Went to the Red Beat grand opening on Saturday night hoping to find some ORIGINAL rock music, but got assaulted by lame Bodyguard Soundtrack & Creed (CREED????) covers instead (I'll refrain from venting about the gin'n'tonic that had zero gin). Is there a bar in Shanghai that has musicians performing REAL, ORIGINAL music?

I just want to find a bar, any bar, that has indie rock bands performing, like Pianos or Mercury Lounge or any of the 100 bars that I miss now that I'm no longer in NYC. Doesn't matter where the bands are from. Not exactly looking for the next White Stripes, just need to experience something other than cover bands.

Come to Yu Yin Tang then....
check out www.yuyintang.org
or if you have a page on facebook. then check out the group" Yu Yin Tang Shanghai".

check for STD , they are playing at logo twice a months.
http://www.logoshanghai.com

Modest Mouse,

Music might just be the #1 sacrifice for living in Asia. As you are seeing/hearing (ie, Creed), the live music scene is total garbage. So far the cover bands here have not been as terrible as I saw in Thailand (worst cover band ever), but damn near. Forget about seeing any good shows. I saw that the papers were pumping up the next big concert coming to town - Celine Dion!

Since we need to stay in touch, I recommend checking out www.kexp.org (its Free). This is a quite famous independent radio station in Seattle and the have a top notch internet radio site. They play tons of great indie and non mainstream music (as well as other types). This might help to partially fill the music vacancy in China.

Also there is a big festival in Japan during late July called Fuji Rock. Some good groups such as Clap your hands, Shins, Beasties boys played last year.

the live music scene is total garbage

Forget about seeing any good shows.

sorry,have you seen any gig at yuyintang? if not...then..i don't think you have the right to say that!
i'm not saying every show at yyt is good enough...but every month we always have a good one!

OK, I will definitely check this place out with an open mind/ear.

Sorry for my generally negative posting; just have not heard anything close to good yet and this guy's comment felt quite familiar to me. Cheers!