BEIJING: China's veteran punk rock queen Kang Mao fiddles with her necklace of faux pearls and leopard skin scarf, as she dodges questions from a reporter before a quiet acoustic set pays tribute to women.
As the singer of submarines, it is one of the first women in China at the front a group of punk music pumping loud and made the first of a show in Beijing to mark International Women's Day March 8.
"I'm still a girl. Please do not call me a woman, "she said with a wry smile.
"Tonight we played unplugged, without distortion, just clean, acoustic guitar, she said, adding that the band plays with instruments made of wood" or "muqin," in Chinese is a homonym of "mother."
Kang Mao, a stage name which means "cat fight", refuses to reveal his true identity, age or hometown. Probably in his thirties or early thirties, she insists she comes from Mars.
Now in its third decade in the world's most populous nation, rock and roll is facing government censorship drive, a lack of support on the airwaves controlled by the state and the rampant piracy of copyrights of music.
Yet, more and more young Chinese are picking up guitars and drums - with women giving a variety of groups that the increasing openness of the country are very encouraged to get out of traditional female roles and lifestyles new sample.
Founded in 2003, SUBS has released four albums and earlier this month the quartet - the other three members are men - engaged in a 22-city tour of 37 days in China, including Hong Kong, which mainly play small underground clubs and bars.
"We are promoting" Queen of Fucking Everything ", our new album," said Kang Mao.
"I think we'll make a little money on this tour. What is difficult to say, but I can tell you SUBS no longer lose money," Kang Mao, who has traded a haircut for Mohawk long black hair, said between sips of beer.
But there remains a Spartan life. The group will travel on buses and trains, sometimes from cities immediately after a concert and get to the next destination the next morning to save on hotel bills.
national tours are becoming more common for Chinese rock bands, most of whom have made a name for themselves in Beijing - rock hub of the country - with its many concert halls and rock festivals was vibrating.
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