If you’re reading this you’re probably not down in Austin watching a ton of great bands and films. Like me. But don’t fret, this week’s J-Rock Fridays is SXSW themed. This is not a complete list of all the Japanese bands playing at SXSW. Just the ones who had their video uploaded to SXSW’s YouTube page. Plus a few I’d be remiss not to post.
Tornado Boyz- “Ich Bin Auslaender”
German rap? Really? I don’t know how foreigner Daisuke met up with this Berlin-based band but this video is endlessly amusing.
Every year SXSW sweeps right past me. This is not helped by the fact that I never get to go. But for the past two years I’ve made a list of all the Japanese bands performing in Texas. Even though the fest started last night I hope you still find this useful. All bands with a star after their name have a free mp3 on their SXSW page. Later, I’ll zip a folder with all the mp3s and upload them to mediafire.
One of the first sites that I found several years ago when I was finally allowed to roam free on the internet was mp3.com, a site where signed and independent artists uploaded mp3s to listen and sometimes even download. For a few years I would always search for some of my favorite punk bands and find new ones. Then one day they decided to make it a pay service and I moved on to other websites like purevolume and myspace (ugh). Although I took my ears elsewhere I still continue to receive email from them. Today I found Green Milk From the Planet Orange in the subject message and was stunned, an up and coming band? On their mp3.com page is a link to an exclusive 40 minute SXSW session. There is some talking in the beginning and end of this very long song not to mention a very angry phone call halfway in but is mostly an exploration of sound worthy of being listened to.
This is something I’ve been meaning to do for a week or so but midterms got in the way. Every year I scroll through the list of bands performing at SXSW and make sure I listen to everything Japanese. Just because I can’t go doesn’t mean I can’t find new bands! Sucks though because my spring break perfectly overlaps SXSW. Here you will find a list of all Japanese and Asian bands performing next week in Texas. Any band in bold has a free mp3 on their page. You should probably check out anything with a (*).
now if I missed something post a comment. I know of at least three of the links here go to a 404 page but I kept it anyway. Also check out the SXSW Asia page.
kinda seemed natural to follow up the Oreskaband post with this. The Japan Nite tour has been a yearly showcase to SXSW since 1996. This year has performances from Go!Go! 7188, HY, The 50 KAITENZ, ASAKUSA JINTA,PISTOL VALVE, The Emeralds, and Oreskaband.
Tofu Records and Oreskaband are hosting an ice cream social a day before their Japan Nite tour date in Austin, Texas. Oreskaband is an all female ska band who recently performed the end theme “Pinocchio” for Naruto. No word on if Tofu Records actually signed Oreskaband for America yet but it looks like a strong possibility.
This is a rock band from Singapore that’s sings in peeerfect English. I’ve been listening to them on myspace since the summer for the lack of finding any of their tunes elsewhere. They’re going to be playing at SXSW 2007. “Love in the New Wave” is available to download on their artist page for free.
J-Rock Explosion 