Gig Recap 现场回顾: Dirty Fingers 脏手指, Jimaoxin 鸡毛信 (2022.08.27)

It’s mind-boggling how a bar or club can be ramped with bodies tossing back drinks with nary a care in the world - but as soon as you introduce an instrument into the mix you’ve got trouble. At least that’s what Shanghai’s (and much of China’s) new normal suggests - concerts are detrimental to the health and safety of its precious citizens. 

Modernsky and art punk stalwarts Dirty Fingers - who since the lifting of lockdown had become nomads, travelling province to province and picking up gigs where they could to make a living - returned home to ease the pain of gig-goers who have been patiently waiting six months for some sign of live music returning to the city. 

Originally forced to contend with a 50% audience cap - the first signal that policymakers and authorities have no real sense of how livehouses or bands make money - 'the powers that be' panicked last minute and slapped the venue with a 30% capacity limit and closed bar. While this act was likely intended to force a cancellation, organizers stood their ground - people have waited too fucking long and as they say, the show must go on. 

So with metal barriers to contain the nonexistent flow of the limited audience (very reminiscent of a music festival) and a gaggle of guards scurrying around putting up temporary roadblocks and discovering their uselessness in the face of what a 30% audience actually looks like, the show defiantly went on. And while initially it certainly hampered spirits, the bands and fans gave it their all, finding catharsis in the music despite the fucked situation they found themselves in. 

Dirty Fingers seemed to relish throwing themselves into their performance, leaning into their instruments and microphones with aplomb. Playing for well over an hour, they didn’t hold back, rampaging through their extensive catalogue and even managing to sprinkle some new tracks that I can’t wait to hear again. Even caught some police officers recording some of their set to bring home to the wife and kids. So it goes. 

Meanwhile, making the trip from Hangzhou, Jimaoxin are slowly making a name for themselves across China. The band deserves every bit of praise - ‘sprawling, audacious and utterly delightful in its imaginative thrust and swagger’. It’s great to see them in their element - and the four-piece band also had a new track in their arsenal tonight. Great stuff - sure we’ll have them back soon enough. 

That is whenever Shanghai quits getting cold feet and gets the fuck on with the show. 

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