Here can be found live show reports, as seen in Tokyo or elsewhere in Japan by us and our contributors.
If you are looking for shows to go to, have a look at Tokyo Gig Guide, a great listings site users can contribute to.
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Kyarypamyupamyu in-store live at Tower Records Shinjuku
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
Tonight I dropped by Tower Records in Shinjuku for a free in-store live by Kyarypamyupamyu, in promotion for her first single "tsukematsukeru" out this week! It was my first time seeing her.
Tower Records' 7th floor was more packed than I've seen it at any event before, I believe. I estimate there must have been some 500 people in there! I saw some people waving from almost as far as the large information counter at the other end of the floor! Poor staff struggled to keep free a narrow corridor for people to be able to enter the store... and also to prevent people from taking photos.
Kyary was accompanied by two energetic male dancers wearing colorful short pants, tiny tops and wigs, making Kyary look almost normal in a pinkish red dress (photo she posted on Twitter). I stood about 10 meters from the stage and could barely see her face directly once in a while, but thanks to the large screen above the stage everyone could watch the cute choreography.
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 22:17 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
Tokyo Outbound vol.02, with CTO LAB., Open Reel Ensemble, etc.
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
Last Saturday was event "Tokyo Outbound vol.02" at Koenji High, presented by CTO LAB. and Otona no kagaku, a popular magazine that always comes with something that you can build yourself (even down to a theremin, small synthesizer SX-150, the Arudino computer, etc.). CTO LAB makes its music mainly using small instruments (therefore the name which stands for "Compact Techno Organization"), making this a perfect match.
This time featured aside from CTO LAB were Open Reel Ensemble, and many mini-live acts. Start time was a bit early and I got there late, unfortunately missing a mini-live by trauma techno-pop band Urbangarde.
The first I caught was Hitorimisaki who played two songs, the 2nd for which he was joined by singer Ruby. Next was band of three little moa, who played quiet electric tracks with female vocals. They gave away a 2-song demo CD-R. Next on stage was Tenorierie, who had also played at the previous event. She played a similar set of songs all sequenced on her Tenorion.
Hitorimisaki feat. Ruby, little moa, Tenorierie
Posted on January 11, 2012 at 23:36 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
Sally Soul Stew and The Fave Raves
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
The last show I went to in 2011, on December 28, was one organized by Sally Soul Stew, band of bassist Sally Kubota (Les 5-4-3-2-1, The Phantom Gift). I had been to their previous show last May, also held at Shinjuku Red Cloth.
The opening band was The Fave Raves, led by singer Aoyama Haruhiro. I realized only later that this band has been around for a long time, since around 1990, though they had a 9-year hiatus on the way. The band mostly covers U.S. soul classics, and the singer has a great voice and presence that's best experienced live. This time they the band was supported by soul chorus trio The Favelettes and also trumpet and saxophone, taking the audience right back to the 60's.
The Fave Raves
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 23:30 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
The Aprils "Magical Girls E.P." pre-release party
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
Last night (November 22) at Koenji High was the pre-release party for The Aprils' new CD, "Magical Girls" EP going on sale on January 11, 2012. The event was even free to go to by placing a reservation in advance on the band's website. Of course the place was packed! It was even an opportunity to buy the new CD in advance, which probably most of the audience did. The event also featured a lot of special guests and two mini-live shows, all people who collaborated to the release which consists of 4 new songs and 4 new remixes.
The Aprils got on stage right from the start, and opening with exciting brand new song "New Electric", the first track of the album, and then soon inviting the first guest, Marino, to sing her rap part on "Back To The Future Music" as she does on the album of the same name. A remix of that song is included on the new CD. She said she was wearing a dress she bought just earlier that day in Koenji (an area well known for its many secondhand clothing shops). Marino also sold tea from her brand, and she hinted being working on a new release and that she has shows being planned for February and March.
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 22:37 | Trackbacks (1) | Comments (2) | Tweet |
Dorian "studio vacation" release party, w/ Luvraw & BTB, (((sssurrounddd)))
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
We've been enjoying some cool autumn weather in Tokyo lately, but last Friday was a hot summer night at Shibuya WWW where was held the release party for Dorian's "studio vacation". It was my first time at WWW, a live space that opened last year, uniquely reusing a room from a movie theater with it's high ceiling and the leveled floor where used to be the seats. The event also featured (((sssurrounddd))) and Luvraw & BTB.
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 23:33 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
Vanilla Beans & Negicco release day in-store event
Text by Patrick for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
This week was the release of Vanilla Beans' 2nd full-length original album "Vanilla Beans II"! They are now touring several record stores around the Kantō area in a promotion rush, but it all started on release day Wednesday July 20 at Tower Records in Shibuya. A large audience of maybe some 300 or more people filled the live space located downstairs.
The stage was shared with Niigata idol trio Negicco that was also seeing a release on the same day, mini-album "Get It On" also on label T-Palette Records.
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 00:00 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
Yellow Magic Orchestra U.S. shows, with Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter, Towa Tei
Text, photos and videos by Nicholas D. Kent (Japanese Electronic Music) for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
Two reports of Yellow Magic Orchestra shows held in California last month (June 26 at Hollywood Bowl, L.A., with Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter and Towa Tei, and June 27 in San Francisco with Prefuse 73) have arrived from correspondent Nicholas D. Kent who was lucky enough to go to both. Read on for all details!
"BIG IN JAPAN"
Yellow Magic Orchestra, Cibo Matto, Buffalo Daughter, Towa Tei
June 26, 2011 at Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles
Yellow Magic Orchestra
I thought the name "Big In Japan" has a hint of irony to it. I'm not sure what other parts in the world use the term "big in Japan" but it's often used euphemistically about a performer who is thought of as no longer or not being that successful locally but apparently gained some attention playing in Japan. To differing amounts I'd say all these acts became better known in Japan because they were known in the U.S. There is no question YMO became famous in Japan and still are. They began as a sort of conceptual side project but turned into a successful band. In 1979 their albums began to be released in the U.S. and internationally, an extremely rare occurrence for a Japanese band at the time. Cibo Matto are a core duo of two Japanese women who in 1994 started a band in New York City. They were signed to a major US label in 1995, so essentially other than being born in Japan are an American band. Buffalo Daughter began in 1993 as an indie act in Japan and in 1996 were signed to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label in the U.S. boosting their recognition in both countries. Towa Tei had a major hit as a member of Deee-Lite in New York. He was able to use his NY club reputation to cement a solo career in Japan as both solo artist and DJ. He's collaborated with all YMO members as well as Cibo Matto's Miho over the years.
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 20:13 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (2) | Tweet |
Maezono Naoki Group in-store at Tower Records Shinjuku
Text and photo by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
On Monday July 11 was held an in-store event at Tower Records Shinjuku with Maezono Naoki Group in promotion of 2nd album "tooku e." (translates to "To far away") released in May on CD and vinyl.
As the name says, the band features singer Maezono Naoki, and also Konishi Yasuharu who is the pianist. Konishi-san also takes the role of arranger, as all of the repertory so far consists of covers. Until last year this was a 3-piece band, together with Hatachi Mitsutaka on wood bass, but this new album also features trumpeter Orita Yūsuke (member of jazz band TRI4TH) and drummer Ariizumi Hajime.
The stage at Tower Records is really quite small, yet they managed to fit a real piano (upright), drums and all musicians on there. The show started with only 4 of them, without Konishi, as they opened with "nora neko" from the album. Then Maezono announced that was all for the 4-piece and called Konishi who came to sit at the piano.
Posted on July 13, 2011 at 22:37 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
CTO LAB. Presents Tokyo Outbound #01, with (M)otocompo, Shampoo
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
On Monday June 27 was an event organized by CTO LAB. at Koenji High, a good venue for which I've heard many praises for its good sound and tall stage.
I got there just on time, catching a mini-live by Hitorimisaki who played instrumental electronic music with good beats. He was followed by Tenorierie, a girl who stood in a yellow raincoat (it was a rainy day after all) singing electro-pop songs accompanied only by her Tenorion, adding live parts and solos. She played 3 songs including "yowamushi no hikoshi" that can be heard at MySpace. For a song she added percussions by using scissors to pop small balloons kept in a transparent box by her side.
Hitorimisaki, Tenorierie
Posted on July 4, 2011 at 00:18 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (7) | Tweet |
Saori@destiny "Domestic domain" release event
Text and photo by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound
This week was the release of Saori@destiny's new mini-album "Domestic domain", and she is doing a series of mini live shows at Shosen Book Tower, a book and entertainment store in Akihabara.
I went to the event on the 3rd day, Thursday June 16, held up on the 9th floor which has a small event space that must have capacity for about 50 people. Today some 30 fans turned up, not too bad for a rainy day.
Saori performed on the tiny stage, wearing a mixed patterns black and white top with glittery silver short pants, and a headband with feathers like on her latest artist photo. Her hair had changed though, it was a much lighter brown.
Posted on June 17, 2011 at 00:12 | Trackbacks (0) | Comments (0) | Tweet |
Continue reading in the June 2011 gig report archive.
Next entry: "Vanilla Beans & Negicco press conference" (June 3, 2011 at 23:58)
