Yami Yume

Japan again!

2008-07-13T19:46:00.002-04:00

Yep! I'm back in Japan! Love this country! :DD

Sorry for the silence recently. These last two weeks have been hell. It's still not over, but right now I'm leaving things to my attorney and skipping out of the country for a little while. ^_~ (No, I'm not in any legal trouble, I'm just trying to get people to pay me what I'm owed.)

But it seems even in Japan I can't escape trouble. The trip here was awful due to snarles in Chicago and my luggage didn't make the plane. So it's not going to get here until 9 this evening. -.-;;

Anyhow here is my schedule for shows this trip:

7/14 Ruvie (Tokyo)
7/15 D'espairsRay, 12012, 176Biz (hopefully, I'll be chatting with my favorite band again) (Nagoya)
7/17 Radio Caroline (Osaka)
7/18 Moran, etc. (Saitama) (maybe....)
7/19 Lamina, Deathgaze, etc. (Osaka)
7/20 Lucy, etc. (Tokyo)
7/22 -Oz-, etc (Tokyo)
7/23 D'espairsRay, Sadie, 12012 (Tokyo)
7/26 Laverite (Saitama)
7/27 Ayabie (Sendai)

Going to be great!

Electric Orchid Productions

2008-06-24T21:29:00.003-04:00

Redesigned the site today! It really needed it. I'm not sure how professional the new design is, but at least it looks decent. Check it out!

Ayabie US TOUR!!!

2008-06-21T20:16:00.001-04:00

I'm Ba~ack!

Actually I've been back for few days, but I've been tidying up loose ends and preparing for the next steps and striking while the iron was hot and what not. ^^;;

Anyhow, the tour was great. Stressful, busy, largely sleepless, but great. The band said that they enjoyed it and even added that they thought I was nicer than their European promoter and, as a result, the tour was easier for them.

The fans too seemed to have a good time, although some objected to the no camera rule and having to buy $30 of merch to get an autograph.

Here's a run down of some of my favorite memories:

- Chinese in Kenzo and Takehito's room.
- Their manager making curry in the hotel room in Chicago.
- Drinking with Kenzo, Takehito and Christy.
- Wandering around Chicago with their super-sweet staff guy trying to find Guitar Center. ^^;;
- Kenzo's expression when the lobster tail he ordered came.
- Kenzo's expression when he ate his lobster tail.
- Yumehito saying he enjoyed the tour more than Europe because I took good care of them.
- Aoi wearing an Orioles T-shirt on stage in Baltimore.
- Intetsu reading the myspace messages and comments.
- The whole group chilling at my house (recorded on Aoi's blog).
- Kenzo and Yumehito making onigiri in my kitchen.
- The cash box with our merch sales being so stuffed we couldn't close it.
- The discussion on whether or not to sell a kiss from Kenzo for $500.
- Dancing around like an idiot during the shows.

I could go on for a lot longer, but really I'm just do happy that it went smoothly for the most part. I'd never planned or managed a tour before and had only assisted in promoting one, so I had no idea how it was going to go, but in the end it was a success. ^___^

Bai Bai!

2008-06-12T19:26:00.001-04:00

Will update after it's over.

2008 Best of (Midpoint Review)

2008-06-07T11:14:00.015-04:00

Since it's half way into 2008, it seem like it's time for some best of's.

Best Album
There was NO competition in this category mostly because vk bands seem to be allergic to albums, but also because Mucc's Shion was just that good. The danceable songs are fun, but still unique. Shion, Shiva and Libra manage to be experimental without being dull. And Chiisana Mado finally attains that balance between angsty and symphonic that Mucc have been searching for since 2005. Even if you aren't a Mucc fan you should check this out.

Best Single
There were a lot of contenders for this one (namely D'espairsRay and Sadie), but lynch. wins for this catchy and rockin' single, especially since it shows a new, more vibrant direction for the band. Of course the awesome CD cover and video didn't hurt. ^^;;

Best Mini-Album
Was there any doubt who would get this award? 9 Goats Blackout's Devils in Bedside is an exquisitely -crafted gothic fairytale of an album and without a doubt the most beautiful release of the last six months. Now they just need to get a drummer and start playing some shows!

Best New Entry
So Lucy formed a while ago, but their first single was only this year and definitely shows the most promise of any of the newer indie bands. While the song-writing isn't technically much better than the better goth-y indie bands, they have a thick atmosphere and the vocalist sounds beautiful. Even more than the single tracks, the live videos show a band with a future.

W1NNAR!!!

2008-06-02T13:36:00.004-04:00

So a couple entries back I said that I had entered in a D'espairsRay lyric translation contest from HearJapan. Guess what?

I WON!!! *does crazy happy dance*

It's so strange thinking that I started studying Japanese to understand lyrics and now I'm winning contests for favorite bands.
Here's the full text:

Brilliant

Lyrics: Hizumi Music: Karyu

Moving forward, smashing through listless days
Towards the doors to freedom now open

You’re like a jewel that someone has tarnished
Sparkling in the depths and waiting for your moment to shine

Scream out your pure feelings and free yourself to contradiction
If you destroy yourself, you’ll see a new future

I want to believe that even with wings tattered
From flying against the wind, you can go to the ends of the earth

If you keep fearing the fall,
You’ll forget there’s even such a thing as flying

Flightless birds! Before you are swallowed up by this age
Flap your wings and soar until you pierce the searing sun

I want to live always in that instant when everything disappears and
You shine brilliantly enough make hearts tremble

Break the mirror…
Scream out your pure feelings and free yourself to contradiction
If you destroy yourself, a new future will spread before your eyes
Come on, let’s go! I’ll show you the brilliant world
I once saw. Embrace this moment…

Graduation

2008-05-28T19:14:00.005-04:00

There are a few reasons that I've been MIA this last week, but one of the major ones was this. My younger brother graduated from the Naval Academy! He's joined the Marines and has another year of training before he get assigned somewhere. Not only did he graduate from an advanced program, he graduated with honors and won the research award for his department! We're all very proud. #^_^#

Lamina

2008-05-21T08:03:00.003-04:00

A couple days ago I saw a pic for a new Under Code band called Lamina. I looked at their pic, thought "Cool look," and went on with my day.

Today, one of my favorite band bois, Kizami (ex-gemmik) announced that he had formed a new band and was going to be taking down his homepage, so we should all buy the new issue of Cure to check it out. Since I couldn't buy the new issue of Cure, I started searching everywhere I could for info... and then did a faceplant into my computer. He was in LAMINA! *faceplants again*

The members are from left Masa (b, ex-gemmik), Kaede (d, ex-hurts), Ibuki (v, ex-℃), Aki (g, ex-hurts), KIZAMI (g). They're releasing no fewer than *six* singles over three months starting in July. At least all the tracks are different. -.- Hopefully they can combine Hurt's technical ability with gemmik's claustrophobic gothic atmosphere. Either way at least they look cool. ;D

D'espairsRay - Brilliant

2008-05-18T10:28:00.008-04:00

D'espairsRay's new single is a song that you have to listen to with your heart and not your head. See my head tells me it's a rehash of "Mirror" style (and since Karyu posted on his blog that they wrote it a year ago, my head's right). And I can't help wishing for something a little darker, a little harsher.

But when I turned it up on my car's stereo, opened all the windows and went cruising down the highway, it sent me soaring with it's beautiful chorus and headbanging bridge. In no time I was belting out "Ke~ga~re~nai O~mo~i wo sakende mujun e hanate" with a big smile on my face. Who needs a head anyhow? XD

On the other hand Cocoon feels like a song released too soon. The chorus and short bridge are cool, but the verses are absolutely forgettable. I wonder what would have happened if they had let this one percolate a bit more before releasing it. It's an appropriate B-side, though. With a nice big poster to go along with the CD and a photo card,* I think my $20 was well spent (even if shipping was twice the cost of the CD).

Rating: :D

P.S. Looking at my Brilliant insert I noticed this: Art Direction & Design: ryo (NINE GOATS BLACK ART)
This made my day. I knew Hizumi and ryo were friends, but it's so cool to see them working together. XD

Brilliant at the hide Memorial concert:

*wants Zero's jacket... preferably with Zero still inside* ;P

*I got a Hizumi card. Anyone wanna trade?

Tenshi no Revolver DVD

2008-05-17T11:23:00.007-04:00

As my last DVD post revealed, I'm rather fond of Buck-Tick live DVDs. BT is fabulous live and their DVDs are always well produced. So, even though I've not bought the Tenshi no Revolver CD, I bought the live DVD. ^^;;

The DVD really helped put TnR into context, as the 69 songs that they played fit in seamlessly with the TnR songs. I guess every 10 years or so BT feels the need to create an experimental, concept album to re-establish their alternative cred. ^_~

As for the DVD itself, it comes with two views: one with various effects and lots of split screen, another that's your typical live vid. You can watch the whole concert in whichever version you choose. Personally I think the first version seems like the result of a director who was too indecisive to choose which image he really wanted to use, but I'm my opinion seems to be in the minority among BT fans.

The traditional version, however, has beautiful, clear images and lots of nice shots of multiple members and unusual angles. I just wish that they had gotten more in the way of close-ups. Although we get lots of tight shots of Atsushi (v), the other members are, at best, seen from 3 or 4 feet away. It leaves you feeling slightly distanced from the events, despite the beauty of much of the imagery.

Overall, better than 13-kai ha Gekkou, but inferior to Xanadu and Devil & Freud: Climax Together.

Rating: :)

If you want clips, check out MisatoJiganshi's YouTube account where she uploaded a bunch of cool stuff.

Brilliant

2008-05-12T22:42:00.006-04:00

"Scream out your pure feelings and free yourself to contradiction
If you destroy yourself, you'll see a new future

I want to believe that even with wings tattered
From flying against the wind, you can go to the ends of the earth"

Japanese: Hizumi, Translation: Me. :D

So this afternoon I got an email from the president of HearJapan.com. It was a very nice email saying that he reads the blog and what not and suggesting I might link his site. Of course he expected me to be advertising their release of D'espairsRay's new Brilliant single, and their effort to show Japanese music execs the extent of the overseas market, but he underestimated what a dorky bookworm type I am. ^^;;

Almost the first thing I noticed on the site was their announcement of a lyric translation contest for said single. XDD Lyric translation is one of my favorite downtime activities and there was no way I wasn't entering this contest. Wish me luck!

Of course I've pre-ordered the release itself and am already checking to see if it's been shipped out. I'm sure you'll get a review by the end of the week. (Although first is Tenshi no Revolver. ^_~)

Lovin' the Lives

2008-05-09T20:10:00.006-04:00

Recently I've been trying to get on the treadmill like a good girl, but since I loathe running, the only thing that keep me going are my j-rock live DVDs. In honor of their awesome-ness, I decided to share with you the top DVDs in my collection. In putting this together, I avoided doubling up on one artist (or else there'd be more Dir). In no specific order:

ARTIST: Dir en grey
RELEASE: Blitz 5 Days
WHY: Not only does this set contain songs from 4 CDs and two mini-albums all neatly arranged according to period, you get to see Dir look back over their previous reincarnations. When Kyo and the gang are at the top of their game, as they are here, there's no one who can touch them.
VIDEO:

ARTIST: Buck-Tick
RELEASE: Mona Lisa Overdrive -Xanadu-
WHY: Buck-Tick is, with reason, often accused of being dry and overly obtuse, but this DVD sees them coming off some of their best and most rocking albums: One Life, One Death, Kyokutou I Love You and Mona Lisa Overdrive. Add in the fact that it's an outdoors show and you have B-T's most energetic live DVD. If you haven't seen or heard B-T live, you're missing half the point.
VIDEO:

ARTIST: D'espairsRay
RELEASE: Spiral Staircase #15
WHY: Every one of D'espairsRay's songs is made to be played live and this well-shot and edited DVD is perfect for showing them off. Not to mention Fascism, murder freaks, tatoeba kimi ga shin da ra and AnimalMania back-to-back is mind-blowing. (The fact that you can see me in it has nothing to do with my love for this DVD. ^_~)
VIDEO:

ARTIST: Atsushi Sakurai
RELEASE: Explosion Ai no Wakusei Live 2004
WHY: Sakurai solo is a completely different experience from B-T and the fact that almost every song was written by a different person creates an incredible amount of variety. On top of that this is perhaps the most beautifully edited and directed live DVD, I've ever seen. Even if you aren't a fan, you should watch a video or two.
VIDEOS:

Myspace Pages

2008-05-07T01:37:00.004-04:00

I'm really happy about this trend of J-rock bands having Myspace pages. It makes it so much easier to check out their sound without having to go through the pain of downloading stuff you might never want to listen to again.

Here are some I'm checking out:

LUCY

I mentioned these guys a while ago as a band that captured my eye and at last they're releasing their first single. You can hear one of the tracks on their myspace site. Unfortunately it's good, better than average in fact, but not great. I guess I'd rank them with Dali, Maverick and hurts. Although I still think they have a great look. :)

On the other end of the spectrum is Obscure featuring the former 4ge and Lay of Fatima. I'm rather fond of Lay's work, so it's cool to see him in a new band. The sound is very post-rock. I'm not surprised by the presence of My Bloody Valentine/sigur ros/mogwai/m83/massive attack in their top friends. It's a sound I like when I'm in the mood for it and I'd love to catch them live. Nothing like blissing out of waves of distortion to de-stress you. :D (I wonder if they wear the bunny suits on stage.)

Myspace pages are also great for confirming suspicions about band's looks being better than their sound. See Black Ship who have a slick military looks and elaborate backstory, but sound like 80% of the crappy vk bands out there. Expected shelf life? 18 months.

On the upside apparently Ryo will respond to messages sent to 9goats' myspace.

Here's hoping the bands keep the pages coming!

Fan letters

2008-04-30T11:14:00.007-04:00

Does anyone else write these? I started writing them about 4 years ago when my Japanese got good enough that I could avoid embarrassment. (My hand writing is still atrocious, though.)

Recently I've been thinking about writing a fan letter to Ryo. I've written to him several times before, always grasping at straws and inadequate Japanese to try to express the effect his voice and lyrics and performance have on me. I find it somehow soothing to slowly compose sentences and put a bit of what I'm feeling on paper. I like writing normal letters too, but there's something special about fan letters in Japanese.

Probably the most impressive run of them was on D'espairsRay's Liquidize Tour. I went to four shows and the finale and at each I'd get there early and wait with the other girls for the band to come so we could hand over presents and letters to them as they entered. I wrote to Zero, of course. In one I wrote the story of me becoming a D'espairsRay fan using the style of Japanese fairytales. (I'd had very little sleep that week.) At the tour finale I wrote simply: この曇った日に曇った心に陽を。Over the 陽 I wrote the furigana: レイ.

I think I feel another writing spell coming on! ^^;;

P.S. A video for Metallica's The Unforgiven just came on Fuse. One of my top ten songs without which my life could have been very different.

9Goats Black Out PV (sink)

2008-04-24T16:59:00.003-04:00

YAY!!! I think I just experienced my first ever instance of eargasming and wanting to cry at the same time. It's hard to believe that just five months ago, I was convinced that Ryo had left the scene.

About the PV, it's a little boring, I'll admit. Sand is not exactly the most fascinating thing to watch, but I like the ink swirls and the black rose petals falling in reverse. And then there's Ryo, as captivating and unsettling as ever. I hope the full length version will have more from him and the band! In his radio talk with Reo recently, he revealed that the director was the same person who did lynch.'s PV which I rather like. I really need to get my hands on this, but I have no money with this tour in offing.

On Becoming a Promoter Part 5: The PROMOTER

2008-04-22T17:51:00.003-04:00

I'm not really sure when the idea of me promoting bands was first discussed. I know it started with the idea that I could be a bridge for the bands, introducing them to promoters and labels in the US. But I soon realized that I didn't know where to send them. JRR mostly dealt with major bands, Free Will America was, well, Free Will and Tainted Reality, at the time, was dealing mostly with smaller goth bands. Where was a band like Ayabie to turn?

That combined with the fact that I had a head crammed with promotion ideas and Mohey's support soon had our conversations regarding promoting bands in the US turning increasingly serious. By July I was running through practicalities of doing it and in August, during O-bon vacation, Mohey was introducing me to bands, not as a writer, but as a writer and someone who "would be a good connection to have in America."

Then on August 13th, at Wizard's one man, I was introduced to a good friend of Mohey's, Matsushita, the head of Speed Disk and owner of AREA. I was searching for a band willing to trust an inexperienced promoter. He was searching for a promoter to take his top act, Ayabie, to the US. Over several chats, we discussed ideas and at the end of October, I returned to the US to establish my company, research my options and amass the capital I would need. By February I figured I was as ready as I was likely to get and, as you many have guessed, my trip to Japan in March was to discuss and finalize plans.

The only thing left now is the tour itself. Ayabie is a wonderful live band and I am proud to be bringing them to the US. I hope I will have all your support!

On Becoming a Promoter Part 4: The INSIDER

2008-04-19T08:40:00.004-04:00

I was aware that the gentleman sitting next to me was an important person the moment he walked in and was greeted with "Shacho" (President) while people scrambled to get him a drink and raise a toast with him. But it was nearly an hour later that we were introduced. He was the owner of E.L.L., one of the oldest and most respected rock venues in Nagoya, if not Japan, and he wanted to practice English. He offered me a deal: I speak English with him for an hour, he gets me into any show at his venue for free. I couldn't accept fast enough!

The very next day I had tickets for a Guy's Family, Sadie (and others) event at ell fits all. So after the show, on my best behavior I headed into the office and teaching English conversation. Luckily the owner and his wife were wonderful people and after a couple months of going every week, I knew I would always get a welcome at E.L.L, that same venue where a year earlier I had been so completely shut out. As the president, Mohey, and I got to know each other better, he started introducing me to the various managers, bands, promoters and journalists that floated through his office. Meanwhile I gained a better understanding of business in Japan and soon found my emails to bands meeting with much greater success. By August, my cell phone had contacts for Kiyoharu's manager, Dir's promoters, Balzac's members and a whole slew of others.

But in talking to all the bands, I noticed one thing. They were happy to do an interview but what they really wanted was to know about touring and releasing records in America.

While that thought percolated and my life as a writer got better and better, I still was working full time as an English teacher, living alone in a foreign country and trying to see a bunch of non-work related shows. It was too much. My apartment was always a mess, I was constantly short of sleep and, with little time to exercise, I was gaining weight. I knew I couldn't keep it up much longer.

On Becoming a Promoter Part 3: the CONNECTIONS

2008-04-17T22:09:00.005-04:00

I might have come to Independence D determined not to get shut out, but getting shut out was almost the first thing that happened. In my press kit they had talked about a press area and press reserved lockers, but when I got to the venue, I found out that there were two levels of press. I was the lower kind and wasn't getting anything out of my badge other than free entrance to the venue. Well that and the badge itself.

Displaying that press pass prominently, I chatted with the staff at each merch table between acts I had to cover. It was a hard schedule of back and forth and the merch area was outdoors and unheated. By the end of the day I was so sick with cold and exhaustion that I couldn't stop shuddering, but clasped in my trembling hands were four business cards.

Two weeks later, after most of my emails to the various places being ignored, I headed out to a show for the one label that hadn't ignored me, Trippin' Elephant. Although I didn't know it until the night of the show it's greatest claim to fame was a little band called Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. TMGE had been broken up for years, but at the show I had the great privilege of talking with their vocalist, Chiba Yuusuke, who had performed with his side project. I was an amazing show and my first brush with fame.

After that, two months passed in a swirl of business cards, drinking, chatting up people and, yes, even batting my eyelashes. Then on April 8th, 2007 I found myself sitting in the basement of a cheap, greasy izakaya (think Japanese pub) next to an older man who would help change my life.

On Becoming a Promoter... Part 2: The WRITER

2008-04-13T06:38:00.004-04:00

On May 13th I arrived in Nagoya, Japan, got a training schedule and saw that the next day was a day off. It was also deadman's final Nagoya show. As soon as I got to my hotel, I headed over to the venue and the nearby Like an Edison to see about tickets. Alas it was sold out. The next day I stood outside Electric Lady Land, listened to the muffled show and mourned the passing of one of my favorite bands.

I had not come to Japan to stand on the outside.

For the next several months I got settled into my new job, went to shows constantly, dropped hundreds in Raika and tried to establish myself as a writer. Unfortunately, the editors of Purple SKY knew me only slightly and while live reports and CD review were assigned, the interviews that I craved were not forthcoming.* The bands themselves ignored my amateur-ish inquiries through merch tables and email.

By January 2007, I had decided to take matters into my own hands. I heard about a festival called Independence-d in Tokyo. On the bill were Plastic Tree, Merry, D'espairsRay, Balzac, 12012, Girugamesh and a ton of other bands. What's more, with a few foreign bands on the bill, they were marketed as an international event. I knew a reporter from an English mag would be welcome. Getting the OK from pS, I emailed them in my best keigo (woefully inadequate, I realized later), sent in my application, and a week later got my very first press pass in Japan!

On February 4th I headed into Studio Coast with the pass in one hand and brand new business cards in another. I was determined that this time I would not be shut out!

* This is not a criticism of pS. They were trying to put out a professional work and didn't know if I could be professional around bands or if my Japanese were up to the task. They know now! XD

On Becoming a Promoter... Part 1: The PASSION

2008-04-12T08:36:00.012-04:00

(When Elec joined a vk band he did an awesome feature on how it happened... so I stole his idea. XD)

There is almost nothing I love more than music. Throughout my childhood I was surrounded by my mom's classical music and my dad's classic rock, I started dancing at the age of 3 and, on more than one occasion, I've been saved by the right song at the right time.

My first concert was Silverchair (opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers) at the age of 12. Their song, Suicidal Dream was the "right song at the right time" for an angsting 12-year-old and seeing them in person (OMGDANIELJOHNSIS12FTAWAY!!!) was heart-wrenching in the best way. I still remember how hard I screamed when Daniel said "F*ck Valentine's Day". I still remember how I returned home with no voice and a new love.

It was no surprise that when I got into J-rock six years later, I had to go to Japan. From September 2003 to July 2004 I studied at Tokyo's Waseda University, whose main recommendation - at the time - was being a 20-minute walk from Takadanobaba AREA. I went to shows at least once a week: Dir, Gullet, D'espairsRay, Gazette, Kagrra, 12012, deadman, Merry, Mucc and a slew of others. I even stopped eating lunch and only drank tap water so I could save up money for more shows. I lost 15 pounds and gained irreplaceable memories and a sense of community I had never felt before. For the first time in my life, I felt truly alive.

I came home a changed person: convinced that I couldn't do the kind of office job I had always bleakly imagined for myself, but uncertain what I could do. After a period of inner turmoil, marked by working as a translator, promoting nightlife events, college graduation and an attempt to start to start a J-rock magazine (aborted because I found out about a in-the-works J-rock Ink), I decided to go back to Japan. While J-rock Ink became Purple SKY, I got a job teaching English. In May of 2006 I returned to Japan.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

AYABIE US TOUR!!!

2008-04-11T08:20:00.002-04:00

XD!

Click pic for details!

Best Concert Line-up Ever?

2008-04-10T16:12:00.004-04:00

Hide Summit Day 2, May 4th
X JAPAN
LUNA SEA
Dir en grey
OBLIVION DUST
MUCC
D'espairsRay
the underneath
heidi.

The first three J-rock artist I ever fell in love with were Dir en grey, Luna Sea and D'espairsRay. I can't imagine the mind-blowing awesome it would be to see these bands together. Not to mention MUCC (who I got into later, but still love). There's even one of my favorite indie bands, heidi., on the list! (I fear they'll be rather over-powered, but they're still a great act.) Then, of course, there's X Japan. I'm not a huge fan but I do have a ton a respect for them and would love to see them live.

Best concert line-up ever? HELL YEAH! (Anyone going? Wanna sneak me in your baggage?)

P.S. Cochella? Huh? What?

P.S.

2008-04-09T00:32:00.001-04:00

ToC J-rock bands on Fuse tomorrow at 4!!! Steven's Untitled Rock Show!

I remember when D'espairsRay made their first TV appearance *period*. Now they're on US TV!!! My bois iz becoming menz. ;_; *proud*

Odds & Ends

2008-04-08T23:02:00.005-04:00

Siva & Iori:

So apparently the reason Iori left Siva was his father's health, which is sad on a personal level, but luckily for us fans it seems that he's still interested in continuing as a band man so once things are more settled at home he'll come back to the music scene. He wrote a really long and heartfelt entry in their blog. Hopefully I'll get a chance to translate it. He also is responding to fanmail, even overseas stuff (in Engrish). I think it's so wonderful when musicians take the time to do that. (I remember back when Siva started he wrote a blog entry asking people to send stationary with their fan mail, because it was embarrassing for a guy to go into a stationary store by himself. LOL) You'll be missed Iori!

lynch.:

So who loves adore? I love adore! The whirling feeling of the chorus is so addictive. The B-side 'an illusion' is possibly even better with the silver-streams of the chorus and the dance music influences. I think lynch. is letting their pop side* show on these songs and it's beautiful!

On top of that there's their first PV! The simple black and white visuals are classic and the stuff swirling out of Hazuki's fingertips is mesmerizing. I just wish they had pulled the camera back a bit and showed more than the member's faces. There's a "making of" vid floating around too. That's probably worth a peek.

*Reo likes My Little Lover and Hazuki is a Madonna fan. ORZ

Sadie:

So Sadie ended up making not one, not two but THREE different PVs for Crimson Tear. And it's not just a matter of censoring or a little image shuffling, they're all unique.

Version One is the one I posted last week. Version Two is more 'story' oriented with lots of Mini-Monster Mao and Version Three is just the band rocking out in an abandoned warehouse-like place. Personally, I like version one the best, because the special effects in two are laughable and version three looks like it was barely edited, while version one has lots of member shots, sharp editing and just enough story to get the idea across. Then again, I'm not going to argue with moar Sadie.

Speaking of moar Sadie, I'm amused by this comment DVD:

Aki just sits on the couch* the whole time smoking a cigarette and off in his own little world. LOL. When Kei asks him for a comment about the Director's Cut of the PV he's just like, "I haven't watched it," and Kei's like, "wut?" and he's like, "I haven't watched it yet." and Kei's like, "umm... Please watch it" and Aki's like "Understood." LOL. Aki for the win. XDD What is it with Aki and cameras? In person he's nice, polite and easy to talk to, but start a camera rolling and he suddenly clams up.

*I interviewed them on that couch! ^_^;

On Electric Orchid

2008-04-06T17:23:00.002-04:00

So I've made my big announcement. Thank you for your supportive comments! It means a lot.

This project is one that I've been thinking about casually for a couple years, thinking about seriously for one and have actually been working on for six months. I'm very excited about it but also nervous! I'm going to do my absolute best on this project. I hope you will continue to support me and Electric Orchid.

Also, just so you know, I'm not planning on letting the company get in the way of blogging. Mostly likely it will only mean I'll have more interesting things to blog about. :)

PS. Electric Orchid now has a MySpace page. Be my friend?

I can be entrepreneur now?

2008-04-05T20:47:00.001-04:00

Electric Orchid Productions

*runs away cackling*

Butterfly kisses

2008-04-05T06:27:00.005-04:00

Real life is keeping me wrapped up, but I'll have a huge announcement coming tomorrow. In the meantime, here's are some poems from my favorite Japanese author, Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

BUTTERFLY

In a breeze heavy with the scent of duckweed a single butterfly fluttered. For only an instant he felt the wings of that butterfly touch his dry lips. But many years later the wing's dust, imprinted on his lips, still glittered.

FIREWORKS

Rain-drenched, he strode along the asphalt. The rain was fierce. In the fog, he breathed the scent of a rubber coat.

As he did so, a single power line began shooting off violet fireworks before his eyes. He was strangely moved. In the pocket of his coat was hidden a manuscript to be published in their group magazine. As he walked in the rain he looked back again upon the power line.

The line was still shooting off sharp sparks. In the course of his life there had been nothing he particularly desired. But to capture these violet blossoms of fire – these blossoms of fire in the violent sky – he would give his life.

Translations, as always, by me.

Sadie - Crimson Tear PV

2008-03-28T10:12:00.019-04:00

When I talked to Sadie last month about their PV, I commented that it looked pretty flashy. They seemed uncomfortable with that word so I changed it to movie-like. They were much happier to agree with that. Personally I think both descriptions are pretty accurate.

Directed by Screaming Mad George, a special effects guy who seems to specialize in B-movies, Crimson Tear is two parts The Final and one part Vulgar.

Let's take a closer look:

Kei looks fierce in the this PV, pounding away, hair flying. And the fire's gorgeous reflected on his kit.

Mizuki's dog over fire hydrant imitation. LOL. He always looks like he's having fun.

Mao: Just in time for Easter. I know there's a Sparta caption in this.

Tsurugi looking windswept.

And last but not least Mr. Oral Fixation himself: Aki

A little before that... Mao's getting a beating

And it's all her fault.

So Mao gives birth to Mini-Mao.

And then there was Aki pr0n

And moar Aki Pr0n

Mini-Mao has issues... and wings

And vengence.

While the shots of the members playing show the kind of energy that make Sadie so much fun live, the lack of group shots is a little disappointing. I would love to see the whole band rockin' out in front of those flames. As for the 'story,' well let's just say I'm not surprised the director has a background in B-movies. They could just cut the whole thing. But overall the PV is wicked fun (and Aki pr0n).

ROFL

2008-03-27T23:19:00.009-04:00

LOL. Right now those Aladdin pants are lookin' pretty good.

(Picture swiped from dingsomething and roflbot'ed)

On a more serious note, I'm lovin' the stuffin' out of Shion. When I interviewed Tatsurou a couple weeks back, I asked about the album and he said that it had more dance and ethnic influences than previously. Duly noticed.

It starts off with Suion (Sound of Water) which eases from those ethnic influences right into those dance ones and is one of the best intro tracks I've heard. Although MUCC covers a lot of ground before they reach their incredible final track, Libra. Shiva is not as hardcore as the intro leads you to expect, but very uplifting. FUZZ makes me want to bounce around like a sugar-high 4 year old. Ditto for Anjelier. Nuritsubusunara enji has a little bit of everything going on in it. But my favorite (non-single) track might be Game. Game is entrancing, like a combination of chant and shoegaze, and perfect for wandering under the night sky.

Shion feels to me like both a culmination and an extension of the experimentation MUCC has been doing on their last two full albums. While MUCC's original barebones angst will always have a special place in my heart, I think Shion has finally convinced me to embrace experimental MUCC as well.

New looks!

2008-03-26T13:07:00.006-04:00

Lynch's new look:

is greater than

D'espairsRay's new look:

D'espairsRay look like typically fashionable Japanese guys. I know they want to move away from their all black all the time look (Zero in a recent issue of RockonJ), but I'm not really feeling this look for them.

Also tilting the balance in lynch's favor is their awesome new site. Easy to navigate and complete with media samples. lynch. for the win! Best of all, a clip of their very first PV!

Go lynch! I still remember finding out about them. I was so excited to see Hazuki, Reo and Yukino (at the time) working together, that I ran screaming down the halls of my dorm to tell my friend (who had never heard of any of them). LOL.

P.S. Does anyone else find that "Yeah!" Hazuki releases at :28 ridiculously hot? Geh. The guy isn't even a full year older than I am. X/

Clash Against Commercialism Cancelled!

2008-03-26T08:22:00.003-04:00

Visa problems apparently.

This explains why I can't publish the interviews I did for it... but I got a number of interesting comments that I'd really like to share. This is when livejournal, with it's friends only feature, is nice. I show it to my friends list, it slowly trickles out to other friends only pages and Free Will is none the wiser. ;)

Sigh.... risk time. Here's a little section from Kenzi's interview:

Kenzi: Rock is all about destruction. You don’t have anything to save or protect. It’s not like we’re putting on a “concert.” We’re not trying to get people to sit down and listen. I want it to be more like, “What’s up with this guy!?” It’s not about entertainment. I think some Japanese visual-kei is starting to be like Johnny’s (Entertainment). They’re like idols. But that’s not rock. It’s completely different from Anti-Feminism.

Me: You’ve been on the scene for a while, but did you ever think that it would end up like this?

K: When we were young, Tommy and I, it was hard to just walk down the street and we couldn’t get part time jobs. I mean now there are lots of people in Japan with blonde hair, but at the time, blonde hair – actually mine was pink at the time – but if you had blonde hair walking down the street, people would look at you funny. Now, look at hosts. I have a place in Shinjuku and I see the hosts and they’re incredible. They look like band guys with their hair sticking up. I only stand my hair up for shows but they have it up everyday. I mean hosts and band guys aren’t that different now.

But I think visual ended with Dir en grey and Malice Mizer. They were the peak. Now bands either imitate Kyo’s erotic-grotesque style or else they’re following after Malice Mizer and turning it into entertainment with performances and dances, like Psycho Le Cemu and such. But those two bands defined current visual kei. People base their shows on them so the bands don’t have as much individuality. Anti-feminism is different.

NO!!!!

2008-03-24T13:10:00.004-04:00

IORI IS LEAVING SIVA!!!!

How did I miss this?!?! WTF!!! So not happy.

He's already played his last show with the band!!!! I KNEW there was something going on when they suddenly released a best of.

Of all the members, why Iori? I guess one of the last vestiges of old-school Nagoya-kei is moving on.

I'm going off to be depressed for a while.

EDIT: Now for the logical part.

Siva, as you may know, is one of the more interesting indie bands recently and a large part of that interest comes from the guitarist/main composer Iori. Iori is from Nagoya (like most of my favorite musicians) and got his start as an original member of Phobia. So I really feel that Iori leaving is going to be a blow to Siva's songwriting. On the other hand, Cell, their amazing bassist, is still around and veteran guitarist Yuuichi (former Elldorado) should not be discounted. Maybe we'll simply hear a younger, more energetic siva.

You're like a perverted convenience store.

2008-03-23T11:27:00.004-04:00

OLD MEME ALERT!!!

I honor of Easter, I'm resurrecting an old translation of mine.

It's a column called sex69sex that D'espairsRay (mostly Zero and Karyu) used to write back in 2001 for Ark Project. I found it in late-2003 and first translated it a year later, but my D'espairsray translation site has been down forever.

WARNING: Idiocy and implied-gay abound!

Here's a small taste:

Z: First of all, what did you work hard on in recording?

K: I guess it was erotic fantasies.

Z: Erotic fantasies?

K: Yeah, erotic fantasies.

Z: What kind?

K: I can't say.

Z: Why?

K: They're too nasty.

Z: You were thinking about that kinda stuff when you were playing?

K: Of course. I always do.

Z: Always? You mean at concerts and stuff too?

K: No. Everyday, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year without a break.

Z: You're like a perverted convience store.

K: Yep. If possible, I'd like to be a Seven-Eleven.

ENJOY THE REST!!!

Also a wonderful artist has actually turned a section of this into a comic here

Sequence Records

2008-03-21T21:45:00.004-04:00

Not that long ago I heard someone predicting the demise of Sequence Records... and I could only nod my head in agreement. When ClearVeil left for Undercode and Black:List formed their own little company I expected any minute to hear about Sequence going under... but they didn't. Not only that they seem to be adding interesting new artists pretty aggressively.

Personally the one that interests me the most is Art Cube:

I just love their 80s goth meets Carnevale look. Apparently the vocalist is Seiji (formerly of Brainhacker and Amadeus), who was also apparently in Moi dix Mois as Seth. And their recently added drummer (not pictured) is former Piass. A rather punk-y background for such a gothy band.

Besides Art Cube, Sequence has also added Byakura, Since1889, Koro, LSD and Venus. That's quite a list for such a small label! I rather like Since1889 in a "they're cool live" kind of way. And I really have to commend Tomozo (head of the label) for his support of girls in vk. In addition to the ladies of Exist Trance, you've got Byakura with two girls in it and Koro who is a female guitarist. There isn't another label in vk with close to that kind of grrrl power. Kinda interested to see how they go from here.

I'm sick, b'cuz luv u.

2008-03-20T13:15:00.011-04:00

Non-Zero fans, RUN AWA~Y!!!!!!

A few pics I stole from Dingsomething that highlight why I love watching him live so much. Although none of them catch the Smirk. (Any Zero fan who has seen him live knows what I'm talking about. He totally gets off on seeing his fan girls worship him.)

P.S. bonus e-cookies to anyone who knows the origin of the title.

Tattoos

2008-03-18T22:12:00.002-04:00

I desperately, achingly want to get a new tattoo. I have no few than 4 designs that I want to get. X/

First I want to get a Phoenix flying down on top of my current butterflies and fans on my back. I want it to be mostly in blues and crying as it almost seems to crash down. It's long tail could spread across my upper back. It would be beautiful.

I also want to get the character: 零 (rei, zero) I'm thinking about putting it on a hip bone. The character also has the meanings of beginning and ending. And, yes, it's the character that Zero used to use to write his name, but that's not the point. --;; (Seriously, I would never get anyone's name tattooed on me, unless, as in this case, there were other major reasons that I wanted it.)

The last two designs are a set. I'm thinking about getting 闇 (yami, darkness) and 夢 (yume, dream) one on each side of my body. I'm thinking about my wrists but I try to put all my tattoos in places where they can be easily hidden, so maybe not.

BUT I need to save $$$ for my super-secret project so no tattoos for me right now. If everything works out on my project, though, that's phoenix is so getting done! *writhes in grip of unfulfilled tattoo addiction*

Taste of Chaos: Fairfax

2008-03-18T21:08:00.005-04:00

Interviewed the Underneath yesterday. Very friendly for the most part. TAL had the best English of any of the band guys I talked to. After I was done I was saying thank you to The Underneath and Tatsurou, who was in the dressing room, held out his hand to be shaken and said thank you, then Tsukasa jumped in and eventually I ended up shaking everyone's hand in the dressing room except Hizumi, who was getting his hair did.

The show itself was great. Simple TOC rule:

bigger pit = more chaos = more fun

The pit in Fairfax was nearly the size of a basketball court, so there was plenty of fun and chaos to be had. I have to say, that I love D'espairsRay more than MUCC musically, but MUCC do put on a damn good live show. It's mostly Tatsurou. He just seems so comfortable anywhere: emoting and dancing and totally alive on stage. Even when he has to read his MC off pieces of paper on the floor he's completely charming. Hizumi might not seem awkward, but if you've ever seen in Japan, the difference is palpable. He's out of his comfort zone. The other DRay members however, were energetic as ever. When did Zero start moving around more than Karyu? Hmm... he used to the calm one. ^^;;

I actually watched all the bands last night (with some breaks of course), but it was a great show. Bullet for my Valentine had two girls in bikinis crowd-surfing during their set. I was not at all surprised to see the bassist and drummer heading backstage with them in tow during A7X's set. *rolls eyes*

But about A7X: such a good live show! Tons of energy and pyrotechnics. I surprised myself by knowing at least four maybe five of their songs enough to sing along! 0.0 I didn't even watch them in Camden. How do I know these songs?!? And, oh yes, they were very much in the St. Paddy's spirit, inviting fans up to do shots of Jamiesons with them.

I (with help from co-conspirators) had hoped to introduce the Jrock bands to the wonderful tradition of St. Paddy's day, but unfortunately the runner for the tour couldn't find booze and everyone had to take off pretty early for Portland, Maine, so I didn't get to see the bands at all. :(

Oh well, enjoy this awesome instead:

Emiko and Heather who are awesome rock chicks working hard to bring the Jrock to you! BTW, this was taken at the D'espairsRay signing, which seems likely to become a feature at other stops. Look out for it!

Taste of Chaos: Camden

2008-03-15T22:49:00.004-04:00

Today I actually got to see MUCC!!! It was great! When Tatsurou twirled around all his voluminous layers swung around with him and man did he get some air. Three feet seriously. Whirling dervish FTW! I was worried a complex song like Libra would lose something live but the 'dark' lyrics were so raw that the contrast between dark and light was heightened and the stronger as a result. (Have I mentioned recently that I LOVE that song.) Fuzz was fun live and they played Shadan! Awesome!

Oh yes, D'espairsRay were great as usual. I abandoned all pretense of professionalism during their set and just jumped around in the pit and screamed Zero's name. :DD

The Underneath were a bit edgier live than I expected, but a bad case of having to pee sent me out of the venue before their set was over. ^^;; (Hey I didn't want to end up like the girl in the stall next to me who told her friend that she had pee'd on her leg. x.x)

I caught Bullet for My Valentine who I rather enjoy live. They're just so sweaty, balls-to-the-wall metal-ish.

Then there was the signing event. All 13 of the Japanese band members were present along with gobs of staff and about 200 fans. My friend Nikki gave Zero a $1 coin and he blogged about it!

After that was over I hung around backstage... but in the production office not the dressing room. That was cool too because I got to chat with the managers and hear about plans for something involving the J-rock bands and TV(!) and hear the head of Hard Rock Cafe's memorabilia collection talking about the push to get Japanese band stuff. (He got CDs from all of the bands on tour.) I did chat with Karyu for about 10 sec. He asked me how many more shows I would be at. One more left to go!

I hope everyone who's at NY today enjoyed it!

PS: I'm stealing all these pics from Dingsomething.com which has huge galleries of all the shows!

PPS: Currently in the middle of translating the Anti-feminism interview. Easily one of my favorites I've ever done. Here's an quote: "Visual-kei ended with Dir en grey and Malice Mizer. They were the peak."

Taste of Chaos: Chicago

2008-03-13T21:11:00.006-04:00

So today was a day I had been waiting for for a VERY long time. In some ways I’d been waiting for over six years. It was the day I met D’espairsRay!

As you may or may not know, I have been a DRay fan (and a Zero fan) since shortly after Terrors was released and my love of them (and Zero) has only grown over the years.

I actually surprised myself by being really calm about the whole thing (compare to my incoherency a year ago). Although there was a definite case of butterflies in stomach going into it.

The show itself was pretty good, but not nearly as good as Japan. I think it was a combination of the sound not being as good and the crowd being a lot colder. The band itself was pumping out a ton of energy even in the short set (Damned, mirror, 69, closer, reddish, I believe).

After the show, came trying to figure out the whole interview set up. First it was going to be all the members at the venue. Then only Hizumi at the bar across the way. Then Hizumi at the venue then the manager just told us to come to tour van.

When we got there I was invited to sit down and who came out to sit right across from me? ZERO! Then Karyu comes out to join him and we’re off. You can read the interview at JRR soon, but I think it turned out pretty well, in a simple way. Zero had a hilarious comment involving starbucks. Love him.

I did confirm that Zero does have bad teeth (the fact that he never shows them is a good tip off), and his skin was a not as pretty as it looks on stage and he had stubble. Still, that all just made him more real and in no way decreased my attraction. ^^;; Karyu looked… much as he does on stage. He’s so thin! He’s also practicing his English with rather endearing seriousness. Both of them were quite nice and very happy with my gift of sembe straight from Japan.

The best part was when we were leaving and we had said our typical Japanese style good-byes, Zero reached out his hand and shook mine. His hand was warm and much larger than mine and a thrill went through my whole body, especially when he said, “mata” (again). Of course Karyu shook hands after that, but it was Zero’s grip that stuck with me.

As we left the bus, I caught sight of the sign over the lock on their tour bus door:

BE A LOCK STAR!

LMAO!!!!

You do that, bois.

Japan Day # 7

2008-03-12T21:47:00.009-04:00

My last day! Today I went out and took pictures to make up for forgetting my camera yesterday.

Then off to the airport. I got my coat back with no problem and then picked up some presents for the bands and off to Chicago. Where I ate a Messy Burger from Earwax Café (one of my favorite foods in the world) and soon collapsed for a much needed 10 hours of sleep.

Japan Day # 6

2008-03-10T19:55:00.001-04:00

Back to Tokyo today to meet up with my friend Kendra who I hadn’t seen in three years. We got breakfast and then she had to go to a real estate agent (something that I was always too scared to do in Japan -.-). So I checked in at my hotel.

Then I discovered that not only were my Japanese bank’s ATMs closed that day, but their ATM cards were all de-activated so I couldn’t get cash period. 0.0 Japan is still largely a cash economy so that’s a huge inconvenience. WTF UFJ!? Luckily there is a Citibank ATM in Ikebukuro where I was meeting Kendra and her roommate so I got more cash, did some CD shopping (Thee Michelle Gun Elephant stuff) and met up again.

Next purikura! I wanted to take purikura with Kendra because she always takes such cute ones, BUT I hate getting my picture taken and I don’t get the whole decorating idea. So I was kinda like “durr… .” But I have purikura! ^^;;

Next up was Harajuku and Design Festa, which is this free little gallery. I really liked this one girls work with dismembered bodies and stuff.

Then I popped my head into the next room and went: *blinkblink* TENTEN!!! There was a wall of seriously yummy photos of seriously yummy Tenten (former Hanamuke-dan, KuRT). Kendra and I each bought several packs of photos.

After that we had Maple Milk Tea at a café that while expensive was very good. My raisin bread stick thing was perfect with the sweet, milky tea. I always feel so girly doing that stuff. Once we were relaxed, off to Chinatown for Ayabie! I had the perky chorus of Sadie’s Blue Irony in my head the whole way down and wanted to jump around and dance. I am an idiot.

The Ayabie venue was this little punk-y club that was sold out and HOT. Kendra and I watched a bit, but between lack of sleep, lack of food and a whiskey, I was reeling, so we left and got Chinese food instead. :) Dinner was yummy, but we got lost on the way back and wandered around Chinatown for a while. ^^;; It was pretty so that’s okay.

After the show, I said hi to Aoi and Intetsu, but the backstage was tiny and they seemed busy, so we didn’t stay long, before heading back to Tokyo and sleep.

Japan Day # 5

2008-03-10T19:50:00.001-04:00

(Got a little behind in posting these. Sorry! - M)

Today is Nagoya day!

As some of you might know, Nagoya is where I lived for a year and a half so my Nagoya day was mostly about visiting friends. But first I had to get there.

From Osaka there’s a train called the UrbanLiner that leaves from very close to where I was staying and gets to Nagoya in two hours, costing about $20 less than the Shinkansen. I planned to get on that at 7 so I could meeting my friend and former co-worker at 9:30, but when I got the station at 6:50, I realized that I had forgot my wallet in my hotel room! (What is it with me and forgetting things this trip? I think it has to do with complete lack of sleep.)

So I had to go all the way back to my hotel and, because the Urban Liner only goes once an hour, I had to take the Shinkansen which required more money and changing trains. X(

In the end I got into Nagoya earlier than I wanted to and without the nap I had been hoping to take on the train, but all was made better when I met up with Towa! Towa was my co-worker at Aeon. She’s Japanese but lived in America for 14 years so she’s pretty much a native speaker. She also studied fine arts at university, plays guitar, writes music and has an amazing voice that sounds just like Shiina Ringo. (She also was a pro golfer for a couple years.) She’s completely awesome and I love her to death, so I was so happy to see her again. We talked about music and my plans for the future and the fact that she’s taking guitar lessons and thinking about joining a band. I was so glad to see her!

After that I spent some time in the school where I used to work catching up with staff and students. I even went out for coffee with one of the students who loves music almost as much as I do and was great to talk to.

After that it was off to my favorite Indonesian restaurant. I used to go to this place every week and even went out drinking with the staff on occasion. I had a super-yummy dish of vegetables and Indonesian style tofu stewed in spiced coconuts milk. LOVE. They even invited me to go drinking, that night but I was too tired. :(

After that, check-in at hotel, a little work and off to Raika and Nagoya E.L.L.

Here’s my Raika purchase (with amusing comment card). It only cost 800 yen and I had 360 points saved up on my card so it was nice and cheap. (Raika membership cards are a must if you’re planning on going there with any regularity. Mine paid for itself within a month and they don't expire. I’ve probably saved $60 over the years.)

Finally I went to E.L.L., to spend time with the owner and his wife.

About a year ago, the bassist of Radio Caroline (former Thee Michelle Gun Elephant) introduced me to the owner of ELL. It changed my life. He took an immediate interest in me and Purple SKY and offered to let me into any show at his venue if I would spend some time speaking English with him whenever I came. I, of course, agreed and by his introduction met D, lynch., Sadie, GuysFamily, Ayabie, Kiyoharu and many other artists (as well as people in the industry who introduced me to other people in the industry who introduced me to other artists, etc.). He and his wife are also the biggest supporters of my current top secret project.

Seeing them again was wonderful. When they heard about my coat, they immediately gave me a huge warm ELL parka. Then they fed me sweets and took me out to get Nagoya’s famous Miso-Udon. We talked about touring and politics and music and food and everything else.

These two are so amazing both for the three wonderful venues they run and the way they are so willing to support young people following their dreams. Almost any band that comes into their office after a show can expect some encouragement and spot-on advice.

After talking with them and the rest of staff (including the young, attractive guy who books all their vk bands and actually asks me for advice on occasion o.O), I felt totally refreshed and ready to face new challenges.

Japan Day #4

2008-03-08T03:55:00.001-05:00

Japan Day #4:

Today was interview day and Sadie day. My schedule:

1) Interview 12012
2) Interview the studs
3) Interview Rentrer en Soi (anyone noticing a connection?)
4) Hop on Shinkansen and get my ass to Osaka ASAP
5) Run in (hopefully on time) to the Sadie show
6) GO CRAZY!

None of the interviews went as well as the Antifeminism one. Interviewing a whole band seems like an ideal situation, but actually, it can be very difficult because it’s impossible to focus on four or five people all at once and when a difficult question comes up, everyone is hoping someone else will answer it. Add to that the fact that I’ve never met these bands before, not even to introduce myself, and getting them to talk was like pulling teeth. (I’m sure the fact that I had about three hours of sleep wasn’t helping matters.)

Anyhow.

12012
Miyawaki talked the most and was the most personable but Sakai talked a fair amount. Enya just completely zoned out. Also Miyawaki called me a maniac when I said the vk artist I was enjoying the most was 9Goats Black Out. (Well, :P to you too.) Although he did say that Gullet was really good. (He better say that. The only reason I saw 12012 in the first place was because they played with Gullet in February of 2004.)

The studs
SO SERIOUS! I could hardly get a laugh the whole time. X( Aie spoke the most, to the point that I’m not sure that I have anything ‘on record’ from Hibiki and Yukino. Daisuke talked a bit more and made some joke about making babies that I’m not sure I got. I mean, I think I understand what he said, but it had nothing to do with anything else and made no sense in context. o.O Hibiki amused me immensely, though. Apparently he doesn’t know the difference between New York and Los Angeles. Aie had to explain that it was a six-hour drive between the two. ^^;;

Rentrer en Soi
I was the least prepared for this and know the least about the band, but this turned into the best interview. There’s something to be said for winging it. Also ReS seemed more open, especially Satsuki, who seemed very friendly, even if he was hiding behind giant sunglasses.
On a completely frivolous note, I expected Ryo the bassist to be the best looking, but actually his face was way too thin. (A lot of guys who look really good in pictures, have too thin faces in real life. Ruiza is the same.) The guy I found most attractive was Takumi, who I thought was the least attractive on stage. (His attractiveness rating went soaring when he commented, “You must like purple,” showing that he was actually paying attention to my purple shoes, purse and pen.)

It was an interesting experience.

Next it was off to Osaka, but seats on the Shinkansen were full so I ended up on the floor. I even slept there for a while. X/ The last 45 minutes I was able to get a seat, though and rested enough to be together. As soon as I got to the Shinsaibashi station, I stuffed my luggage in a locker and ran off to the venue, getting there just at seven. I didn’t think about the guest list and just handed off my ticket and ran inside.

About ten minutes after I got there the lights go out and the fans surge forward so that I, who had been about 2/3s of the way back am suddenly closer to 1/3 of the way back! After a scream filled moment of anticipation, everyone but Mao comes out, leading the fans in air punching. As the tension peaks, Mao, face covered in a bandana, comes out, jets of smoke billow to the ceiling and the insanity begins.

They started with Crimson Tear and then just barreled on from there. Mao hit the high note in vomiter perfectly and man was it impressive. But what really drew my attention was about 4 songs in they took a break and then came back with three songs in a row that were bass heavy and had techno beats. Total departure from their metally image. After that were two intense ballads (Tsukoi no hana and Silent Eve I believe) and right back into heavy stuff including a song that I think was Dustin' Fucker Life. It sounds like an escapee from an old Gazette CD, but it was super-fun live as everyone jumped/danced around.

When the show really got crazy was when they played Grudge of Sorrow and then followed it with (in no particular order), a holy terrors, deadly masquerade, under the chaos and one or two others with no pauses. But the time they finished the main set off with Meisai and more smoke, the front half of the venue was a blur of hair and the back was full of circles of headbangers, some even getting down on their knees to headbang harder. Unfortunately Aki had some bass trouble (what does that boi do to them? it seems like he has trouble every other time I see them.), but still a fun set ending.

Due to the bass trouble, the break before the encore was long, and, having realized that the manager might have put me on the guest list I went out to the lobby and asked. And he had! I had an after show pass which meant I could go backstage after the show.

Back in the venue, the first encore finally started. The first song was an older one (Akai Chocho?), but then they played Mousou for about 15 minutes driving the crowd wild. Crowd surfing, moshing headbanging, Mizuki the little walkway on the side of the venue and climbing the rail to play, insanity was everywhere. Mao and Mizuki shouted into the same mike with Mao’s hand wrapped around Mizuki’s throat and jaw like he was going in for a kiss (but no actual kiss this time). Much other insanity and all sorts of fun.

The final encore, had Mao start off with a heartfelt speech about how much the fans meant to them, and explaining that they actually played their first show here (Big Cat) as an opening act. They only played one song, so to finish the show, they were going to play that song. The song was interesting because it was so rough and obviously an early song, but there was still a ton of passion in it.

After the show I got to chat with Mao and Aki for about ten minutes. I asked Mao how making the new PV was. His response: cold. LOL. Also Aki was carrying cigarettes and Anna Sui perfume (for women) so I asked about it and he said that he keeps the perfume just off stage so that he can spray it on and feel more himself. Lol. Love him.

Japan Day #3

2008-03-06T17:42:00.007-05:00

Five and a half hours of sleep and I'm ready to go (mostly). Breakfast today was a Tuna Sandwich and Matcha Latte accompanied by reading the end of Kaori Yuki's new gay school boy story based on the Lady of Shallot. ;D

Then it was off to Shinjuku to meet my friend Tomomi, who is the staff girl for a band called Radio Caroline. As we were chatting over coffee, she mentioned that at eleven Radio Caroline were meeting to head out on tour, so I invited myself along... only as far as the tour bus though. I've known these guys for about a year now and was so glad to see their drummer Shinya:

Not only is Shinya a good-lookin' guy, but he's also a good guy. We chatted for 15, 20 minutes about my new company and his new band. And I sent them off on tour feeling totally refreshed by his support. Seriously one of the nicest guys I know.

Then it was off to Harajuku for Shopping! (and yes, that should be capitalized)

First up was Kiddy Land:

Toys, toys, and more toys!

But they've corrupted one of my favorite characters: Monokuro Boo. The whole point is that it's black and white, thus monokuro (monochrome). But look at this travesty! 8O

Pink! Blue! Yellow! Oh NOES!!!

In the end I saw a lot that I loved, but knowing I could never fit it in my luggage, I passed it up and headed to Laforet and the new Raika there.

I picked up Sadie's new single and the lynch. CD/DVD from December (The Buried) and lots of special goods. Ironically, I can probably sell the photosets for more than I paid for the single. ^^;; As I left the shop I realized I forgot to get the new OZ single. *facepalm* But I know I'll make at least one more Raika trip.

Then I walked over to Shibuya, with stops at Hysteric Glamor and Hellcat Punks on the way, browsed Tower Records, and got lunch. After relaxing for a while, I went off to a top secret meeting (more on this in about three weeks). It went very well. :} And it even ended in time for me to make the show at Shibuya BOXX.

Unfortunately I was pretty wiped so I sat through most of Dali, Masquerade and Aoi, while being mildly distracted by the band bois standing right next to me. (full lips, perfect white skin, long black hair and at least six facial piercings. If anyone wants to know what my type is, this is it.) I asked who they were and they said Lucy which is a band I've been kinda interested in, mostly because they look like Sugar and the bassist sometimes plays an upright.

But back to the show: I finally tuned-in when Juliadoll took the stage. This is a great heavy/melodic band and their shows are always fun. The vocalist has a flair for staging, it's just simple things like the position of a hand or line of his body but when added to well designed lighting (which they always seem to manage), it's very effective. On top of that they have gorgeous, gothic costumes (although I was a little disappointed by the lack of PVC this time around *pout*). But the best part of their show is undoubtedly when they split the crowd in half and send the two halves jumping and twirling into one another. It's cool done in small venues with 30 or so people, but at BOXX with about 300 people joining in it was incredible! I was too tired to partake, but great fun to watch.

After Juliadoll was the band I had come to see: -OZ-.
You know how most bands finish their set with one big stomping song designed to get the fans to jump around, headbang, mosh, repeat for ten minutes straight? Imagine that intensity for a full set. That is OZ.
When the curtain opened Zukki (d) was already at his kit and started in on a drum solo, about 30 seconds in guitarists Tama and Aki and bassist Nao come hurling out on too the stage, spinning and playing their instruments. A few seconds later Natsuki (v) appears. Now most Japanese guys are around 5'7" or so but Aki is over 6 foot and no string bean either. On top of the riser he dominates the room. Then he opens his maw and some of the most hellish roars I've ever heard come rushing out.

On top of all that these guys can write songs. Catchy melodies, complex rhythms, delicate little fidgets of the guitar, they have it all. And the whole crowd went WILD for them. I can't believe that only 15 months ago I saw them at AREA and they barely had a front row (I was in the front row and headbanged so hard I literally could not walk, I had to crawl to the side of the stage and I wasn't the only one.) Catch these guys if you can:

(Also check out the little article I did on them in the last issue of Purple SKY. They discuss their worst on-stage injuries: broken bones, black outs and blood loss.)

After that awesome-ness, I headed back to the hotel and capped off the night with getting an email from Sadie's manager telling me he was looking forward to seeing me at the show. :DD

Japan Day #2

2008-03-05T16:24:00.005-05:00

Four and a half hours is not enough sleep. I tried for more, but my body went, “Wut you sleepin’ for lazy, it’s after noon.” Even the fact that it was dark outside couldn’t convince it otherwise. -.-

Eventually I gave up, did some work and then out for breakfast.

Macadamia Nut ring, Sweet bean bread, and a latte. It’s been so long since I’ve had sweet beans. Nom Nom!!!

Next was Shinjuku and the cluster of Like an Edison (Raika), Club Indies, Closet Child (clothes) and Closet Child (CD).

I knew Raika would be packed on new CD day (especially with all that came out this week) but I was not expecting this:

So many people! And a lot of guys too. I guess it’s lynch. and Sadie having new releases on the same day.

Not in any mood to waiting that line, I headed over to ~~heaven~~Closet Child’s CD only shop.

The biggest vk CD shop I’ve ever been in and USED means pretty much everything is either cheap or rare. LUV!!! I got Sakurai Atsushi’s solo CD (1800 yen), Syndrome’s white best of album (1500 yen) and Blast’s Kurutta Kajitsu (500 yen). Bliss.

Next up: Marui One.

If I weighed 30 pounds less and had a lot of spare change I would wear Alica Auaa all the time. So much love.

(This pic is from the site here: http://www.alice-auaa.com/news/>

Then off to Ikebukuro and my favorite Japanese craft store. I got these lovely cards.

Then lunch, quick browse at Closet Child Ikebukuro and back to my hotel to relax and prepare for my interview with Anti-Feminism. After finding the Free Will office in Roppongi, I chatted with the staff for a while (very nice). Kenji was late, but the interview was awesome. Guys who have been on the scene for a while are so uncensored and have great perspective on what’s going on. Look forward to the interview once I translate it. :)

After that was over, I hauled ass to Elec’s show… and missed them. *sad puppy* But I did get to meet him in person and talk to his band who were very nice (and very tiny). I then hooked myself up with a huge bourbon on the rocks and a yummy Melon and Vanilla Cocktail Partner. (Why is it that the smallest live houses have the strongest drinks? Maybe it has to do with the amount of alcohol necessary to fully enjoy their acts. ;P )

But I enjoyed the tiny basement space and the last band of the evening wasn’t too bad. They were from Osaka and definitely had the Osaka gift for humor. Their rifts were thoroughly predictable, but easy to jump around/headbang to. But the best was when the vocalist walked out into the crowd and chased the girls who were hanging back a bit up to the front, then proceeded to light a cigarette and have a quick smoke in the now empty space while watching his band on stage. LOL. Balls: he’s got them.

When that was over I chatted a bit more and then headed back to my hotel, ate some combini chiken nuggets (only edible warm and slathered in BBQ sauce), and pretty much collapsed.

Japan day #1

2008-03-04T06:39:00.004-05:00

So my flight got in early: 4:30pm Japan time. Immigrations and customs went smoothly. I got my ticket to the train to Tokyo proper and was walking to the platform. Then I had a moment that went like this:
“Hmm… it’s kinda chilly. Good thing I have my co-OHSHIT!!!”

I’d forgotten my coat on the plane. -.- Stupid monkey. No Cookie.

But having already gone through immigration and being very tired, I decided to go back to my hotel and call tomorrow.

After walking through the sudden rain (that lasted only as long as I was out in it), I checked into my ~~closet~~hotel room and decided to go out and get some essentials.

JyaJyan:

Hot Tea, Sakura Mochi, Tuna fish Onigiri and Betsu Hana to Yume. 8D

Yes, I’m 24. Yes, I read shojo manga. So shoot me. :P

ALSO, I got this:

SADIE!!! I’m really looking forward to this. These guys put on a good show and Aki is pretty much what would happen if someone decided to create my idea of physical perfection. ;P~

They’re giving away Limited Goods too. I wonder what it will be.

Anyhow, I’ve been awake for nearly 24 hours, so I’m taking a shower, and curling up with some manga. Good Night!

Japan

2008-03-02T15:19:00.002-05:00

I'm heading off to Japan tomorrow, so here's an essay I wrote a while ago about living in Nagoya:

Hirakinaori and the Chocolate-covered Squid

My first look into a Village Vanguard store left me back-bent, wide-eyed and weak at the knees. My only conclusion was that a crazed, color-blind art student raided every dorm room on his campus, shoved the contents into an empty store and topped it off with Christmas tinsel and a giant Hershey bar. I was hooked. After months of regular visits the stacks of stuffed animals, fashion magazines and exotic piercings became a friendly sight. On a recent visit it even felt a little… boring. That’s when I came face to foil with a bag of chocolate-covered squid.
Living in Japan is a similar experience. When you first arrive and are shuttled off to the train station station, your bloodshot eyes are dazzled by the clamor of people and pictographs, your sense of direction overwhelmed by acres of underground shopping, and your chest a little tight with the lack of anything familiar. But after a while it all becomes familiar and half-forgotten. Then the chocolate-covered squid smacks you in the face.
Some of those moments are about as subtle as a Nagoya-jyo's hair - you know, those blonde bouffants that would make even John Water's eyes pop. Like when you walk into Tower Records and see the 'Tarako' single at the top of the charts. 'Tarako' the song, if you somehow managed to escape it, is the theme for the Kewpie brand most recently sung by two elementary school girls about the unsettling infant dolls that represent the Kewpie brand.
Some differences, however, are subtler, like the discovery of Untranslatables – words without easy equivalents. One of my favorites is hirakinaori meaning to turn around and fight back when you're down. Such a basic human feeling but none of Enlish's 600,000 words quite covers it. Then there’s the ubiquitious Japanese-English that twists our native tougue in ways we never imagined, like the phrase "my boom," meaning your current obsession, interest, hobby, etc. Eveyone has a my boom, but until I was asked what my my boom was, I didn’t have a word for it.
Actually, lingual deficiency is pretty much par for the course in Japan. Take grocery shopping. While sushi and tempura are old favorites, the produce section of my local Daiei leaves me swirly-eyed. I never knew mushrooms came in so many varieties! Over time I’ve collected their names: enrengi, kinoko, shiitake, but if asked to name them in English I’d be as tongue-tied as a Get Set student in Focus Point. Of course sometimes knowing the English doesn’t help. For example, I know gobou, which when sliced and deep-fried beats French fries anyday, is burdock root. I’m just not sure what burdock is. (I’m pretty sure it’s a plant.)
Of course all this talk of food brings us back to the chocolate-covered squid. I’m sorry to report that my sense of adventure wasn’t quite up to a trial tasting upon first encounter. But who knows? Maybe next week.

Alternative Press

2008-02-29T16:30:00.004-05:00

Since the mag has been on the stands for a while, I guess I can post this. It's my article from Alternative Press. Not my best work from a technical standpoint, but I packed a lot in the 500 words they gave me. What's more it only took me three days to write it.

Aika

2008-02-28T23:08:00.004-05:00

The other day, doing my dutiful duty of scouring visunavi for good new acts, I came across one called Aika (lovesong) that was a solo acts. Sighing at the further decline of the vk scene (why when I was a newbie there was none of this o-share hooey! And everyone was in bands like decent band boys *shakes cane*), I was about to pass it by but decided that I should at least listen to it before dismissing it out of hand.

So expecting limp, over-cooked and over-emotive ballads, I listened to the first sample track on the CD (also called Lovesong). And they didn't suck. In fact, they were quite... good!

Then I actually read the profile and realized that it was a solo project of the former Shichisan-Shiki vocalist, who was the best thing about that band. I might have to pick this up when I'm in Tokyo.

Unintentional Humor for TEH WIN!!!

2008-02-27T20:30:00.004-05:00

So on the Clash Against Commercialism myspace page, they have surprisingly well-done interviews, that are almost completely ruined by the poor translation job. But all was forgiven when I saw this particular gaffe.

Q: Any massages for fans coming to NY?
A: Everyone will be impressed.

ROFL! Hey if they're giving away impressive massages it might even be worth the $40 ticket price. >:}

Madareyla & as.milk

2008-02-24T10:52:00.003-05:00

Not really sure what I was in the mood to listen to this morning I put my library on random and discovered, rather to my surprise, that I was in the mood for Madareyla! I loved these guys in 2003 and 2004: Model-gorgeous Iori, Jun prior to his ~~God~~hide-complex, rage-fueled, incomprehensible vocalist Hayato. *sigh* Those were the days. *g*

I was about ready to murder Kisaki when I realized he had cannibalized Madareyla for Phantasmagoria. (I'm still not sure that it was worth it).

What I really love(d) about these guys is the raw-ness. Jun and Iori are a great guitar combo but with Phantasmagoria everything was so... orchestrated. In Madareyla they just let it all hang out. Besides which, Hayato had the hands down awesome-est hair!

Check out this old-skool, shoestring-budget PV. There's no way the spent more that $500 on this thing. I think my favorite part is the synchronized guitar rocking. LOL.

(Apparently the drummer and bassist have joined a screamo band called Ibis: http://www.ibis-web.com/)

In other news, I recently discovered that as.milk (who I had known about, but avoided due to the horrid name) were actually good! (In a somewhat generic nu-metal way, but still good.) Unfortunately they don't have a bassist (former Ghost Zero is their support) and now their lead guitarist is leaving. Hmm... Is that a break-up I smell? *pout*

Mao's a flirt

2008-02-23T19:55:00.006-05:00

Out of all of Sadie, you might think Mizuki is the biggest flirt... and you'd be right, but Mao's got a charming side as well. Check out this blog entry:

You know I've thought this for a while, but the way you all go crazy at shows and get all sweaty and disheveled, but then, when you wait for us after the show you look pretty like nothing happened, is mysterious. But I love that contrast.

Well either way, you're girls after all. *grin*

Good Night.

Man, that boy makes me blush.

Sell, sell, sell

2008-02-23T18:15:00.002-05:00

I'm selling a ton of stuff over on LJ. I have a lot of cool stuff like a hide plushie (which I like, but think someone else might like more) and old-school Gazette, Kagrra & Alice Nine stuff.

Check it out, if you're interested.

SID - Sentimental Macchiato

2008-02-22T18:13:00.005-05:00

Sometimes you just need to unwind. SID's not an artist I usually listen to (for reasons involving a bad mood and fans expecting me to join in their perky bouncing -.- ), but after a stressful week, this album hit all the right notes when I, at last, had time to unwind. The songs are soothing without being depressing and I like the combination of simple, pretty vocal melodies with slightly more complex instruments. I don't see this entering regular rotation for me (with the exception of the fragile to powerful first track), but nice album to relax to.

Rating: :)

heidi. - REM

2008-02-20T08:48:00.007-05:00

I've long thought heidi. were an amazing band for their ability to be energetic without being nausea-inducing *cough*SuG*cough* and sad without brutalizing your eardrums. But the the A-side on this single is some of the best work they've done. Yoshihiko's vocals soar, Kousuke's bass is just rough enough to let you feel it and Kiri really kills those skins. Nao's guitar work is for the most part rough, but shifts to sad and delicate on the bridge. But best of all it is unbelievably catchy. I dare you not to get this song caught in your head!

The B-side is not as strong, but still fun enough to make you want to jump around in your PJs. Go heidi!!!

Siva - The Wrong of Justice

2008-02-14T19:10:00.004-05:00

Siva's developed a bit of split personality in their two years of existence. On one hand you have the chunky, funky sound of their earliest releases: lots of energy, little finesse. On the other hand you have their complex and brooding recent releases: maturity to spare but little get up and go. If only they'd combine the two they'd have the most interesting sound on the indie scene!

Wrong of Justice gives it the old schoolboy try... and falls painfully short. Despite a great bridge, a tight rhythm section, neat turntable scratches, the main guitar riffs on fiction are repetitive and Kairi's voice can't carry the quieter sections. Concealment, though is gorgeous. With guitar work that jumps from nu-metal to hair metal and unsettling sound effects laced through out, it's like a roller coaster ride in the dark. You never know what's coming next. The back bottom is all aggression, sounding mostly like a Dir en grey album track with a worst singer and a better bassist. Although they do manage to get some interesting rhythmic breakdowns in there. Cell is such an amazing bassist!

There's one other problem: LENGTH. Every song on the single is 5 minutes or more. Instead of leaving us wanting more they repeat the same riffs until we tire of them. Cut most of these songs by one minute and you'd have a great single as it is... I can only say:

Rating: :/

On the plus side, the new PV for Brave for neat. Mostly because I just love those Alice Auaa costumes. I'm still torn on Cell's mask, though. On one hand, I think it's awesome on the other he's one of the prettiest bois on the scene and it seems like such a shame to cover that face.

Is he or isn't he?

2008-02-12T18:24:00.001-05:00

Hmm... so there's this new band called Toon Factory that's getting some attention from visunavi. Out of curiousity I checked out their profile and noticed that they have a guitarist named 雫 (Zero/Rei). Now the only vk boi I know named 雫 (outside of D'espairsRay's bassist) is the former Guillotine/Ghost bassist (who I have a weird interest in only because he is a bassist named Zero and Guillotine was also on the Hysteric Media Zone comp that DRay was on).

So here's my question: Is it the same person?

In favor:
Same name
Same Blood type
Same hair color
Obsessed with dogs
Ghost!Zero has played guitar in addition to bass
Same lip piercing

Against:
Different birthday (although the toon factory guy jokes about when his b-day is)

Hmm.... Here's a pic of Ghost. What do you think?

EDIT: Okay, I'm an idiot and was way too tired when I posted this. The toon Factory guy is not Zero 零　but SHIZUKU 雫 like that snoozer of a Kagrra album.

Poetry Tiem Nao!

2008-02-12T18:00:00.000-05:00

Violet visions in the night
Oranged-edged
Alien, artificial
Gnawing at my heart
Disturbing my deepest instinct

Sleepless dream
In a city where the stars don't shine

bad translations

2008-02-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

There are so many bad fan translations. I don't really mind awkwardness and minor mistakes, but when the translator can't even get the gist right, I wonder if they should just not do it. Here's an example:

The original Japanese:
二月六日（再）。
February 6, 2008 10:51 AM by XXXX
また雪だ！
流石にもう降らなくてもいいかなぁ…
んだれば…

Fan translation:
Nigatsu muika (again)
There’s still snow!
Indeed will any more fall…
Ndareba…

My translation:
February, 6th (again)
Snowing again!
Haven't we had enough...
Wells then...

Some of the translation differences are stylistic, but the second line is just completely wrong. On top of that she (or he, but I'm pretty sure she), didn't even translate the first or final lines. (The final line is an expression used only in a certain backwater area of Japan, so it's a bit tricky, but a google search will give you the useage and the standard Japanese 'translation.' By translating it as 'Wells then' instead of 'well then' you can maintain the 'hick' feel of the original.)

What do you think? Am I being a translation Nazi or should fans refrain from translating until they can get it right?

P.S. So as not to point a finger at any one person, I've removed these quotes from context. This kind of stuff happens all the time and this is just an example that happened to catch my eye.

Fantasy Band Camp!!!

2008-02-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

or something like that...

So with all this discussion of Daisuke not being right for the studs and all sorts of weeping about wasted talent, here's a chance to set it right.

What bands do YOU want to see?

The Rules:
1) You can only use members that are not in a band or you think are wasted in their current band.
2) You must produce complete bands, not just guitar-vocal match-ups or something like that.

My ideas:

1) The Vioreds
Put Daisuke at the front of the remaining members of Viored. I think the two guitarist of Viored are great together (Shulla anyone?), but never cared for the singer. I think Daisuke's hoarse vocals would add a great edge to the guitarists' sound and the bassist and drummer are decent so let them stay on.

2) Six Studs
Of course idea one leaves the studs without a vocalist, so why not pair Aie, Yukino and Hibiki up with one of the few Nagoya greats none of them have worked with (outside of side projects): KISUI. His current band is a bit of washed-up nothing-ness, but he's still got lots of character and he combines the fierceness of someone like Daisuke with better crooning and a decent falsetto. If that doesn't work, we could just drag Yuina (ex. Blast) out of hiding.

Skull Fuck Revolvers

2008-02-06T21:54:00.000-05:00

After seven years enjoying vk (and years before that being a Kaori Yuki fanfic addict), it takes a lot to surprise me. Skull Fuck Revolvers managed. I mean THEY HAVE MANDOLIN AND BAGPIPE PLAYERS!!!* These bois have acheived a new level of WTF-itude. All hail.

Essentially what they've done is mix goth camp a la Candy Spooky Theater with Celtic Punk. Again I say WTF. Unfortunately the music is not that great, but poking around their official site (called The Siouxsie and the Black Pearl - lots of English) is a hoot. Honestly between the names (vocalist - JACK O JOESTAR Jr.), the candy fetish and the superflulous (though pretty) violinist, they strike me more like an art school experiment than anything else, but it's nice to see something different. :DDD

*Apparently the guitarists play these instruments so you don't get them in the live clip. *pouts*

the studs - gaze

2008-02-05T23:52:00.000-05:00

You wanna know the best thing about the studs? (I'll give you a hint, it's not their name.)

It's that they keep improving. Although their first mini-album was a huge disappointment (and don't get me started on that limp noodle-ly thing they called a 'live'), each of their releases has gotten markedly better and gaze has at last reached the 'good' tipping point.

The first song is a typical deadman ballad -- with one small change: Daisuke. *grimaces* At this point it's well established that Daisuke is not as stong a vocalist as Mako (not even close) and his unimpressive voice weakens the excellent guitar and bass considerably. However, I can't lay all the blame for this problem on Daisuke's shoulders. Aie *knows* that Daisuke is not as strong a singer as Mako. If he wants the studs to succeed, he can't write songs that require a vocalist of Mako's calliber. He needs to play to the band's strength (his guitar and Yukino's bass).

"as it is" and "advanced insane" do a much better job of that. With the focus much more on the instruments, you can really appreciated Aie attention to detail and Yukino's melodic bass play. In addition "as it is" has a great la, la, la vocal chorus that hearkens back to old school British pub rock, while "advanced insane" lets Daisuke wail out the kind of hoarse vocals he's actually very good at. On top of that, at 2:00 it sounds like someone dropped in a completely different song. The contrast really focuses the attention on the great riff Aie plays for most of the rest.

If they keep improving, the album they're releasing in March might actually be a worthwhile buy.

Rating: :)

LM.C - John PV

2008-02-04T20:11:00.000-05:00

Once gangs of monsters, dancing and a perfect pop song were combined into one the most famous music videos ever made. That video was called Thriller. This, my friends, is not that video.

Did any one else have that little glow board that you could stick plastic pegs in and make pictures? Nice image.

Yikes! Forked tongue!

Whoa! Skeletor got a new millenium make-over. And what's with the Ev!1 pimp hat?

Oh no! Now Maya is wearing the Hat of Ev!1!! (and he looks like a scary teacher.)

Dance, Dance Revolution!!!

Come on, baby! Do the lo-co-motion!

At last! Some nice shots of Maya and Aiji performing. Moar plz!

Headless!Maya. Brought to you courtesy of Chumpa-chumps!

One of the coolest shots in the whole thing! It continues scrolling over and you get lots of Aijis and Mayas.

Is it just me or does Aiji look like he'd rather be elsewhere?

After this Skeletor starts using Maya's head as a soccer ball. X}

Take me up to the Neon Guitar in the sky!

Ev!1 hat returns!

And from Ev!1 hat comes Ev!1 Bunny!!!!! OH NOEZ!!!

I told you it's all the hats fault.

THE END

With the exuberant chaos and fresh visuals that have marked all of LM.C's videos to date (Sentimental Piggy Romance was a particular favorite), I was looking forward to Aiji and Maya's latest effort. But, while the video seems like a fun concept, it fell flat for me. The CG stuff was very been-there-done-that. And neither Maya or Aiji looked into it. The skeletons were just absolutely pointless. Up until now all LM.C's vids have either told a story or let the members showcase their considerable personality. This does neither and is weaker for it.

Rating: :/

What do you think?

Siva Update

2008-02-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

Apparently there was (understandably) a huge panic with the sudden annoucement that Siva were releasing a "best of" album. So Cell posted a blog saying that Siva were NOT breaking up. (He also instructed the fans to turn to grass anyone who said otherwise. >.> Have I mentioned recently how much that band amuses me?)

Also they have a new blog: http://004.holidayblog.jp/ if you want raw unadultered Siva-ness. Only 9 days till their next release. :D

Taichi Saotome

2008-02-04T00:04:00.000-05:00

IS PRETTY!!!

And I'm very interested in getting his photo collection.

Why?

1) I am a vk fangirl. I like bois in make-up.

2) I am a dancer. I like dance.

3) It looks like the photographer took a lot of shots of him getting ready and I'm as fascinated by the process of turning into a girl as I am by the result. Check out the video.

Scar. News & [02] review

2008-02-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

I read on the Scar. site that they're planning to go on hiatus after their February shows. :( They say that they need to step back and re-assess the direction of the band. Apparently they've been discussing this for most of last year. Hopefully they'll re-emerge stronger, but the vk scene has taught me not to hope for too much in that direction. However, it's as good a reason as any for some Scar. content. Send them some good vibes, people!

Track List: 1. phi, 2. realize, 3. U, 4. Shuhai 5. i am 6. Juliet 7. Koibana

Do my eye's deceive me? Is that seven full tracks, no-filler on a vk mini-album! A miracle!! But that is far from the best thing about Scar.'s mini-album, [02] released September of last year.

In their profile, Scar. promises, "technical twin guitar work synchronized with emotional vocals" and [02], despite the yawn-worthy name, delivers. The guitarists never settle into a single groove, crafting songs that go from one riff to another with disdain for those with a mere chorus-verse-bridge structure. Phi has at least four different styles of guitar including a brilliant solo that shoots up the scale when anyone else would have gone down. "I am," while not as complex, has a viral hook. With a name like Juliet, the sixth track might seems like a ballad, but it makes wise use of distortion and keeps the album from being too clean.

Of course, with Yu-ya's pretty voice, ballads are inevitable and tracks 2, 3 and 7 let Yu-ya show his pipes. Realize is bolstered by some flashy guitar work and cymbals that flesh it out, but U and Koibana are somewhat forgettable. And that perhaps is Scar.'s greatest weakness: they're good technically, but few of their melodies stay with you. Here's hoping they'll use their hiatus, to find the unique sound that could shoot them to the top of the vk scene.

Meanwhile, this mini-album is still available at CDJapan.

Rating: :)

Scar. 101: First show 11.7.2003. Based in Osaka. Members: Yu-ya (v), Junya (g), Masumi (g), Tsuyoshi (b), Daisuke (dr).

Nagoya bois are incestuous

2008-02-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

RANT TIEM NAO!

I swear about 10 people are responsible for all the good Nagoya kei bands, but since the bands are always breaking up and the members getting back together and forming new bands, it's like this giant WEB!

Just look at this picture with the band history of the members of kein (one of the best Nagoya bands ever -- WORSHIP THEM!). There are six bands (outside kein) that at least two of the members played in together!

Every Nagoya vk band from the 1999-2005ish period is like this. I'm currently trying to graphically depict the scene for this period and it's absurd! (Which, of course, is the whole reason to do it. I lurve me my absurdity.) I will let you know when I'm done. I know you're dying to find out about it. >:}

To give this post some point listen to the soothing sounds of kein. ;DD The song is called "Danro no Kajitsu" meaning Fireplace Fruit (o.O) and the album is Mourou no Jitsu which means Hazy Reality. I don't get it either, but incredible music.

VK Gods

2008-01-30T19:11:00.000-05:00

Watch the vid.

KIYOHARU, BABY!!

Lawls! Kiyoharu and Atsushi are trying to out diva each other. But Atsushi's smile is gorgeous. He seems so happy!
Watching this makes me an insy-bit sad that I was invited to this event (Buck-Tick Parade Festival 9/8/07) and had to F&%)*ing WORK! Oh well, I did see Kiyoharu open for B-T in Nagoya. He played Shonen. It was religious ecstasy. They played "Baby, I Want You." It was sex on a dance floor. >:}

Ruvie - Awakening Your's

2008-01-29T15:46:00.000-05:00

Ruvie are the big-budget ballet of the vk scene: sweeping, graceful and unapologetically lush, and Awakening Your's is as beautiful as anything they've ever produced. I don't usually go for sweet and sunshiny, but Temari 's warm voice and Yuu and Kazaki's layered and swirling guitars make the ballads "brilliant lover's" and "slow." a treat. The fragility Temari brings to "brilliant lover's" bridge and the final lines of "slow." is the icing on top. Akai Parasol, the second track, veers into too-treacely territory, but "Koushudai kara hanabata wo" (A Bouquet from the Gallows) and "My alice" are brilliant. The guitarists (Yuu and Kazuki) and bassist (Tsubame) play a game of hunter and prey with each other and the listener, overlapping erotic swirls, frail high-notes and ominous low-notes. This is just the kind of slightly twisted song that make me listen to vk.

My Rating: :}

Moar translations

2008-01-29T00:23:00.000-05:00

Gah! Ryo's lyrics hurt my head, but I've translated all the lyrics from "Devils in Bedside." Follow the link in the title.

My favorite lyrics were probably these. If you think about the fairytale and statue of the Little Mermaid, they make more sense.

Den lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid)

"I saved my love.
Although the sounds of the cicadas are high, I am already cold and heavy
I close my eyes to the sound coming from lips that don’t even realize they are open
A tear-filled voice and the aftereffects of words that continue emotionlessly

Your too frail smile is frighteningly beautiful
Why do you smile? The sun sets for the sake of illuminating the moon.

Stay like that forever smiling
Break your body against the everyday that seems about to disappear completely
Even if I draw a starry night, you, who should be illuminated, will be lost
How did the night sky get so dark?

You cries softly cease
When your surroundings are too wide, you can’t feel at ease
Suddenly losing words, all there are are memories
The sighs in the showcase pile thickly on one another
Like a cocoon they hide what’s in front of you

Drifting Floating on the withering waves, a wail blossoms
If only you could change places and be the one to forget

Stay like that forever smiling
Remembering those seemingly fragile days
Even if you dip your hand into a sea of stars
You will lose the paddle to row away
You can’t move

People who disappear into the starry night
People who float in a starry sea
Colors painted in the distant sky seem to hold you hand
That voice that calls you into the dark, searches for you,
Has once more opened the door of night’s memory"

Gullet Lyrics

2008-01-26T09:27:00.000-05:00

Here's a sample to whet your appetite. The rest can be found by following the link in the title.

Hakuri (To Peel)

Ah! He quietly suggests to the man in the mirror,
"In the bright sunlight, you change."
Ah! I suppose the trigger that's been pulled too far can not be returned,
The bullet that has already been shot will only fall
The man, speaking as if the dam has been destroyed,
Is completely lost in thinking, for the 14th or 15th time,
"I can be born again."

Ah! The suggestions to the man in the mirror quietly continue
"If you flap, you can fly to the sky."
Ah! The cicada-like girl has been in the earth too long.
"If you are going to fly off, shouldn't you do it now?."

Believing those words, he spread both arms wide and,
Although wingless, he jumped off.

Let's return to the time when the two of us were one.
Until the warm sun rises.
Let's go back to the days when we laughed together.
It's not that I don't like you.

It's not that, but

The man that softly floated down was very beautiful.
His breath had expired and my tears overflowed.

Let's return.
To the scene that showed the dream of the two of us
To that warm time.

Let's return.
Kissing the ground.
Without joy, wretched, he has even forgotten how to walk.

A long, long time has changed them both
Distorted, distorted struggling in this body

Daybreak comes
And the person in the mirror still murmurs softly

"You are no longer here."

9Goats Black Out - Devils in Bedside

2008-01-25T23:55:00.000-05:00

Devils in Bedside is concentrated essence of Ryo. If you are a Ryo fan you will love it. Layers of bittersweet vocal harmony, poetic lyrics, funky basslines and a veil of mourning covering it all. From the moment the ethreal first track 'sink' invites you to "a tomorrow that will never come," you are transported. For those who like their rock a little harder, 690min is a burst of agression with a layer of insanity lurking right below the surface, while 'raw' proves that Ryo is still the master of sighs and groans that shudder through the listener. Although moments of breath-taking beauty are scattered through-out, the strongest song might be 'float' where the bassist, Hati, and drummer are allowed to play around a bit, while Ryo repeats the same line to hypnotic effect. Overall this is a beautiful 'devils.'

Track List: 1. sink, 2. 690minute, 3. Yasou (Night visions) -nocturne-, 4. Den lille Havfrue, 5. raw, 6. float

Marilyn Manson

2008-01-25T10:49:00.000-05:00

So I went to see Marilyn Manson last night. I hadn't planned to but reading the paper yesterday morning I saw they were in town and almost before I knew it I had tickets. ^^;; At the age of twelve their (and Smashing Pumpkin's) videos were my first clue about my fascination for the freakish, so it seemed necessary to see them at least once.

Maybe it's just my long immersion in vk, but I found the show shocking...ly unshocking. Yes there was good lighting and a lightboard with "shocking" messages like hate the government. And Manson himself headbanged, made crazy faces and smeared his lipstick, but actually he seemed pretty happy to be on stage and spent a lot of his time on his knees on the little catwalk, basking in the fans. The most obscene part was probably the hour wait between the openers and the main act. (Although (m)obscene was awesome live.) They did play a ton of hits, including some older stuff that was probably in honor of Twiggy being back.

Speaking of Twiggy, what is it with me and freakish bassists with a penchant for cross-dressing!?! Why do I find them so distractingly hot?!?! Why is it so specfic?!?! Suffice it to say that I spent more of the show watching Twiggy than Manson and thought the $70 ticket price well worth it. -.-;;

9Goats Black Out

2008-01-24T17:54:00.000-05:00

Ok so everyone who cares probably already knows, but RYO IS BACK!!! This is the best news I've had since... hmm... I went to the Japan the first time. For those who don't know Ryo is pretty much God in Emily's Encyclopedia of J-rock.

However, their staff and decisions are pissing me off. I sent a very nice email to them in Japanese detailing what I wanted from the store, where I lived and asking if I could pay with a postal money order.

They replied... asking me for the same information I had sent them (!) and informing me that they would only accept bank transfers. Bank transfers cost $40 and that's not including the cost of shipping. So it would cost about $60 beyond the cost of the merchandise to buy anything. They also told me that I would not get 1st press despite sending the email the day their store opened, because it was an out of country order. NO. I'm so d/l-ing it when it comes out. I'll buy the original in a used cd shop at some point.

On the other hand hearing Ryo's voice again makes me tear up.

The first line in the Den lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid) sample is "the sun sinks for the sake of illuminating the moon." I do love that man's lyrics. <3

Siva

2008-01-24T16:34:00.000-05:00

So Siva is releasing a "best album." Although since they've only released 19 tracks (including their demo & not yet released single, not including intro songs), the 13 track "best of" is pretty much an "everything of" >.<

I have an ingrained fear of best of albums, especially gratutious ones. They too often equal break-up albums. Let's hope this is an Under Code money grab and not a prelude to kaisan.

In happier news, Kairi their 23 year old vocalist BLOGS LIKE A 14 YEAR OLD GIRL!!!

Just check out this ridiculosity. orz --;;

Here's a quick translation of the beginning of the first entry:

"We filmed a video for "FREE~ZI~NG"!! W

I've completely forgotten about it but since no one had blogged about it Kairi-san decided to post!! Aren't you proud of me?? ww"

Color, sizing and stupidity all orginal. -.-
I lurve these bois, BTW.

Oh yes, their 2/13 single will have a new video. I can't wait to see the new and improved Siva in action. :DDD

Restarting

2008-01-24T16:33:00.000-05:00

There's not enough decent j-rock coverage so I'm re-starting this blog.

My current plans:

News
Reviews
Translations
Live Reports

Hold on for the ride

6.1.2007 The Birthday/ELLEGARDEN

2007-09-07T09:37:00.000-04:00

Zepp Osaka
The Birthday and Ellegarden were a complete punk culture clash. Starting off the night The Birthday were the grizzled veterans, but don’t mistake that for boring. Songs like Nightline, Ballad of Impatience, and Shachi, got the audience bouncing and even crowd surfing a bit in the front. Leading them on, the young bassist bounced and bobbed, but eventually lost out to the presence of the other members. Guitarist Imai was wild on stage, whirling and headbanging and twisting. So great was his energy that his cloud of grey hair seemed a lie. But the most powerful presence on the stage was undoubtly vocalist and guitarist Chiba Yuusuke. The last time I had seen him was in club with a 400-person capacity and I wasn’t sure just how his personality would carry over 3,000-person venue like Zepp, but there was no problem. Even in the back his husky voice reverberated. His hair, shiny and groomed when he first took the stage, was lank and dull with sweat after a few passionate songs. But most impressive of all was a ballad in the middle. Pausing in the middle the guitar echoed ceaselessly through the hall as he repeated, “I don’t care, I don’t care.” Soft at first then louder and louder the painful intensity of his call giving lie to the very words he spoke. When at last he finished and blew back into the chorus the hall was silent. Luckily Stupid shortly after that provided the raucous remedy to any lingering discomfort. Finishing off the set with the bittersweet Hallelulah, The Birthday left their mark.
As soon as Ellegarden’s set started, it was clear that this band would be a different breed. Like the starting gun of a race, the first guitar chord set the audience off. Water sprayed from water bottles, crowd surfers covered the front half of the audience and, in the brightly lit hall, even the back rows had their fists in the air. The jubilant mayhem was without the doubts or world-weariness that colored everyone of The Birthday’s songs. The black-clad band members were without pretension and seemed just another part of the crowd.
Although most of the songs were pop-punk standard, the end of the set held some surprises, as the entire audience joined in singing a sweet ballad about not giving up on their dreams. Overall it was a set filled with the simple exhilaration of youth. While I can appreciate the sentiment, The Birthday was much more to my taste.

5.31.07 Kiyoharu

2007-09-07T09:35:00.000-04:00

E.L.L. 30th Anniversary
Nagoya Electric Lady Land
So I got the show an hour late, but when a show is four hours, four encores, and 30 songs long, the first hour is just warm-up.
Upon opening ELL’s door, I entered darkness relieved only by a candle on stage and light of Kiyoharu’s cigarette. With the smoke of that cigarette still wreathing his face, Kiyoharu unleashed his deep raspy voice for a ballad. With black pants, gloves and tie and a white shirt covering his thin frame and his face hidden in shadows he looked no different than he had in his Kuroyume days. Huddled on the riser or arms flung out he conveyed that youthful despair that is at the heart of so much visual kei music. Next to the power of his voice the two acoustic guitars seemed almost irrelevant.
But not content to stay within one theme, he soon took up a silver-topped cane and brandishing that moved into more energetic songs. Gradually unbuttoning his shirt he was soon teasing the audience with glimpses of his tongue and his tattoos alike, and splaying his body invitingly over the speakers. Even a towel catching fire hardly broke his pace.
Ending of the main set with Sweet Flower, Kiyoharu was only halfway through. For the first encore he came out in a military jacket and hat and punctuated the songs with joking commentary between puffs of cigarettes. Then he picked up an acoustic guitar and to my delight played Emily, whose simple melody translated wonderfully into a live setting.
The second encore was a free wheeling affair as Kiyoharu came out in a loose tan silk shirt that offered glimpses of tattooed skin and a crimson hat that he perched on an angle. Fly Away and Butterfly were the perfect accompaniment to the hippie-ish outfit.
Finally as midnight passed and the fans missed their last trains, Kiyoharu came out in a simple white shirt paisley tie and black hat. With one more song and a lot more monologue he finished up the four hours of on stage domination.
After he finished, I went up to the live house office and awaited the only thing that could surpass seeing Kiyoharu live… meeting Kiyoharu.
Hidden by a screen Kiyoharu was relaxing in a white tank top and jeans, his slight frame seeming even smaller on a large sofa. I was only able to talk to him for about fifteen minutes but I was surprised at how easy he was to talk to. While his charisma is overwhelming on stage, off-stage he seemed surprisingly normal and if he had a tendency to check his hair in the mirror every few mintues and if he still was wearing a little bit of eyeliner, well, that’s what happens when one’s always the center of attention, right?
Otherwise he was quite modest. Surprised at having fans overseas and deflecting my comments about how respected he was by other vocalists by saying it was only because he had been around so long. The highlight though: Him singing the chorus of Emily when he learned my name. :)

5.27.2007 Balzac

2007-09-07T09:33:00.000-04:00

15 Years of Unholy Darkness
Nagoya Club Quattro
For details of this show check out the Summer Issue of purple SKY, but let me just say I enjoyed it far more than I expected too. Not only did the music contain the variety and detail I love about Japanese music, the unity in the hall was amazing. I have never seen fans covered so completely in their band’s gear. Nor have I ever seen a show where the staff, the member’s girlfriends, the guests, everyone was just jumping in and moshing along. Awesome!
Before the show, I had a chance to sit down and have a long chat with Hirosuke and a shorter one with the rest of the band. And by chat I mean my first Japanese band interview ever. O.O Luckily Hirosuke was very polite, very willing to talk and made efforts to understand me when my questions got a little unclear. In contrast the other members did me a favor in not taking the interview too seriously. Hilarity ensued. For more details, well, you know where to look.

Awesomely Awful

2007-05-30T23:47:00.000-04:00

I have a guilty secret: I love cheesy indie videos. It’s a bit of a fetish in fact and the worse the costumes, the more ridiculous the fake blood the happier I am. And no one, I mean no one, does cheesy music videos like broke vk bands. In order to share my love with the world, here is a brief introduction to the major types of indie videos and some of the best examples.

Home Videos
Necessities: Staffer with a camera, band
Outfits: Street clothes/costumes/whatever
Setting: Backstage, On the street, In the studio
Cinematography: See “Staffer with a camera” -.-
The ultimate in low budget entertainment! Just hand a staffer or even the members a camera and let them loose to record shocking scenes like band members in the convenience store (gasp!), sleeping in random places (aww~) and generally acting like their IQ is lower than their weight (yikes!).
Prime example: Lolita 23q – Usagi ni Geru Hanazono
Leave it to the leaders of oshare to produce this gem in fangirl amusement.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XicaewyoX_g

Bondage Ballad
Necessities: Handcuffs, chains, straight jackets, blindfold
Outfits: White pajamas and straight jackets
Setting: Pseudo-psych ward is ideal but anyplace indoors and uncomfortable looking works
Cinematography: As long as you can see the handcuffs and writhing, anything goes
One of the mainstays of old school vk. Nothing says angst like insanity.
Prime Example: Buck-Tick – Victims of Love
Okay so it’s not technically an indie video, but it was made in the eighties, that’s almost the same thing. Besides the song’s bass line and eighties synth are great. Also kudos for turning gorgeous women into bobbleheads.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LQd-Ap_zl-E

Eco Ballad
Necessities: Sunscreen
Outfits: Anything goes, but ballads often merit a more toned down approach
Setting: The great outdoors
Cinematography: Wide shots and dramatic panning
What’s that you say? With skin that pale there’s no way indie bois see sunlight? Not true, my friend. The great outdoors provide the perfect opportunity to mourn a broken heart or cruel reality on a large scale. While majestic cliffs, deserted beaches at sunrise and mysterious green forests are the preferred locales, if all else (or maybe just the budget) fails, there’s always the local park.
Prime Example:
Phobia – [VI]x2 Section
Never before has a band looked so completely out of place in nature, but since Kisui is singing about love and kindness while fondling internal organs I don’t think consistency was really the objective. >_< Anyhow, practically the only footage of one of vk’s greatest band: what’s not to love?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R_yDJ6v4WAc
Je Reviens – Garden of Eden
Asagi sings into a vine. No, seriously.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ulU1_Cnsvus

B-Movie
Necessities: Fake blood (lots), weapons (knives, nooses etc), broken things (toys, windows, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s smashed)
Costumes: PVC, medical gauze, big puffy hairdos, fake blood
Setting: Anywhere that’s dark and rundown looking
Cinematography: Swirls, zooms, manic cuts anything that makes it harder to tell wtf is going on
This is the classic form of vk indie videos and my personal favorite.
Prime Examples: La’Mule – Curse
Whether hanging themselves or dragging corpses through the forest, La’Mule did it in style… with lots of fake blood and medical gauze and creepy Japanese dolls. A classic video and song from the band that single-handedly brought medical fetish to the fore of the vk scene. “Oh My Curse!”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=othSPlEOfug
Vidoll- Itsuwari no Jouzai
Why oh why did Vidoll stop making videos like this. These videos were the whole reason for the band as far as I'm concerned.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6cKUwgAyMsQ

CG Nightmares
Necessities: One computer
Costumes: Irrelevant
Setting: Irrelevant
Cinematography: CG so bad that it would cause ILM to self-destruct
So you didn’t have money for a set, or maybe the camera work was a little rough, or perhaps your video’s just lacking a little something. Never Fear! CG will make it ~all~ better. *whimper*
Prime Examples: Syndrome – Alubino
So when Kisaki and the gang went to the local park to shoot their video it didn’t snow like the weatherman said it would. But of course with a little help from a magic computer Kami-sama made sure there were lots of fluffy white flakes falling in this video. The double exposure of the first half of the video? An accident, surely. Right?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SMowNIU97k0
Missalina Rei – Kizashi yuru tsubomi to yurikago
Oh no! The band is going to be swallowed by the electric blue typhoon! For a video this bad, they might deserve it.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J0ERO0yrMYI

This place is as good as any
Necessities: Band, Instruments
Costumes: Umm…
Setting: Anyplace
Cinematography: Pointless zooms, cuts and jitters (because they make it ~exciting~)
Hands down the most common vk video. They band sets up wherever the hell they feel like and shoot the video. Shooting, as ever, courtesy of untrained staffers.
Prime Example: Gazette - Dorodarake no Seishu
Nothing beats your parents' basement.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6g4lQwEeOHk

Some other Awesomely Awful indie vids:
Shiver – Hypnosis
Jakura – Sonzai
Vasalla – Passage
Missalina Rei – everything they ever did
S – Girisu (birisu)
Syndrome – Deep Sky
Vidoll -

5.13.2007: D'espairsRay Spiral Staircase #15 Final, Shibuya AX

2007-05-20T04:18:00.001-04:00

Walking through AX’s cavernous hall, searching for a good spot, I glanced at the stage… and caught my breath. The whole stage was framed in glowing purple scaffolding that spiraled eerily into the depths of the sizable stage. It was clear from that moment that D’espairsRay was determined to make this show something their fans would not soon forget.
As the set began, the lights pulsed through the spiral in such a beautiful display I almost forgot to head-bang. Wisely, they let the crowd warm-up with a few songs before breaking into Mirror with a pop of fireworks that got a big Ah! before the fans started jumping enthusiastically. The band, smiling at their surprise’s success, played with vigor.
Perhaps it was the beautiful lighting, the spacious, modern venue or maybe just the adequate air conditioning, but the atmosphere was brighter than usual. That’s not to say that there was any lack of passion. The image of Hizumi with arms spread and head thrown back, bare chest exposed in the middle of the lighted spiral was devastating. By the time Hollow came towards the end of the main set, I could feel reality start to unravel. Zero was head-banging in circles, Karyu was humping speakers and Tsukasa’s every strike was weighted. The crowd was chanting “hey, hey, hey, hey” again and again, faster and faster. My lungs begged for air. Finally it exploded into Reddish and another bouncing, headbanging, chanting frenzy. Kaleidoscope capped off the main set and while it’s my least favorite song off of Mirror, the softly striking lighting and fall of snow were sorrowfully lovely.
Then it was time for the encores. Starting with Born they seemed ready to live up to Hizumi’s warning that the paper covering the stage might catch on fire. When the second encore piled Murder Freaks on top of Fascism, I thought there was no more to be done. What more could they play?
Well I had forgotten about a little song called Tatoeba Kimi ga Shindara. Fortunately the band had not. When the unmistakable opening chords drifted out the crowd cheered and rallied for one final push. Or so we thought. But without pause they rolled into, Animal Mania!!! As they finished with a thrash inducing drum roll, I wasn’t sure if it was sweat dripping down my neck, or bits of my bursting brain.
I happened to catch Die, Shinya and Toshiya (yes that Die, Shinya and Toshiya) watching from the gallery. I hope they were taking notes. This is how you send your fans home happy!
P.S. For those of you watching from home, there were video cameras… lots of video cameras. I think I smell a DVD.

5.12.2007: Tsubasa ga hoshi.

2007-05-17T09:18:00.000-04:00

I went to karaoke today. As I walked through the lobby I heard Pink Spider coming out of an open door. I smiled.

5.6.2007: Osaka

2007-05-17T09:15:00.000-04:00

After spending Cinco de mayo in distinct-lack-of-margaritaville (i.e. an airplane), I arrived in Osaka. I adored Osaka when I did a short home stay three years ago, so I was looking forward to seeing it again, jet lag or no jet lag.
I started off with visiting the Shocker main store.
I was surprised by how small the space was, but it was full of cool things. In addition to the clothes, toys and CDs there were tons of presents from bands like Rancid, Good Charlotte, Misfits, Merry, Dir en grey, MUCC and, strangely enough, Glay. O.o
I totally lucked out by getting a grab bag that included stickers, coin purses and even a tour T-shirt for 500 yen (about $4.50). ゲッツ！
I then set off to re-explore the Shinsaibashi/American Mura area. I revisited old friends like Pure Sound (used vk cds) and worshipped at the alter of Chopsticks tattoo. Maybe one day I’ll have a real job and be able to afford their work. >.<
I was struck by how much more street that Osaka vibe was. A lot more punk fashion and things you’d never see in Nagoya, like a graffiti covered sign. I totally want to try living here for a few months.

5.01.2007: Haunted Hawaii

2007-05-17T09:12:00.000-04:00

Happy May Day!

4.23.2007* Hiroshima Sightseeing

2007-05-17T09:06:00.000-04:00

The day after that mind-blowing show was gorgeous and I was determined to get in some sightseeing before I headed home. My friends and I were so excited we could barely keep from laughing as we headed through the city. Even the specter of the Atomic dome seemed just another adornment to the scenery.

But then we went to the Atomic Memorial Museum. At first, I was a little self-conscious going with my Japanese friends. But as we went though and saw the people burnt to cinders, the deformed bodies, the city turned to dust in an instant; all thoughts of country were lost. It was a shared human tragedy and our group huddled close together and observed in silence.

4.23.07 Swinging Rollers: e.l.l. fits all

2007-05-07T20:58:00.000-04:00

After a show like D’espairsRay and a day spent sighting seeing in Hiroshima. I was almost too exhausted for this, my third show in a row. But luckily nothing perks me up like music, and by the end of the show, I was back in the groove.
Milky Sweet
The first act was fronted by the a guy who looked like skinny(-er) version of Welcome to the Jungle Axel Rose, in a feather boa. The sound, however, was swirling guitars and funky beats that evoked smoky images of T. Rex. The music was ho-hum, but I enjoyed watching the vocalist strut, swagger and shake his feather boa in a Velvet Goldmine worthy display.
Over/Under
The second act Over/Under were the odd men out on the bill, but that didn’t slow them down. In fact I suspect there’s little that could suppress this wild duo who came out dancing to start their set.
Although there were only two members they filled the club with hard-driving rock, sounding like the good half of an 80s metal band. The guitarist went from AC/DC style stops to tapping (yes, tapping!) to rollicking licks while singing in a powerful growl. The drummer, wearing nothing but shorts, pounded with an animalistic fevor that I thought had died with the 80s. Even my tired body started grooving along. Thank God for Rock and Roll!
The Easy Walkers
The last band of the night was a five piece that oozed sleazy sex appeal circa Swinging London. The music started off as glam as the look, but as the set continued the band warm up and were soon pumping out heavier rock with a bluesy soul. The vocalist, whose rhinestone belt ensured we didn’t miss any swivel of his hips, strutted and jumped with an attitude that combined with his long dark hair and sinewy frame, evoked Iggy Pop. While the one guitar provided swirling chords through out the set, the other guitarist went from barely there to wailing away about half way through the set. Every body in the crowd was moving to the groovy rhythm. The verdict: It might take these guys a while to warm up, but once they do, oh baby!

4.12.07 Spiral Staircase #15: Hiroshima Namiki Junction

2007-05-07T20:56:00.000-04:00

“It’s going to be hot,” my friend predicted. She was talking about the temperature inside the venue, but it could have been the show. For two hours the capacity crowd (250) inside the battered, but broad venue was treated to a sweaty, soul-shattering scream of a show that reminded me why I love concerts.
Jumping headbanging and above all sweating, we joined in a crazed fellowship that extended beyond the audience to encompass the band. Hizumi, shirtless from the third song in, was all over the front of the stage, hi-fiving the front rows, hanging on a wire to get further out and looking like he was about to get sucked in to the swirling crowd. Even the normally modest Zero stripped down to a tank top, leaped off the central riser, played with his head resting on Karyu’s shoulder and sweated off layers of make-up. Tsukasa, meanwhile, rattled his cymbals tongue sticking out and posed for the howls of the frantic fans. And then there was Karyu. Overwhelmed he stumbled across the stage, hands clenched in his sweaty hair and mouth opening in a silent scream. Reaching Zero’s side he began to bang his hips into the speaker, in the grip of madness. The crowd screamed its agreement.
Even the ballads benefited, with Hizumi’s bare chest and slightly ragged vocals adding a raw honesty to Screen. At the end of the main set, Squall truly seemed a storm, but it was nothing compared to the chanting of the crowd. Coming out for the first encore, the members hadn’t changed their clothes. We couldn’t get up the energy to change, Hizumi explained. I knew how they felt.
By the time Murder Freaks ended the night, I was in that feverish zone where fainting seems imminent but if you go, you’ll go with a smile. The final frenzy of headbanging wrung out the last drops of sweat in our bodies and, at last, numb, we stumbled back to our hotel.
Welcome, my friends to Mania.

4.21.07 gemmik, Holiday Nagoya

2007-05-07T20:55:00.000-04:00

So I get off work at 8:15, gemmik starts playing at 8:30. The race is on!
The winner… gemmik by a hair! >.<
Fortunately, I got there at the start of their first song, still in my suit, I dropped my purse on the floor and raced into the front row. Within seconds I was flying over the front railing and full body headbanging. Ahh, stress relief.
Luckily for my just-worked-ten-hours body, gemmik’s show was, as ever, as much a visual feast as headbanging orgy. I was able to enjoy the tense pleasure of Kuon (v) curled up and rocking on his stairs or dangling from his noose. Or even better was Kizami, shaking, twitching and grimacing as he ground out gothic doom from his black axe. In the shadowy back of the stage, Korosuke’s ever-increasing piercings glinted. It was like watching an old school horror movie with a slightly updated soundtrack. If I needed a break from all the gothic gloom (which honestly, I didn’t) there was Masa (b), patting fans on the head and looking adorable.
The set was long with a good balance between drama and disorder. The only sour note was struck by Kizami who messed up on a stiff tells…, their signature song (wince). But they quickly moved beyond it and he apologized quite pitifully after the show.
I think these guys are going to continue to be my personal favorite little indie boys. <3

4.18.07 Spiral Staircase #15: Nagoya Club Quattro

2007-05-07T20:54:00.000-04:00

Having taken the day off for the show, me and my slightly damaged, unmade-up face went to Tower Records for some browsing. The fact that Tower Records was just under the live house and there was a chance that the members might be there didn’t occur to me until I was on the elevator. Of course, when I stepped off the elevator I noticed a fashionably dressed man in huge sunglasses that after a second I recognized as Zero. 0.0 Dokyun. Dokidokidokidokidoki. <- my heart rate
K-k-konich-ch-chiwa <- my suave greeting
*nod* <- his loquacious response
RED <- color of my face
RUN AWAY! <- my reaction
Mission Life: failed. -.-
After that stunning failure, I was approached the show feeling well.., slightly embarrassed. Fortunately in the tense, waiting silence, the embarrassment faded into anticipation. Then the lights went off, the crowd surged forward and D’espairsRay took the stage again.
Unlike the previous night’s converted black box, Quattro was a sleek live house built for the purpose. The sound was clear and well-balanced, the lighting was beautiful, the stage was wide and high enough for the members to be visible to everyone and the walls were brick and wood. It was like a nice bar. Perhaps that was the problem.
Although fun and energetic, the show never quite reached sweaty, crazed critical mass. For example, Hizumi for whom shirtless is pretty much standard, kept his (ass-ugly) pleather and fake fur jacket on for most of the show. Zero, perhaps fearing for the nice wooden floors, only spit out about half a bottle of water onto his fans. On top of that, despite fevered calls from fangirls (that continued well after the crew started packing up), there was only one encore.
There were some advantages, though. Like Screen. I distinctly remember reading a live report from about five years back that described D’espairsRay as “lyrics-less.” Well Hizumi has found his lyrics and the clear sound and soft white and purple lighting created a mournful gothic beauty that had Karyu hiding his behind his bangs while, eyes closed Zero lift his face to the ceiling. The clear sound also helped with Squall whose bass, guitar and drums lines truly seemed the pounding rhythm of a storm. It was a moving end to the main set and shows yet again, how much D’espairsRay has grown.
When the show ended, I was sweaty and happy, which for most shows in great. For D’espairsRay, I want wrung out and exhilarated. Well, there’s still Hiroshima.

4.16.07 Spiral Staircase #15: Hamamatsu Force

2007-05-07T20:52:00.000-04:00

For me D’espairsRay are the ultimate live band: the unfaltering rhythm and passion of their songs able to send me flying, jumping and dancing away from the ordinary. But for a moment at the beginning of this show, I thought I was wrong. As ‘Desert’ blared though the speakers (six inches to my right), the audience reacted with the woodenness of actors not quite sure of their lines. But gradually it came back. Lost Scene got a slightly better reaction and when the familiar pound of Born struck, the 200 people crammed into narrow Force reacted unhesitantly. From there the temperature just continued to rise. Six songs in, PIG, ferocious and irresistible live, turned the front rows in a crazed mass in thrall to the music and the members.
The members gave as good as they got. Hizumi, looking punk-tastic in his tank top, reached out for the fans. Karyu played with such intensity that there was no doubt why every ounce of fat has been burned from his long frame. When he looked up at the audience it was oftern with mouth gaping and tongue out beneath his feathery blonde mop. While not aggressive as Karyu, Zero headbanged and bounced his way through the set, occasionally stopping to show his mysterious smile or perhaps lick his full lips while watching underaged fans scramble for the pick he spit into the audience. Tsukasa’s sticks meanwhile were in constant motion, twirling or raised in brief salute between providing the rhythm that drove this mad machine.
After an hour that seemed like an instant, Kaleidoscope cooled us down a bit, before soft white lights shot out to illuminate Hizumi, alone in the middle of the stage. Before the ghostly opening chords wafted out we all knew Screen was next and it was beautiful. Hizumi’s voice just keeps improving.
Following that up was Squall, which came to life live. Watching Tsukasa pound out complicated drums roll at the end of the chorus I could only wonder at how far their song writing has come.
That three-song break was long enough that my body had started to stiffen up, but I soon got back into the rhythm for the remaining songs (including live favorites Reddish and Fuyuu Shita Risou). Following one high-energy encore, the chants continued, shifting to screams when the band came out and Hizumi announced Fascism. The last five minutes of the set were pure insanity, as the whole audience got down on their knees only to leap up and thrash around our sweaty, battered bodies one last time.
As I stumbled out into the rain, already drenched with sweat and water from Zero’s mouth, I got a worried look from a mother who had accompanied her young daughter to the show. It wasn’t until I slipped into the bathroom to change that I realized why. In addition to the usually running eye-liner and disheveled hair, Zero’s water bottle had hit the bridge of my nose and left a half inch long, bloody cut. Rawk.

4.15.07 ART POP ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS MEGA-ROMANTIC-N: E.L.L.

2007-05-07T20:50:00.000-04:00

The staff at ELL is starting to know my face. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. -.-Anyway… about the show:
Shinkou Soukyou Rakudan NoGoD
Growing up all Aki (g) ever wanted was to be a member of Poison. Now he lives out his hair metal dreams as a member of NoGoD. Axe held in the air, wailing chords: I nearly fell off the balcony laughing at the pure cheesy awesome-ness of it all. Hair metal lives! You, Aki are my new hero.
The other guitarist, Kyrie, had so electrified his guitar that he might as well have been playing a game boy. The result was ear piercing, and shockingly catchy. Add in a vocalist with a mad clown attitude and you have a band that can turn a hall into an arena. See these guys if you have a chance.
Sex-Android
I thought that medical fetish vk had bled its last when La Mule started wearing suits. Looking at these guys’ doctor garb, I guess I was wrong. As gimmicky as their name, the vocalist had the audience doing karate punches while he twirled around swords and nunchucks. The sound was galloping metal that went in one ear and out the other, trampling a few brain cells on the way. The bassist was talented, but his Bozo the clown wig was unforgivable. The second to last song had rockabilly feel that was fun but, overall, save your money for circus tickets.
Jully
Jully’s swirling guitars and spiraling angst, not to mention their bare feet inevitably reminded me of Mucc, minus the meaty bass. The vocalist had a vibrant voice and the drums were a primitive pound that I enjoyed. Unfortunately they ruined the atmosphere, by spending much of the set wishing the pretty boy bassist Happy Birthday. He actually started crying when presented with the cake. He retaliated by smearing icing on the other members. It was cute, but I wished they had focused more on the music.
Scar.
With their hardcore black looks and driving opening song, Scar. filled the hall with tension. The lead guitarist looked like he had just tied rags over his street clothes but his hook-laden play was surprising catchy. The second guitar looked like a recovering Lolita, but his lines were a rhythmic counterpoint to the lead and drove the audience’s antics. The main show, however, was the vocalist. With his delicate features, long black hair and skin-tight jeans, he looked like he had just stepped out of an Ai Yazawa manga. His voice was equally attractive, perhaps problematically so. On one hand it was sweet and melodic. On the other, since when did sweet and melodic go with hardcore and driving. I was almost wishing for some Kyo style vomiting death screams. Then again, he was really pretty.
Shichisan-Shiki
Seeing these guys for the second time in a week, I was even more impressed. Not only were the vocals as beautiful as I remembered but the guitar solos were dramatic and the bands cute set choreography put a smile on my face. The vocalist showed even more of his athletic prowess with high kicks to his head during the middle of a bright closing song. I was happy to join in on the calls for an encore and even happier when they responded with a lovely ballad.

4.9.07 Like an Edison presents　BASE L-SGS@3.30C.2.25-: e.l.l. fits all

2007-05-07T20:47:00.000-04:00

After a few hours of sleep it was off for another show, this time at E.L.L.’s little sister, e.l.l. fit’s all. Fit’s all is a 250-person venue with all the works. So fabulous was the lighting that during the first set, I barely paid attention to the band. Add in an excellent sound system and you have one hot little sister.
CELLT
First up on tonight’s all vk menu was CELLT who failed to leave much of an impression. They did a neat trick in having the fans take out their cell phones and hold them up like lighters, but it would have been neater if they didn’t have to tell the fans to do it. In the end: not bad, not good, just there.
Shichisan-Shiki
The next band, Shichisan-shiki, were quite good, mostly due to incredible vocalist, Aika. His voice, sweet and strong, rose note-perfect over the melodic guitar. Caught unawares me and the other fans in the back stared in shock. While the Aika’s ability meant that Shichisan-shiki’s strength was their ballads, the guitarist wailed his way through enough interesting solos that I was almost able to forgive his blonde banana curls. Finishing off, Aika turned a perfect backflip. As soon as they left the stage the crowd was abuzz with talk of the vocalist. I suspect we’ll be hearing more from these guys.
Sadie
Vk shows are little like marriages in that it’s taboo for the fans to see their favorite acts before the curtain rises. Unfortunately, today’s curtain was a makeshift black sheet, that ‘accidently’ slipped during set up to reveal… SADIE?!? It seemed the like heavy guns were making an early appearance today! The sudden rush of fans to the front showed that I wasn’t the only one surprised.
One by one the members took the stage, as their devoted followers kept up a rhythmic chant. Waving drumsticks, curling lips, showing devil horns, the members looked absolutely certain of their ability to own the show. When Mao made his appearance, the screams took on a fevered quality and the throbbing rhythm and stomping guitar descended with a force the seemed to shake the house. Mao’s voice threaded sweetly through the cacophony before dissolving into harsh screams. The crowd meanwhile shrunk a foot as every head bent to headbanging. The guitarists seemed to love being rock stars, showing off for the fans and one another while unleashing viscerally simple nu-metal riffs, interspersed with more complex verses and bridges. Bassist Aki meanwhile, headbanged like a madman, sending his white and black braids flying. Mao, although undoubtedly influenced by Kyo’s angsty style, surprised with some poppy melodies and the occasional smile taking the edge off the angry wails. The hall could barely contain the angst, hope and life they poured into their set.
Guy’s Family
There are few bands in vk that could have followed that set, but Guys Family is one of them. Every time I see them I am impressed by their combination of breastbone thumping bass, intricate guitar work and polished stage show. From the time they toasted with glasses of red wine until they walked off the stage, they were a whirl of energy. Knight combined his fabulous vibrato with energetic hand movements and high kicks. The guitarists moved from one side of the stage to the other, playing their bright Latin flavored chords back-to-back, front-to-front and just about any other way they could. The bassist mostly stayed in place, but bounced and played with such force that he was sweaty and disheveled ten minutes in. I dare you to find the person that can remain still during their set. I sure couldn’t!
MaveRick
Following their set about half the audience left the hall, leaving local favorites, MaveRick with a skeleton crew. It’s a shame that more people didn’t stay because they missed one of the rising hopes of the heavier side of vk. With hook-laden guitar and a vocalist that can go from monstrous wailing to sweet falsetto with no trouble, these guys are going places. They just need that extra punch, whether charisma or a few more unforgettable riffs, that will imbed their name into the fickle vk fandom.

4.8.07 30th Anniversary Event, Electric Lady Land

2007-05-07T20:45:00.000-04:00

Yoko Loco Band
I grew up listening to my dad’s collection of classic rock: Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, Cream etc. So today’s line-up of unpretentious rock bands went down smooth like Southern Comfort. The first was fronted by a woman, Yoko, who was no longer young or beautiful but sang and danced with a down-to-earth joy that had the hall grooving along. Her band, gathered from other bands, looked happy to be jamming together, exchanging smiles and rifts with equal energy. The joy was infectious and even those of us in the back of the live house were tapping our toes and swinging our hips.
Flower Companies
Flower Companies were a little more intense than the feel good first act. Most of that intensity came from the vocalist who sang with such conviction that his face was soon bright red. Unfortunately the passion made the set more difficult to enjoy. He did have a good sense of rhythm, though, dancing and fluttering his hands gracefully throughout the set. The sound was rock with a folksy twang, but it and the other members were overwhelmed by the vocalist’s stage show.
Radio Caroline
Radio Caroline is a band formed by three experienced rockers who happened to be drinking buddies. The result was a visceral show that came straight from their blues-and-booze-laced souls. The riffs were raucously simple, the bass chugged along and the drummer, Shinya, kicked up a ruckus in the background. Vocals were traded off between the raspy guitarist Patch and crooning drummer Shinya. On stage the threesome in back suits oozed rock star cool. Patch (g,v) in his bowler leaned out over the bouncing crowd, while Ueno treated his bass like a lover, cradling it in his long arms. Sex, booze and rock-n-roll.
The Pee’s
The Pee’s were a talented group, but after Radio Caroline their softer rock seemed a little sleepy. Their drummer is a member of the pillows, and The Pee’s had a similarly fuzzed over sound. I probably would have enjoyed it more, sitting down than I could with high heels pinching my feet.
Afterparty
But today the show was only the beginning. The owner of Electric Lady Land once told me that, while he likes music, he likes musicians more. Today’s bands were all his friends and so the after party was as big an event as the show.
Now those of you picturing posh restaurants and crowds of gorgeous women, think again. The 30 or so attendees (mostly male) gathered in the tatami covered basement room of a slightly greasy izakaya (Japanese pub) and nibbled at more than slightly greasy food.
And I do mean nibbled. Watching Ueno eat nothing but a bite of rice (stolen from Shinya’s bowl), a couple bites of vegetables and some mochi, it was no mystery how he keeps his skinny figure. The alcohol, however, was consumed with enthusiasm.
The result: dropped trousers, a discussion of sexual kinks, a heated game of rock, paper, scissors and at least one person sleeping it off in the corner. Ah, the rock and roll lifestyle.

4.1.07 Tokyo Sightseeing, Holiday Shijuku

2007-05-07T20:42:00.000-04:00

Tokyo Sightseeing
Some writers from America were in Tokyo and it was up to me to show them a good time the j-rock way. Since it was a sunny Sunday we started off in Harajuku, which was crawling, as always, with cosplayers and foreigners. Early Dir costumes were still the most popular thing going, although Gazette had made some inroads. So thick was the crowd that it was almost impossible to move at times.
Needing a break, we headed into Meiji Shrine. Honestly, one of the reasons that I love Harajuku so much is the fact that you can go from urban insanity to a forest where the loudest sounds are the crunch of gravel. If you’re ever tired of Tokyo, just walk a little ways into Yoyogi Park and it will all melt away.
After our wander through the woods, we checked out the street scene in Shibuya Park (whose location right next to a music school makes it a favorite of street musicians). The highlight, though, was the greasers rocking out to Pat Benetar.
Hoping on a train we headed to Shinjuku and the sleazy heart of Tokyo: Kabuki-cho. Kabuki-cho is block after block of winding alleys full of host and hostess clubs, love hotels, bars, pachinko parlors and anything else that would make members of the Christian Coalition go red in the face. Going in without a map or a good idea of where you’re going is life threatening.

Holiday Shinjuku
Holiday Shinjuku is located a couple blocks into the labyrinth, surrounded, appropriately, by host clubs. Climb down twisted stairs and you’re there. The crowd this night was sparse, with reason. Realice was barely worth standing up for. Doubt was better and put on an energetic show, but considering that the member all have significant vk experience I was hoping for a little more.
Juliadoll
Juliadoll, though, was great. The costumes were gothic extravagances with straps and buckles in more places than can possibly be comfortable. Their music managed to not only have stomp, but melody and even hooks! Vocalist Hal had no problem shifting from ballads to screams. On top of that they had really fun crowd participation like parting the fans in half and then having them hop into the center and smash into one another. The writers from America, experiencing vk for the first time, had huge smiles on their faces. And the photographer, a former hair metal fan, looked almost ready to join in. You gotta love vk. <3

3.26.2007 Raise a Veil: Holiday Nagoya

2007-05-07T20:39:00.000-04:00

After my friend’s first show, I was back to my beloved Holiday Nagoya for a first show of a very different sort. I’m not really sure about the member history of ClearVeil, but Sequence was giving them one hell of a birthday party. I , however, was mostly there to see gemmik so like all the one-band-only vk fans, I took a seat with the other gemmik fans in the lobby, popping in to watch a song or two from the other sets. It was the right decision.
Garret
While the vocalist of Garret had a deep gothy voice and a lithe frame that bodes well for his future success, he was trying a touch too hard vocally and probably would have been more comfortable half an octave up. The band had some hooks as well, and, if I hadn’t been completely broke, I probably would have bought their cd. (In part due to the vocalists’, “Help us make it back home,” sales pitch.) The other bands, however, left zero impression.
gemmik
In the middle of the event, we were approached by a girl who asked if such-and-such-san were here and then informed us that gemmik were next. Like any good saizen group, we took that as our cue to get up and file pass the other fans to the front of the stage. Actually I was surprised there were fans to file pass. When I first saw gemmik back in November they could barely fill the front row. Now they had two and a half dedicated rows.
Their show was a step up too. A professional make-up artist had done their make up and the difference showed in the details like braids and delicate designs on their face. Guitarist Kizami (my personal favorite) looked and acted like he had been attacked by a rabid beast and was currently in the last stages of rabies. <3 Masa (b) was cute and feminine as always waving to the fans and patting heads. Korosuke (d) looked as elegant as a person with nearly 20 piercings can. Vocalist Kuon seemed even more tortured than ever collapsing over the stairs he uses and squalling out his lyrics. As always their finest song was the quietly ominious “a still tells” which was the perfect closer, for an unusually brief set.
Clear Veil
The last band of the evening was Clear Veil. They were celebrating their first show in style, making a big entrance swathed in black veils. As they threw them off they revealed an impressive look with hair colors that ranged from white to bright green and details frothy creations of costumes. Someone doled out for those. The band themselves were super-energized and their music was heavy vk with lots of hair metal guitar. The set was fun, but a lot of that was simply the well-planned show (streamers and everything). Expected shelf life: 2 years.
After the show, all the gemmik bois but Korosuke were out at the merch table, make-up off and gossiping with the fans, who had no problem ruffling their hair, poking their dubious muscles, and generally giving them a hard time. They meanwhile, were shoving each other, showing off their new toys and occasionally selling some goods. Hardcore goth bois indeed.

3.35.07 Shisakae-Machi Club Rock n Roll

2007-05-07T20:37:00.000-04:00

One of my friends here in Nagoya is a drummer and tonight was his band’s first show. Since I was off, there was no way I was missing it.
Club Rock and Roll was buried in a back alley but with a decent map and my friend standing outside to greet me, I had no trouble finding the place. And what a place it was. Able to hold 150 people tops, a third of the area was taken up by the low bar. The big bar meant a big selection, though, and I was able to sip on a Jack and Coke as I surveyed the area. Most of the walls were covered with band stickers and graffiti layered so deep the bottom level would probably interest archelogists. Black lights made the psychedelic neon paintings that covered one wall and the ceiling glow. The stage was narrow but deep so that looking at the drummer felt like looking down a tunnel. I loved it!
The bands were all mellow rock, but none were bad. I was especially impressed by the lead guitarist of a band called OZ (not to be confused with the vk band of the same name). Unfortunately their lead singer wouldn’t shut up long enough for me to enjoy it. The final band of the night, whose name escapes me, also had a unique sound and a cute and talented female drummer/vocalist. Their lead vocalist’s voice, however, was rather too thin for my taste. If they could get a good front man (or woman) they could be big(ish).
As for my friend’s band, everlasting thought, they sounded good and their lead singer, guitarist had a nice voice and a nicer lime green guitar. Unfortunately the other guitarist and the bassist were still in studio mode and barely looked up from their instruments. You’re not going to make any fans that way, boys! Maybe six months down the line I’ll check up on them again. :)

3.18.07 DJ Event: Toyohashi Club Birth

2007-05-07T20:36:00.000-04:00

I live in Nagoya. It’s a bit like living in Detroit. Everyone’s heard of it, but no one really wants to go there (unless there’s a car convention). Take what I wrote about Nagoya, multiply it by three and subtract the car convention and you’ve got Toyahashi. So why was I, sick as a dog, in Toyohashi at eleven o’clock on a Sunday?
I was looking for rock stars of course, and, following two drunk punks and the sounds of “Born to be Wild,” I soon found them in a dingy basement room called Club Birth. Almost as soon as my eyes had adjusted, to the gloom, my inebriated host/event organizer Abe emerged from the clouds of cigarette smoke to give me a big hug and sweep me off the to the VIP section – a slightly raised area with a couple saggy old couches. Currently said couches were inhabited by guys in leather jackets and tight jeans who looked more worn that the couches.
The music was equally rough with Mutoh (of swing-punk band Katte ni Shiyagare) playing big band swing with a spicy Latin flair. Ueno (former Thee Michelle Gun Elephant) played classic garage rock and punk (including Born to be Wild). While the attendees bounced, danced and took pictures of the guest DJs, the people in the VIP section chatted. Personally I longed to join the dance floor, but still feeling nauseous, I just sipped at my rum and coke. (Hey, when a guy introduced simply as “boss,” asks you what you’re drinking you can’t say tea.)
The highlight of the night though was the people: the club owner with his publishing buddies in Tokyo, the hair stylist who spent much of the night petting my hair, a man addressed only as “Sempai” doing palm readings.
Then there were the rock stars. Mutoh insisted that the world was a dark place. He wanted to pick fights with the foreigners in Roppongi. He taught me the essential Japanese: geisha, Fuji-yama, katte ni shiyagare. He called me princess. He flipped me off. He told me that all Americans should be Dallas Cowboys fans. Even his fans seemed to have a hard time understanding him.
Ueno, tall and painfully skinny with a knit cap pulled down to his nose, was an entirely different breed. An excellent host, he fixed me a drink from the shochu he and his friends were sharing. Whenever he used a difficult Japanese word he would make sure I understood it before continuing as he told be about his beloved Tokyo. Tokyo’s music scene he declared the most varied in the world and as for Tokyo itself, he pointed out that it’s a city split down the middle. From Sugamo to Shinagawa you have the old city, while the other half, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku is the land of the new. The drink seemed to banish the last of my food poisoning and, relaxed, I enjoyed the company.
Alas around 5:30 the after-after-party ended and we stumbled out into the sunrise. While some of the group headed off for their hotel rooms (and more drinking), I was escorted to the station just in time for the first train to Nagoya. I need to visit Toyohashi more often.

3.11.07 BIRTHDAY OF RADIO CLASH: Nagoya Club Quattro

2007-05-07T20:31:00.000-04:00

Bullet 777
Rockabilly is alive and well, at least in this corner of the globe. With their jelly rolls, leather jackets and, of course, upright bass, Bullet 777 looked more 1950s American rock than anyone in America. They sounded it too, getting the equally decked out crowd bopping along. It was clear, though, that they were not the main act. Despite the vocalist, guitarist hoping off the stage to play lying down in the main floor, or posing on the upright bass, the crowd never got really riled up.
Passion Doll
Passion Doll was drawing its influence from an entirely different era. While the members’ outfits ranged from suits to ripped spandex, the color choices were uniformly blinding and impression sleazy. They looked like the New York Dolls meets the Swinging 60s and sounded like T. Rex without the necessary cheek. Most of the audience seemed to find their set the perfect chance to go get a drink and relax. I can’t say I disagreed.
Shigeki Hamabe
The act that stood out most from this night was definitely Shigeki Hamabe. Hamabe himself is a singer/guitarist, but he was joined this night by a keyboardist and a wood bass. The sound was close to bluegrass with a heavy helping of singer/songwriter lyricism. Not something I’d ever expected to hear in Japan. Hamabe was youthful and attractive with a gentle voice. A little bit of his rockabilly guitarist past slipped out when, on the last song, he stood up and started playing his guitar behind his head.
Speaking to Hamabe after his set, I commented on intricacy of the piano melodies that ran through every song and asked him if he played. With a friendly smile, he freely said that, despite being a solo act, he was supported by a great band who helped him with arrangement. He also expounded on his love of American rockabilly, jazz and blues and pointed me eagerly to his blog, a dreamy collage of daily life and romantic musings that seemed the perfect companion to his songs. If I’m ever in the need for a bit of nostalgia, I know where to turn.
The Peppermint Jam
Following that lovely ramble, was a rockabilly outfit with an overweight lead singer who sounded like he was in the last stages of Alzheimers and dressed like a 1970s Vegas kingpin. The music fit the image with a sleazy energy that did little for me, but got the crowd going.
The Neatbeats
The headliners were a five piece called The Neatbeats. Impeccably attired in grey pinstripe suits, they jived and swiveled their hips through a raw set that made Japan’s love of rockabilly easy to understand. The guitarists formed the core of the be-bopping sound while the bassist, the first of the night to play a normal bass, swiveled around the stage in a way that would have made Elvis proud. The drummer meanwhile, started off in a three-piece suit, but lost it bit by bit throughout the set. By the “Blue Suede Shoes” encore, he had lost tie, vest and jacket and his sweaty shirt was hanging on for dear life while, head thrown back, he pounded his kit. As he shouted at the end of the set, “RocknRoll!”

2.25.2007 Trip in Hardcore (the backside) Ikeshita Upset

2007-05-07T20:28:00.000-04:00

Having done my reseach, I knew that The Birthday included Thee Michelle Gun Elephant members. I also knew that Midnight Bankrobbers (playing tonight) included members of The Birthday. But somehow I didn’t take that final leap and figure out that Midnight Bankrobbers included Yuusuke Chiba, the founder and leader of TMGE. *splat*
As such I was without expectations watching their set… and was completely blown away. In a black suit with sunglasses and long black bangs hiding his face, Chiba looked far too young for a voice that echoed with experience, emotion and endless cigarettes. With an attitude that was more blues club than rock show, he and Imai poured out such a varied, soulful set I was close to crying. None of the other bands, even the fabulously hard-driving Barebones could match up.
After the show, I was thrilled to be able to talk with the members for a while. Imai, grey-haired but with a youthful face that belied his 41 years, was a man of few words. When I mentioned their set’s blues club atmosphere he nodded and said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, “All rock is founded in the blues.” In an era when it seems like all rock is founded on New Order and The Cure, it was a refreshing statement.
Chiba, was an entirely different breed. Sports talk, amusing anecdotes, love of Tokyo, all poured from him. He easily admitted that he had to have lyric sheets on stage because he couldn’t remember them. He adamantly declared the Tokyo rock scene the best in the world. With exuberant gestures, he related tales of their manager driving their van through America with a beer in one hand and the steering wheel in the other. When I was foolish enough to ask what he had done in college, he responded with an exaggerated guitar strum that made it clear class had not been on the agenda. Unruly, affable and dangerously charismatic.

2.18.07 Operation Meteor 16: Holiday Nagoya

2007-05-07T20:22:00.000-04:00

Holiday Nagoya is one of my personal favorite live houses in Nagoya. Small but new, it’s intimate without the shitty stage or, worse, shitty toilets that often plague small places. Its acts are almost exclusively vk indie bands and they usually shove a ton of them onto one roster.
Knowing I would never make it through the eight bands in tonight’s line-up, I show up late which means I missed Danger Gang. The members, though, dolled up in vk gear re-cut for female proportions, spent a lot of time talking with their fans. I’d almost forgotten that kind of band-fan relationship existed. >.<
Akihabara Shonen-Dan Denno Romeo
heavy undistinguished rock + the most unwieldy name in vk. If I were a newbie, I might have enjoyed them but, sigh, maybe another time bois.
Duralmin
The name Duralmin sounds more like a vitamin supplement than a band, but luckily they weren’t as awful as all that. In striped suits that matched their rockabilly-influenced sound, they swung and danced in perfect unison. At one point they even had the vocalist up front while the other members lined-up on the other side of the stage in true Motown style. They even won me over. Keep on bobbin’, boys!
Gift
Gift’s guitarist must be the skinniest boy in vk. And with his belly-baring costume and tongue-baring persona, he’s not trying to hide it. Even when he was playing arena rock guitar solos I had a hard time tearing my eyes away from his tiny thighs. This boy could make an anorexic weep. As for the music, it was more focused on getting the audience to bounce around then musicality, like 80% of vk. I’m less surprised by Gift’s impending breakup and more surprised that they lasted this long. How much ya wanna bet guitar boy has a new band up and running by the end of the year?
Madara
I’ve been vaguely interested in Madara for years, so I was glad to finally see them. The vocalist had great stage presence; pointing to his blonde bouffant and said he had worn it especially for Nagoya. (Nagoya, like New Jersey, is known for it’s big blonde hair.) His voice was also quite good. I suspect he’ll have little trouble finding a new home when Madara breaks up. The rest of the band ground out typically loud vk stomp.
gechena
I’ll never forget the first time I saw gechena. I was sick and dragging, when I walked into Bottom Line and into the middle of their set. But so incredible was the ballad they were playing that I forgot all about my cold and stared in disbelief. They might have been the opening act, but on my way home the only CD I stopped to buy was theirs. This night, the four-piece in their white costumes put on a good show, especially the feral feline bassist. But it was the ominous Eden that was the real showstopper. Sora’s sorrowful voice silenced the hall. Catch this band if at all possible!
Nega
Nega’s main claim to fame is that they have the former bassist of Aliene Marriage, and said bassist was not about to let anyone forget it. Instead of being in the back of the stage next to the drummer he was up front where the second guitarist usually stands. If only his playing had matched his hotstuff attitude. In the end all he did was unbalance a band of mostly inexperienced players. I could see the members doing well in other bands, but here they just seemed mismatched. On top of that the vocalist’s attempts to shock (oh, look I kissed a BOY!) seemed trite and overdone. Even Kisaki has commented publically that they could use some work. Uh-oh boys.
hurts
I always get hurts confused with the Nagoya band MaveRick. They’re both heavy four-pieces with a gothic look and synth-adorned sound. I enjoy both bands when I see them and would recommend both to fans of vk’s heavier side, but it’s never good when a fan can’t tell your bands apart. Tonight hurts looks quite pretty in their gothic finery, though. With the guitarist rocking an awesome do that reminded me of Child Prey Kaoru: The Goth Side. He was also rocking some pretty cool licks that got my fist up in the air. I might not go to a show just to see these guys, but I’ll be happy to see them again.