Contract the fever

In 2007, Shanghai was engaged in a flamboyant love affair with live music. The year saw a couple of big scale music festivals, several elaborately arranged international acts supported by local talents, and long line-ups of high profile Beijing bands almost every weekend. Locally-based concert/party organizers S.T.D. (SonicallyTransmitted Disease) rode the wave of passion and were responsible for some of the hottest live / electronic parties in town.

But 2008 got off to a rocky start with the closing of 4Live, the shutting down of Yuyintang for renovations and a near dearth of live music of any kind. Was 2007 a blip in the radar for live music in Shanghai? What can we expect in 2008?

The closing of 4Live, Shanghai's only consistent larger live music venue, was a wake up call for live music fans: despite what was on the surface a very successful venue, with a consistent crowd and solid bookings of talented local, national and international acts, financial stability for organizers, promoters, and owners in Shanghai remains elusive. So, what about the survival of the one and only regular "rock" party in town?

Dj/Producer Qnan argues, "In a practical sense, the reality is that live rock doesn't pay the bills. For a venue, it's much cheaper to throw a DJ party and a lot more profitable because party people keep the taps flowing -- a bar can't make money on just a rock show, so the only other option is to charge a ridiculous cover charge. LOgOwas important for us, and has always been a good fit -- with the regulars there, plus the small following that a local band would have, plus the people that come for the afterparty. There's always a "sweet spot" during the night when all the groups converge, and despite EVERY band complaining about the equipment, they play to a great crowd, and it's become a lot of bands' favorite place to play. We don't have to charge a cover for local bands, the bar is happy, the bands are happy, and the crowd is happy."