Weekly Live Music Review is a regular online feature where Guangzhou-based musician Kirby Carney reviews a live performance in the PRD.
Last Thursday, I went to visit my drummer friend Mir who got a new job working at Mr. Rocky. He used to be a consistent jammer at Hooley’s open mic and The Brew in Taojin but as the saying goes, the cream of the crop will rise to the top and the man is a frothy espresso served just at the right time. On to the review before he gets embarrassed that I think so highly of his drumming ability…
Tonight, the band is slick and smooth. The Ukrainian-Russian house band are dressed to impress. The males are in white and the females are in black. They’re a house band, so movement is limited for them but they more than make up for it by pouring out crowd-pleasing hit after crowd-pleasing hit. They’re playing everything from James Brown to Pink.
Onstage, we have the masterful electronic drumming of Mir, guitarist-turned-bassist Alex, (drummer, singer, guitar and keyboard), classic rock guitarist Jack, the suave funk styled keyboardist Willy and poppy-vocalist Natali.
The band is backed by two enthusiastic dancers, who are offstage, the super-cool Rossi and the lovely Sveta. They’re bringing people to dance with them onstage. You’re not safe when you go and see these guys but you will have fun (if you’re willing to drowse in the cheesiness).
The band plays a short of just five songs, kicking off with Canada’s own, Justin Beiber’s ‘Baby’ (hey, the people love him). And somehow the backing band has given it personality with a riveting solo and jazz themed drumming. Second tune of the night is the legendary ‘I Feel Good.’ You know this band is versatile when they can jump from one end of the spectrum to the other in a matter of a few beats. The classic gets a mini-disco remake halfway through the song, making the audience realize this band is holding at lot back.
Next up is ‘Cake By The Ocean’ by DNCE, which is complemented by the singer’s high-pitched voice. You know this song: it’s the one you kind of don’t like when you’re sober but as long as peer pressure is on full blast and alcohol is within grasp you’re having the time of your life. The band closes out the set with Pink’s ‘Try,’ which features a groovy bass line and sweet little cut guitar solo at the end to spice things up a bit.
Talking to Mir after the gig, he suggests that the band probably has over 120 songs in their repertoire that can be pulled out at the drop of a beat. I rank the guy as a top artist in the city and you would too if you found the time to eat rib-eye steaks on a beautiful evening at Party Pier.
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