Blog - May 2019 Archives

May 2019 Archives

Index

.26 Weekly revue: 2019 week #21 (May 18 to 24)
.19 Weekly revue: 2019 week #20 (May 11 to 17)
.14 Weekly revue: 2019 week #19 (May 4 to 10)
.04 Weekly revue: 2019 week #18 (April 27 to May 3)

May 26, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #21 (May 18 to 24)

Food: - Homard, crab & avocado sandwich @ Réfectoire, Shibuya
- Victoria cake @ Down the Stairs, Omotesando (It's back!)
- Curry and lamb @ Acha Kana, Shinjuku
- Great seasonal food @ Hiro, Nakameguro

Music release news: Masanori Ikeda, Mia Nascimento, xiangyu, SOLEIL

This week's video: xiangyu "Gyoza"

May 19, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #20 (May 11 to 17)

Kiichan (Wakayama pref. PR character)

Food: - Dinner at Matsuki, Nakano
- Cake at Kies, Nishi-Ogikubo

Music release news: Yasutaka Nakata, "inu Inch Wan P" (HALFBY+EMC, The Natsuyasumi Band, Tōgō Kiyomaru)

This week's video: Yasutaka Nakata "Pico Pico Tokyo feat. Momo Mashiro"

May 14, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #19 (May 4 to 10)

Music events: - On Sunday May 5 was event "Groove Collection" at Shibuya Kissa SMiLE. It had been a while since I had visited SMiLE, and the layout had changed dramatically! One of the reasons I went to this event was to see WabiSabi, a new unit formed of DJs aribo and Egami Yūkichi. This was the release party for their first 7", an independently-pressed white label record that features vocalist Ookawara Izumi (Qypthone). Another reason that brought me there was to see vibraphonist Watanabe Masami (the fascinations) who I hadn't seen in a very long time (over 10 years?!).

The event's main show featured songs performed by WabiSabi, a set by Izumi, and then a few songs with Masami on vibes. Most if not all of the show also featured Ishigaki Kentaro (also of Qypthone). Both songs from the 7" were played, "Harvest Moon" and "Je t'aime, moi non plus" (Serge Gainsbourg cover). Other highlights included several Qypthone favorites, the fascinations' trademark song "Fascinated Groove" (feat. Izumi on scat) and a cover of Original Love's "tsuki no ura de aimashō" ("Let's go to the darkside of the moon") sung by Masami.

Of course I bought the new 7" which is great! Also by going there I found out that "Groove Collection" is a monthly DJ event with three resident DJs, one of which is Masami-san. So it's possible to go see him spin records on the 4th Monday of each month. I'll be sure to drop by again!

Partial set list: Rock Me Baby (WabiSabi) / Girl Sport Car (WabiSabi) / Harvest Moon (WabiSabi feat. Izumi) / Boogaloo Chair (Qypthone song, with Izumi) / On the Palette (Qypthone song, with Izumi) / Melody (Qypthone song, with Izumi) / natsu no memai (sung by Masami) / tsuki no ura de aimashō (Original Love cover, sung by Masami) / Fascinated Groove (the fascinations, feat. Izumi) / Je t'aime, moi non plus (Serge Gainsbourg cover by WabiSabi feat. Izumi)

- I went to a free DJ event held at MAG7, the 7th floor of "Magnet by Shibuya 109", which featured a set by Wakita Monari! The floor was a lot more crowded than usual. She sang karaoke style backed by DJ Nachu. It was a short set of about 30 minutes, but thanks to some fast mixing she could sing 9 songs! By the way this floor has good hamburgers at Fatburger. :)

Set list: Gozigen Lover-Joi / LED / Est! Est!! Est!!! / ai no Decadence / Dear / WINGSCAPE / Just a "Crush for Today" / Peppermint Rainbow (Jazz mix) / Boyfriend (Jazz mix)

Music release news: HALLCA, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Maika Loubté

This week's video: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "kimi ga iine kuretara"

Magic, Drums & Love "MOMONA"

May 4, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #18 (April 27 to May 3)

The Japanese era of Heisei ended, and then new era Reiwa started on May 1st with the change of Emperor.

Music event: On Saturday April 27, I suddenly found some free time and rushed to Daikanyama Unice to attend event "Sabrina, Forever". Sabrina was one of the two singers of band Masakosan, the other being Mayutan who organized the event. Sabrina was also Mayutan's elder sister, and sadly she passed away 25 years ago to that day (at the young age of 25). I didn't know so much about the band or Sabrina, but I did love Masakosan's music ever since randomly buying the "Nagomu Collection" album. In parallel, I also love pretty much everything I've seen Mayutan in (starting with Herumeso in Watts Towers or as Applehead), and even further recently with her Mint-Lee noka and ammakasie noka releases. However it's only very recently that I put all pieces together, realizing that Mayutan sang in Masakosan, and then learning about her dear sister Sabrina.

w/ Sabrina

The event started with a talk show with Mayutan, taking for topic some very rare video footage of Masakosan, teaching me all what I needed to know about the band and Sabrina. Then there were short performances by 3MEN, Swimmers and Velvet Knife, all bands that were apparently close to Masakosan back in the day. While being very new to me they were all very good and entertaining!

That was followed by a special set fronted by Mayutan, starting with a special guest appearance by Kera (boss of Nagomu Records, label which released some Masakosan) who sang a cover of "Get Out And Get Under The Moon" backed by the full band, followed by a karaoke performance of "Silly Walker" (from his new album "Landscape"), a song he dedicated to his Nagomu friends. After singing he stared for a while at the almost-life-size panel of Sabrina, and lovingly patted her on the head before leaving the stage.

The rest of the show starred Mayutan backed by Velvet Knife's pianist. She sang a few Masakosan songs ("kuruma kara mite ne", "ikoku ni te" (one of my favorites!) and "10cm no kujira") followed by a cover of Godiego's "Happiness" (being that Sabrina was a huge fan of Godiego). Last, all musicians from the other bands joined again for Masakosan's iconic "ame ni nurete mo iiya" (a cover of "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head").

I knew little about Masakosan and Sabrina before going to this show, but thanks to Mayutan for sharing all those precious memories now it feels like all the puzzle pieces are in place. It's really too bad that Sabrina went away while still so young, but their band's great music and memories remain.

Music release news: RYUTist, Popuri, KERA, Magic, Drums & Love, Mom

This week's videos:

Masakosan "kuruma kara mite ne" (1989)

Masakosan "ame ni nurete mo iiya" (1989)

K-taro Takanami "kokoro no tabiji ~ Mind Excursion"

Mom "Boys and Girls"

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