Blog - June 2019 Archives

June 2019 Archives

Index

.30 Weekly revue: 2019 week #26 (June 22 to 28)
.23 Weekly revue: 2019 week #25 (June 15 to 21)
.15 Weekly revue: 2019 week #24 (June 8 to 14)
.08 Weekly revue: 2019 week #23 (June 1 to 7)
.04 Weekly revue: 2019 week #22 (May 25 to 31)

June 30, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #26 (June 22 to 28)

Creatures in the city

Food: - Steak & more at Meuglement, Nishi-Eifuku
- Dry curry at Kitchen Ohnami, Kichijōji

Music events: - On Saturday June 22 was event "Midsummer Witchcraft" at Salone Fontana, an event organized by ammakasie noka (Mayutan) and also featuring Mokumedori. Held in a concert hall made to look like a small European-style church, it was more than just a live music event, with a mystery solving game for which hints had to be collected throughout the show and by walking around the venue.

After some time to explain the game and let the guests look around the venue and taste a special drink (by Piyototochat, an always good-tasting and friendly restaurant in Nishi-Ogikubo) that were needed to find answers to the riddles. That was followed by a special live music set by Mokumedori, a strange and beautiful life-size doll-like character who skillfully plays toy piano, pianica and xylophone.

I love the soothing sounds of latest album "Little Ghost House", which has a concept taking place in a deep forest and featuring two sisters, one who is a ghost and the other a witch. ammakasie noka's show brought to life some of that album's music, showing it being performed part of the white witch's ritual. Accompanied on piano by Aoki Hiroko, Mayutan (in the role of the main witch) was later joined by more white-dressed witches who danced along in circle around the large cross.

Midsummer Witchcraft

The whole event was a lot of fun and a unique experience, and the amount of work put into details of the stage decorations, props and the game (with several quiz sheets all designed beautifully) was very impressive. I had the great pleasure to give just a tiny bit of advice, and Mayutan put my name in the credits! Thanks Mayutan!! :)

- I also went to event "Joy Ride vol.259" at Koenji High, featuring CTO LAB. and Blanc. CTO LAB. is formed of Okada Tohru (Moonriders), Polymoog (Elektel) and Imai Kentarō (The Aprils), while Blanc is formed of Narita Shinobu (Urban Dance) and Yokokawa Tadahiko (ex-P-Model) (both members of 4-D mode1). So, yes, this show was full of big names of techno/electronic music!

First on stage was Blanc, a unit of two that seems to have been active since 2017. The music consisted of guitar and sometimes violin over a backtrack, and both of the members singing. I had just recently heard early Urban Dance for the first time (on the "Non-Standard collection" compilation) and that had left me impressed with the vocals, so it was great to be able to confirm that live. Blanc's show was great and had some funny MC'ing. I'll be looking forward to see them again sometime, and also in their other projects (Urban Dance has also been active in the recent years it seems, releasing an album in 2016).

Next up was CTO LAB.! Their show featured dancers Taichi and Saki of Genius, and also a guest appearance by vocalist Younapi (You'll Melt More!/Yurumerumo!). The show featured many songs from latest album "Beyond The Box" and some live favorites, and also several previously unheard covers such as Moonriders' "M.I.J." (a song that originally featured Nomiya Maki!), one of You'll Melt More ("Hello, See You"), and another of Stereo Total's "Ushilo Sugata Ga Kilei", all of these featuring Younapi. They also did a cover of Moonriders' "hitsuji no Triangle" which was sold as a limited CD-R at this show only.

But the best moment of the show for me was the next song, "Nazo No Enban"! The reason is that I wrote its lyrics, and it was my first time hearing it live! Yay!!! Those lyrics were even projects on the big screen by VJ Portasounds! What a great moment! :)

Listening to CTO LAB.'s songs, whether live or in recording, is always a great delight for me. Such a wonderful variety of synth and electronic sounds at their best. On the way out I also bought VirtualBoys' latest CD-R "Red - Green". VirtualBoys is the game music-inspired unit of Imai Kentaro (The Aprils, CTO LAB.) and Asahi Taichi (Genius).

Set list: 2001: A Space Odyssey / The Theme of Ma.K. / not(.)but(,) / hitsuji no Triangle (Moonriders cover) / M.I.J. (Moonriders cover) feat. Younapi / Hello, See You (Younapi cover) feat. Younapi / Ushilo Sugata Ga Kilei (Stereo Total cover) feat. Younapi / Nazo No Enban / sekai wa Bon Hi-Bon! / The Elements (Tom Lehrer cover)
Encore: hitogomi no naka no obake dōshi feat. Younapi / Crash Bandicoot

- Then the next day I dropped by HMV record shop Coppice Kichijoji for a double in-store release event featuring Enoshima Bakusō Gals (Kanou Emiri + WAY WAVE) and WHY@DOLL. Enoshima Bakusō Gals's first single "Surume Boy" has a remix by Yoshida Tetsuto for its B-side, and WHY@DOLL also had a new 7" out the same day ("futari de ikite yukereba / Love Story wa shūmatsu ni") with both songs written by him (and co-arranged by Hase Yasuhiro (Yume To Cosme)). There were karaoke-style mini live shows by Kanou Emiri solo (who had also just released CD single "1988" a few days before), then WAY WAVE, and then one song as Enoshima Bakusō Gals, to finish with WHY@DOLL. A total of 12 songs!

I bought both 7"'s so I could collect autographs of all singers after the show. I also got to take a photo with Enoshima Bakusō Gals, doing the squid pose. :)

Kanou Emiri set list: Next Town / Because of You / 1988

WHY@DOLL set list: sumire Iolite / koi nano kana? / futari de ikite yukereba / Love Story wa shūmatsu ni

江ノ島爆走ギャルズ / Enoshima bakusou Gals

- I also went to a talk event titled "chō Fami-man Caravan 2019" at Asagaya Loft A. "Fami-man" refers to "Famicom manga", a genre of comics that was about Famicom games and read by Famicom kids back in the day. While Famicom (NES) was popular worldwide, Fami-man trend probably could only exist in Japan. I was myself a NES (and Sega Master System) kid, and an avid reader of US magazine Nintendo Power, so I was curious to learn about this other genre of game-centered culture that came from the same place as the games.

This talk event was held by writer Uchida Meijin who just released book "chō Fami-man" about this very topic, a book that reviews some 150 of those comic books. The other guests were DJ Fukutake (who owns so many game records, just watch his daily Instagram posts which often have me drooling), and also game/anime magazine "Continue"'s editor Hayashi Kazuhiro. The talk event showed many pages from those books and talked about all sort of memories and favorite episodes, etc. Meanwhile DJ Fukutake played rare records from the day, starting with the theme of "Super Mario Bros." and then "Kid Icarus", and also game-inspired songs or songs that ended up used in games, and recent imported re-issues of Nintendo classics.

Music release news: Coastlines, avandoned, Wakita Monari, MANON

This week's video: MANON "Air Kissing feat. KM & LEX"

CTO LAB. perform "Crash Bandicoot" using Sony "Motion Sonic" prototype

La Casa Azul "El Final del Amor Eterno"

June 23, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #25 (June 15 to 21)

Food: - Napoli pizza @ Massimottavio, Eifukuchō

Music events: - On Sunday June 16 I dropped by Disk Union Shimokitazawa to grab Kanou Emiri's new single "1988" a bit in advance, and at the same time I had the chance to catch a mini-live event!

Set list: futari no Philosphy / Next Town / 1988 / Because of You / gomenne

- And on Wednesday I decided to go to the release party for Kenmochi Hidefumi (Wednesday Campanella)'s new album "Footwork". The event also featured a DJ set by Dé Dé Mouse, who I hadn't seen in a long time, and a live set by xiangyu (singer whose music is produced by Kenmochi), and in-between live sets by TPSOUND at the 1st floor's DJ booth. All were great!

I had seen xiangyu in March, also at Batica, but since then her first mini-album "The First ○○ Picture Book" was released. This time again her set was a lot of fun! Next was Dé Dé Mouse who did a DJ set while interacting with the crowd. At the end he was joined by Primula who danced along (but otherwise seemed to just be in charge of carrying Dé Dé Mouse's USB memory, haha). By the time of Kenmochi's set, the main floor was so packed that at first I couldn't even enter the room, so I gave up once but came back later and found a spot where to stand at the back. He was great too! Batica's sound and bass are really good!

xiangyu set list (partial): 31 / Human Evolution / Go Mistake / Poo Pad Pong Curry /
Mycorrhizal Fungi (kinkonkin) / I Went to Sleep Without Taking a Bath (furo ni hairazu nechimatta)

xiangyu

DÉ DÉ MOUSE, Kenmochi Hidefumi

Music release news: Kinoco Hotel, Sota & Kashif, Kenmochi Hidefumi, HALLCA, Enoshima Bakusou Gals, WHY@DOLL

This week's video: Kenmochi Hidefumi "Fight Club"

June 15, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #24 (June 8 to 14)

Food: - Curry at Yappari India, Ōtsuka
- Giant paella at Xiringuito Escribà, Shibuya Stream
- Apple Cheeks sandwich at Buy Me Stand, Shibuya
- Cake at Très Calme, Sugamo
- Plum flapjack tray bake at Sunday Bake Shop, Hatsudai

Music event: - I went to DJ event "On Wednesdays" at Kabuki Lounge, with DJ Gō and @modspanda, and also guest DJ Conta. The event featured a mini-live show by self-produced electro-pop singer-songwriter and idol Kanou Emiri, who sang a total of 6 songs, half of which are unreleased. There was a technical glitch in the middle of the first song, when the music completely stopped, she finished singing the whole song a cappella just like if nothing happened! She then just told the DJ "play my CD from 3:25"... So pro! :D Fun show as always!

Emiri has a new single titled "1988" to be released on June 21, and then a collaboration single with Way Wave, as Enoshima Bakuso Gals, titled "Surume Boy" (check out the video below, so cool and catchy!) out June 24. She also announced that her first album will be released in November, and that there will be a solo show on December 11 at Moon Romantic. Gotta keep the date. On Sunday June 16 will be an in-store event at Disk Union Shimokitazawa from 18:00, where Emiri's new single will be sold in advance..

The whole DJ event was a lot of fun too, so I'll be sure to go again! "On Wednesdays" is held on the 2nd Wednesday of every two months.

Set list: renai Claimer / futari no Philosphy / Friday Night / 1988 / Next Town / gomenne

with Emiri

Exhibition: - Dropped by gallery Wish Less to see an exhibition titled "Romance - Love Compost Dub" by Itō Keiji and Nakahara Masaya (aka Hair Stylistics, Violent Onsen Geisha). Many great collages!

- This weekend is "T-Shirt! That's Fighting Words!!! 2019" T-shirt fair at Kata, Liquidroom. I went on the Friday night, the first day, and like every year it was totally crazy with so many T-shirts (hundreds of designs by over a hundred artists) and people digging through them. It's truly a big mess, with T-shirts almost flying around as the guests dig around, but so much fun. I was there a whole hour. Until tomorrow June 16!

Music release news: Maika Loubté, Shonen Knife, Kai, Negicco, Kaede, Kudō Shizuka

This week's video: Enoshima Bakusō Gals "Surume Boy"

June 8, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #23 (June 1 to 7)

Music events: - On June 1st was an event presented by Niigata idol group RYUTist, titled "HI, HOW ARE YOU with SOLEIL" at Shinjuku Marz. It was apparently the 4th of their "Hi, How Are You" series where they shared the stage with other artists. This time their guest was band SOLEIL! Both SOLEIL and RYUTist each played a generous set of 50 minutes!

This time singer Soleil and bassist Sally Kubota were accompanied by guitarist Hirakawa Yūichi (leader of The Pen Friend Club) and drummer Tanabe Manaka. It was the 3rd time SOLEIL played a show in this formation, and my first time to see it! There sound was very clean and tight, with both the guitarist and drummer impressively recreating that SOLEIL sound! I had seen Manaka's drumming with Milli Milli Bar (Mia Nascimento & Yafune Tetsurō) and also Yume to Cosme, and she's definitely one to keep an eye on. SOLEIL played a total of 12 songs including the two from latest single "Mellotron Girl" along with many favorites.

Then RYUTist also played a great set of their songs, which are all very good. Some are produced by the likes of Okii Reiji (Tweedees, Cymbals), Microstar, Ikkubaru, Orangeade, and their latest single "Sensitive Sign" also features Wack Wack Rhythm Band. Excellent!

After the show I bought a small Soleil figurine that I had kept missing before, and I could manage getting my 7" signed by Soleil, Sally and the band's arranger Okada Yumi (and songwriter of "Mellotron Girl")! Thanks!! :)

Set list: Do You Believe in Magic? / Sweet Boy / My Sweet Fifteen / Baby Boo / Pieces of Candy / Captain Scarlet theme song (cover) / Mellotron Girl / Bittersweet Graduation / koi no Happy Date (Gotta Pull Myself Together) (Ishino Maki cover (original by The Nolans)) / High School Lullaby (Imo-Kin Trio cover) / Marine I Love You / Are you happy?

- On Wednesday was an in-store event with Kaji Hideki at Pied Piper House (Tower Records Shibuya 6F), in promotion of his new (18th!) album "Goth Romance" out that day. Most of the event was a talk show where Nagato Yoshi (Pied Piper House) interviewed Kaji-kun about the new album. Another guest present throughout the talk show was the ex-owner of Maximum Joy, a great record shop that used to be in Shibuya around the time I came to Tokyo. Later, secret guest Nomiya Maki (!) also joined to talk about the two songs she participated in. Kaji-kun and her sang along quietly while the songs played. There was yet another guest, Ushio Kenta, the guitarist of Otogivanashi, band that lately often plays as Kaji's backband.

The event ended with a mini live show where Kaji sang two songs from the new album: "Spray and Fanfare" and "French Cinema!". There was some trouble with his guitar cord, and in the 2nd song he gave it up and went unplugged, walking up closer to the audience and singing with no mic as everyone clapped quietly. A very nice recovery!

After that, I got my copy of the new album autographed! Yay!! The new album is really great!

Exhibition: - I went to Negicco's Megu's label Curry Rice Records' T-shirt exhibition, titled "CURRY RICE RECORDS presents 30 Designer's TEE-SHIRTS market!!!" at Kata in Ebisu (above Liquidroom). Megu, who loves curry, has invited 30 designers and artists to make T-shirts under the "Curry Rice Records" theme! I love curry and also Negicco, and T-shirts, so I couldn't resist checking this out! I bought one designed by Kaseki Cider! I also bought a pack of original Negicco curry (the last one!).

To my surprise, Megu-chan was at the gallery when I visited, and once I was done shopping the gallery's staff called her over and she came to greet me and shake my hand! Wow!!! I forgot to say that I love curry and Negicco (which is probably obvious anyway)... but I was able to wish her Happy Birthday (she had just turned 30 two days before). She was really nice! :D

The exhibition is until today Saturday June 8, it ends at 15:00. Details here.

Music release news: Kaji Hideki, The Highmarts

This week's video: Kaji Hideki "Non Non Song"

Kaji Hideki "Spray and Fanfare"

June 4, 2019

Weekly revue: 2019 week #22 (May 25 to 31)

Food: - Deer and wild boar at Engine, Kōenji

Music events: - On Saturday May 25, I went to see Eye Röller (from New York) at heavysick Zero in Nakano! It was great to see them again after over a year (their previous and first Japan tour was in January 2018). The sound was big and loud, and also very good. Also recently they released the first album which I had the chance to buy along with a T-shirt and tote bag. I'm all set! :) The album is great!

The event also had a fun magic show of which all the tricks were quite impressive. I picked a card, and the one below it was a joker, then a box was opened and came out an edible joker card!

- Then on Wednesday, I went to an event featuring singer Nosa Reina. She sang a full set of mostly original songs. She was accompanied by bassist Katsuhara Daisaku and drummer Nakajima Hajime, and for some of the show chorist Itō Eriko also joined (she used to sing chorus in Pizzicato Five!). I bought her latest studio live CD-R of songs "momoiro mōsō suisō" and "No Rain, No Rainbow".

The other band that played was JIRI which features prominent violin over danceable tracks. That was very enjoyable too!

Set list: China Blue / okeiko kurashi / Bye Bye Devil, Happy In The House / Skip to the Moon / kinō wa tashika Heisei datta / Robot (Sakakibara Ikue cover) / Nuance shimasho (Kōsaka Miyuki cover) / futari no Kagurazaka / momoiro mōsō suisō / Othello / Chameleon Lady Rock'n'Roll

- And on Friday I dropped by DJ event "wamono Meeting" at Cafe & Diner Studio in Shibuya, with DJs Comoesta Yaegashi, Fukutake, Ito Yoichiro and Macka-Chin. The DJs had each brought a box of 7"'s for sale, as cheap as ¥100 each. I got a total of nine!

- Also, at an event organized by people at my work, I got to play drums on stage for the first time in ages! Co-workers who play music formed a total of 5 bands, and a special private event was held at Club Crawl in Shibuya. It was a lot of fun to play on a real stage, and even at a venue where I had seen shows before (Portable Rock!). To get there our band The Homerooms rehearsed several times in the past month or two, and I also went to practice my drums on my own at nearby studios several times. It was great and I hope to keep playing drums at least once in a while. I'm still a bit rusty but all opportunities are welcome. :)

On drums

Music release news: Hotei (feat. Cornelius)

This week's videos:

SOLEIL "Mellotron Girl" 🧟‍♂️

SOLEIL "High School Lullaby"

« May 2019 | Back to main page | July 2019 »