The concert is being organized by Steve Tanaka, a Canadian whose boundless enthusiasm for Japanese music shines through everything he does.  This guy knows Japanese music and he’s recruited some amazing bands for the tour.  I can’t recommend these concerts enough.

There’s lots of information about the tour at nextmusicfromtokyo.com and tickets are on sale at TicketWeb for $8 – yes, you read that right, $8.

Here’s the schedule:

May 22   Vancouver @ the Biltmore Cabaret
May 25   Montreal @ il Motore
May 28   Toronto @ the Rivoli
May 29   Toronto (All-Ages !!) @ Whipper Snapper Gallery 

July 9  Tour finale in Tokyo, Japan @ Shibuya
O-nest !!

Andymori:

Mothercoat:

Owarikara:

Kulu Kulu Garden:

Goomi:

Though, sadly, it is only for about 2 weeks, this trip will include recording sessions for their up-and-coming new album with producer John McEntire (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake), who they have been craving for working with, so I have to say it’s worth it.
Before they took off for this tour, I was lucky enough to interview them.

Q: On Feb 10th, the last day of the new EP tour, I enjoyed your performance much more than last year.  It was one of the best shows this year so far.
What kind of bands do you particularly respect?
A: 54-71. Their live performance has all the elements such as techniques, original ideas, surprises, and funniness, living on their stage. I have never seen any other shows that full of originality.

Q: What were good and regretful things during this tour?
A: Good: Had a great time touring with the band Marvins Revolt (Denmark).
Sad: The band (Marvins Revolt) broke up after this tour.

Q: I heard you are doing some recordings after the US tour, could you tell us about that?
A: We have been longing to have John McEntire to record our music. We couldn’t schedule it last time as he was busy, but this time we were able to have a chance to ask him for it.

Q: About the new EP “Turns Red”, I see there were some new things in your music, such as a synthesizer. Was there anything that influenced you? Were there any changes for making music?
A: We did not get influenced by anyone particular. We thought we have done enough in our former style of music, and wanted to try out something new and challenging. We finally have learned how to make music on our PC.  We did a demo on Garageband.

Q: When are you planning to release the new album?
A: We would like to release it by this Summer if possible.

Q: When it’s released, are you planning to go on tour abroad?  You went to several places on the last tour, what country was the best place to play? and why?
A: We would like to go to Europe again.  Hard to name one place since we have good memories at each location, but Dublin, Ireland, (the hometown of our label) was very lively.

Q: Do you have any confirmed plans for summer festivals? Do you prefer to play outside or inside?
A: We don’t know about summer festivals yet.
We like to play outside, because it seems more fun.

Q: Do you ever feel music is your job? If so, what makes you feel it?
A: We have never felt that music is our job.

- US Tour Dates -
3/4 – RHYTHM ROOM – Phoenix, AZ
3/5 – BOOTLEG THEATER – Los Angeles, CA
3/6 – THE CASBAH – San Diego, CA
3/7 – MERCURY LOUNGE – Santa Barbara, CA
3/8 – THE BLUE LAMP – Sacramento, CA
3/9 – BOTTOM OF THE HILL – San Francisco, CA
3/11 – DANTE’S – Portland, OR
3/12 – CHOP SUEY – Seattle, WA

LITE: MYSPACE

A whole bunch of other cool stuff on Daito’s YouTube channel.  Here are a couple of my favourites:

Dates:
28 Oct 2009 Cave-Be, Shimokitazawa
29 Oct 2009 LUSH, Shibuya
30 Oct 2009 Bunkafunk Bunkfunk – Club SuperDeluxe
01 Nov 2009 Yukotopia
02 Nov 2009 MARZ, Shinjuku

SideChild: MYSPACE | WEBSITE

Video:

Here’s what Hisham has to say about his book:

“This AMJ is a compilation made up of mostly collage work I have done over the years, as well as some of my installation drawings. This if the first book of my own so I am excited about it and hope you are as well. It was a simple process to create this book but I am glad to have it out in the world. It describes an era of development for me in my work. I hope to surpass this work by keeping on the creative path but it’s nice to have something to look back on. Art is for sharing not keeping to yourself. The more people your work can speak to the more powerful it becomes. Let it fall out of your hands and into the minds of others. You can’t own it, you can only create it.”

Artist Music Journals website.

Video: ‘Feathers’ from Midori Hirano’s second album klo:yuri

More good news for UK and Ireland fans of Japanese music. Classically trained pianist/talented electronic producer Midori Hirano is on tour from October 19 to November 7.

Hirano’s music is a gentle and intoxicating brew of minimalist electronica, gentle piano and sumptuous strings. Her first album is titled Lush Rush and that’s exactly the best way to describe her music, a lush rush of intertwining textures and gentle yet substantial melodies.

Here are the dates for the tour:

UK & Ireland Tour : 29 OCT – 7 NOV

October 29, 2009(Thu)
@Meze Festival (Newport/UK)
w/ Max Tundra and Passion Pit (DJ Set
Tickets : £5
Open : 8PM / Start : 8:30PM

October 30, 2009(Fri)
Instore Live@Tower Records Dublin (Dublin/Ireland)
Start : 1PM

October 30, 2009(Fri)
@Whelan’s (Dublin/Ireland)
w/ At last an atlas
Tickets : €12 advance / €14 on the night
Open : 8PM

November 1, 2009(Sun)
@Roisin Dubh (Upstairs) (Galway/Ireland)
w/ At last an atlas
Tickets : €10

November 3, 2009(Tue)
@The New Adelphi (Hull/UK)

November 4, 2009(Wed)
@The Tin Angel (Coventry/UK)

November 6, 2009(Fri)
@De La Warr Pavilion (Bexhill, East Sussex/UK)
Time : 7pm

November 7, 2009(Sat)
@London International Festival of Exploratory Music 2009 (London/UK)
Time: 18:45
Venue: Kings Place – Hall Two
Price: KP45 £14.50, £11.50, £9.50, Saver Seat £6.50

Midori Hirano MySpace | Official Website

15 Oct 2009 – Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. London, UK
18 Oct 2009 – “In The City” at Studio. Manchester, UK
20 Oct 2009 – Hatters. Manchester, UK
21 Oct 2009 – The Hare & Hounds. Birmingham, UK.
22 Oct 2009 – “Gaz’s Rockin Blues Club”. London, UK.
25 Oct 2009 – “Optimo” at Subclub. London, UK.

Asakusa Jinta Myspace | Official Website

Here’s a video for ‘Head Light’ from Ogre You Asshole’s upcoming album, (spotted first by Deaf and Dumb).  I’m digging the poltergeist theme of the video, as well as the (mostly) one-long-shot style.  Of course, the song itself is excellent too.  Nothing too fancy on this song, it’s mostly based around a very simple (and very catchy) bassline and and a bouncy drum beat.

Fog Lamp comes out October 7, and if the rest of it is as good as this song I’ll be very happy indeed.

Ogre You Asshole: MySpace | Official Website

I have to say this progressively arranged slashy punk-hearted hardcore alike with post-rock-ish production will predictably make shows far better than the record. The tour is only 4 days and the band barely comes to Japan, but if you are around, why not!

– Such Stoics

9/19 Club Quattro – Osaka
9/20 Club Quattro – Nagoya
9/21 O-East & Duo Music Exchange – Tokyo
9/22 Shibuya O-Nest – Tokyo

MYSPACE

Jean Snow reports on Live From Tokyo, an upcoming documentary about the diversity of the Tokyo music scene.  It’s directed by Lewis Rapkin and features a plethora of bands playing different styles of music.

Here’s what the filmmakers have to say about the documentary:

The documentary looks at Tokyo’s music culture as a reflection of Japanese society and in relation to international music culture. In 2009, we find ourselves well into the iPod generation of hyper-connectivity and information culture. The Internet has become a household portal into the endless information of the world. The music industry is plummeting and listeners are accessing and treating music in a new way. Barriers that separated music cultures in the past are becoming less relevant as globalization continues to connect artists. A new paradigm of music culture is upon us. Tokyo’s reputation for an overwhelming variety of global information, media-saturated urban environment and cutting edge innovation, makes it the perfect sample for addressing a new outlook on music culture.

Looks like it will give a great overview of the sheer quantity of music in Tokyo, as well as what the future could have in store for the Japanese music scene.  More information at http://www.livefromtokyo.net.