Blog - Weekly revue: 2019 week #45 (November 2 to 8)

Weekly revue: 2019 week #45 (November 2 to 8)

Food: - Cold-brew green tea at No Rails, Shibuya

Music events: - Monday November 4 was a national holiday, and I went to see YMCK's "Family Circus Show" at Daikanyama Space Odd! The show was to accompany their new album "Family Circus" released on the same day. Featuring all songs from the album (all heard for the first time) and then some more favorites and reworked versions (including mashups with games "Circus Charlie" and "Castlevania"), and also some original games for which people in the audience were called on stage to play, as always it was a wonderful and fun show! Whenever I watch their shows I always feel some moments of pure glee, caused by a mix of great nostalgic game visuals and sounds, and maybe some form of illusionist magic like they're so good at.

The new album is also excellent! It's now available on iTunes, Spotify, etc., and also as a very nicely designed CD via Amazon Japan. Check it out!

- Also, there was Record Day 2019 held on Sunday November 3, and in the evening I dropped by an in-store event at Union Record (Disk Union's vinyl-only shop in Shinjuku) for a mini live show by The Pen Friend Club! Despite not being a very big shop, they had moved the record shelves to make enough space for the 8 members and their instruments. For Record Day, the band had their Christmas album from last year released on vinyl, so they played a set that included some Christmas songs and also more from their regular repertory. After the show they signed autographs so I could get the record signed by all of them. :) I think Christmas songs might be more enjoyable when played on vinyl than in other forms, so I look forward to listening to this a lot in the coming holiday season.

By the way for Record Day I also got Towa Tei's "On Air EP", which features previously unreleased collaborations with Nomiya Maki and Non, and of course I also got Pizzicato Five's boxed set of sixteen 7"'s! The boxed set looks awesome with completely newly designed sleeves for each record by art director Shindō Mitsuo. Plus it includes a photo autographed by Nomiya Maki and Konishi Yasuharu, and also the box is numbered by the art director! They all had to sign a total of 1300 pieces... what a feat! Definitely a priceless collectible for any fan.

Exhibition: I dropped by the solo exhibition of illustrator Moto Hideyasu at Gallery Void in Asagaya, titled "MOTO JAM". Maybe best known for his character Recosuke and Recogirl (often seen at Disk Union), several of his music-related illustrations are on display. I had the chance to meet Moto-san when we spent a fun day acting as zombie extras in SOLEIL's "Mellotron Girl" music video. :) I got his comic book "Agemono Blues". The exhibition is on until November 17.