Holy f$%k there’s a sh!t-ton of shows going on this weekend, and the only real question is . . . to JUE or not? Actually, there are other weekend previews floating around town that have such blatant oversights and sloppy reporting that I question whether the “writers“ even listen to music or just plaster show banner ads on their site and pocket the cash. So here’s what’s really going on this weekend.

Much like last weekend, Wednesday through Saturday are loaded with gigs, many part of Split Works’ three-week long urban music and art festival, but there are several other key shows outside the JUE lines that are worth mentioning.

Wednesday

The weekend comes early in the form of Canadian indie / folk songstress Julie Doiron, who plays at Yuyintang on Wednesday, March 17. Although the whole singer / songwriter genre doesn’t exactly make my pants tight, City Weekend user missmaoming is clearly excited enough for all of us, and local support, appropriately from Cold Fairyland frontwoman Lin Di makes this an interesting pick for sensitive folks, Canadians or anyone who’s not face down in the gutter before 8pm from too much St. Patty’s Day Guiness. 60 bones.

Thursday

The big buzz on Thursday is the arrival of Portland, Oregon, Kill Rock Stars artists The Thermals. Playing that indie rock / punk that verges on proper power pop, The Thermals love a big hook and may have grown up on early Weezer, maybe not, but I’m buying it. This show is also super hyped because supporting band, Hedgehog (Modern Sky) are making their first Shanghai appearance since releasing their Blue Daydreaming last April, debuting a brand new, as-yet-unknown bassist in the process. 100 kuais.

If you’re not into catchy songwriting or the RMB 100 door is a little too steep, Polish grunge quartet Roan are playing at Mao Livehouse for 80 beans. Huge in Poland and unknown everywhere else, Roan has been to Shanghai before and will probably come back again, so don’t fret if you miss them on Thursday. Besides, they’re playing at Live Bar (remember Live Bar?) on March 26, so fans of Seven Mary Three, Candlebox and Fuel have several opportunities to tie off and fix up.

Friday

Things heat up on Friday with Japanese performance artists-come-electro outfit Trippple Nippples bringing their rowdy stage show to Yuyintang. Possibly the highlight of the entire JUE lineup, the Nippples guarantee to shock, and are certainly worth the RMB 50 entrance.

Down the road at LOgO, Sacco, Desert Fuck Eagle and Danny Rogue (yes that’s me, so as to not mislead anyone) will be throwing the first Mod Dance Party of 2010, busting out soul classics, garage jams, girl group hits and the occasional freakbeat tune all night. With live sets from The Beat Bandits and The Fever Machine, this FREE show is a steal, and Sacco will most likely end up topless.

If Japanese electro or soul / garage aren’t your thing, you can always head over to Mao Livehouse for Taiwan’s Bear Babes, but given there’s not much information around about them, it’s a tough call to make. Rather than paraphrasing the first Google result for “Bear Babes band”, I’ll just admit when I don’t know the band. They call themselves indie, tickets are RMB 150 at the door (RMB 100 in advance).

Saturday

Finally, this Saturday, March 20th, may be the most stacked evening of live music in Shanghai in the last three years, with Dutch rockabilly zombie Dead Elvis & His One Man Grave's (pictured) throw down at LOgO leading the charge. Supported by Jehosophat and the blah blah blahs and The Broken Picks, Dead Elvis has already wowed the crowds in Beijing, and the returns have been high, praising his lo-fi tunes and that amazing zombie mask. Sacco and Desert Fuck Eagle are on late night duty. RMB 50.

If you’re more into polished, arena space rock, New York psychedelic trio the Secret Machines are playing at Mao Livehouse. For more on the Secret Machines, check out our current feature or this interview with singer Brandon Curtis.

Anyone who’s been missing Blind Melon since Shannon Hoon’s death in 1995 and their attempted comeback in 2007, should head down to the Zhijiang Dream Factory for Hebei’s Omnipotent Youth Hotel, supported by local blues-ohs Joker. It’s always tough when bands try to emulate their idols, but the Chinese kids seem to be digging on the OMY, so there must be something to it. It’ll just be tough to hear with the Dream Factory’s bogus sound gear. More info here. RMB 50.

Finally, fans of the screamo, or as local bloggers are attempting to coin, “extreme-o,” can hit up their local Hot Topic and head over to Yuyintang for Finnish quintet Snipe Drive.

God damn that's long. Now back to Danava . . .