Out of the livehouse, Mr Freeman readies for their D-22 gig on Saturday. Photo: Wang Zi/ GT

Getting people out of the KTV parlors and Jay Chou concerts and into the live houses around Beijing is a bold mission statement for even the biggest of bands. It's made even grander by their second: to just take it easy with their "in-our-free-time" practice ethic.

That's what keeps the music going, argue Mr Freeman, one of the least known, but most enthusiastic bands on the Beijing scene.

"It's another life with music," says Feng Ke, lead guitarist, "If you don't have a life and a job, what do you play about? Music is a reflection of the life you live," he adds.

The band's mixed influences are just as free-range as its name implies. Lead singer Zhang Chi spent 18 years in Belgium discovering grunge, a shared passion with Barcelonan bassist Victor Sancho. Feng was educated as a classical musician before discovering rock n roll, while rhythm guitarist Han Yu and long haired drummer Hong Gong are members of a blues band.

"As soon as we start with the guitars they think we're a rock band," says Zhang. "But I know my limitations, I'm not a rock singer, I'm a pop singer."

"We're pop-rock," interjects Feng sagely.

It's with pop-rock that they hope to crack the market. In a time when young Chinese audiences are worshipping punk and new wave from overseas, there's a big gap left for those looking for a pop-rock quintet who isn't worried about money.

"We're not counting on this for cash, we're free to make music and play anything we like. Maybe it's too much freedom," adds Zhang.

On any of the band's set lists there will be tales of love both had and unrequited, complete with a lot of soft, acoustic guitar work.

"We're not big into drink, drugs and that rock attitude. That's one of the reasons we're 'Mister' Freeman," explained Zhang. "We could've been the 'Free Boys', but we're all grown up now."

But when they pick up the pace, catchy stadium riffs shoot to the surface on tracks like "City of Chaos," and "Better Lie for a Better Life."

"City of chaos is about the traffic, about people getting aggressive, it's like a cancer growing in you," says Zhang. "You get mad at taxi drivers and pedestrians, but nobody else gives a f*ck."

As well as blending anger and love, Zhang has also been singing in English since he came to Beijing, a city whose musical fare can sometimes lean a little too heavily towards foreigners' tastes.

But according to Zhang, who's writing more songs in Chinese as we speak, it's not just the laowai they're targeting, and they reckon their popish rock is the way to get more people into the venues.

"We were at a gig, and one manager was impressed they had managed to sell 1,000 tickets. What's that for a city this size!?" he adds scornfully, quick to compare Beijing with the flourishing concert cultures abroad.

"[My friends] go to KTV, but they don't go to livehouses. There's gotta be a way to bring people back to the clubs. Maybe that's us."

Mr Freeman will be playing alongside He Wenyuan at D-22 on Sunday 17 April, doors open at 9pm.

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