Saturday, April 30-Sunday, May 1

As we celebrate Japanese culture this spring, we remember the victims of the Japanese earthquake and its aftermath and invite our community to support relief efforts.

A weekend celebrating traditional and contemporary Japanese culture

Taiko Drumming • Martial Arts • Manga Artists • J-pop • Tea Ceremonies * Cosplay Fashion Show • Bonsai Demonstrations • Minbu Folk Dance * Kids' Origami Workshop • Sudoku • And More

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens

Brooklyn bar and music venue Union Pool will host a Japan Benefit on April 10th (Sunday), and for $10 you'll get seven bands, a raffle ticket, and piece of mind in knowing that all proceeds go towards AmeriCares & Direct Relief International. Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens will headline the festivities, which will also feature The A-Bones, The Live Ones, Mighty Fine, The Dixons, The Back CCs, and The Underthings. There will also be DJ sets from WFMU DJs Dave The Spazz, Gaylord Fields, and John Funke, as well as DJ Kongress and DJ Shimmy. The show kicks off at 4PM. The flier and more details are below.

That's ten days before the venue will host the previous discussed benefit for the late Brendan Majewski of Orphan. Krallice, Obits, Mira Bilotte, and Dope Body are all on board for this $10 show, which kicks off at 8PM with all proceeds going back to the Majewski family to help pay for expenses. Orphan material will be reinterpreted by the bands playing the show. Flyer is below.

As previously discussed, Krallice will also play The Studio at Webster Hall on 5/2 with Withered, Ipsissimus, and Cleric. Tickets are still available.

You can of course also catch Naomi Shelton every Friday night at Fat Cat too.

More details on the benefit shows, and their fliers are below.

Continue reading "Union Pool hosting benefits"

DOWNLOAD Chad VanGaalen - free Soft Airplanes b-sides EP (ZIP)

charity EP info is below...

Chad VanGaalen (photo by Jared Sych)

Chad VanGaalen, whose recent work includes making J Mascis's new video for "Not Enough," is welcoming a new LP, Diaper Island, on May 17th, via via Sub Pop. It's his first long-player since 2008's Soft Airplane which was followed up by a free Soft Airplane B-Sides EP (grab that above), and the very-recently released Your Tan Looks Supernatural EP. The latter, composed of outtakes from Diaper Island, was released in "response to the crisis in Japan and 100% of all proceeds from the EP will be forwarded to the Red Cross Aid Effort." You can pick it up at his Bandcamp page, and stream it in full below.

Though a full tour is still TBA, it has been announced that Chad will head to NYC to headline Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 21st. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wed at noon (4/6) and regular sale on Friday.

A couple of other dates, the EP stream and the new LP cover and track list, below...

Continue reading "Chad VanGaalen released an EP for Japan -- new LP coming soon, Brooklyn show announced"

Oneida's "Ocropolis" at ATP (more by Ryan Muir)

Oneida will play a pair of shows in their famous "Ocropolis" practice space on Saturday to benefit Japan...

Saturday, April 2 · 1:00pm - 11:30pm

Location : The Ocropolis (128 River St @ Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY_

NOTE: 1pm Show is now SOLD OUT, but Plenty of room at the 9pm show.

Oneida's Ocropolis Series are an opportunity for maniacs and friends to share in an intimate live performance by the O inside the confines of their practice space in Williamsburg. The O will be doing 2 concerts of three sets each. Each concert is $10 - of which 100% will go to a Japan relief fund established by Shinji Masuko of the Boredoms. If you would like to attend the event you MUST WRITE TO THE ADMIN OF THIS EVENT OR to kid@enemyhogs.com to get on the list. Each show is limited to 40 people. We often supply some beers and lots of good times. Ask anyone who's been to a previous one!

BRAHS AND SAHS - TO BE CLEAR - IF YOU DON'T WRITE TO kid@enemyhogs.com to confirm a spot - YOU WON'T GET IN. The early show is sold out as of this writing. If you didn't write to me - get awn it!

Show number 1 starts at 1pm and goes to approximately 5pm. Then the O will take a break.
Show number 2 starts at 9pm and will prob go to about 1am.

Please specify which show you want to go to in your email!

Love the O. . .

Continue reading "Oneida playing benefits, Man Forever playing Monster Island"

Ra Ra Riot @ MHOW in 2010 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Speaking of Japan benefits, The Bell House has two special ones scheduled....

Continue reading "Ra Ra Riot, Wyatt Cenac, Tim Harrington, Todd Barry & many, many more playing Japan benefits @ the Bell House "

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo

DOWNLOAD: Daniel Martin Moore - Dark Road (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daniel Martin Moore - In the Cool of the Day (MP3)

Jessica Lea Mayfield @ SXSW

Jessica Lea Mayfield's new Dan Auerbach-produced album, Tell Me, was released by Nonesuch Records on February 8, and since then she's tourned with Justin Townes Earle, and the Avett Brothers, and played a few shows in Austin for SXSW, one of which was an American Songwriter showcase which is where the pictures in this post come from. Another one of her sets from SXSW is for sale on iTunes, and another is streaming at KEXP. I wanted to book her on one of the many BrooklynVegan parties as well, but it ended up not working out.

She is currently back out on the road, but this time as a headliner, with Daniel Martin Moore. They play Glasslands on March 30th (AKA TONIGHT) (tickets are still available) and, after a stop in Philly, Bowery Ballroom on April 1st (tickets available too). All tour dates are listed below

Daniel Martin Moore recently dropped In The Cool Of The Day via Sub Pop in January. Two MP3s from that record are above, and the title track is also below.

Moore's companion on the recent, um, Dear Companion LP has been at work too. Ben Sollee has a new LP, Inclusions, due in May and was SUPPOSED to support Billy Bragg on his cancelled tour that was supposed to be at City Winery this week, but instead will play City Winery as part of a Japan benefit on March 31st with Rachael Yamagata, Tift Merritt, Marshall Crenshaw, Dar Williams, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Nicole Atkins, classic pianist Taka Kigawa, and the New York based big band Morning Musuko. Ben will also play with Tracy Bonham at Cameo in Brooklyn one day later.

All Jessica Lee Mayfield and Daniel Martin Moore, tour dates, some videos and more SXSW pictures, below...

Continue reading "Jessica Lea Mayfield played SXSW (pics), on tour w/ Daniel Martin Moore ++ Ben Sollee playing shows, a Japan Benefit"

NYC's Abrons Arts Center is hosting two Japan benefits on April 8th...

More than a dozen innovative artists at the intersection of indie rock, contemporary jazz, and avant-garde performance will come together at Abrons to present a benefit concert to support recovery efforts in Japan. "The tragedy and devastation is really overwhelming," says John Zorn, who has organized and will host the evening. "I've always felt a strong personal connection to Japan, and I'm just glad to be able to do my part to help. It should be an amazing night."

The lineup includes feature performances by Grammy award winning Norah Jones, Jesse Harris, and the influential Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth). An early and late show will feature two different sets by Ikue Mori and John Zorn, Vinicius Cantuaria, Masada String Trio, Buke and Gass, and many more.

Both the performers and the theater are donating their services, ensuring that 100% of proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit near Sendai on March 11. Funds will be donated to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund.

And in case there was any doubt, Buke & Gass will in fact be opening for tUnE-yArDs on her upcoming tour that hits Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 21st, one day before Buke & Gass take part in the sold out "Our Band Could Be Your Concert" at Bowery Ballroom. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Buke & Gass touring w/ tUnE-yArDS, but first benefit shows w/ Thurston Moore, John Zorn, Norah Jones & more"

It has been announced that Antony will join Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band, Cibo Matto, and Patti Smith for the benefit at LPR Tuesday. In other news, Antony has this coming:

Antony and the Johnsons will release their four track EP "Swanlights" on 10" April 16th through Record Store Day followed by releases through Secretly Canadian and Rough Trade on April 26th. The EP includes a remix of the title track by Oneohtrix Point Never and two exclusive B-sides. The CD version will include the Swanlights music video directed and produced by Sara Hegarty.

1 - Swanlights
2 - Find The Rhythm Of Your Love
3 - Kissing Noone
4 - Swanlights OPN edit

Continue reading "Antony added to Yoko benefit, releasing EP, in MEN song"

Yoko Ono @ Chimera Night @ Elysium, SXSW 2011 (Anner Terada)

"Sure, sure Kanye was playing somewhere in the city limits (with Jay Z as a special guest! OMG! #bigpimpin), but this was Yoko Ono, the queen of avant garde rock, and an influence on female artists of all stripes for the last four decades.

For all the heated anticipation in the air of the audience and her son Sean's comment that "Yoko has entered the building", she arrived on stage at the relatively small Elysium without any fanfare.

Joined by her new millennium version of the Plastic Ono Band (Sean on guitars and leading the band, master guitarist Nels Cline, and jazz bassist Trevor Dunn among them), she flashed a huge beaming smile at the crowd, flashed some peace signs and set to work ululating and gasping her way through a selection of improvisations and classic material like the stunning "Mind Train", a 1971 epic turned into a lean high speed commuter rail like via the three guitars on stage and the vibrant pulse of Dunn's bass.

Music aside, it was a sight to behold this 78-year-old artist working with the energy of someone a quarter or her age and flirting with all the men and women in the front row. All of us, even an exhausted 35-year-old music writer looking forward to heading home can take inspiration from that." [Oregon Live]

Yoko Ono and friends will return to the stage for a benefit show at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC on Tuesday, March 29th, dubbed "To Japan With Love" featuring Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band, Patti Smith, Tony Shanahan, and Cibo Matto. $100 tickets are on sale now. The benefit Yoko is playing for the same cause two days earlier at Columbia University's Miller Theater is sold out.

Melvins at Webster Hall (more by Lori Baily)

The Melvins survived TWO earthquakes in the past month or so. The band was in Christchurch, New Zealand during that fatal quake and in Tokyo when the quake happened in Japan. And though Melvins won't be playing it, their label Ipecac Recordings is involved in the sold out Japan benefit concert happening on Sunday, March 27th at the Miller Theatre at Columbia University in New York City with label co-head Mike Patton, and John Zorn and Sonic Youth, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Cibo Matto with Mephista, Marc Ribot, Uri Caine & Zorn's Aleph Trio, and more.

The Melvins have however announced special shows that are like what they did at Spaceland in LA in January. The'll revisit some of their classic LPs over two nights in different cities as part of what looks like a TBA a tour that includes shows at The Crocodile in Seattle, somewhere The Mohawk in Austin, and Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on June 6th & 7th. On the first night they'll play Lysol, Eggnog, and Houdini in its entrety, and on the next they'll feature Bullhead & Stoner Witch. Tickets for both Brooklyn shows go on AmEx presale at noon on Wednesday, 3/23, and regular sale on Friday. UPDATE: All dates now announced and listed below.

The band are also prepping to release another live album. Sugar Daddy Live will be out May 31st via Ipecac Recordings. The tracklisting is below with some videos...

Continue reading "Melvins survive earthquakes, announce special shows, live LP"

Yo La Tengo @ Maxwell's on Hanukkah (more by Chris Gersbeck)

"This just in . . . we're going to play at Maxwell's on Wednesday, March 23. Tickets will be $50 and all proceeds will go to Peace Winds Japan. The show will start at 9 pm. No other bands, but we'll see if we can find something to put up our sleeves (please don't hold us to that). Due to the short notice, tickets will be available exclusively on line, starting at 10 am EDT Monday March 21, through Ticketfly, who have generously offered to donate all of the fees to Peace Winds Japan. To order click here." - Yo La Tengo

picture via Jennifer Chong

today in NYC
* Irka Mateo @ Barbes
* John Zorn @ The Stone
* The Nerds @ BB King's
* Sarah Silverman @ UCB
* Furthur @ Best Buy Theater
* Petr Cancura's Big Sky @ Barbes
* Lucinda Williams @ Webster Hall
* Smokey's Round-Up @ The Gutter
* Mose Allison Trio @ Jazz Standard
* Nicole Atkins, Cotton Jones @ Maxwell's
* Allman Brothers Band @ Beacon Theatre
* Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra @ Joe's Pub
* Fang Island, Hollerado @ Bowery Ballroom
* Budos Band, The Jay Vons @ The Bell House
* Robyn Hitchcock, Joe Boyd @ Le Poisson Rouge
* Villa Venus, Yellow Ostrich, Ex-Cops @ Cameo
* Punches, The Glass @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Dropkick Murphys, Against Me! @ Roseland Ballroom
* Soulive, Karl Denson, Van Hunt @ Brooklyn Bowl
* Mother Mother, Athena Frost, Bajzel @ Knitting Factory
* Pete Yorn, Ben Kweller, Anthony D'Amato @ Terminal 5
* Souffles, Hobo Cubes, Lichens, Afterlife @ Shea Stadium
* Los Amigos Invisibles, Quantic (DJ set) @ Highline Ballroom
* Small Sins, True Womanhood, Suddenland @ The Rock Shop
* Illinois, Prowler, Free Blood, Psychic Handbook @ Union Hall
* French Miami, Snakes Say Hisss, Teen Witch @ Death By Audio
* Chad Valley, Selebrities, Teeel, Monogold & a DJ @ Glasslands
* Samiam, I Hate Our Freedom, I'm With Cupid @ Santos Party House
* Kordan, The Foreign Resort, Autodrone, Dead Leaf Echo @ Cake Shop
* Dysrhythmia, Zevious, Smother Party, A Fucking Elephant @ Union Pool
* Nate Wooley presents The Seven Storey Mountain @ Issue Project Room
* Sarah Lipstate, Lee Ranaldo, Seaven Teares, Kyle Bobby Dunn @ Roulette
* Dutch Treat, The Surprisers, Slug Guts, Brett & The Whispers @ Bruar Falls
* Mi Ami, Innergaze, Darius, Dj Leyna, DZ Deathrays, Edelweiss @ Pianos
* Slick Rick, Roxy Cottontail, Uncle Ralph McDaniels @ Museum of Natural History
* TOFT, Man Forever Duo, Tall Firs, Scarcity of Tanks, Chris Grier & Gibby Haynes in Brooklyn
* Madison Square Gardeners, Jonah Smith, Casey Shea Band, Dandelion Wine @ Rockwood Music Hall
* John Wesley Harding's Cabinet of Wonders with Andrew Bird, Paul Muldoon, Tift Merritt, David Wax Museum, The Jessold Consort, Eugene Mirman, JWH, Sean Wilsey and Jonathan Coe @ City Winery

What else?

photos by Chris La Putt

"2 hours until puffy amiyumi plays. Am so excite. waited 10 YEARS for this. Just like #gorillaz. Good weekend 4 that." - Jenny

"If your wondering why I'm still up at midnight.... I just got home from the PUFFY AmiYumi concert" - Stephanie???????

Puffy AmiYumi @ Irving Plaza

"[Saturday], I attended the panel for Far East to East Showcase (FETES), a concert taking place Sunday night at Irving Plaza. Performing at the show are Zazen Boys (not in attendance at the panel), Echostream, Boom Boom Satellites, and Puffy AmiYumi. The panel was moderated by a representative of Superglorious (actually, he introduced himself as Superglorious), the producer of the event.

All of the band members were shy at first, but they warmed up as Superglorious asked them questions. They talked about writing music, touring, American audiences (described as being "more direct than Japanese fans" by Puffy). Then the floor was opened to mostly dumb questions from the crowd. I doubt these musicians flew all the way from Japan to guess what character a guy was cosplaying. I shouldn't be rude; as my friend Kim Kindya, a 20-year veteran of these kinds of conventions, put it, this is the only chance these fans have to see their heroes. I should be more forgiving. But I did think it was stupid when one guy asked if Puffy were single. I suppose that was the directness Puffy mentioned." [shrinecastle]

Continue reading "Puffy AmiYumi, Echostream, Boom Boom Satellites & Zazan Boys did Anime Fest, played Irving Plaza (pics) "

Zazen Boys @ Cake Shop in March 2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

Japanese post-punks Zazen Boys, who last visited NYC in March '09, will be in New York soon for a pair of shows. The band plays Irving Plaza on October 10th along with Puffy Amiyumi, Boom Boom Satellites and Echostream. That gig has been dubbed "Far East To East Showcase" (it's being put on by promoters Superglorious). Tickets are on sale.

The show is in conjunction with the New York Anime Fest which takes place in conjunction with New York Comic Con (October 8 - 10, 2010 at the Jacob Javits Center). All the bands on the Irving Plaza bill will also be at the convention.

Then on October 12th Zazen Boys play Pianos along with Wolf Gang, DZ and Zebra and Snake.

Videos of the group live are below...

Continue reading "Comic Con, Anime Fest, Puffy Amiyumi & the Zazen Boys are coming (dates) "

Attention People of New York City:

Hello. This is your man Dave Hill writing to let you know that Thursday, October 15 at 8:00pm, I will performing my brand new one-man show "Dave Hill: Big in Japan" like a motherf@#ker for the very third time over there at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in historic Chelsea. Attendance is mandatory unless you hate having a really, really nice time that might also lead to sex. Anyway, I realize there has been a lot of confusion- especially in the Scandinavian press- about my new one-man show. And while there is some truth to the rumor that my new one-man show is a coming-of-stage tale based on my early years as a young Austrian girl who wanted nothing more than to express herself through dance even if her pimp Danny had different plans for her, it is mostly about one man's (me, silly!) undying will to rock the f@#k out of people and also this one time I went to Japan and rocked the f@#k out of people with my rocking rock Valley Lodge. Also- and I cannot stress this enough- it is NOT the same show as the Dave Hill Explosion so stop thinking that, dammit. However, my new one-man show is explosive in nature and possesses similar heatbringing properties and an almost identical bang quotient (sin(ax)sin(bx) - k cos(ax)cos(bx) = number of chicks who totally want to bang me). Anyway, I really hope you can make it. Aside from all the heat I will be bringing to the show, it is directed by the great Jeff Tomsic and assistant directed by the super dupes Nicole Brodeur. It also features the winsome Chris Chuang and the fiery Zachary Danziger in the roles of a lifetime. And as if all of that is not enough, my show is immediately followed by Pangaea 3000 Sucks, a great show that you totally don't have to pay extra for. So come, you know, if you want. I'm tired of fighting about it. You can get tickets right here.

Love,
Dave Hill

In between those two UCB events you can catch Dave Hill playing two roles in one night. I'm talking about the official BrooklynVegan CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 20th where Dave is both playing guitar in the Walter Schreifels Band (expect Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, Rival Schools and more), AND telling some jokes and hosting the night. Tickets are still on sale.

"Big In Japan" happens again on October 29th at UCB. The flyer along with a very recent video of Walter performing solo in a store... IN JAPAN, below...

Continue reading "in addition to being funny, and playing for Walter Schreifels (and hosting BV CMJ), Dave Hill is big in Japan! (@ UCB)"

Japanese electronic/experimental duo/trio Rye are in NYC for a trio of shows this week. Joly caught their gig at Pianos on September 7th. His video of it is below.

If you missed it (or if you saw it), there are two more chances to catch the band. They play at Monkey Town tonight (Sept. 9th) with Luminocolor (from France) +
Dorako, and "somewhere in the park" on September 11th.

Further uptown tonight (9/9/9), Rye's Japanese brethren, the Boredoms, are playing a show at Terminal 5.

Rye video, tour dates and flyer are below...

Continue reading "Japan's Rye played Pianos (video), playing 2 more NY shows"

Placebo @ Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka- Aug 9, 2009 (funa_h)

PLACEBO have today announced they have been forced to postpone their forthcoming tour of North America after their lead singer, Brian Molko, collapsed on stage at Summer Sonic Festival in Osaka, Japan. Brian had picked up a virus in Asia which, coupled with jet lag and exhaustion, caused the problem after the first song.

Brian is now back home in London recovering, but has been ordered by his doctors to take a 6 week long period of rest. Regrettably therefore, the band and management have no option but to postpone the forthcoming North American tour.

For NYC, the Placebo cancellation means no show at Terminal 5 on October 11th (thx remphish). A video that was taken right after Brian fell, and more of the cancellation message, below...

Continue reading "Placebo postpones tour after Brian Molko collapses (video)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Church of Misery - "Shotgun Boogie (James Oliver Huberty)" (MP3)

Though it's waaay too early, I've already started thinking about my favorite records of this year. You can place the blame for that squarely on Church Of Misery. Ever since an imported copy of their new LP, Houses of The Unholy, wriggled it's way into my psyche, I haven't been able to get enough of the Japanese band's doomy, bluesy psychedelic riffs.

Much like their previous releases (the band has been in existence since 1996), Houses of The Unholy's subject matter mines the fertile territory of serial killers over the course of it's 45+ minutes, pounding riff after savory wah-wah riff over disturbing samples about decapitation, dismemberment, and death. Let's be straight though, these are not the psych riffs that you zone out to; more like the soundtrack of a wide-eyed speed freak. This is Clutch on gallons of 'tussin, Boris circa Heavy Rocks, and one killer heavy metal party through the mind of Albert Fish and Charles Starkweather. Hell, Church of Misery even covers the oft-revered Brooklynites Sir Lord Baltimore!

Houses of The Unholy impacts US shores on July 7th, although you can currently buy a heavily tariffed (read: imported) copy either through the band directly or through Rise Above. It kills. Check out one of my favorite tracks from the new LP, "Shotgun Boogie (James Oliver Huberty)" above.

In April, Church of Misery played Roadburn in Holland. According to JJ Koczan, "They destroyed. No, really. Fucking incredible." Video from that show below...

Continue reading "Church of Misery releasing Houses of The Unholy - MP3"

by Andrew Frisicano

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. - "A freak-out group for the 21st century founded in 1996 by members of the Acid Mothers Temple soul-collective. Led by Kawabata Makoto (Musica Transonic. Toho Sara, etc.)" That far-reaching definition, from AMT's website, is about as close a definition can come to accurately encompassing guitarist Makoto and Co.'s 15+ year Japanese psych-rock masterwork.

AMT & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. visit North America for a monthlong tour this April. That includes a stop at NYC's Mercury Lounge on Friday, April 17th with Sonic Suicide Squad and Floating Action. (Tickets are on sale now.)

Already known for their massive discography, the band will bring with it three new discs on three labels. The first is Lord of the Underground : Vishnu and the Magic Elixir, out May 5th on Alien8 Recordings. Then comes Are We Experimental? out via Prophase Music on June 2nd. Finally, Dark Side Of The Black Moon : What Planet Are We On? out on Important Records (at some point...if not already).

Silver Apples will join AMT for its tour kick-off in LA, and are playing at the Ponderosa Stomp Revue at SXSW on Friday, March 20th. Ponderosa will host a series of Lincoln Center dates this summer.

All AMT tour dates with poster below...

Continue reading "Acid Mothers Temple & Sonic Suicide Squad - 2009 Tour Dates "

"In early 1973, they were billed to open for the Rolling Stones, but Mick Jagger's visa was rejected from a previous drug conviction and all concerts were cancelled. Later that year the band broke up, with Yamanaka going on to release various solo albums." [Wikipedia]

Continue reading "Flower Travellin' Band - TWO NYC shows & other tour dates "

by Black Bubblegum

Ghost LIVE in 2003

Before Michio Kurihara was involved in a little band named Boris, he played in another long lasting Japanese band named Ghost. Ghost have scheduled a North American tour in April and May. That includes a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on May 9th. Tickets go on AM EX pre-sale beginning Wednesday, today, at noon and go on general sale on Friday.

A collective of psychedelic-minded Japanese musicians headed by guitarist Masaki Batoh, Ghost records commune-minded free-range psychedelia with equal debts to the Can/Amon Düül axis of Krautrock, as well as West Coast psych units like Blue Cheer and Jefferson Airplane. -[allmusic]

Also on May 9th, just across town, another great Japanese rock band will play as part of the Wordless Music Series... MONO have added a second night to their Hymn To The Immortal Wind engagement with a live orchestra. You can also catch them on May 8th.

Amon Düül are scheduled to play as part of Roadburn 2009, along with Saint Vitus. All Ghost dates below...

Continue reading "Ghost - 2009 Tour Dates (MHOW)"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Paper - Out of It Into It (MP3)

Zazen Boys @ Mercury Lounge on 10/5/08 (by Jeff Winterberg)

"Zazen Boys were formed in 2003 by Mukai Shutoku, former leader of Japanese rock band Number Girl. In a word, Zazen Boys aspire to be `Led Zeppelin in kimono."

A Baltimore City Paper review of the band's visit to that city (in support of their September 2008 release IV) captures the band's dueling improv-art-rock and dance groove tendencies, with plentiful name dropping:

After a brief introduction in delightfully accented English--"From Matsuri Studio, Tokyo, we are Zazen Boys!"--the quartet first pounded away with some mathy hardcore and obnoxiously endearing noise. In a far-fetched conception, this portion of the band's set was like California's Health, but with dramatically fewer loops and noise explosions; the drummer was adequately primal but keen to all the subtle transitions of art-rock composition.

But as the Boys softened a few of the hard edges and brought out funk fit for dancing shoes, it was possible to view them more accurately as disciples of the Dismemberment Plan, or even George Clinton. The hit "Weekend," with its juicy slap bass, pornographic guitar noise, and bilingual (nearly spiritual) party lyrics, made the show definitely feel like the "buzzworthy" arrival of foreign rock stars. "I Don't Wanna Be With You" was a delicious club number with hip-swerving runway synthesizers and pitch-altered Dan Deacon-esque vocals. It was unexpectedly mind-blowing, a show more than worth the in-box clutter.

Videos from Zazen Boys's 2008 release IV, and those dates in list & flyer format (their only scheduled shows at the moment), below...

Continue reading "Japan's ZAZEN BOYS - 3 NY-area shows, Cake Shop w/ Paper"

Munetaka Higuchi, the drummer and co-founder of the Japanese heavy metal band Loudness, passed away on Sunday [November 30th] at about 10:00 a.m. in a hospital in Osaka, Japan. He was 49. Akira Takasaki, the guitarist who met Higuchi during high school before forming Loudness, announced the news on his personal website on the same day. The official website for Loudness had announced in April that Higuchi had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and later reported in September that Higuchi went through two rounds of chemotherapy. Higuchi left a message on the website on October 16 that acknowledged that his condition had gotten worse, despite an operation to remove half of his liver. [Anime News Network]

In 1997 Munetaka also released the album "Free World" under the name "Munetaka Higuchi & Dream Castle". It featured "Steve Vai, Stanley Clarke, Billy Sheehan, Ty Tabor, Terry Bozzio, T. M. Stevens, Ronnie James Dio, Richie Kotzen and others". The Dio song, "Crazy Night" by Loudness, and another video, below...

Continue reading "Munetaka Higuchi, RIP (drummer of Loudness)"