 and the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.  This book for the first time analysed the effects of bio-accumulative pesticides within food chains, in other words, the danger posed to eco-systems through the use of chemicals in agriculture.  It drew much needed attention to ecology and subsequently gave rise to environmental concerns about human security. 

From here on, environmental awareness started to grow globally and manifest in different ways.  In the UK, the Ecologist magazine was founded in 1970 by Edward Goldsmith.  Three years later, in 1973, this gave rise to the Green Party, first known as PEOPLE and the Ecology Party. 

In Germany it was the collaboration of various citizen’s initiatives, and new social movements in the late 70’s that led to the founding of the first Green Party, formally established in 1980, today known as Buendnis 90 / Die Gruenen.

Since then, Green Parties have sprung up all around the world, echoing the need for more environmental concern and ecological awareness. In 2001 these parties found a common platform within the Global Greens Network, an organisation bringing together Green Parties and interested individuals from Africa, the Americas, the Asia-Pacific Region and Europe.  Today it has over 70 member parties and holds regular meetings and congresses. 

The trajectory this development describes suggests a rise in environmental awareness throughout the world.

WED in China

Here in China, Minister of Environmental Protection, Zhou Shengxian, announced today a plan to promote green modernization.  A measure dearly needed in a country where officials say there is still much work to be done on the environmental front.  

One measure in effect from today is a newly opened national help hotline which citizens can call up to voice their complaints over environmental pollution.  If local authorities fail to react to citizens’ needs, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said, they can contact the Ministry directly.  Issues dealt with include emergency environmental issues and cross-provincial pollution.  The lines are open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm and the number is: 010-12369.

While much work is underway and these efforts should be applauded, much still needs to be done, perhaps most importantly, raising awareness and educating people. 

In this respect, The World Environment Day is a wonderful event, so tell all your friends and family!!!

 
Links:

http://www.unep.org/wed/2009/english/content/about.asp
http://www.globalgreens.org/index.php

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-06/05/content_8250331.htm

The financial crisis and the environment – an opinion

While the global financial crisis is largely perceived as a frightening and unsettling development in the world, I believe there is reason to be optimistic. 

There have been many issues of major concern for quite some time now. 

For once, we are nearing or have already passed peak oil (depending on which statistics you read and which information sources you deem correct).  This means that oil is becoming scarce and we are gradually entering into a post-fossil fuel era.  The current global economy is based on oil and therefore, also industry, energy supply, transport and other major areas of industrial and social design derive from a fossil fuel based paradigm. 

Closely connected to the fossil fuel consuming economy is, of course, another development of major concern: Global warming and Climate Change.  While carbon emissions are already a topic at most meetings of business and politics, economies in the newly industrialising countries (NIC, such as BRIC, Brazil, Russia, India, China) are still pursuing relentless growth and are still largely based on fossil fuels.

However, the way forward is already being paved:  Technology for renewable energy is being developed, ways of sustainable business practices are being spearheaded, and awareness is growing of the ecological imperative in agriculture and other industries that have a direct impact on the environment.

To change economies from growth-orientated, exploitative, polluting, and energy intensive enterprises into ones that champion sustainability, ecological soundness, recycling, and renewable energies, a massive change is needed. 

The current financial turmoil is an indicator of this change and as such should spur our hope and anticipation of a better time.  A new era, in which economical and social activity is not to the detriment of nature and future generations.

Even governments acknowledge that there has to be change and call for wide reforms in global business practices and financial regulations.  However, the extent of change that is about to occur over the next decades is hardly if at all recognised.

We are facing a situation in which the old (paradigm) is dead and the new cannot be born.  Or, to be more precise, the old is in its last throws and only once it has truly fallen, can the new emerge in all its glory.

To quote Arundhati Roy, author of The God of Small Things and winner of the 1997 Booker Prize: 

A new world is not only possible. She is on her way.  On a quiet day I can hear her breathing.

The good thing about it is that once you find the starting point, you can’t get lost or take the wrong way, as the route simply follows the dry bed of the Malan River. 

Being almost entirely free of traffic, the river bed acts as a relaxing super-wide bicycle path.  Mind you, it cannot be said that you enjoy startling views for most of the way, but once you reach the reservoir, the view over the lake and the possibility to climb some of the surrounding hills make up for it. 

One possible entry point lies on the south-western bank of the river, just a few hundred metres up from the bridge where Wuyi road crosses the river. Follow the sidewalk and you will see a drive way turning down on your right and descending to the river bed.  From here to the reservoir it takes about 30 minutes, cycling leisurely.

Cycling north-west wards, you come past flyovers and bridges.  Keep your eyes open for some of the street art (read: graffiti), which is quite rare in its style in Dalian.  You catch glimpses of street life along the roads and always see hills in the distance.

After about 20 minutes, if you’re lucky, you will reach the hustle and bustle of a local street market.  In this area, residents have turned the steep and stony sides of the valley into plots for growing things and people can be seen doing their laundry out in the open. 

Shortly after this the river bed ends and makes way to a couple of football pitches.  Continue along the stream on the right side towards the far end where you can already see the great wall of the dam. 

To continue the tour you pass through a gate at the very end of the football fields in the left corner.  In the distance you will see gigantic steps and perhaps kids playing basketball. 

A hundred metres further on there is an entry, allowing you to step up onto the higher level on the left.  From here you can either explore the area closer to the dam, perhaps hearing amateur musicians practicing strange sounding trumpets, or climb up the hill. 

Here you have to probably push your bike.  One path takes you to a small summit overlooking the reservoir.  Another path leads you closer to the reservoir, but only if you climb over a wall.

From the summit, you could walk further and climb the hill flanking the southern side of the lake.  The bike ride is a lovelye scape from the traffic and hustle of Dalian. 

http://www.weliveindalian.com/Gallery/gallery_album.rails?Uid=100089763&Aid=8299

It is a recurring theme in myths and movies and the reason is probably that it is true:  One person can make a difference!

What started off as an idea to help children in need in the Sichuan Earthquake areas, turned into a successful and rewarding project, involving hundreds of people, including teachers, IT experts and a great number of students. 

When the Earthquake hit Sichuan last year, Danniele, who comes from there, but was studying in Dalian at the time, felt compelled to do something.  Soon after, she travelled to the affected area with a group of friends, engaged in various relief efforts and made many contacts.

About a year later she once again felt inspired to act.  In time for China’s Children’s Day (01.06.09), she posted an advert on Dalianxpat to find people interested in writing letters to children in Sichuan. 

One of the people who saw this post was Dan who teaches at a Dalian University.  He offered to pay for all the posting costs.  By this time there were about 23 letters from friends and other volunteers. 

Far from being all, the project developed a dynamic of its own as more people came on board.  Vijay, a software engineer, offered to write and help by contributing cash and others joined in.

Meanwhile Dan saw the potential in his position and told his 460 students about the plan.  He asked them if they would write letters and over 430 of them did.  Some even drew pictures, added their QQ and telephone numbers and email addresses. 

The first parcel had been sent off by now, containing the first 23 letters and also 2 boxes of clothing and books that had been donated from Dalianxpat members, Vijay and his co-workers.

Xpat memnber Huangdi even had his students create posters.

The ball had really got rolling, as by now a total of 2,300 RMB had come together.  With this, a second parcel was soon under way.  This time containing sporting equipment:  20 soccer and 9 volley balls, 6 pairs of ping pong paddles, 60 ping pong balls, 3 ping pong nets, 40 jump rolls (skipping ropes), 10 badminton sets and hand pumps.

On the 8^th of June then, the second parcel was sent off to Mianyang city in Sichuan to a local government agency – The Youth Committee, overseen by Secretary Ms Wang.

All of this started of as an idea.  It was the result of Dannielle’s will to make a difference and do something.  The contacts she had made during her volunteering work in the previous year proved invaluable.  And the idea took off!  It inspired others and turned into a wonderful project to the benefit of the children who suffered most from the Earthquake.

There is a popular saying that goes:  Having ideas is a gift from heaven, putting them into practice is hell.  According to Dan this does not apply in this case, as he has been inspired and uplifted by the whole experience of coming together and working on this project.   It has been incredibly rewarding and given all a feeling of great accomplishment. 

But, perhaps more importantly, it has given hundreds of children hope and a true message of love.

E&OE

(PS: please notify about any errors or misrepresentations)

A lesser known beach can be found on Dalian’s North-West coast, overlooking the Bohai Sea.  It is called Xiajiahezi and is less than an hour’s car drive from the West End.  Only a few years back this beach was a collection of fishing villages, with aquaculture being in the foreground.  Today, the wide beach is still littered with nice wooden fishing boats, but the villages have been displaced.  Partly by the newly built ocean park (still under construction, but well-advanced) and partly by the pass over high-way that leads down to Lvshun. 

The seaside here is markedly different from anything you experience at Xinghai Beach.  In Xiajiahezi you have a wide, flat and sandy beach that spreads out into the distance south-westwards and turns into a small cliff-like coastal area going north-eastwards.  The whole area has more of a rugged feel to it and lacks the hoards of people you get at the Downtown beaches.  Perfect for long walks along the beach and kite- surfing or boarding if anybody is into that here.  Another feature of the Bohai sea on this coast is that the water is very shallow.  You can literally walk out for hundreds of yards and still be only to your knees in water.  So it’s very safe for playing in the water and swimming, too.

Add to that, a nicely landscaped park featuring a lake with water feature, various pavilions, canopies, and other seaside facilities like a snack shop and you get the picture.  If it is still a bit blurred, see these pictures taken May 17^th 2009 during an outing with staff, students and friends of the Aurora Academy of English, based close to Xian Lu.

The gig was great and attracted over hundred fans who were dancing punk-rock style to the sometimes melodious and sometimes fast and furious tunes of the 5-piece band.  Some songs made me think of The Grand Funk Railroad, while others like Dongdongdong reminded me of John Lennon and The Beatles.  But while you can hear the influence of decades of Western music culture in their music, Joyside definitely have their own unique style.  This is not least due to the charismatic Bian Yuan who has the quality and clarity of a real rock star. You look at him and you know that what you see comes straight from the heart!  You can check out some of their songs on Youtube, Douban, Myspace and on fly-fast-records.com.

The gig was put together by Geng Xin (耿鑫) who plays with the Dalian band Wang Wen (惘闻) and runs the Jowo bar (temporarily closed for relocation) The venue and Drum Club are run by his band member Zhou Lian Jiang（周连江）.  To find out about future events, visit: http://www.douban.com/group/jiuwo_bar/

Photo by Unicorn