Friday, 17 July 2009

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.

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Tuesday, 5 May 2009

Shibusashirazu Orchestra @ Goodman

by craig

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Daisuke Fuwa has conducted the Shibusashirazu Orchestra for 20 years, a huge collection of free jazz musicians and dancers. I had heard so much about what an amazing live band they were but never had the chance to see them live. Last night they were playing at Club Goodman in Akihabara so I jumped on my mamachari and pedaled over there. After being distracted by the shiny things in the guitar shop above, we descended the stairs to the tiny livehouse in the basement. It soon filled up with enthusiastic fans and the stage filled up with over 20 musicians and performers; drums, saxophones, trumpets, guitars, bass, keyboards, tuba, dancers, singers, girl waving giant bananas....
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The crowd pumped their fists as Shibusashirazu started their first song, a 30 minute half-improvised jazz/ska/rock explosion with long crazy guitar and sax solos. Butoh dancers appeared from nowhere on the platform beside us scaring the girls behind me. Later they played a Kiyoshiro Imawano song as a tribute to the legendary rock singer who recently died of cancer. The sound and energy was amazing coming from the middle aged guys on the stage as they played over 3 hours of fast wild rock-influenced jazz causing even the shyest audience members to dance and wave their hands in the air. I was exhausted.
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There is nothing like a Shibusashirazu Orchestra show. You have to experience it at least once.

They are playing on Sunday May 10 (as Shibusashirazu) at O-Nest supporting moools and nhhmbase. Details.

The Orchestra is also playing at Club Quattro in Shibuya on May 28th. Details.

Shibusashirazu Orchestra are regulars at Fuji Rock Festival and will be playing again this year on day 3 (July 26th). Details.

You can sometimes catch members of the orchestra playing at places like Airegin in Yokohama.

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