Beijing, China
I take pride in being able to suss out a country's music scene. Don't get me wrong, my trip to China was all about deserts and ding-dong noodle and bicycles and spitting and traffic and hutongs. But in Beijing I also took a quick detour into China's small but stellar music world.

Through the power of MySpace I managed to find out about a night proclaiming the bands on their bill as "Beijing's best indie rock." In a city of 15 million that might seem like a bold statement, but then again indie rock tends to be a weedy white man's game so the scene isn't so big in the East (apparently heavy metal is, however, popular here.)

Next time you're in Beijing be sure to head to the club D-22, a narrow shoebox sort of place in the university district. First on stage Cars Sick Cars: two boys and a chick drummer who play serious and sound solemn with lots of extended instrumentals. I'm sorry not to be able to bring you a link for Houhai Sharks because these kids knew how to do indie-pop to a tee. The night was rounded up by China's Queens of Rock, Hang On The Box, who have been around for a good many years now. The music they showcased shows just how far they've moved from the garage rock sounds of their early days to the more experimental, post-punk sounds they're playing with now. Imagine E.S.G. having just listened to some early Sonic Youth.

Xiexie and Zaijian!

Cars Sick Cars - Zhong Nan Hai.mp3
mypace

Hang On The Box - Shanghai.mp3
myspace

This tasty sandwich by K-Baby!