New Year's Eve Guide 2009-2010

There are plenty of things to do in Tokyo to celebrate the new year. Here are the Tokyo Gig Guide recommended countdown parties

Festival


COUNTDOWN JAPAN 09/10
WHO? capsule, RYUKYUDISKO, POLYSICS, Shugo Tokumaru, GO!GO!7188, Superfly, Elephant Kashimashi, HALCALI, MOGOL800, the telephones, detroit7
On the 28th - Ryuichi Sakamoto and Perfume
WHERE? Makuhari Messe
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2188

Dance



ELECTRONIC TRIBE - YEBISU NEW YEAR'S PARTY 2010
WHO? Laurent Garnier, Mixmaster Morris aka The Irresistable Force, DJ Krush, 80KIDZ, DJ Baku, Daniel Wang, Kenji Takimi (Crue-L), Calm, DJ Kyoko, Ametsub
WHERE? Ebisu Garden Hall
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2197

ageHa COUNTDOWN 2010
WHO? BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, KEN ISHII, DJ EMMA, DEXPISTOLS, DISCO TWINS, The SAMOS, MYSS, more
WHERE? ageHa in Shin-Kiba
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2147



AIR NEW YEAR'S EVE COUNTDOWN TO 2010
WHO? SATOSHI TOMIIE, HECTOR ROMERO, RADIO SLAVE, DJ ENDO, YUMMY, ANRI, more
WHERE? AIR in Daikanyama
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2204



2010 LIQUID
WHO? Takkyu Ishino, Fumiya Tanaka, Tohru Takahashi, DJ WADA, DJ NORI, MOODMAN, more
WHERE? Liquid Room in Ebisu
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2199

BLUE WINDY NIGHT 2009−2010 COUNT DOWN SPECIAL
WHO? DJ NORI, Toshio Matsuura, Shuya Okino, De De Mouse, Yama a.k.a.Sahib, Eiji Takehana, more
WHERE? Mado Lounge & Tokyo City View in Roppongi
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2198

WOMB presents NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN 2010
WHO? JEFF MILLS, AKi, TECHRIDERS, OHNISHI, AKR, RYUSUKE NAKAMURA, Dr.SHINGO, SATOSHI OTSUKI, TAKUYA, more
WHERE? Womb in Shibuya
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2042

Different

COUNTDOWN 2009>2010 ＠ O-EAST
WHO? Shibusashirazu Orchestra, TURTLE ISLAND, Soul Flower Union, NATSUMEN, DJ KENSEI, more
WHERE? O-East in Shibuya
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2201



ENBAN NO YUKU-TOSHI KURU-TOSHI
WHO? Maruo Maruko (from Kyoto), FREAKOUT FAN CLUB, Shigehiko Matsui, Johnny Okura Daijin (Suichu Sorewa Kurushii), Fumihito Taguchi, ju sei, Kitamura Sakiko, mamimi fouksong, 2コ (eetsuu), TABATA, Suzuki Junzo, JON (THE DOG), Ritsuko Sakata (pagtas) + Saitto Elettrico, purin no tameiki, suppa band nanika, OPQ, MY PAL FOOT FOOT, Takashi Ueno (Tenniscoats)
WHERE? Enban in Koenji
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2106

KAN MIKAMI COUNTDOWN LIVE
WHO? Kan Mikami & guests
WHERE? Muryoku Muzenji in Koenji
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2200

Punk

BURNING SPIRITS 2010 YEAR END EVE
WHO? Tetsu Array, EXTINCT GOVERNMENT, WAR HEAD, 九狼吽 (CLOWN), THE TRASH, SLIP HEAD BUTT, NO PROBLEM, more
WHERE? Antiknock in Shinjuku
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2205



2009/2010 COUNT DOWN LIVE ATOMIC NITE THE FINAL
WHO? FRAGMENTS, ED WOODS, BRAZIL UFO, TOKYO-RYOZANPAKU, mohipuri, GOLGO BUTCH, more
WHERE? Heaven's Door in Sangenjaya
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2203



Beat Happening SPECIAL！～COUNT DOWN TO HAPPENING！
WHO? STRIKERS, NeZuMiHaNaBi, Analogue Jidai, NaLas, Tsubaki, ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, URBANfeti, the HANGOVERS, asunarou
WHERE? Lush in Shibuya
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2207

Rock



SHIBUYA YANEURA YEAR END SPECIAL 2009→2010
WHO? PLATON, Tsubaki, Sonic Attacks Blaster, UNDER THE COUNTER, Fuzz Picks, POP CHOCOLAT, Sexy Panther, FRESUBT, BAZRA, Bob&Carnivals, Techma!, more
WHERE? Shibuya Yaneura
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2038

SWAN SONG COUNCIL vol.11
WHO? about tess, birds melt sky, Far France, fukurouzu, henrytennis, hinomari, JUGONZ, mothercoat, oak, SuiseiNoboAz, more
2009/12/29 to 31
WHERE? AT SHINJUKU MARZ + Motion
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/1883

COUNT DOWN at Zher the ZOO 1st round ～DELICIOUS BUMP SHOW!!～
WHO? the pillows, noodles, POP CHOCOLAT, monokuro
WHERE? Zher The Zoo in Yoyogi
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2025


We Jam Econo '09
WHO? Mike Watt's (Minutemen) new band brother's sister's daughter, Yuka Honda (cibo Matto) and nels cline's (Wilco) project stadium kitchen, COMBOPIANO, LITE, Qomolangma Tomato, kuruucrew, Samm Bennett, more
WHERE? ERA in Shimokitazawa
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2202

BASEMENT BAR COUNT DOWN PARTY 2009>2010
WHO? SUNN, kingnurarihyong, mop of head, yuguretoronica, DEDESUKE, pocketlife, salsa, Zews, highered-girl, the highest, Creepy pop
WHERE? Basement Bar in Shimokitazawa
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2206

TENSAW COUNTDOWN 2010
WHO? TENSAW (SAYBOW, Take, michiaki, GRICO)
WHERE? Showboat in Koenji
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2184

Jazz


ALL NIGHT CONCERT 2009～2010
WHO? Shun Sakai Group, Takeshi Shibuya Orchestra, EMERGENCY!, Fumio Karashima Quintet, HIROSHI MINAMI Trio+1, Yoichi Murata Orchestra, Fumio Itabashi＋4
WHERE? Pit Inn in Shinjuku
http://www.tokyogigguide.com/gigs/details/2189

Japanese bands to see at Fuji Rock Festival

While you're at Fuji Rock Festival, make sure you catch some Japanese bands.
Here are my suggestions:

Yukihiro Takahashi. He was a member of the amazing, influential electronic group YMO, and continues to make interesting electronica pop. The Words on YouTube (Sorry, embedding disabled)

Shibusashirazu Orchestra. Amazing extravaganza! I wrote about a recent concert of theirs here. Unfortunately they clash with Takahashi-san.
Here they are at 2002 FRF:


Why watch Oasis when you could be watching pop band Clammbon?


The best way to start off on Sunday will be to watch the wild new-wave sci-fi band Polysics!


To dance away Friday night, in the Orange Court you can see some electro-hip-hop with Newdeal x Tamaki ROY. Following them is the Shibuya-kei king of electro-house, DJ Towa Tei. Yes, he was in Deee-Lite too! After Towa Tei, Tadanobu Asano will do a short DJ set. Yes, he does music too! Otherwise, for something weirder, stick around Red Marquee to see DJ EY∃ (from Boredoms). I've seen him DJ before - wild and highly danceable!


UA - the unusual but extremely popular jazzy pop singer with a very unique voice will be playing the Green Stage on Saturday.


On the intimate Gypsy Avalon stage, you should see Oni from Afrirampo play solo. Expect something quite different than what she does in Afrirampo!


Progressive piano/guitar/drums trio COMBOPIANO appear at Naeba Shokudo.


Super hyperactive DJ De De Mouse will rock the White Stage, probably with a guest drummer. Although at the same time reformed 90s indie-pop band Sunny Day Service will fill up Field Of Heaven.


80kidz will have the electro kids packed in to the Red Marquee after midnight on Saturday night.


Instrumental post-rock trance band Rovo will be returning to FRF to get everyone dancing. For more wild dancing, neconemuru will have the Naeba Shokudo diners going crazy.


Other bands to check out:

Like girls with accordions? See ryukusanburu kouen!
Psychedelic tribal trance hippies? Dachambo.
70s political rock? Zunou Keisatsu.
Weird experimental electronica? coppe' will play at Café de Paris.
Rock n' Roll with traditional Japanese influences? Soul Flower Union.
Jazz/ska/party rock shenanigans with Sakerock.
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra will get Friday off to a fun start.
Playing at the same time as TSPO, is Asa-Chang & Junray.
One of the loudest bands to play this year is Guitar Wolf.
Cute and odd Jpop singer Chara will play at the same time at Lilly Allen.
You will have two late night chances to dance to Takkyu Ishino from Denki Groove.

You must check out some of the up and coming bands on the Rookie A Go-Go stage. Some highlights this year are Harp On Mouth Sextet, SuiseiNoboAz, nenem, Kate Sikora, Kowarekake no Tape Recorders, animanimus, and Mahiruno.

There are plenty more great musicians from Japan on the timetable.

Fuji Rock Festival tips

Check out the Fuji Rock Festival website for the timetable and ticket information.

Here are some tips, advice and a packing list for the festival.

GETTING THERE

Take the shinkansen from Tokyo or Ueno to Echigo Yuzawa station. It takes over an hour and costs 6490yen from Ueno one-way. Go to any JR counter of a big station and get tickets in advance if you can. Then get your return tickets when you get to Echigo Yuzawa. There are free shuttle buses from Echigo Yuzawa station. Last year I had to wait over an hour in a queue in the rain for a bus.

To save money on transport, you can get local trains for about half the price of a shinkansen (3260yen), but it takes more than twice the time. Take the JR Takasaki line from Ueno to Takasaki, then the JR Joetsu line to Minakami, then the infrequent Joetsu line extension to Echigo-Yuzawa. If you're going on the Thursday or Friday, the 6:27am Takasaki line from Ueno will get you to Echigo-Yuzawa at 10:21am, or the 10:20am train will get you there at 2:17pm. Check train times at Hyperdia.

To save even more money, get a seishun juhachi kippu. This gives you five daily tickets of unlimited travel on JR local and rapid trains (not express or shinkansen) for only 11500yen. You can divide the 5 tickets among your friends and it'll work out to be only 2300yen to get to the festival! You will need to travel together though. Even if there are only two of you, if you use it on the way there and back, it'll only cost you 2875yen each way. More info at Japan Guide.

WHAT TO BRING

The essentials: clothes, camera, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow, toiletries, tickets.

Torch (flashlight). It's essential if you're camping, but also useful finding your way around the darker parts of the festival grounds at night.

Sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. You'll be spending a lot of time out in the sun.

Rain poncho or light rain coat. You can't bring umbrellas into the festival grounds and you are guaranteed to get stuck in the rain at some point. You can get plastic ponchos from 100yen shops, but they break easily so bring a couple.

Plastic tarps/covers/garbage bags to cover your backpack and camping gear on the way to the festival in case it rains.

Cash. There are no ATMs.

Insulated PET bottle cover. You can get them from a 100yen shop.

Batteries. For your phone recharger, torch, camera etc.

Insect repellent, especially if camping. You will be spending time at night in the forest.


Something to sit on. Small tarp, light fold-up chair, or even just a plastic bag.

Towels. Big towels for the shower/bath/hose-shower/creek, but also small towels for mopping up sweat and rain.

Swimwear/shorts/clothes you can wear if you jump in the creek or wash yourself with a hose. Those shower and onsen queues are ridiculous!

Sensu (folding fan) can be handy. There is no air-conditioning!

Shade tent or tarp and rope to rig up a sun-shade. The early morning sun will turn your tent into a sauna so it's good to be able to sit around/sleep near your tent in the morning.

Flip-flops to wear around the campsite. You'll slip all over the place and get your toes trodden on if you wear them into the festival.

Shoes that may get destroyed. You will be doing a lot of walking, probably in the rain and mud. A spare pair might be good. Wellingtons/gum boots are popular, but they're sweaty and uncomfortable.

Light jacket. It may get cool at night, so bring something long-sleeved.

Small padlock. Theft isn't really a problem, but if you're worried about leaving stuff in your tent, put a small lock on the zipper.

Something to mark your tent. There are thousands and they all look the same! Tape or a flag or something.

Rope. This is very handy when camping to rig up a clothesline or sun-shade, or to secure broken tents. Remember a knife to cut it!

A mallet or hammer. Bashing tent pegs with a rock is not much fun.

Portable ashtray if you are a smoker.

Tissues. Bring some of those freebies that they hand out on the street in case there's no loo paper or you get a runny nose, or if you're a messy eater.

TIPS

Campsite. Get there on the Thursday to find a good flat spot to camp. You don't want to end up pitching a tent on the side of a hill miles from the toilet in a place that will flood.

Alcohol. You can't bring glass bottles or cans into the festival grounds. You can bring whatever you want into the campsite or hotels though, so mix up drinks in PET bottles in your tent/room and then you can carry them into the festival. Bring a cooler box/bag along and get ice and mixers from the store near the front of the Prince Hotel. Plastic cups are useful if you want to drink at your campsite. Most alcoholic drinks in the festival grounds cost 500yen.

Mobile phones. Bring your phone but don't rely on it too much as you often can't get reception at the festival. Plan places and times to meet friends in advance. Bring a battery-operated phone recharger.

Garbage bags. The staff hand out garbage bags when you enter the festival. These are very useful, not only for your rubbish, but also to sit on if the ground is wet or dirty, and to cover your bag/camera/self when it rains.

Queues. Be prepared for queues for the bus to and from Echigo Yuzawa station (so get there early on Thursday), queues for your armbands when you arrive (get there early), queues for toilets, queues for food and drinks, queues to use showers, sinks and hoses, occasional queues to enter stages and super-long queues for merchandise.

Sending stuff. You can get stuff sent to and from the festival by Yamato for reasonable prices. There is a counter near the entrance where you can pack and post stuff. Very useful if you're too tired to carry all your stuff home. Details here. The Yamato counter can also store your luggage throughout the festival.

Food. There are plenty of good food stalls throughout the festival grounds selling all kinds of food, and it's not too expensive. There's plenty for vegetarians too. There is also a small shop near the Prince hotel where you can get snacks and drinks for your campsite. There is organic food around Field of Heaven and Gypsy Avalon.

Shop. I didn't discover this until the final day last year, but there is a small convenience-store-like-shop between the festival entrance and the Prince Hotel. You can get ice, water, drinks, snacks and instant noodles here. They even sell some camping gear, hats etc in case you forgot something. There are some decent toilets here too.

Walking. The festival site is very, very large and the paths can be crowded, so get fit and expect to spend a lot of time walking between stages. Please take this into consideration when planning which bands to see. If you want to head to Orange Court to see a band starting at the same time as the finishing time of band you just saw at Red Marquee, well you'll probably miss most of their set. The walk from the campsite to the festival is also quite long.

Plan. Study the timetable before you go and work out who you want to see. Check out the websites of bands you don't know and discover some new stuff you can catch at the festival. Look at the festival layout and work out if it will be possible to walk between stages between bands in time to catch them.

EXPLORE AND CHILL-OUT


Watching supergroups at the Green and White stages, Red Marquee, Orange Court and Field of Heaven can be a bit tiring for 3 days, so plan some time to check out the other stages and areas of the festival.

For a real trippy experience, take the 20-minute cable car up to Day Dreaming/Silent Breeze way up on top of a mountain. Some cool hip-hop and electronica acts play up there, there are weird games and costumes, a flying fox, a restaurant, dragonflies and a really fun relaxed atmosphere where you are allowed to act like children.

There are hammocks you can hang in, in the forest between the Gypsy Avalon stage and NGO area. Take a look at the NGO booths while you're there.

Naeba Shokudo is near the world food area/Red Marquee and you can get some nice Japanese food and sake there as well as catch some bands on the small stage.

Mokudo-tei is a tiny stage set up on the boardwalk in the middle of the forest where bands play intimate sets.

All-night action can be had outside the festival entrance in a bizarre area around the Crystal Palace tent. Dance, play, have some cocktails and watch the Mongolian circus. Check out some great up-and-coming bands on the Rookie A Go-Go stage. There are some great artists playing there this year. More info at Palace of Wonder.

If you have time, go right down to the very end of the festival beyond the Orange Court to Café de Paris, a Moulin Rouge cabaret inspired area with chanson and gypsy music. You can also get some good cocktails, chill down in the creek, and jam on the drums at Stoned Circle.


So, who wants to join the Tokyo Gig Guide Fuji Rock '09 cohort?

múm to play TAICOCLUB festival in Kawasaki

The enigmatic Icelandic band múm have been confirmed to play at TAICO CLUB 09 in Kawasaki, along with British electronic duo Plaid, microhouse artist Isolée, and Detroit techno DJ Carl Craig.


Earlier this month was TAICO CLUB at Nagano Kisomura Kodama No Mori, but this year there will be another festival in Kawasaki.

TAICOCLUB '09 KAWASAKI will be held on the weekend of the 19th and 20th of September at Kawasaki Higashi Ogishima East Park.

Ticket information and the full lineup is yet to be announced, but so far the announced lineup is:

múm, SOUTAISEIRIRON, Carl Craig, Theo Parrish (Sound Signature), Plaid (Warp), JAMES HOLDEN, DJ KRUSH & Kazunori Kumagai, isolée, Omar S, PARA, sleeparchive, Sascha Dive, INO hidefumi, LUKE ABBOTT, DJ NOBU (Future Terror)

More info

Fuji Rock Festival 09 per-stage lineup

The Fuji Rock Festival daily lineup has been announced, including a bunch of new additions and the bands for the Rookie A-Go-Go stage. Here it is, with links to the artists' websites/myspaces:

24 July (Friday)

GREEN STAGE
OASIS
PAUL WELLER
PATTI SMITH
Lily Allen
DOVES
WHITE LIES
TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA

WHITE STAGE
The Neville Brothers
ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND
hanaregumi
Chara
EBONY BONES!
GUITAR WOLF

RED MARQUEE
SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO
PEACHES
THE VIRGINS
LOW IQ & THE BEAT BREAKER
M83
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
LONGWAVE

PLANET GROOVE
EYE (BOREDOMS)
GANG GANG DANCE
DIPLO
BURAKA SOM SISTEMA
CRAZE & KLEVER

FIELD OF HEAVEN
clammbon
TORTOISE
JEFF LANG
SAKEROCK
Curly Giraffe
ASA-CHANG & JUNRAY

ORANGE COURT
SYSTEM 7
GONG
orquesta de la luz
Räfven
esne beltza
BOIKOT

ALL NIGHT FUJI
DJ TEI TOWA
KEN ISHII
YOJI (ex. YOJI-BIOMEHANIKA)
DJ TASAKA
NEWDEAL X TAMAKI ROY

CRYSTAL PALACE TENT
Sim Cass / jimbo limbo
WILKO JOHNSON
Baby Soul (Gaz's Rockin' Blues)
icchie SPECIAL SESSION BAND
PRINCE NAOKI (Dun Store Records)
Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves
Lilly Allen

PALACE ARENA
State Circus of Mongolia

ROOKIE A GO GO
uchikubi gokumon doukoukai
Jaribu Afrobeat Arkestra
SuiseiNoboAz
reito
Harp on mouth sextet

DAY DREAMING
Hiyoshi
uminekosounds (acoustic set)
Predawn
arupachikabuto
haiiro de rossi

25th July (Sat)

GREEN STAGE
FRANZ FERDINAND
BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS 7
JET
UA
SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80
THE BIRTHDAY

WHITE STAGE
PUBLIC ENEMY
BAD BRAINS
ZAZEN BOYS
MELVINS
Kinniku Shoujotai
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
9mm Parabellum Bullet


RED MARQUEE
DINOSAUR JR.
TRASHCAN SINATRAS
COMEBACK MY DAUGHTERS
THE HIGHER
IDA MARIA
FUNERAL PARTY
a flood of circle

TRIBAL CIRCUS
CROOKERS
80kidz
THE SHOES
THE BLOODY BEETROOTS
FAKE BLOOD

FIELD OF HEAVEN
funky METERS
EASY STAR ALL STARS
TheSkaFlames
THE AGGROLITES
COOL WISE MEN
HAYLEY SALES
TOM FREUND

ORANGE COURT
BOOKER T.
SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS
PRISCILLA AHN
JUSTIN NOZUKA
Eli “Paperboy” Reed & The True Loves
THE INSPECTOR CLUZO

CRYSTAL PALACE TENT
mori masaki (Ego Wrappin')
azuma mitsuyoshi trio +1
TAKKYU ISHINO
Altan Urag
RADICAL MUSIC NETWORK (MESTIZO FIESTA PARTY)
EKD
DIPLO

PALACE ARENA
State Circus of Mongolia

ROOKIE A GO GO
bouzumans
kowarekakeno tape recorders
THE DESCRIPTIONS
KATE SIKORA
nenem

DAY DREAMING
Takuya & Raymond (the samos)
MYSS
orokamonopotechi
Eccy
tamaki ROY
Cypress Ueno & Robert Yoshino
DJ BAKU

26th July (Sun)

GREEN STAGE
WEEZER
FALL OUT BOY
BRAHMAN
JIMMY EAT WORLD
asai kenichi
COBRA STARSHIP
BASEMENT JAXX

WHITE STAGE
RÖYKSOPP
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
YUKIHIRO TAKAHASHI
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH
DE DE MOUSE
THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
HOLY FUCK
POLYSICS

RED MARQUEE
MAXIMO PARK
FRICTION
ROWLAND HOWARD
HiGE
TWISTED WHEEL
CRYING NUT
MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS

SUNDAY SESSION
WILKO JOHNSON
TAKKYU ISHINO
SONNY J
THE JAPANESE POPSTARS
DJ TIM HEALEY

FIELD OF HEAVEN
DISCO BISCUITS
ROVO
sunnyday service
Dachambo
Steve Nieve Band featuring Glenn Tibrook
nakamura mari

ORANGE COURT
SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80
Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra
SOUL FLOWER UNION
zunoukeisatsu
JUANA MOLINA
Altan Urag

CRYSTAL PALACE TENT
watanabe toshimi (TOKYO No.1 SOUL SET/THE ZOO 16)
ASAKUSA JINTA
jimbo limbo
Big Willie's Burlesque
SHACHO (SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS)
Räfven
CABARET CATS with JVC FORCE TYO

PALACE ARENA
State Circus of Mongolia

ROOKIE A GO GO
Mahiruno
Gekitetsu
animanimus
THE CENTERHITS
taizan ni asobu

DAY DREAMING
SEINOIZE
MATSUSAKA DAISUKE
ALTZ
YODA


I wonder who else will be added?