Ever seen that film clip for the Guns 'N' Roses song Welcome to the Jungle? You know, the one where Axl Rose steps off the bus as a naive, innocent country boy looking to join a band in the big city? Well, that may happen regularly in Los Angeles, but it's unlikely that many expats head to China looking to spread their musical wings (unless they play in a concerto).
Starting or joining a band may be third or fourth in priority to the job or degree that expats relocate here for. Still, once you step inside the doors of venues like Beijing's D-22, Star Live or 2 Kolegas, you are struck by the realization that a scene does exist. It's enough to stir the blood of full time musicians and bedroom strummers alike that perhaps did not even contemplate the possibility of being in a band during their stay in the Middle Kingdom.
And rock or punk bands are just one option. Country, experimental and covers bands or musos simply looking to jam are already out there. But how do you connect with other guitar fiddlers, singers, bassists, keyboardists and drummers? What avenues exist for someone looking for a little time in the spotlight?
According to Englishman Richard Todd, throwing yourself in the thick of it is the quickest route to the stage. Since arriving in the capital in 1996, Todd has been in all sorts of bands leading to his current outfit that plays a more experimental brand of rock.
"I've been in bands since I was 13. I'll be in bands wherever I go," the visual arts teacher says.
Back in the mid 1990s, Todd says that it was more difficult to meet other musicians, as there were not as many places to play. At the beginning he just played on his own.
"I started just doing acoustic stuff and then I was in a band where the drummer was quarter Lithuanian, quarter Italian, quarter Chinese - very interesting guy and we were pretty straight up rock'n'roll," he says.
"Then I was in a covers band and now I'm playing in a rock band where we play anything that we like."
Having lived in Beijing for the past 11 years, Swede Jonathon Leijonhufvud, who is currently the drummer for post-punk outfit PK14, has had more to do with the local scene than most expats. He says that in the past few years "everything has exploded".
"When I first got here, it was all DIY, and very improvised. There wasn't any structure or support - from trying to find gear to practice spaces to venues, record labels or media."
Before Beijing, Leijonhufvud followed his journalist parents to Hong Kong, but left in 1997 after becoming fed up with the music scene there. Since then, he has played in a Uyghur band called Askar and dabbled in side projects with members of local outfits such as Brain Failure and FM3.
He says that these days he runs into a lot more expats around the clubs and rehearsal studios.
"I meet people more often now asking 'where can I find this and this' or 'are there any bands looking for musicians'.
"And what you do see more and more in these practice places are Chinese and expat musicians playing together."
Nevin Domer is the booking agent for D-22, a Wudaokou-based bar in western part of Beijing that has established a reputation for fostering the talents of the local underground music scene. He says that many musicians hang out there watching each other's shows.
"Most of the people in the scene know each other, the bands know each other, whether they were friends before or if they found out about each other playing music," he says.
"Once you start meeting people in that scene, it's very easy to find others who want to play in bands. Learning about that scene is the most essential first step."
Domer, who plays in a local hardcore band and is now also working with an emerging independent record label, says that there are already quite a few foreigners who are heavily involved in the underground scene.
"Our drummer is the old guitar player from DS13 in Sweden. His brother is actually the singer for International Noise Conspiracy and The Refuse. He's one example, but expats in general, there's quite a few bands. We've had bands made up of students that have been pretty good."
As more live venues start to emerge and rock music becomes more fashionable in China (prompting brands and therefore sponsorship dollars to the scene), Domer believes that getting gigs is becoming easier.
"D-22 is now year-and-a-half old and after we opened, Mao opened up, Yugong Yishan opened up and there's several others. The situation in terms of clubs where you can play shows is getting better and better."
But the scene is still relatively small (say in comparison, to London or New York) and so those involved are likely to know what musicians are on the hunt. Todd, who has performed at three Midi festivals and often plays in the capital's best live venues, says that in contrast to cities in the West, it's easier to approach people in Beijing.
"People tend to take you on face value. Cliques among bands? Maybe there's a few, but I come from England where the cliques are long established and music is a way to be bitchy and have a go at people. I think (the scene) is probably too young to be cynical here."
However, if starting conversations with strangers is not your cup of tea, there are other options. You can always put an advertisement in one of the expat listings magazines and if you speak and read Chinese, sites like neocha.com and douban.com are very handy. Leijonhufvud advocates an even more grass roots approach.
"I would probably put up flyers in the venues where the type of music you like is being played, and usually people will get in touch and if it clicks, then it clicks," he says.
However, a hectic work schedule might restrict the amount of time you can commit to music - so what about a covers band? The demand is there: Just take a stroll among the Sanlitun bars and you will see that there are plenty of expats who just want to hear songs they've already heard before. And even though the number of live venues specializing in original music is growing, there will always be a demand for bands that play well-known tunes.
"I'm always seeing advertisements for people who want to play in covers bands," Todd says.
"Pubs like (Beijing's) Goose and Duck have long standing covers bands. Talking to musicians where covers bands play is still probably the best way to find one to join."
"Go to venues and start talking to people. Don't be shy."
(China Daily November 9, 2007)
