Gong Gong Gong, are Tom Ng and Joshua Frank, consider themselves outsiders in the the city they call home, with Ng, who sings defiantly in his native Cantonese, born in Hong Kong, while Frank, originally from Montreal, has lived in Beijing on and off since childhood. They came charging out from Beijing’s underground scene with a distinct vision and uncompromising sense of purpose in 2017, with the release of their first 7 inch, Siren 追逐劇. The two song release came out to coincide with the band’s first US tour, a run of dates with Parquet Courts, which was followed by further US shows with Flasher, and a European tour with Bodega. In support of the release Gong Gong Gong will be playing additional shows In China, starting August 23rd, in Beijing.

Gong Gong Gong will release their debut LP Phantom Rhythm 幽靈節奏 on October 4th via Wharf Cat Records. The group draws on inspirations from ‪Bo Diddley‬, Cantonese opera, West African desert blues, drone, and electronic music. ‬‬‬‬‬The band eschew traditional rock percussion, the locomotive chug of Ng’s guitar combines with Frank’s thumping, harmonics-laden bass lines to conjure an aura of ghostly snare hits and timpani overtones. Over Frank’s melody, Ng sings in Cantonese, piecing together abstract tales of absurdity, doubt, desire, and lust.

Frank expands on the song’s history to Stereogum:

“This was one of the first Gong Gong Gong songs we wrote, in 2015. It kind of just emerged fully formed, before we even had a band name—things just clicked. One of the first times we played it live was in this underpass tunnel in Beijing. Here’s a video of it.

“Generally speaking, the lyrics are about a relationship gone wrong. If I remember correctly, this was the first song that we recorded in the studio working on this album. It’s a very direct, energetic song, with something about it that feels very natural to our band. We spent time during the recording and mixing process to bring out the percussiveness of Tom’s guitar. That included using a contact mic on the wood of his archtop guitar, which gives his guitar tone a banjo-like element.”

Gong Gong Gong
Phantom Rhythm
Tracklist
Wharf Cat Records

1) The Last Note 最後的音符
2) Notes Underground 地下日記
3) Ride Your Horse 騎你的馬
4) Moonshadows 月後殘影
5) Inner Reaches II 慾望的暗角二
6) Gong Gong Gong Blues 工工工布魯斯
7) Wei Wei Wei 喂喂喂
8) Some Kind of Demon 某一種惡魔
9) Night’s Colour (Chongqing) 夜色（重慶）
10) Sound of Love 愛歌

Gong Gong Gong
Live

8/23 Beijing – Fruityspace
8/24 Beijing – Fruityspace
8/25 Beijing – Fruityspace
8/29 Yiwu – Gebi
8/30 Hangzhou – Loopy
8/31 Shanghai – Yuyintang
9/1 Nanjing – 61
9/6 Wuhan – Vox
9/7 Xi’an – Wuqiong
9/14 Guangzhou – Rozz Tox OR 191
9/15 Shenzhen – Hongtangguan