Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
OverTheDogs / Tokyo Karankoron (東京カランコロン) / Mitsu (蜜) - Shimokitazawa Basement Bar (06/21/11)
This was my first live at Basement Bar...
Kinda... terrible, no? Basement Bar is such a prolific Shimokita livehouse and yet this was the first time I had been there... Terrible.
Anyway, Basement Bar is next to Shimokita Three.. They're run by the same owners... It's one of those usual Shimokita live houses but I think it's a little bigger than Shelter but of course, smaller than Que. The stage seems quite high, compared with Que.. Kinda like Shelter's...
Anyway, tickets don't seem to have numbers in Basement Bar, so it's first come first served basis. Which is good... and bad, I suppose!
Anyway! Of course, I went to this show because of OverTheDogs, my Tsubaki-love replacement band. Hmmm...
Tokyo Karankoron (東京カランコロン)
Actually I had been wanting to check their songs out. By chance they were playing with OverTheDogs so that was cool! ^_^
An eccentric band that plays very quirky songs.
Actually, I think their vocalist, guitarist and drummer seem normal enough but their bassist is whacked and their female keyboardist is cute but weird.
Their songs translates into very quirky tunes but which utilizes a dual, female/male vocals very well.. The keyboardist also brings in other instruments like triangles, xylaphones, etc, that adds to the eccentricity of the songs.
They're not the experimental indie type, but more of like those indie female vocalist kind of groups.
Verdict:
I'll pay the 105 yen for a song or two on iTunes, but overall not my cup of tea.
Probably won't go to see them for a show, specifically, but don't mind seeing them with another band I really like.
Mitsu (蜜)
They're an Osaka duo, female vocalist and male backups and on guitar.
The girl is really cute, a wonderful singer with a very husky voice (sometimes the guy seems to sing in a higher pitch), and a natural performer. She dances around stage and completely puts on a role and does a really entertaining performance.
Their songs are, of course, acoustic based, so if you ever need a cool acoustic band to listen to, this is definitely a go.
I would pay for a CD, but... I forgot to buy :( Sorry.
OverTheDogs!
Wooo! It's the first time I've stood so close to the stage for an OverTheDogs show.. Although I got a good ticket for the previous show at ShibuyaWWW, I chose to stand further away to get a better view and not be killed by the speakers.
Anyway, this one I got killed by the speakers, but was okay. Seems like I think Basement Bar has better sound system than both Que and Fever, coz at least even though you're standing near the stage away from the speakers, the guitar amps on stage don't drown out the vocals.
Anyway, as again, they did NOT play any songs off Starlight in my Life (why did they bother to release those songs then anyway?!)... I think they have a whole throve of live-only songs, so they went through those. They're all really awesome... Sorry I don't know the track titles, but they're all very danceable and rocking at the same time. I think that's why I like OverTheDogs so much... They manage to skim the thin line between indie/pop and yet be rocking enough.
Great job!
Oh Tsune-san did not wear a hat today, but his shirt had an incredibly biggggg collar and I'm sure if girls could have boners, one or two must have been turned on by the look of his naked shoulder blades and... whatever muscle he has on his arm (surprisingly, for a thin dude like him, his arm looked quite well toned lol!)
Kinda... terrible, no? Basement Bar is such a prolific Shimokita livehouse and yet this was the first time I had been there... Terrible.
Anyway, Basement Bar is next to Shimokita Three.. They're run by the same owners... It's one of those usual Shimokita live houses but I think it's a little bigger than Shelter but of course, smaller than Que. The stage seems quite high, compared with Que.. Kinda like Shelter's...
Anyway, tickets don't seem to have numbers in Basement Bar, so it's first come first served basis. Which is good... and bad, I suppose!
Anyway! Of course, I went to this show because of OverTheDogs, my Tsubaki-love replacement band. Hmmm...
Tokyo Karankoron (東京カランコロン)
Actually I had been wanting to check their songs out. By chance they were playing with OverTheDogs so that was cool! ^_^
An eccentric band that plays very quirky songs.
Actually, I think their vocalist, guitarist and drummer seem normal enough but their bassist is whacked and their female keyboardist is cute but weird.
Their songs translates into very quirky tunes but which utilizes a dual, female/male vocals very well.. The keyboardist also brings in other instruments like triangles, xylaphones, etc, that adds to the eccentricity of the songs.
They're not the experimental indie type, but more of like those indie female vocalist kind of groups.
Verdict:
I'll pay the 105 yen for a song or two on iTunes, but overall not my cup of tea.
Probably won't go to see them for a show, specifically, but don't mind seeing them with another band I really like.
Mitsu (蜜)
They're an Osaka duo, female vocalist and male backups and on guitar.
The girl is really cute, a wonderful singer with a very husky voice (sometimes the guy seems to sing in a higher pitch), and a natural performer. She dances around stage and completely puts on a role and does a really entertaining performance.
Their songs are, of course, acoustic based, so if you ever need a cool acoustic band to listen to, this is definitely a go.
I would pay for a CD, but... I forgot to buy :( Sorry.
OverTheDogs!
Wooo! It's the first time I've stood so close to the stage for an OverTheDogs show.. Although I got a good ticket for the previous show at ShibuyaWWW, I chose to stand further away to get a better view and not be killed by the speakers.
Anyway, this one I got killed by the speakers, but was okay. Seems like I think Basement Bar has better sound system than both Que and Fever, coz at least even though you're standing near the stage away from the speakers, the guitar amps on stage don't drown out the vocals.
Anyway, as again, they did NOT play any songs off Starlight in my Life (why did they bother to release those songs then anyway?!)... I think they have a whole throve of live-only songs, so they went through those. They're all really awesome... Sorry I don't know the track titles, but they're all very danceable and rocking at the same time. I think that's why I like OverTheDogs so much... They manage to skim the thin line between indie/pop and yet be rocking enough.
Great job!
Oh Tsune-san did not wear a hat today, but his shirt had an incredibly biggggg collar and I'm sure if girls could have boners, one or two must have been turned on by the look of his naked shoulder blades and... whatever muscle he has on his arm (surprisingly, for a thin dude like him, his arm looked quite well toned lol!)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Ropes - Shimokitazawa Three (06/18/11)
Ropes is a duo headed by Achico-san, formerly KAREN, and Art-School's guitarist.
She's been going around a lot doing a lot of shows with HINATA and Kinoshita Riki/The Novembers/Lostage & co. (They're all the same group of friends).
Also, I was interested in checking their show out after seeing their set on the HINATA UStream show... She had really cool tunes.
So it was my first time at Shimokita Three... For some reason, I've never been here for a show, I wonder why..
They were playing with another band Ilama.. But yeah.. I only went for Ropes haha!
So the set!
They played about 6 songs...
Being a duo most of their songs are guitar based, and apparently, although they started out wanting to play this show as an acoustic, the guitarist felt better playing the electric guitar. haha!
Achico-san has a really, really, really amazing voice that she controls perfectly and uses it to carve the textures of the songs. Amazing!
Of all the female vocalists' I've heard, Achico-san has the best voice.
Being just a duo on a guitar and synthesizer, naturally a lot of these bohemian-type bands would fall into an experimental-indie sound, but not so with Ropes. They maintain a nice balance between indie-vocals-pop-rock... sorta... Very radio friendly, of course, a band which is very accessible which I am sure anyone listening would definitely like.
I'm looking forward to the release of their first record in the Fall.
She's been going around a lot doing a lot of shows with HINATA and Kinoshita Riki/The Novembers/Lostage & co. (They're all the same group of friends).
Also, I was interested in checking their show out after seeing their set on the HINATA UStream show... She had really cool tunes.
So it was my first time at Shimokita Three... For some reason, I've never been here for a show, I wonder why..
They were playing with another band Ilama.. But yeah.. I only went for Ropes haha!
So the set!
They played about 6 songs...
Being a duo most of their songs are guitar based, and apparently, although they started out wanting to play this show as an acoustic, the guitarist felt better playing the electric guitar. haha!
Achico-san has a really, really, really amazing voice that she controls perfectly and uses it to carve the textures of the songs. Amazing!
Of all the female vocalists' I've heard, Achico-san has the best voice.
Being just a duo on a guitar and synthesizer, naturally a lot of these bohemian-type bands would fall into an experimental-indie sound, but not so with Ropes. They maintain a nice balance between indie-vocals-pop-rock... sorta... Very radio friendly, of course, a band which is very accessible which I am sure anyone listening would definitely like.
I'm looking forward to the release of their first record in the Fall.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Today's Bands:
コンビニマンションテクニカラー - 名前もなくて / コンビニマンションテクニカラー
(Combini Mansion Technicolor - Namaemonakute)
Not bad at all, this band. Totally wouldn't mind checking them out live and buying their album.
Unfortunately, I think they are from Okayama, so they don't play in nor around Tokyo much.
Hope to catch them when they get here.
嘘つきバービー
(Usotsuki Barbie)
They've got weird beats. Not my cup of tea. Not weird beats in a catchy way like Andymori. Just weird beats.
They're here on the list because an American indie rock girl in Tokyo that I follow on Twitter was going to their show today and then I saw their name again when I was looking for bands. So decided to check them out.
It's a "no" tho.
NUMBER VOGEL - NAMIDA-no-HERO
Quite a nice band. Indie rock but more indie than rock, so, a little not my taste exactly.
Hmmm don't think I'll go for their show specifically but if they play with someone else, that's okay.
Best for Arch
Very, very, melodic "american" pop rock band, ala those 2004-onwards American pop-rock bands that came after Blink-182/The Starting Line/Armor For Sleep.. etc.. and the likes.
Sings in English.
Quite cool but.. ahe... I don't listen to Japanese-English bands... and also, I'm sick of those 2004-onwards American pop-rock bads cause they all sound the same.
(Combini Mansion Technicolor - Namaemonakute)
Not bad at all, this band. Totally wouldn't mind checking them out live and buying their album.
Unfortunately, I think they are from Okayama, so they don't play in nor around Tokyo much.
Hope to catch them when they get here.
嘘つきバービー
(Usotsuki Barbie)
They've got weird beats. Not my cup of tea. Not weird beats in a catchy way like Andymori. Just weird beats.
They're here on the list because an American indie rock girl in Tokyo that I follow on Twitter was going to their show today and then I saw their name again when I was looking for bands. So decided to check them out.
It's a "no" tho.
NUMBER VOGEL - NAMIDA-no-HERO
Quite a nice band. Indie rock but more indie than rock, so, a little not my taste exactly.
Hmmm don't think I'll go for their show specifically but if they play with someone else, that's okay.
Best for Arch
Very, very, melodic "american" pop rock band, ala those 2004-onwards American pop-rock bands that came after Blink-182/The Starting Line/Armor For Sleep.. etc.. and the likes.
Sings in English.
Quite cool but.. ahe... I don't listen to Japanese-English bands... and also, I'm sick of those 2004-onwards American pop-rock bads cause they all sound the same.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
The Novembers / Stan - Beat Happening - Shibuya LUSH (06/11/11)
THE NOVEMBERSSSSSS!!!!
I'm absolutely in love with the Kobayashi guy although he has such an ordinary name, Yusuke. (OH WHAT!!!! aaaaaaahhhhhh)
Gosh, he's so weird and intense!!!
Anyway, yes, the Novembers' set, as always, was intense as ever!!! Now I got to see them upclose, they're even more powerful and intense as ever! I love the way how everyone in the band is just in their own world and so immersed in the song when they're playing.
They're not like crazy as some bands go crazy on stage but they ARE DAMN INTENSE.
They didn't play either of the songs I was hoping they would play but it was a great set nevertheless.
Kobayashi-san didn't talk much again this time and basically just went through "arigatou", all the way till the last song, when they had to stop because there was a problem with the bass amp. So they had to get that fixed and Kobayashi-san had to entertain the crowd.
He first attempted to do so by singing a new song by himself. But stopped halfway.
Then he went on to introduce two CDs he bought. One was tobaccojuice's new album, the other was an English band which he kept repeating and told us not to forget, but opps, I forgot.
But it was really cool that he used the time to talk about other bands instead of his own. As the bands would usually take MC time to promote CDs or tours. I think he did mention a new CD release or something of that sort but see, it was so brief that i can't even recall. But I can recall his recommendations. Which was really cool he did that.
I was really disappointed with the crowd though, because despite all that intensity, no one moved. Or just a few did. No one was going crazy, no one was screaming, no one was going wild.
I would equate The Novembers' tunes to the likes of Thursday or even Thrice but The Novembers crowd are a failure. Seriously. I think it's because there are too many girls in this scene. Sometimes I wonder if they like the band for the music or like the band for the band.
I mean if a band gave their best and put their everything into the songs, which The Novembers did, the least you could do is RESPOND by bobbing your head, AT LEAST. AT LEAST move your head! or tap your feet. AT LEAST. I mean if you saw the intensity of this band, SERIOUSLY, that is the VERY LEAST you could do! Seriously.
Yet, I would say that 80% of the crowd, even the kids in front, were BARELY moving.
How saddening.
I mean clapping for a band is one thing, but letting their music drown you and take you over and get lost and lose yourself lose who you are in it... I believe THAT is the greater thing. Something which the scene I am in here in Japan sorely lacks.
And I really think it's because they're all mainly girls, the fans.
sigh.
I'm absolutely in love with the Kobayashi guy although he has such an ordinary name, Yusuke. (OH WHAT!!!! aaaaaaahhhhhh)
Gosh, he's so weird and intense!!!
Anyway, yes, the Novembers' set, as always, was intense as ever!!! Now I got to see them upclose, they're even more powerful and intense as ever! I love the way how everyone in the band is just in their own world and so immersed in the song when they're playing.
They're not like crazy as some bands go crazy on stage but they ARE DAMN INTENSE.
They didn't play either of the songs I was hoping they would play but it was a great set nevertheless.
Kobayashi-san didn't talk much again this time and basically just went through "arigatou", all the way till the last song, when they had to stop because there was a problem with the bass amp. So they had to get that fixed and Kobayashi-san had to entertain the crowd.
He first attempted to do so by singing a new song by himself. But stopped halfway.
Then he went on to introduce two CDs he bought. One was tobaccojuice's new album, the other was an English band which he kept repeating and told us not to forget, but opps, I forgot.
But it was really cool that he used the time to talk about other bands instead of his own. As the bands would usually take MC time to promote CDs or tours. I think he did mention a new CD release or something of that sort but see, it was so brief that i can't even recall. But I can recall his recommendations. Which was really cool he did that.
I was really disappointed with the crowd though, because despite all that intensity, no one moved. Or just a few did. No one was going crazy, no one was screaming, no one was going wild.
I would equate The Novembers' tunes to the likes of Thursday or even Thrice but The Novembers crowd are a failure. Seriously. I think it's because there are too many girls in this scene. Sometimes I wonder if they like the band for the music or like the band for the band.
I mean if a band gave their best and put their everything into the songs, which The Novembers did, the least you could do is RESPOND by bobbing your head, AT LEAST. AT LEAST move your head! or tap your feet. AT LEAST. I mean if you saw the intensity of this band, SERIOUSLY, that is the VERY LEAST you could do! Seriously.
Yet, I would say that 80% of the crowd, even the kids in front, were BARELY moving.
How saddening.
I mean clapping for a band is one thing, but letting their music drown you and take you over and get lost and lose yourself lose who you are in it... I believe THAT is the greater thing. Something which the scene I am in here in Japan sorely lacks.
And I really think it's because they're all mainly girls, the fans.
sigh.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
People in the Box - Shibuya Parco (06/07/11)
I actually once liked People in the Box ALOT.
In fact today, I actually woke up with that song they had with "tatta ichido dake", acoustic song in my head.
I remember when I was taking the CELTA back in 2008, I had their songs on constant play.
In fact I think I can still recall going up the KLCC LRT station while listening to their songs. So their songs are a marker for that period of my life.
However, subsequently I had not checked out their newer albums.
A bad habit of mine. For some reason, once the band becomes famous or suddenly releases too many albums on short succession, I stop listening to the band. It's sooooooooooooooooo tedious to check out their new stuff when you haven't even processed in the first album entirely.
Same thing happened with D.W二コロズ, LOVELOVELOVE, Any, Androp... Hmm.. I guess all the newer bands... They had REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY good songs, actually! But like suddenly there's an explosion of 5 Albums and mini albums and a flood of 20 30 songs..
Forget it, am not gonna check them out.
SO thus it was in this atmosphere that I went for their One Man Live at Parco, a movie theater, no less. WHY?!
So anyway, the set.
Acoustic.
They started with an acoustic set.
It was INCREDIBLY quiet.
I mean these Japanese indie rock shows are already usually incredibly quiet. Couple that with having an acoustic show ANDDDDD in a frigging seated movie theater, it was beyond pin drop silence. I swear there was more buzz going on in the crowd in my History of Ancient Civilization hall room back in college, than in this show.
Because it was so quiet, I think, so the vocalist and the drummer really overcompensiated by trying to talk more and more and more and more.. I mean they were funny and all that but all I was thinking was "Dude, get on with the show already!". So that's not good.
However, as for the songs, they did a very good rendition of their sets! I think of so many rock bands, I think People in the Box translates their songs the best into acoustic versions. It was very well done! Well.. I guess if they're confident enough to play a dual set, one of which was completely acoustic, I guess they are damn good with an acoustic arrangement of their songs to begin with.
So on that note, the vocalist played his parts really, really well! You can see his skills shine through the techniques. Incredibly well done!
The drummer too was incredible in translating percussion into an acoustic arrangement and stood as a very strong backbone for the rest of the band to build on acoustically. Well done!
Highlight of the acoustic set was their cover of Nirvana's All Apologies.... Well, the vocalist nearly ruined it by going on and on and on about something.. He started by talking about when he first heard Nirvana when he was in Junior High School. After that he went to talk about something that happened in the recording studio which I couldn't follow and didn't bother to follow because it was just too long (kinda like this sentence).
But it was really cool they covered Nirvana.
It's true... If you were born anywhere between 1978 - 1985/6, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, Radiohead and the likes will always be part of your music history. Hell yeah.
Anyway, they had an intermission and played a video at that time. It was about their drummer being dragged from Tokyo to Nagoya to Osaka to try out Ramen. It was really funny.
And FINALLY, the real electric set started with the vocalist screaming: Don't just sit!
And so everyone got up but yeah.............
that was about as much moving as Japanese audiences would give their bands.
Standing up.
C'MON people!!!
I don't understand Japanese crowd.
This is a One Man Live.
A SOLD OUT One Man Live.
And YET! No one moved =_=
In fact, there was probably only 4 people in the whole entire theater who were rocking out.
Fucking Japan.
Yeah..
AREN'T YOU FANS?!
Geez..
In fact today, I actually woke up with that song they had with "tatta ichido dake", acoustic song in my head.
I remember when I was taking the CELTA back in 2008, I had their songs on constant play.
In fact I think I can still recall going up the KLCC LRT station while listening to their songs. So their songs are a marker for that period of my life.
However, subsequently I had not checked out their newer albums.
A bad habit of mine. For some reason, once the band becomes famous or suddenly releases too many albums on short succession, I stop listening to the band. It's sooooooooooooooooo tedious to check out their new stuff when you haven't even processed in the first album entirely.
Same thing happened with D.W二コロズ, LOVELOVELOVE, Any, Androp... Hmm.. I guess all the newer bands... They had REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY good songs, actually! But like suddenly there's an explosion of 5 Albums and mini albums and a flood of 20 30 songs..
Forget it, am not gonna check them out.
SO thus it was in this atmosphere that I went for their One Man Live at Parco, a movie theater, no less. WHY?!
So anyway, the set.
Acoustic.
They started with an acoustic set.
It was INCREDIBLY quiet.
I mean these Japanese indie rock shows are already usually incredibly quiet. Couple that with having an acoustic show ANDDDDD in a frigging seated movie theater, it was beyond pin drop silence. I swear there was more buzz going on in the crowd in my History of Ancient Civilization hall room back in college, than in this show.
Because it was so quiet, I think, so the vocalist and the drummer really overcompensiated by trying to talk more and more and more and more.. I mean they were funny and all that but all I was thinking was "Dude, get on with the show already!". So that's not good.
However, as for the songs, they did a very good rendition of their sets! I think of so many rock bands, I think People in the Box translates their songs the best into acoustic versions. It was very well done! Well.. I guess if they're confident enough to play a dual set, one of which was completely acoustic, I guess they are damn good with an acoustic arrangement of their songs to begin with.
So on that note, the vocalist played his parts really, really well! You can see his skills shine through the techniques. Incredibly well done!
The drummer too was incredible in translating percussion into an acoustic arrangement and stood as a very strong backbone for the rest of the band to build on acoustically. Well done!
Highlight of the acoustic set was their cover of Nirvana's All Apologies.... Well, the vocalist nearly ruined it by going on and on and on about something.. He started by talking about when he first heard Nirvana when he was in Junior High School. After that he went to talk about something that happened in the recording studio which I couldn't follow and didn't bother to follow because it was just too long (kinda like this sentence).
But it was really cool they covered Nirvana.
It's true... If you were born anywhere between 1978 - 1985/6, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, Radiohead and the likes will always be part of your music history. Hell yeah.
Anyway, they had an intermission and played a video at that time. It was about their drummer being dragged from Tokyo to Nagoya to Osaka to try out Ramen. It was really funny.
And FINALLY, the real electric set started with the vocalist screaming: Don't just sit!
And so everyone got up but yeah.............
that was about as much moving as Japanese audiences would give their bands.
Standing up.
C'MON people!!!
I don't understand Japanese crowd.
This is a One Man Live.
A SOLD OUT One Man Live.
And YET! No one moved =_=
In fact, there was probably only 4 people in the whole entire theater who were rocking out.
Fucking Japan.
Yeah..
AREN'T YOU FANS?!
Geez..
Sunday, June 5, 2011
side bands.
I really like side bands.. hahaha... I find it so damn weird/funny/cool coz basically it's like 3 different bands coming together to be another different band. haha. And I find it so weird/funny coz when you see the merch and equipment, it has the original band's writing on it. Haha..
Like when The Challenge plays, I think it's so cool.. There was one time Ryo was using a LUNKHEAD towel... and then Sawada-san made a joke out of it.. like "WHAT THE HELLLLL...". And in their Shinjuku LOFT show, cutie TJ was using a hare-brained unity towel... SO WEIRD!!!
And then at the killing boy show, at the killing boy merch table, they were using art-school's money box (it had a BIGGGGGGGGGGGg art-school sticker on it). And even the container used to put the merch was art-school's because there were LOADS of art-school stickers stuck on it.
And equipment, on the enclosure, it's written the original band's name... Like in killing boy, the drum set had "Nothing's Carved in Stone" written on the casings.
WEIRD!
Like when The Challenge plays, I think it's so cool.. There was one time Ryo was using a LUNKHEAD towel... and then Sawada-san made a joke out of it.. like "WHAT THE HELLLLL...". And in their Shinjuku LOFT show, cutie TJ was using a hare-brained unity towel... SO WEIRD!!!
And then at the killing boy show, at the killing boy merch table, they were using art-school's money box (it had a BIGGGGGGGGGGGg art-school sticker on it). And even the container used to put the merch was art-school's because there were LOADS of art-school stickers stuck on it.
And equipment, on the enclosure, it's written the original band's name... Like in killing boy, the drum set had "Nothing's Carved in Stone" written on the casings.
WEIRD!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)