Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Last Tuesday after a rough day at work, I headed to Shindaita Fever (Shindaita is the station next to Shimokitazawa), a venue I had yet never been to. There was being held Rogue Wave, the first edition of a series of live shows organized by Daniel Robson (British Underground) and Keith Cahoon (Hotwire Japan). While rock isn't on top of my everyday playlist, it was exactly what I needed to cheer me up on that day. The event's program was of 4 girl-led bands.

I arrived shortly after GO!GO!7188 had started playing. I had heard of the band before, some people I know (especially abroad) being big fans, but this was the first time I really got to listen to their music. I was really surprised that while probably the biggest name on the bill they were placed right at the beginning..! Well that's the right way to start a party!

Time-traveling back to the not-too-distant past again, I went to a great event organized by Mr. Henachoko at a venue called Bar Coredo in Nogizaka, featuring the leading lights of the Tokyo indie pop scene, Little Lounge Little Twinkle, the Caraway, Humming Parlour and Lilacs in Bloom.

It was my first time at Bar Coredo, and it was an interesting place: describing itself as a hideaway bar plus theater, it's divided between a room with a U-shaped bar and a small performance area with chairs, almost like a lecture hall.

Perhaps unfortunately for Mr. Henachoko, the event, called Fabulous Soundscape, was on April 10, the tail end of the Tokyo hanami season, and, as most Japanese do in those spring days, I used cherry-blossom viewing as an excuse to consume abundant amounts of alcohol with friends, so that by the time I arrived at the Bar Coredo there was already plenty of wine and beer coursing through my blood vessels. In my happy state, I greeted Mr. Henachoko, who I was meeting for the first time, like an old best friend reunited after decades, shaking his hand energetically.

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Last Sunday I went to Japanino Night, an event held at Nifty's Tokyo Culture Culture café in Odaiba, promoting build-your-own 8-bit computer Japanino , the latest from popular magazine Otona no kagaku. The small electronic board, despite looking simple, can be connected to a computer through USB and programmed to do anything from musical instruments to controlling robots.

The seated event first had some talk about the computer's origin, and its predecessor Arduino from Italy. One of its inventors was there as part of the audience. Tech girl named Julie Watai showed the small synthesizer she made with Japanino, hiding it inside a toy cash register and decorating it with small toys bought in Akihabara.

Vanilla Beans have a new mini-album titled "Def & Def" out this week. They're doing in-store live shows through the weekend to promote it, and I went to see the first one at HMV Shibuya on Wednesday (release day).

Vanilla Beans are always full of surprises! This time after performing a short set of three songs ("Nicola", "D & D" and "U♥Me"), people who had bought the CD were told to line up. They had a draw where people could win prizes such as personal goods (Rena's umbrella or Lisa's eco-bag), marshmallows decorated by Rena, or small photo badges. Meanwhile, staff distributed the first edition of their free "super monthly" magazine.

Aira Mitsuki keeps taking techno-pop to a higher level, always in a way that I like. Yesterday she performed a one-man show at Liquidroom in Ebisu, backed from start to finish by a live band! That's right, all songs of the hour-and-a-half show had live drums, bass and keyboards!

The stage had two levels, a top one where were the main 3-piece back band, and a lower level where Aira and her two cute dancers stood. The lower level had a 2nd drum set in the center for Aira, which she used for 5 songs. That's not all though, there was also a 3rd drum set stage right and keyboards stage left! These were for band Sawagi that joined in the middle of the show. Aira's upcoming mini-album "6 FORCE" will be featuring Sawagi on several songs, unit name "Aira Mitsuki sync. Sawagi", including one that became available digitally on the day of the show, titled "Level 5".

On Monday April 26 was Nagisa Yōko's recital at Shibuya Quattro, an event to celebrate the issue of her new 400-page photo book titled "NAGISA" . The show featured a full band, back dancers DeliciouSweets, and special guest Nomiya Maki! I had been wanting to see Yoko live for a long time, and Maki being guest this was the right time.

Friday April 30 was the overdue release party for HNC's album "Cult" released last December. HNC used to be known as Hazel Nuts Chocolate, the solo project of a girl called Yuppa. Other than changing the unit name to just initials, "Cult" also marked a big change in terms of lyrics, while she used to mostly sing in Japanese this time the whole album's lyrics are in English! Also to release this album she created a new label called White Lily Records, for which she has also been making stickers, badges, and also releasing limited edition cassette tapes sold at Jet Set (though they sell out almost instantly).

The release party was held at Nakameguro solfa, a small club which has a lounge area a slightly larger main floor. DJs included Kaji Hideki, Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico), Halfby, and Twee Grrrls Club of which Yuppa is a member, and many more young faces. The lounge area had some free snacks.

I really enjoyed Kaji Hideki's fun DJ set, which consisted mostly of guitar pop played from 7"'s. He also played April March and Yukari Fresh's "lost and found".