Tokyo's Coolest Sound

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.

But that was not all! Normally you might get to give the girls a handshake, but this time they offered hugs!.. or actually what they called "guard hugs", as they came back on stage not wearing their usual light dresses but something that looked like a ski suit, with a fake vinyl muscle-man thing from a party shop, and on top of that, matching white 3M suits that can probably protect against radioactivity, making them look like security guards or maybe more like exterminators..? No one could resist laughing. :)

Each person who bought the CD got their 5-second guard hug, one of the girls on each side, and then got to shake hands and say thanks before heading to the counter for a chance to get a gift. I got a badge of Rena's face. Some people ran to buy a 2nd or 3rd CD to get more. See what this looked like in this article at Oops! Music.

"Def & Def" contains the new original song "D & D" as well as a remix, plus 4 covers of anime theme songs (two of which were previously released on compilation"Kirakira Majocco Cluv".

Remaining release events: May 21 @ HMV Kichijoji from 18:30, May 22 @ Aeon Lake Town Kaze 1F from 14:00, May 22 @ Ishimaru Soft Honten 8F (Akihabara) from 18:00, May 23 Animate Yokohama from 13:00. There's also a special event on May 23 @ Shibuya Tower Records Stage One B1F @ 18:00.