If things couldn’t get more bizarre in the land of Kim Jong-Il, where the New York Philharmonic will perform Tuesday, becoming the largest American delegation ever to gain entrance into the backwards nation, things have gotten even kookier. The Financial Times reported that the North Korean government (I use the term “government” loosely) has […]

Reason #15,086: He Still Makes Good Videos
Today, I was lucky enough to be awake during the one hour of the day when VH1 plays music videos. Before this station became the washed up celebrity reality show network, it used to live up to its name “Video Hits One” and play stomachable new music mixed […]

I miss the Sunday Times. I miss waking up on Sunday mornings and opening my apartment door to find that fat edition of the New York Times waiting to be scooped up and read. The next stop is the garbage can, where the multitude of circulars and advertising gets discarded before I can […]

With the Beyoncé Experience in the rear view mirror and the Linkin Park Shanghai concert just around the bend, it’s clear that the old attitudes toward Western-minded cultural events in Shanghai, and mainland China in general, have changed drastically. Just two years ago, the announcement of an Ice-T concert at the now defunct Pegasus […]

Monday night, for the first time ever, those Shanghai residents crazy in love with the R&B star Beyoncé Knowles will get to experience her music up close and personal at the Shanghai Grand Stage. Beyoncé’s Shanghai stop is part of the 8-stop Asia leg of her “The Beyoncé Experience” world tour, a seven-month sweep […]

Hong Kong is famous for many things — barbecued pork buns, the Triads and tailor-made suits to name a few. But one of the most unique features of China’s autonomous neighbor to the south is the presence of Filipino maids. They’re everywhere. And if you’ve ever had the pleasure of walking around […]

California-bred Linkin Park will rap-rock its way into the mainland on November 18th for what promises to be Shanghai’s biggest fall concert. The sextet will stop at Hongkou Stadium for one night as part of their “Minutes to Midnight” world tour. Along with the Shanghai show, the band will perform in Seoul, Singapore […]

OK, let’s play a quick game. Take 10 seconds to look at the picture. The name of the game is “Who the fuck are any of these musicians playing Shanghai Live Earth Saturday?” Of the 8 artists included in the photo (those two non-Chinese looking guys are in the same group), let’s […]

Since staring this website I have attended every major Western concert that has come through Shanghai in an effort to give you readers an honest appraisal of this new trend of Western performances in China. Tonight, my streak of four shows (Stones, Clapton, Ziggy, Roots) will sadly come to an end. That’s because […]

The Chicago-born R&B legend known for his soulful sound and carnal lyrics is back in the news. And this time it’s not for having sex with and/or urinating on underage girls. It’s for charity. R. Kelly, responsible for hits like “Sex Me,” “Bump n’ Grind,” “Feelin’ on Yo Booty,” and “Kickin’ It […]