Blog - Weekly revue: 2019 week #31 (July 27 to August 2)

Weekly revue: 2019 week #31 (July 27 to August 2)

Random sights: 1. Sony Walkman at Ginza Sony Park, 2. Cargo train passing in Shinjuku station, 3. Nishi-Shinjuku street art, 4. Akabane reien, 5. Sekine in Akabane

Food: - Unagi (grilled eel) at Unagi no Takewaka, Shimokitazawa
- Curry thali at Bangera's Kitchen, Ginza
- Sushi at Miyako bunten, Akabane
- Gelato at Glacier Chocolatier Chant d'oiseau, Kawaguchi

Music events: - On Saturday July 27, I dropped by DAIBON (Dai-bonodori) at Yamato-chō, Nakano. Organized by Kishino You-ichi, it's quite a bit different from traditional matsuri events, this one has DJs and artists performing live. The audience is a nice mix of people from the neighborhood and music/subculture fans, and the atmosphere is very nice. While I was there people were dancing bon odori-style but along songs like "YMCA" or Denki Groove's "Shangri-La", with dance instructions given by troup Kekenoko-zoku. There was also food stalls, with collaboration curry by Indo Fujiko and Negura.

- On Wednesday was an in-store event by SOLEIL at Tower Records Shibuya, in promotion of 3rd album "Lollipop Sixteen"! Singer Soleil and bassist/producer Sally Kubota performed four songs over a backtrack. The set started with album opening track "Le Cœur Qui Jazz" (written by Tweedees), for which Soleil played tambourine while singing, even playing it windmill style! This was followed by "Anachronic Girl" (written by Frenesi) during which she does a performance of ribbon gymnastics all while singing. The set ended with single "Mellotron Girl" (YouTube) and their cover of Imo-kin Trio's hit song "High School Lullaby" (YouTube). Fun show! :)

Set list: Le Coeur Qui Fuzz / Anachronic Girl / Mellotron Girl / High School Lullaby

- After watching SOLEIL, I went to another in-store event almost just across the street, Wakita Monari at HMV&BOOKS Shibuya. It was release day for her new 3rd album "Right Here"! She sang four songs from the album, including "yasashii uso" that she had been performing in her live shows for a long time, and also previously released single "Espadrille de tsukamaete" (produced by Dorian with lyrics by Hitomitoi). "koi o suru nara" (written by Microstar) became a favorite instantly! During the show she took time totalk about her feelings of being able to pursue her career up to a 3rd album, and that she was so thankful to her supportive fans, and suddenly she was all in tears. I was happy to be able to congratulate her on the release at the autograph session that followed. The album is excellent! By the way, the artwork is by Sally Kubota!

Set list: koi o suru nara / yasashii uso / fūsen / Espadrille de tsukamaete

WAKITA Monari "Right Here" signed