I really think that I brought Young MC’s “Bust a Move” to a whole new level the other night at some Beijing KTV cathedral. The lyrics were just flowing off my tongue and the beat was sweeter than usual. Because we couldn’t quite figure out the Chinese-language buttons I managed to get in two renditions in of this classic of classics.. amazing. (And yes, the room came with 44 bottles of Tsing Tao. Definitely a help on the mic.)

Ah yes, there’s nothing quite private-room karaoke in Beijing at 5am with a bunch of South Africans after quite a few pijou. (Actually, I’ve been known to rock a very similar evening in Toronto at the XO.. but anyway..) Like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, a down’n'dirty night of KTV should be part of anyone’s must-do list in Beijing.

I imagine you’re not too keen on listening to a recording of me rapping (don’t worry - there isn’t one, at least not that I’m aware of) so we’ll be hearing some Beijng indie rock today. I’ve been busy “blogging the shit” out of Ed Peto’s Beijing musical venture, MicroMu, but we shouldn’t forget some other great labels that I’ve come across in this city.

We listened to some Re-tros the other day, an interesting group off Beijing’s Tag Team label. I went to a Tag Team showcase just the other night and saw a bunch more of their bands. Matt, the guy in charge of Tag Team, was kind enough to slip me a few CDs, including a couple by bands featured at the show.

The show was hit and miss, but there were definitely a couple of great acts. Lonely China Day put on an interesting preview of the kind of laptop-rock they’ll be playing on their upcoming US tour .. we’ll hear from them tomorrow.

Today we’ll hear some Arrows Made Of Desire. The band’s lead, Joewi Verhoeven, is half-Dutch, half-Chinese. He grew-up in Holland but “caught the first flight to Beijing, China to study Mandarin and film directing at the Beijing Film Academy.” He’s a really young guy and a really good guitar player.. he put on a fun set.

You can learn plenty more about Arrows Made Of Desire at the Tag Team web site. If you’re in the US you can buy their releases at the Tag Team online store. While you’re there be sure to check-out another Tag Team band, Venice Is Sinking. Their track “Esther C” is fantastic.

So hey, I’m still in Beijing. Seven weeks yesterday. Man. Now that the work bit is over I have only holiday-time in China to look forward to.. A few days in Beijing then down to the Yunnan province. Lovely.

By the way, I might be at the Hanggai show later tonight at Yugong Yishan. If you’re in Beijing and want one of those “beers on Benn loxo” I’m the white guy in a t-shirt who needs a haircut, hovering near the bar.

Arrows Made of Desire - Truism