On stage, they are wild, emotional, visually dramatic and
steeped in the dark rock 'n' roll world of their creation. Off
stage, they are friendly, sunny, curious like kids and surprisingly
normal. They are like most college graduates with ambitions and
passion to try everything new.
During the National Day holiday last week, the Norwegian glam
band Malice in Wonderland threw their first Asian concert at
Shanghai's Zhongshan Park, together with Finnish band Negative and
local bands Cold Fairyland and The Flying Fruit.
Outdoor concerts are rare in Shanghai although they have become
popular in parks in Beijing. The problem is noise and lack of
venues. Organizer Sun Lu from SigAct says it was extremely
difficult just to keep the concert from being shut down as a
disturbance. But the show went on.
Nearby residents complained about the noise, but the external
factors did not affect the ambience the bands created at all.
However, some older neighbors bought low-price tickets to the
concert last Wednesday. While some walked out, others enjoyed it
and some could be seen wearing their pajamas and slippers - and
swaying to the music.
"We don't have a mature system for rock concerts like this yet,
not to mention outdoor rock concerts," notes Sun. "In addition, the
rock fan group is far from mature here because of lack of
information. But this shall change in the near future along with
the popularization of Internet and more concerts being held."
Sun says that is exactly why the multimedia production company
started hosting concerts like this, even knowing that they would
lose a lot of money and confront many difficulties.
After taking in the music warehouse Yuyingtang two months ago,
SigAct tried very hard to hold at least one live performance every
week at its venue in Tianshan Park. Sun says the goal is to promote
and package local bands as well as introduce non-mainstream bands
from overseas to give the fans more exposure to world-class
quality.
The concert proves local fans' desire for high-energy live
performances. Even the band Malice was surprised by the immediate
enthusiasm of the audience. European audiences would initially be
more reserved and need a little time to absorb the sound and the
scene if they had never seen the band perform before.
Many local fans admit that they are first attracted by the
glamour and beauty of the band members. But the live performance
gave them the opportunity to really experience and appreciate the
music, the stage and the performance.
"When they came out, the atmosphere was totally different," says
Kola Qian, a fresh graduate extremely depressed about her future
prospects - before she attended the concert, that is.
"Expression on the stage - that is the big difference between
our (Chinese) bands and bands like Malice in Wonderland and
Negative. As soon as they came out, they created for themselves and
for the audiences a different world to hide in and to reflect, with
their music, their movements, their expressions and simply their
presence," Qian says.
Founded in 1997, Malice in Wonderland has undergone a large
lineup change from the original five members to the current four,
with new member Tracy Loveless on guitar. Other members are Chris
Wicked as vocal and songwriter, Andy Valentine on bass and Tommi
Gun on drums.
The band released their first album in 2005 and the main song
"Lucifer's Town" circulated on the Internet and gained them many
dedicated fans around the world with fan sites from Brazil to
China.
Mostly in their early 20s, the band is musically influenced by
1980s rock 'n' roll bands such as Guns N'Roses, Poison, Motley Crue
and The Rolling Stones. They also admit that ``the British dark
rock scene and the LA glam/sleaze scene in the 1980s have been our
main inspirations.''
Their songs are melodic with strong beats although sometimes
also emotional and trancy. The deep and tender voice of Wicked, as
well as his small but confident movements, blends well but is also
distinct in murmuring tales of love, freedom and decadence.
Calling themselves "Norway's most decadent rock band," Malice in
Wonderland give a misleading first impression of decadence,
especially with the lyrics often linking to darkness and Lucifer.
But as with many Goth bands, the reference is meant to be
allegorical.
"You cannot take it literally," says the songwriter Wicked. "It
is a metaphor for freedom. We want people to think and act freely.
Instead of following the rules they are being told. We are saying
we can think about it ourselves."
Having delayed their German tour for Shanghai concert, the band
plans to record their new songs after going back to Norway.
"It will still be classic, but we have new directions. The songs
have more attitudes, they are more guitar-oriented and there is
more variety in the style," notes Wicked.
The band plans to release a new single later this month, with
another one before Christmas. And they expect to release their
second album early next year.
(Shanghai Daily October 8, 2007)