Thursday, 21 January 2010

You can dance if you want to

by liza

When a show lets out at 9 or 10pm, the excitement is high but the night is still young! What to do then?

When the usual izakaya or bar seems like a buzzkill, there's always getting your dance on. And there are definitely places that play music other than what you'll hear at a Gaspanic horrorshow or Roppongi pick-up joint.

Tokyo Indie
lists these nights in English. (I suppose "indie" is now a genre instead of a way of thinking, but I digress.) I'm not affiliated with this site at all but I'm glad it's there!

This Saturday night, they're throwing a party at Hell's Bar in Sangenjaya. I went to the one in November and had a good time, even though it was really crowded and seems like it will be again. I'm sure the cover charge of "free" has nothing to do with this!

As for other bigger parties -- Hard to Explain is once a month and the location changes sometimes. It's usually good fun with more obscure music toward the beginning of the night and "classics" once everyone is good and liquored up. They used to have bands playing earlier in the evening but I haven't seen any since the night has moved to smaller venues.

Mighty Pop
throws parties in different places. I've been to one at the Chelsea Hotel that had a good opener band and slightly more obscure but good music, but it was quite fashion-y. Lots of people dressed up standing around chain smoking looking bored for awhile. But they loosened up.

Parties listed on Tokyo Dandy seem to be more electro- and fashion-oriented. Haven't been to any yet.

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but my late-night standby when all else fails is the Rock no Cocoro bar in Shibuya. The music is not especially "cool" but the people and staff there are usually really nice and like to party. (plus there's no cover!) Stay away from the food though...

Anyway those are the bigger ones, am still sussing out the smaller ones so let's hear it if you know a good one!

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, 10 April 2009

FLO Union Spring Special!

by craig

The next Flo Union on Sunday April 19th will feature an interesting variety of special international guest musicians and artists:

Sydrome WPW morel the hubble telescope RightMind

*********************************************

For this month's dose of analog-electro punk-disco violence we have Syndrome WPW from Switzerland.

For French folktronica, there'll be Morel, a project of Will from Selvaluna.

And from Australia, catch The Hubble Telescope, a project of David of Like Chandeliers / Cartwheel / Cruiseboat fame.

Not strangers to Flo Union, RightMind, who have recently released their 1st album, will be delivering their trusty electronic-rock.

Visuals will be provided by Flo Union's own VJ David Roy.

Displaying her original nail art will be Pink Cherry from Italy.

On the decks between sets will be DJ Joe Kern.

For guffaws, there will be Chizue and friends doing some comedy.

*********************************************

Things kick off at 8:30pm on Sunday April 19th at The Pink Cow in Shibuya and entry is FREE! (Details at TGG)


Flo Union Media Lounge is a (very) relaxed monthly music, media and art event where all types of artists, musicians, performers and filmmakers have up to 20 minutes of stage time to perform, display or present their stuff. If you would like to participate in an upcoming event, or to join the mailing list, email flounion@gmail.com

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

An Experimental Evening

by liza

Just a quick post to tell everyone about some bands I saw a couple of weeks ago!

Some Sunday afternoon randomness (drinking may or may not have been involved!) led me to Shibuya's O-Nest on Feb. 8, where Lowborn Soundsystem was playing a gig to celebrate its first album. Since the band billed itself as "post-punk," I was expecting something along the lines of Gang of Four.

Was I wrong! The 7- or 8-member group (it was hard to tell with all the jumping around!) tore onto the stage, ripped up a poster of a Japanese politician and launched into a set that was more Polysics than Joy Division. There were lots of trippy electronics from three DJs/programmers -- but again, hard to tell exactly as there were condoms and maxi pads raining down from the sky, as well as a pig's head, which was real, I learned at the afterparty from the comedian cracking wise between sets.

I don't think I'd classify them as "post-punk/alternative," but they certainly have enough punk attitude to go around. Check out their MySpace here.

Before their set, I was unexpectedly treated to a performance by 30-year-plus experimental veterans Hikashu (ヒカシュー, or "Hikasu" in romanji sometimes). They're outrageous, theatrical and all over the place. How often do you get to see a theremin used on stage? I always wondered how the spooky music in B-movies was made.

It looks like their next gig isn't until April 1 at Star Pine's Cafe, and I definitely recommend checking them out. Their experience really shows in their sound. MySpace here.

(image is from Hikashu's MySpace photos)

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, 30 June 2008

Flo Union Summer special



Flo Union is a monthly event which has been happening at different venues and with different organisers since 2004. It has morphed from a book exchange to an arts showcase to its current incarnation as a Media Lounge, organised by the VJ, David Roy (Modius Cafe) with the help of Craig Exton (Tokyo Gig Guide).

The July Flo Union on July 20th, will focus on live music with some very special international guests: Mixtune For Cully, visiting from Denmark, Cigarettes For Ping Pong from Australia, as well as local, Eri Makino.

Like every month, there will also be VJs and artists showing their work.
In fact, any kind of artist is free to perform or show their work. Live painting, short films, DJs, VJs, performance art, dance, poetry, live projection, animation, design, photography... Just let us know in advance if you can. flounion@gmail.com

Between performances, DJs Mr Craig e, Bamboozled, Stick Close Like Dogs, Dolly and more will play DJ tennis.

It will be held on Sunday, July 20th at The Pink Cow, a cool loungeroom-like event space/restaurant/bar in Shibuya.

Entry is free and it starts at 8:30pm.



Mixtune For Cully
Aage Hedensted; the man behind the previous Danish indierock successes such as Yellowish and Slowburn is back on track with his most ambitious project so far, Mixtune For Cully. A singer/songwriter with a preference for the traditional shoegazer scene, Hedensted, with his beautiful and piercing voice, masters to muster a fragile thoughtfulness in his lyrics. The noise of the guitar has been tuned down and replaced by insisting, acoustic elements. We Know Where The Aircrafts Hide is released in Denmark the 6th of October by GoodTape Records in collaboration with Playground Music. Aage will bring the new album with him to Japan and play some of the songs from it live.

Cigarettes For Ping Pong
From Melbourne, Australia, Carol Micallef's (Cartwheel, Like Chandeliers) new project Cigarettes For Ping Pong play music which conveys both tenderness and charm like that of a new foal attempting to stand on it’s own. We hope you will be fond of it.

Eri Makino
Eri Makino is “Piano and vocal and something” style musician, with snare drum, with many toy, with laptop, with impromptu, with sampler, with orchestra, with band, with idol unit, with i-pod, with a teddy, with my friends, etc.

Eri Makino and Cigarettes For Ping Pong will also play on the afternoon of Saturday, July 19th at Stax Fred in Koenji for a special lunchtime live show with electronic duo lotusloop. Details here.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

Club 8

Fancy some Swedish pop?
Club 8 will be in Japan on April 3rd for a show at O-Nest, supported by 4 bonjour's parties and Mondialito.



Club 8 is Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård, also in the great indie-pop band, Acid House Kings. Since 1995, Club 8 have released 6 albums on Spanish label Siesta and Swedish label Labrador. Their sound has moved between twee, bossa-nova, electronica and shiny, happy but melancholic pop.

Their new album, Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming, is out in Japan now.
Listen: Whatever You Want mp3




4 bonjour's parties is a seven piece band who play a large array of instruments from guitar to flute to synthesiser and everything in between. Could they be called dreamy chamber-pop or Belle & Sebastian meets Tortoise? However you describe them, they are definitely one of the most interesting and original bands in japan right now.



Mondialito play beautiful down-tempo, acoustic-electro-bossa. Singing almost all songs in French, you can hear the influence of Keren Ann. Their 4th album, Cher Mon Amoureux, is out now.

On The One, Tearbridge International and Cookie Scene present Club 8.
April 3rd (Thursday) at O-Nest in Shibuya.
The doors open at 6:00 and the music starts at 7:00.
Tickets can be purchased from Lawson. The L-code is 72151.
It costs 3400yen advance or 3900yen at the door.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 23 January 2008

Sufjan Stevens at Club Quattro Jan 22nd 2008