h1

Pirates Canoe

September 12, 2012

myspace band of the week

Pirates Canoe is a 6-piece folk band from the Kansai region. The girls, Reika Hunt (guitar, vocals), Sara Kohno (mandolin) and Kanako Keyaki (fiddle), play as a trio in a monthly show called Kamogawa Michigan at various cafes and bars in Kyoto. The boys, Kazuhiko Iwaki (resophonic guitar), Jun Taniguchi (bass) and Takashi Yoshioka (drums), play with the girls at another monthly show called Hyokkori Party at a live house named Jittoku. They’ve been playing as a full band since 2009 and focus on Americana and roots-based music.

Their self-titled EP was released in 2011 and their followup EP Pirates Canoe, Too was released earlier this year. Both are available internationally at CD Baby.

http://www.myspace.com/piratescanoe

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in myspace band of the week, Pirates Canoe | Leave a Comment »

h1

J-Rock Fridays Vol. 79

September 7, 2012

Back for another dose!

sakanaction- “Yoru no Odoriko”

Sakanaction is rocking out in traditional Japanese garb with a couple of geishas in front of oh powerful Mt. Fuji in this slow zoom-in video. In typical sakanaction fashion, the song explodes around the midway point when we start getting close-ups of the vocalist’s hilarious eye makeup. Another sakanaction single that will make you dance all night.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 10-FEET, Akihiro Namba, Cokehead Hipsters, J-Rock Fridays, Lighter190E, LLLL, Nabowa, Ogre You Asshole, sakanaction, Stereo Heart, the guitar plus me, Waka | Leave a Comment »

h1

miu mau

September 5, 2012

myspace band of the week

Miu Mau, which means “cat’s tail” in Finnish, is a synth-pop trio of girls from other bands.  The group formed in 2006 with Masami Takashima (vocals, synths) who performs solo as Coet Cocoeh, Hiromi Kajiwara (guitar) from Hyakka and Miwako Matsuda (drums) from Masa Dayo Masa. They released their first album Design in 2008. Miu Mau has released a trio of singles on Amazon and iTunes over the past year and just released a CD-R called News at Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/miumaujapan

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in miu mau, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

h1

Stuff To Look Forward To, August 2012

August 31, 2012

Gotta post this eventually!

8/01 ALL OFF- Start Breathing (CD Japan)

8/01 Art-School- Baby Acid Baby (CD Japan)

8/01 D.W. Nicols- Brown Sugar Mommy (CD Japan)

8/01 plenty- Katamuita Sora / Notenkibiyori / Hitotsu, Sayonara (CD Japan)

8/01 The Predators- Monster In My Head (CD Japan)

8/01 Quruli- Everybody Feels the Same (CD Japan)

8/01 Radwimps- Sprechchor (CD Japan)

8/01 VA- V-Anime Rocks! (CD Japan)

8/02 ROTTENFAFFTY- DANCE (CD Japan)

8/07 JAWEYE- Stargazer (CD Japan)

8/08 the ands- Fab Noise (CD Japan)

8/08 The Cat Loves Strawberries- Eat Me (CD Japan)

8/08 Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas- All That We Have Now (CD Japan) Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Stuff To Look Forward To | Leave a Comment »

h1

13ROUND

August 29, 2012

myspace band of the week

13ROUND is a “SoCal” punk rock band from Tokyo. The band was formed by AKI4NIA (vocals, guitar) and Ikumi (drums) in 1999 and now includes Kou (bass), Mukey (guitar) and Tommy (guitar). Their sound combines hardcore punk with ska and reggae, not unlike Rancid. Aki’s work at a custom hot rod shop has also factored in to his song writing and band imagery.

After a mini-album and split EP with The Cherry Coke$, 13ROUND released their first album 1Min, 4Secondz, 2Long Town in 2005 and went on hiatus shortly after. Aki has played in various punk bands since, including 4EVERZ with Ikumi and Kou. In 2011, 13ROUND got back together and released a new single “Sunshine Bus.” They are currently recording their second album Dreamin’ of Liberty. Pick up 1Min, 4Secondz, 2Long Town at CD Japan.

http://www.myspace.com/thirteenround

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 13ROUND, myspace band of the week | Leave a Comment »

h1

J-Rock Fridays Vol. 78

August 24, 2012

The heat wave is back!

Aniss & Lacanca- “Aniss & Lacanca’s Theme”

Aniss & Lacanca is the side project of two of the prettiest singers in Japan, mmm and Mai Mishio from Uzumibi. “Aniss & Lacanca’s Theme” is a bit more cheery than their individual projects with the enthusiasm of a Broadway musical. It’s nice to see them goofy for a change dancing on a hillock with smiles so wide you can fit that windmill in their mouths. Click here for the more rocking “You’re Cool.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 99RadioService, Aniss & Lacanca, another sunnyday, Asshole Unite, cellzcellar, J-Rock Fridays, Liquid, NOKIES!, ONE OK ROCK, Quruli, shuly to 104kz, The Mirraz, Z | Leave a Comment »

h1

Vivarta

August 22, 2012

myspace band of the week

Vivarta is Naohiro Asakura (vocals, guitar), Yusuke Asama (bass) and Kazuaki Suguri (drums) from Kyoto. The trio formed in 2007 and is an alternative/ambient rock band. They have supported Joe Lally from Fugazi twice in Japan and have toured outside Japan three times, most recently Australia in July. Their self-released 0.5 EP is available at Jet Set Records.

http://www.myspace.com/vivarta03

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in myspace band of the week, Vivarta | Leave a Comment »

h1

The Boicotts

August 15, 2012

myspace band of the week

The Boicotts is the brain child of vocalist/guitarist Manabu Sugar from Tokyo. Sugar formed the band in 2003 and released their first single “Do the Boicotts” on his own label Meet Beat Records in 2004. After a successful Japanese tour, Sugar snuck off to London to book gigs but was kicked out. Eventually he got a visa and lived in the UK for a few years. The Boicotts resumed in Japan in 2011 and its current members are Manabu Sugar (vocals, guitar), Natsuki (guitar), Tomy (bass), and new members Popo (drums) and Yossuxi (accordian, ex-The Cherry Coke$).

UK label Trashmouth Recordings released The Boicotts first EP last year and will release their first album Apple Has No Pips on August 20. Buy it at Amazon or your favorite digital retailer.

http://www.myspace.com/boicotts

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in myspace band of the week, The Boicotts | Leave a Comment »

h1

J-Rock Fridays Vol. 77

August 10, 2012

Finally getting cool weather in Chicago. Let’s hope it lasts through the weekend!

Teen Runnings- “Make It Better”

Friends decided to get back together again to rerelease their debut record as Teen Runnings. “Make It Better” was on the original and remains a fun surf pop song with a complementary waves and beach party video courtesy of VIDEOTAPEMUSIC.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 2side1BRAIN, androp, Chuck G. & The Napkins, J-Rock Fridays, kidori kidori, Kyoko, Mono, ROTTENGRAFFTY, Salmagundi, Teen Runnings, The Cat Loves Strawberries, THE PREDATORS, Tokyo Karankoron | Leave a Comment »

h1

Yuey

August 8, 2012

myspace band of the week

Yuey is Yu Higa (vocals, guitar), Yoshinori Ogasawara (bass) and Norihisa Nakamura (drums) from Chiba. Higa and Ogasawara formed the band in 2000 as a foursome. They became a trio in 2004 and self produced a few singles and toured over the years until they caught the attention of mini muff records. Their first mini-album Music was released in 2007 and they released two more mini-albums and a single from the label. Their newest I My Me Mine, Where Is She is available at CD Japan and iTunes.

http://www.myspace.com/yueyweb

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in myspace band of the week, Yuey | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Entries
Older Entries »