Subs

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Subs on Oct. 8th 2004 by Yoshito Katori
Subs on Oct. 8th 2004 by Yoshito Katori

Background Information
Name (English) Subs
Origin Beijing
Genre Punk, New Rock
Years active 2002 - present
Members
Vocals - Kang Mao
Guitar - Wu Hao
Bass - Zhu Lei (DH & Chinese Hellcats)
Drums - Li Fan
Former members
Drums - Shi Xudong (Brain Failure, P.K. 14)
Preview

SUBS was formed in the cold Beijing winter of 2002 by vocalist Kang Mao, guitarist Wu Hao, drummer Shi Xudong and bass player Sun Xia, but the band would have to wait a few months until the present bass player, Zhu Lei came along and finalized the line-up. SUBS gathers inspiration for their screaming punk rock pleasures from bands such as the Hives, Fugazi and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, while at the same time making their own distinct mark on the world of rock.

The band's live performances are riotous explosions of pure musical energy displaying a commitment seldom seen on the Chinese punk scene. And when the guitarist Wu Hao, who happens to sport the coolest afro since Shaft, goes bad on his Gibson, you know you are having a party on your hands. Wrapping up the image is the combination of Shi Xudong, who by some is described as the "most muscular guy in the Beijing punk scene", pounding the drums and Zhu Lei's jumpy and rumbling bass accompanying Kang Mao's wails and screams through the fast-paced set. And when it's all over, don't be shy, buy them a drink and continue the party that they started on stage.

Thanks to an invitation to play at Oslo, Norway’s Øya Festival and the small tour that followed in 2005, the band has won over a new European audience and garnered interest from local and international print and broadcast media. A sampling of the international press coverage: NRK (Norwegian Public Radio); American Public Radio International; the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong); Nylon(Australia); Roadtracks (Germany); BA and BT, two of Norway’s largest newspapers, and more, including a range of documentaries from around Europe. A second trip to Europe followed in October 2005, following an invitation to the Amsterdam China Festival. The summer of 2006 saw the band play over 30 festival, club and bar shows in four countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark), picking up a new following across the region and garnering coverage in a range of media (Radio Helsinki, BT, BA, PopMatters.com and more). In Copenhagen, Sonic Studios recorded the band at the end of the tour.

Meanwhile, at home, Subs self-produced and –released two albums: Subs Life EP (2004) that quickly sold out, and, in September 2006, the seven-track Down. The band has been on several extensive China tours and has been crowd favorites at each of the annual Midi Music Festivals at which they have performed. In January 2007, they were featured on the cover of Rolling Stone (China).

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 2002/2003: The Beginnings

February 2002, SUBS was formed in Beijing.

May 2002, A new bass player joins the band, and the present line-up came into existence.

February 2003, SUBS first gig was at CD-Café music club in Beijing during a charity gig for Sun Shu. Then due to SARS they were unable to perform for some time until they had the chance to rock the Get Lucky Bar on September 6th. December 5th they performed in the Nameless Highland.

[edit] 2004: First tour with Bonk

Subs in Shanghai's 呉越片廠 on Oct 8th 2004, photo by Yoshito Katori

February 14th, 2004, they performed in the Nameless Highlang. March 20th, they rocked the Nameless Highland and on April 9th they performed in the New Get Lucky Bar. April 10th, they also performed in the New Get Lucky Bar and on April 30th, they perform in the Nameless Highland. Sometime in April, the SUBS Life (EP) was recorded and later mastered by the Swede Mats Hammarstroem. May 5th they performed in the Nameless Highland. May 22nd, they rocked the Nameless Highland. May 23rd they performed in the New Get Lucky Bar. June 26th, they performed in the Nameless Highland. July 2nd, SUBS leaves Beijing for the first time to do a gig in Suanle (算了) ba (Forget About It Bar) in the south China city of Guilin. On July 4th, they rock the 異人部落 bar in Nanjing. August 13th they perform at the Nameless Highland. August 16th, SUBS plays with UK band Rising Times in the New Get Lucky Bar. September 2004, SUBS plays with UK band Dogshit Sandwich. October 2004, SUBS plays with the Norwegian band Bonk at an "Ear to the Ground" event in Beijing, and then joined Bonk on a small tour of Beijing and Shanghai. Their show on October 2nd was SUBS's first headliner gig in New Get Lucky Bar in Beijing. October 4th, SUBS plays at the Midi Music Festival 2004 in Beijing. October 8th, they perform at Shanghai's 呉越片廠 together with Bonk. October 9th they performed in Nanjing's 先鋒珈琲庁. Sometime in October 2004, SUBS releases the SUBS Life (EP) containing 4 songs and a video of a steaming night in a southern bar. In November their song What More appears on the X-Music Magazine no. 281.

[edit] 2005: 17 city tour

January 15th, 2005, they performed in the 13 Club during the celebrations for the first anniversary of the 口袋音楽 magazine. February 26th, they rocked the Nameless Highland. March 8th, they performed in the Yu Gong Yi Shan during the March 8th International's Women's Day celebrations. March 26th, they rocked the 13 Club during the presentation of the Beijing Midi Festival 2004 (VA) DVD. May 3rd, they rocked the Nameless Highland.

May-June 2005, SUBS goes on a 17 city tour of China bringing their message to the rest of China. May 13th, Yinchuan's 龍門客桟 bar. May 14th, Lanzhou's 大都会MIX bar. May 15th Xi'an's 伊比莎 bar. May 18th, Chongqing's 第一現場音 bar. May 20th, Chengdu's Little Bar. May 21st, Xichang's Da Men (大門) bar. May 22nd, Kunming's Shuo bar. May 24th, Dali's 極地 bar. May 27th, Guilin's Forget It bar. May 29th, Guangzhou's SOLO bar. May 29th Changsha's Hunan 師範 University Gymnasium. June 1st, Hangzhou's No. 31 bar. June 3rd, Nanjing's No. 82 bar. June 4th, Shanghai's 哈雷 bar. June 5th, Wuhan's VOX bar. June 8th, Zhengzhou's 紅場 bar. June 10th, they last and final gig of the tour, in the 13 Club in Beijing. Sometime later in June, they record their 12-track demo.

June 26th, they rock the 13 Club during the Goodbye Lenin! concert. July 23rd, they perform in the Nameless Highland. July 30th, they performed in the Gegentala Inner Mongolia Festival 2005. In August their song Red Hair is included in the X-Music Magazine no. 299. From August 10th to 26th, following their set for several thousand to close out Oslo’s Øya Festival, a tour of seven cities in Norway and Finland sees the band play at, among others, legendary clubs Last Train (Oslo) and Tavastia (Helsinki). September 10th they performed at the Beijing Automotive Film Institute during their Green Beijing - Outdoor Music Festival. September 23rd they rocked the 2 Kolegas. September 30th they were the support act for Los Angeles band something to burn in the New Get Lucky Bar. On October 4th, they performed during the Midi Music Festival 2005 and Subs is subsequently invited to the Amsterdam China Festival, during which they perform on October 15th in Amsterdam's Melkweg. Back in Beijing, they perform on November 12th in the New Get Lucky Bar and on December 31st as well.

[edit] 2006: Touring China & North Europe

Subs Nordic Europe Tour 2006 Poster

On January 7th, Subs was the only band from China performing on the 街頭巨響2006年独立音楽節 music festival organized by KLPAC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. March 11th, they performed in Shanghai's Shuffle Music Bar. March 17th, they performed as support act to Swedish hardcore band Insurgent Kid in the Nameless Highland. April 16th, they performed as support act to Norway's JEF in the Yu Gong Yi Shan. April 21st, they rocked the Nameless Highland. May 2nd, they performed during the Midi Music Festival 2006. May 9th, they performed in the New Get Lucky Bar during the Remembering 20 Years of Chinese Rock 一無所有 (1986-2006) event. May 25th, they kick off their nationwide tour with a concert in the 好百年娯楽広場慢 bar of Anyang in Henan's province, followed by gigs in Wuhan's Vox bar on the 26th, Changsha's 肆陸 bar on the 27th, Guangzhou's Bunker bar on the 28th, Guangzhou's SOLO bar on the 29th, Hangzhou's 休博園 on the 31st, Shanghai's Shuffle Music Bar on June 1st, Shanghai's 哈雷 bar on the 2nd, Nanjing's 極地77 on the 3rd and their last gig of the tour on June 10th in Beijing's Yu Gong Yi Shan. June 16th, they performed in Shenyang's 火車頭 Gymnasium during the Celebration of 20 Years Chinese Rock concert. June 23rd they performed at an outdoor stage of the 2 Kolegas. July 8th, they performed in Beijing's Ritan park. From July to September 2006 Subs tours Northern Europe including Helsinki's (Finland) Ilosaari Rock Festival on the 16th. In detail, after the festival, they moved on to Kalpea Kukko, Kajaani, on July 19th. July 20th, they rocked Lentävä Lautanen, Oulu. July 21s, they performed at Rytmikellari, Raahe. July 22nd, they rocked at Vastavirta Tampere. July 23rd, they performed at Vuoritalo, Helsinki. July 26th, they rocked at Waiski Helsinki. July 27th, they rocked at Klubi Turku. July 28th, they performed at Puntala Lempäälä. In August they moved to Sweden, performing at Kaffe 44 in Stockholm on the 1st, then at Backbeatbolaget Sandviken on the 2nd, Augustibuller Lindesberg on the 4th and Kulturhuset Underjorden, Goteberg, on the 5th. Heading to Norway, they performed at Mono, Oslo, on the 8th of August. On August 9th, they performed at Kaos Tromso. On August 11th, they rocked the Karlsoy Festival, Karlsoy. August 15th, they performed at Kultur Kafen Arendal. August 16th, they rocked at Cementen Stavanger. August 17th, they performed at Garage Bergen. August 18th, they performed at Tønna Bygstad. August 19th, they rocked at Treskeverket Forde. August 20th, they performed at Jibben, Maloy. August 21st, they rocked at Ramp Trondheim. August 23rd, they performed at Feelgood Halden. August 24th, they performed at Kroa, Bo i Telemark. August 25th, they performed at Blitz, Oslo. August 26th, they rocked at Sort & Bla Scene Porsgrunn. August 27th, they performed at Mir, Oslo. Thereafter they went to Sweden for one performance at Sticky Fingers, Goteborg on August 30th, before leaving for Denmark in September with gigs on the 1st at Den Borgerlige, Arhus and on the 6th at Loppen, Copenhagen. September 30th 2006, Subs released the 7-track album Down (Subs) with a special concert in the Get Lucky Bar. On October 21st they rock the 2 Kolegas. And sometime in October 2006, they sign with American record label Invisible Records and their song The Man appears on the X-Music Magazine no. 327. November 3rd, they perform at the Nameless Highland. November 10th, they perform in the 13 Club as support act for a French band. Later in November, their drummer Shi Xudong 施旭东 leaves the band and Zhang Shun 张舜 joins. December 24th they rock the Nameless Highland. December 30th they perform in Dalian in the exhibition hall during the 和平広場新年揺滾音楽会 music festival.

[edit] 2007

SUBS on the Rolling Stones Mag, January 2007

January 2007, Subs are featured on the front cover of Rolling Stone (China). January 27th they perform in the Starlive. February 6th, they rock the Starlive. Later in February they took part in the 華文節 music festival in Singapore. March 16th, they performed in the Nameless Highland. March 31st they rocked Shanghai's 4 Live. March 21st they performed in Shanghai's Yuyintang. May 1st they performed at the Apres Midi in the Starlive and on May 3rd they rocked the Midi Music Festival 2007 itself. June 28th 2007, Subs announces that their record Down can be downloaded in iTunes. July 8th they rocked outside of the 2 Kolegas. July 28th they performed in Yueyang (Hunan province) during the 銀沙灘音楽節 music festival. August 24th they rocked at Nanjing's 古堡 bar. August 25th they performed at Shanghai's 4 Live. September 1st they rocked the M.A.O. in Beijing for the first time. October 13th they performed in the Mao for the 4th Beijing Punks Music Festival (第四届北京朋克音楽節). December 1st they performed in the Mao. December 24th they performed in the Mao. December 31st they rocked the Yugong Yishan.

[edit] 2008: 我们没有走进二十一世纪

January 11th, they performed at the Mao Livehouse. January 13th they performed at the Mao Livehouse. February 20th, they rocked the Yugong Yishan. March 8th, they rocked the Starlive during the 揺滾与[王攵]瑰 向披頭士致敬 concert. March 22nd, they performed at the 2 Kolegas. March 29th 2008, Subs released their DIY album 我们没有走进二十一世纪, limited to 1.000 copies and only distributed on live shows around the world, during their gig in the Mao the same day. April 3rd, they rocked Hefei's 花童 bar. April 4th, they performed in Nanjing's 古堡 bar. April 5th, they rocked Shanghai's Windows Tempo. April 6th, they performed in Ningbo's 1982 bar. April 9th, they performed in Yiwu's 隔壁 bar. April 11th they performed in Guangzhou's 191 Space. April 12th they performed in Shenzhen's 根拠地 bar. In the middle of that show, Kang Mao striped off her skirt, continuing their set in stockings and panties. April 18th, they performed in Changsha's 肆陸 bar April 19th, they performed in Nanchang's 黒鉄 bar. April 20th, they rocked Wuhan's VOX bar. In May they start another 10-city tour throughout China, which is cancelled after the SiChuan Earthquake. However they did perform in Anyang's 五星倶楽部 on the 9th, in Xi'an's 月亮鑰匙 bar on the 10th and on the 14th in Lanzhou's 時間音楽 bar. On May 30th they joined the charity concert at 13 Club for the victims of the SiChuan earthquake. On May 31st they performed at the 2 Kolegas. Furthermore in May, Zhu Lei starts, together with several others, the rockabilly band DH & Chinese Hellcats. June 6th, they rocked the Mao. June 14 they performed in the Starlive. June 21st they performed in the 2 Kolegas. Sometime in June, their original drummer leaves the band and in July, 李帆 (Sweet Rock) joins as replacement. August 23rd they performed in the Yugon Yishan during the release concert of the Beijing Bubbles DVD. September 20th, they rocked the 2 Kolegas. October 2008, they perfom during the Modern Sky Festival 2008 on the 1st and during the Midi Music Festival 2008 on the 5th. On October 31st they performed at the Yu Yin Tang in Shanghai during the S.T.D. Halloween Rock Party. According to Andy Best: This is the China underground show to miss your best friend's wedding for. They played a selection of songs from all three of their CDs and delivered on every track.[1] On November 8th they performed in Tianjin's 紅橋意庫創意園区A庫 for the Third Tianjin Music Festival (天津第三届原創音楽季 群英会). November 22nd they rocked the 2 Kolegas. On November 29th, Subs performed in the Dream Factory, Shanghai. According to Andy Best: Right after I was explaining to someone how The Subs never play Drew The Line at shows anymore but play it's outro as the show lead in music - The Subs took the stage and went directly into Drew The Line. The sound seemed to get sorted a couple of songs in and a mosh ensued.[2] December 29th they rocked in the Starlive during the release concert for the Beijing Midi Festival 2007 (DVD) (VA).

[edit] 2009

Subs, 2009, Christmas Concert, 2 Kolegas, Photo:Douban

February 2009, Subs wins the MAO Live Awards in the categories: Best Band, Best Performance and Best Rock Award.

May 2009, together with the Norwegian band BONK they tour again after 5 years through more than 10 cities. On May 2nd 2009 they participated in the Midi Music Festival 2009 (Zhenjiang). May 3rd 2009, Participated in the first ever Chengdu Zebra Music Festival. On May 6th, Subs performed alongside with Bonk and Shanghai band The Snot Rockets in the Yu Yin Tang, Shanghai. According to Andy Best: Despite the room being half full and spacious, the majority of people had broken out into a mosh or dance by the second track.[...] The Subs played a lot of new material tonight, half the set, and the real highlight was the final track. They closed with their new track Red Hair ... well, I always thought it was Red Heart, but it's featured on the Vice TV short they did and is titled Red Hair.[3]

In May 2009, Kang Mao is voted the no. 8 coolest rock star in Beijing by Timeout Beijing Magazine. Kang is a screaming, snarling, unpredictable presence, prone to stage-diving and telling crowds to ‘fuck themselves’ if they don’t get in the mosh pit. But rather than being confrontational, there’s something joyous about the energy she creates, which few rock stars in Beijing can come close to matching.[4]

In August, Subs performed on the InMusic Festival 2009, on the 7th-9th, and in the aftermath of the festival, Kang Mao, issued her anger about the press reviews about the festival circling the net on her blog, stating, that

'the media destroys China' or 'the media destroys culture'. One could go further too, to say that 'those writing the news are destroying the true nature and value of rock music'. So much crap was written, such blind nonsense. I know some really great writers, but unfortunately they are in a tiny minority.[5]

December 24th, they performed at the Christmas concert at the 2 Kolegas.[6]

[edit] 2010

Kang Mao (Subs), in the recording studio, Feb 2010, Photo: Douban

February 7th, 2010, Subs posted several photos on douban of their ongoing recording session for the upcoming record.[7] On April 24th, they performed at the 2 Kolegas. According to Beijing Gig Guide:Unfor­tu­nately, I missed SUBS. Why they were up first when they were one of the longest-running bands there, I’m not sure, but they played (...)[8] On May 3rd, 2010, they performed at the Midi Music Festival 2010. May 29th to June 27th, they go on their Subs - Queen of XXXXing Everything China Tour 2010. As promotion for their tour, Subs released several tour posters and press photos on which Wu Hao is seen wearing a Nazi SS hat.[9] In the discussions, both in the English blogosphere as well as on douban, it seems however that Wu Hao has tried to make a reference to Jimmy Page in the 1970s.[10] June 11th, they performed at the Mao Livehouse in Shanghai. According to Jake Newby: They played a lot of new material - fair enough, this was a release party for their new album after all. That meant that things didn't kick off in the audience as much as they could have done, but things still got pretty lively down there. (...) Anyway, Kang Mao was amazing, she really is the queen of fucking everything. Wu Hao is one of the best guitarists you'll ever see ...[11] According to Andy Best: The Subs came down to promote their new CD, their first full length, The Queen of Fucking Everything. By the way, it's immense. They are still the band it seems. They have nearly eight years and four CDs of material. The new album includes more laid back and atmospheric tracks than we usually hear from the relentlessly aggressive Kang Mao and at the start people held back a touch as they tuned into the new songs. Then they ripped into Red Hair and that was that, it went off. So much so that I even had to take a half time break.[12] According to Luwan Rock: Kang Mao was amazing. She leaps around the stage, screaming and growling, playing it up for the whole show without any let up. She even had time for a quick crowd surf during a guitar solo. That woman is a superb performer and she really got the crowd going. Every school student in China should see this band. Just so they know.[13] On July 17th, 2010, they performed at the Qingyuan Niu Yu Zui Festival 2010. July 23rd, they held a release party for their new album Queen of Fucking Everything at the Mao Livehouse Beijing. Neocha EDGE, which made the album available for prelistening since June 29th, remarked the album to be darker and more demented than ever.[14]

[edit] Participated Festivals

Qingyuan Niu Yu Zui Festival 2010 - 2010, July

Midi Music Festival 2010, May 1st-4th 2010

InMusic Festival 2009 - 2009, August

Zebra Music Festival 2009 - May 2009

Midi Music Festival 2009 - May 2009

Midi Music Festival 2008 - October 2008

Modern Sky Festival 2008 - September/October 2008

Midi Music Festival 2007 - May 2007

Midi Music Festival 2006 - May 2006

Midi Music Festival 2005 - October 2005

Midi Music Festival 2004 - October 2004

[edit] Appearances in Press/Books

  • Mentioned as one of "Beijing's hottest bands" in the Insider's Guide to Beijing 2008.
  • Mentioned as "Yaogun band to watch" in the Insider's Guide to Beijing 2007.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Major Releases

Queen of Fucking Everything - 2010, July 23rd

我们没有走进二十一世纪 - 2008, March 29 (limited to 1.000 copies)

Down - 2006

SUBS Life (EP) - 2004

[edit] Compilations

Look Directly Into The Sun: China Pop 2007 (VA) - 2007, August

Beijing Midi Festival 2006 (DVD) (VA) - 2007, May

Beijing Bubbles OST (VA) - 2007, April

Midi Music Festival 2005 (VA) - 2006, May

Beijing Midi Festival 2004 (VA) - 2005, March

[edit] Movies

Rock Heart Beijing - 2008

[edit] Appearances in Podcasts

Pissing On The Bamboo Curtain - 2007, September

[edit] Magazines

  • X-Music Magazine no. 281, the song What more - 2004
  • X-Music Magazine no. 299, the song Red Hair - 2005


[edit] Further information

[edit] Official pages

[edit] Other pages

[edit] Articles & Reviews

[edit] Photos

[edit] Videos

[edit] References

  1. ↑ Andy Best (Kungfuology) (2008-11-01). "The Subs live @ Yuyintang (Halloween 2008)". Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
  2. ↑ Andy Best (Kungfuology) (2008-11-30). "The Subs live @ Dream Factory". Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
  3. ↑ Andy Best (Kungfuology) (2009-05-07). "Subs vs Bonk @ Yuyintang". Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
  4. ↑ Timeout Beijing Magazine (May 2009). "Class of '09". Retrieved on 2009-05-07.
  5. ↑ Jake Newby (2009-08-25). "Subs' Kang Mao is angry". Retrieved on 2009-08-27.
  6. ↑ Photo album on Douban: Subs的相册-二零零九圣诞之杀不死
  7. ↑ Douban Album, posted 2010-02-07: Subs的相册-新专辑录制进行时（唱）
  8. ↑ Beijing Gig Guide (2010-04-26). "Gig Review: One Night in April… @ Dos Kolegas, 2010.04.24". Retrieved on 2010-04-26.
  9. ↑ Andy Best (2010-05-16). "Subs back on tour and coming here". Retrieved on 2010-06-20.
  10. ↑ Luwan Rock (2010-06-12). "SUBS AT MAO". Retrieved on 2010-06-20.
  11. ↑ Jake Newby (2010-06-13). "SUBS bitches!". Retrieved on 2010-06-16.
  12. ↑ Andy Best (2010-06-13). "Subs, bitches! (yes, me too) - and an announcement". Retrieved on 2010-06-20.
  13. ↑ Luwan Rock (2010-06-12). "SUBS AT MAO". Retrieved on 2010-06-20.
  14. ↑ Ka Xiaoxi (Neocha EDGE) (2010-06-29). "beijing-based punk rockers SUBS new album: QUEEN OF F*CKING EVERYTHING". Retrieved on 2010-07-23.
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