Blog - Weekly revue: 2012 week #45 (November 3 to 9)

Weekly revue: 2012 week #45 (November 3 to 9)

Outings: Last weekend was spent a bit in the north in Ibaraki.

- On Saturday we went for a drive to Daigomachi and visited the old Uwaoka elementary school that's been changed into a kind of museum with café and restaurant.

- In the evening I got to see a rare matsuri held only once every 3 years, Nukada matsuri has local residents pull large wheeled structures down the main street.

- And on Sunday we went to Mito Art Tower to see the last representation of musical "Fanfare", with music by Miura Kōshi (Kuchiroro) and a band featuring Gondo Tomohiko (pupa) and Murata Shige (Kuchiroro, Cubismo Grafico Five). The story followed a girl who wants to become a singer but can only sing the notes "fa" (F) and "ré" (D). As she grows up her role is interpreted by 4 different actresses, the last being Sakamoto Miu. That was great!

(This is a clip from a previous show.)

Food: - Ramen and gyōza at Conte, Ibaraki
- Tenpura soba at Dabō, Ibaraki
- Sri Lankan dinner at Coji Coji, Mito, Ibaraki
- Dinner with colleagues at sashimi restaurant Uokin in Shibuya

New music: "Vanilla Beans III"! This new album is entirely recorded with a full band, no programming involved. I was skeptic at first, but it turns out pretty good and catchy! The whole album is arranged by two artists who have been involved with Vanilla Beans for a little while, Ōsumi Tomotaka and Tsutsumi Hiroaki, the latter who plays guitar in the band. Also on drums is Higeshiro Ken who has toured with De De Mouse.

Music release news: Aurora Acoustic, fantaholic, Wack Wack Rhythm Band, JiLL-Decoy association, DJ Fumiya, Ryoma Maeda, hitomitoi, Shūnosuke Ishikawa, 9nine, "mune kyun Arpeggio ~ Takayuki Fukumura with Friends"

Playlist: Nosa Reina, hitomitoi, Wack Wack Rhythm Band (seeing them live this weekend!), Groove Unchant, capsule, "uta to Guitar. Piano. kotoba.", Noel & Gallagher