By Chris O'Brien (Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2006-05-19 09:30

I don't make a habit of recommending visits to gloomy car parks and buildings labelled with a neon "CLUB" but for Yu Gong Yi Shan an exception is easily made.

Hand an entrance fee to a very hairy man, walk through an unmarked door and everything is alright again. The bar itself doesn't need elaborate descriptions. The walls are painted red; a stylishly lit, black-fleeced sofa area occupies the left-hand side; and a pool table is at the back.

The reason why you are here is for live music, which explains the low stage and mosh/sway area. The bands that play here will never grace Banana Club and I was lucky enough to pay 50 yuan (US$6.3) to see two of Beijing's greatest oddities.

Chinese band Glorious Pharmacy combined pipes with monkey impressions and guitars in what can only be described as experimental "art." The main event, the Shuffle Demons from Canada, delivered an astonishing display of crowd-pleasing through some saxophone genius, profound lyrics and a lead singer with more presence than King Kong. Any band that can make a song called "Cheese on bread" sound good deserves credit, especially after persuading the audience to squeal ppp...pumpkin a few minutes into the set. "Get out of my house Mr Cockroach" also went down a storm, particularly when the drummer leapt into the crowd to impersonate a dying insect.

The crowd also provided viewing pleasure. Dancing hippies are always welcome in gig venues like this and there was a whole Stonehenge of them. Near the back of the bar one Mum didn't see why she should miss out - her 10-year-old kid was trying to get some shut-eye on one of the sofas near a rack of Tequilas.

The range of line-ups is impressive. One night is Afro-Carribean beats, the next it's Electronic Pop followed by Hip-Hop all for around 30 to 50 yuan (US$4-6). Just pick up some flyers from the entrance and plan your month's entertainment accordingly.

Yu Gong Yi Shan
Location: 1 Gongti Bei Lu (rear of the car-park opposite Workers' Stadium North Gate)
Opening time: Daily 5 pm-late (bands start at 10 pm)
Tel: 010-64150687