Top Floor Circus’ Christmas Eve show has become an institution. Last year’s event, held in a warehouse space in the suburbs, had an intimate vibe despite a sold-out crowd of over 1,000. This year, TFC bring their concert and sideshow act to MAO Livehouse.

Since their first album in 2001, the satirical “Interest of the Lowest Level Citizens,” TFC have refined and redefined themselves, winning respect from local and foreign audiences. The Christmas Eve show marks the end of a disjointed China tour called the “We Are Coming To Your Town and Singing Songs You Won’t Understand.” While they only perform in Shanghainese, the group has won a cult following across China. Their humorous lyrics and boundary-pushing stage show attract both praise and government notice.

Living up to their name, the group crafts an elaborate spectacle for fans. Last year was a rock opera centered around a dating show. The dialogue was injected with Chinese pop cultural references and slang that would make most laowai heads explode. The band—which has undergone a number of lineup changes—has, in the holiday spirit, reunited with all their past members. “This year we will play tracks from our four albums with band members playing the songs they originally recorded,” says guitarist Mei Er.

After this performance is a New Year’s show in Hangzhou followed by a break to record, in Mei Er’s words, “a series of love songs for the youngsters in Shanghai.”

DETAILS:

What: Top Floor Circus
Where: MAO Livehouse
When: Sat. Dec. 24, 9pm.
Tel: 6445-0086, www.mao-music.com