Return to the Spring City
Over the weekend, Jovian and I brought Disco Death to Kunming for the first time. It wasn't without its complications (as we expected the first event at a new venue to be), but we had a good time and came back smiling. The eve
We stupidly waited until the last minute to book our plane tickets and ended up paying dearly for it. We paid almost what it costs to fly to Bangkok from Chengdu, and as expected, we weren't able to recoup such a significant expense. We took the train back, which took 20 hours, but even that was a pretty good time playing Scrabble and watching the landscape whiz by.
In between going to Kunming and coming back, we had what felt like a 3 day vacation in tropical China. Kunming feels completely different from Chengdu, and it had been six months since I'd been there so it was great to return. We went to 文林街 and ran into many old friends - Nick, Shonny, and others. Oh, and we witnessed the final night of the Speakeasy Bar. For anyone who doesn't know, that was the most notorious party venue in Kunming for years and years. I still can't believe that it closed - that's what'll happen though when the landlord raises your rent from 5,000 yuan a month to 25,000. As expected, the last party was crazy.
The show that we performed on Friday was seriously marginalized by it being Speakeasy's final weekend. Put simply, we were two outsiders competing with a large group of locals (3 bands and four DJ's) at an infamous bar on it's closing weekend. Also, their party was free, and ours wasn't. Still, it didn't completely bomb which is good. The event was at Uprock, which is certainly in the running for Kunming's top party venue since Speakeasy is finished. The problem, however, is with the child-like owner who invites us to his club on Saturday but gets so drunk he has to be carried out before we even arrive. Putting my money and time on the line and doing business with someone like that always makes me nervous. My job now is to minimize his ability to compromise my goals in his own venue - even though in the end, what's good for me is good for him as well. We'll see how that goes.
One of the highlights of the trip, though? Boating around 翠湖 (Green Lake) in Kunming. Honestly, this photo doesn't even do it justice:
Chongqing & Kunming Disco Death
Last night Jovian and I returned from out weekend trip to Chongqing where we hosted the first Disco Death outside of Chengdu.
We saw some old friends and had a great time while performing some much-needed recon in what is the most logical point of expansion for the DD brand. Also, it's a great place to party and travel between Chengdu and Chongqing is quick and convenient.
Transportation
We originally intended on taking the bullet train to and from Chongqing, but found out on Thursday afternoon that tickets were sold out for Friday. We bought return tickets for Saturday (100 yuan each) and went to Wugui Qiao bus station where we opted for a private car instead of the public bus. The cost was 120 yuan for each of us and we were delivered directly to Caiyuanba bus station in 解放碑 an hour before we were set to perform.
Cici Park
After a bit of searching we located the venue, called Cici Park. It's run by three old friends who I've known (and worked with) for years. But I find that after a year and a half or so, the three of them have all changed a lot. Having just returned from a spiritual journey to Nepal, the three have transformed into rainbow color shoelace-wearing hippies. Nice guys and I was happy to see them, but it's interesting that seemingly out of nowhere they've gotten really into psychedelia. The venue itself is a cross between Xiong Mao and Jah Bar but lacks the crowd of either of those venues. Still, it's positioned in the center of Jiefang Bei (Chongqing's most prosperous district) and is situated next to a beautiful park which showcases the most stunning view of Chongqing that I've ever seen. It really does bear a strong similarity to Hong Kong.
I'm already working on making the transition to a better venue in Chongqing. My hope is I can secure that show for May and begin to build a relationship with that club, which I think better suits what we're doing.
Kunming
Next Friday we fly to Kunming, to light the Disco Death flame in that city. Fortunately we've already made arrangements with what I think is the best venue in that city. With any luck, we'll have successfully spread Disco Death into other regions of West China.