グーミ (goomi) is a 3-piece band from from Chiba prefecture, Japan consisting of Ryogo Kobata on violin-guitar, Manami Fuji on bass, and Kazuko Tobita on drums-glockenspiel. All 3 members take turns singing lead when they aren’t harmonizing as a trio. Playing what they self-describe as “アングラポップ” (underground pop) — Their sound is quite diverse with […]
Interview
CRYSTAL LAKE
CRYSTAL LAKE is one of the brightest bands of recent Japanese hardcore scene. During their strong activity band has shared scene with many known overseas bands, such as Shai Hulud, Parkway Drive, As I Lay Dying; also they had touring in Malaysia and Korea, realesed some EPs and one full length album in 2006. And […]
GEEKS
Appearing twice at SXSW, the latest in 2010 – Japanese rockers Geeks were born from a street fight and the love of heavy metal music. Not limited to heavy metal; Geeks are pop, hard, loud, and utterly catchy with music from the heart. Geeks are Endo (Guitar, Vocal), Mitsu (Bass, Vocal), Kaoru (Keyboard, Vocal) and […]
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY
MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY are guitarist Nicolas Przeor (Pzey), drummer Sacha Schmitz (Falcon), and bassist Cedric Czaika (Chiggy). Formed in April 2004, the band’s sound has been described as “urgent, straight mathy, time-signature-laden indierock with post hardcore appeal, combining organic angularity with a taste for captivating melodies. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY love the epic, the […]
Jointpop
Formed in 1996, Jointpop are not what most people would expect from the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Breaking the Calypso, Reggae and Soca mold, they combine influences from late 70’s London with their own brand of infectious optimism. Jointpop are Gary Hector (vocals, guitars), Damon Homer (guitars), Dion Camacho (drums), Jerome Girdharrie (bass) and […]
LAZYgunsBRISKY
LAZYgunsBRISKY is an all-girl hard rock quartet from Tokyo, Japan. Comprising of members Lucy (vocals), Izumi (guitar), Azu (bass, vocals), and Moe (drums). The band draws influence from 60s and 80s rock and roll, replete with fat guitars and sludgy bass. In July 2010, LAZYgunsBRISKY signed to Buffalo, N.Y. – based label Good Charamel (GCR) […]
Next Music from TOKYO tour 2
Carpe diem! Seize the day! Early in 2010, Steven Tanaka did just that. With no experience and armed with a dream — he took it upon himself to book, promote and execute Next Music from TOKYO tour! Bringing 5 Japanese bands to Canada, for a week long tour. Next Music from TOKYO!!! vol 2 is […]
ikd-sj
ikd-sj is one of the most eccentric bands on Japanese music scene. Their creativity cannot be described by any known genres of modern music. And actually seems you can use only description – H.A.G. or Heavy Ambient Grunge (exactly so, the band name genre of their music by self). Music of the band get a […]
Guitar Wolf
Touted by themselves as “The World’s Greatest Jet Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” Guitar Wolf is a garage punk power trio founded in Nagasaki, in 1987. The band coined the phrase Jet Rock ‘n’ Roll to describe their musical style; a conglomeration of punk, traditional rock, heavy distortion, feedback, and screamed vocals.
SEBASTIAN X
SEBASTIAN X was formed in February 2008, Tokyo, Japan. With their own brand of indie-alternative-pop songs SEBASTIAN X brings a fresh perspective to the underground music scene. While inspired by literary lyrics that are written in perspective of a New Generation — Their music can be could very well be described as a pop ride […]
YEALLOW
Yeallow is Fred C (vocal, guitar, keyboard), Pascal C (vocal, guitar, keyboard), Fred T (guitar, chorus), Bill O (bass) and Olivier “Piment” (drums, chorus). As a group of five, Yeallow creates rich and energetic songs with mature lyrics. This alternative style with no hang-ups about its rock influences, is a New pop-rock sound — As […]
THEE TRIBUTE – Tribute event for Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
THEE TRIBUTE is the first American tribute event for Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, and will allow fans in the U.S. a chance to celebrate the legacy of the band. The event will include a mini-exhibition of the band, including bios, discography information, time-lines, and various memorabilia and photos. It will also feature the unofficial premiere […]
Daniel Tidwell
No genre restrictions. One man. Many Instruments — Reads, Daniel Tidwell‘s myspace bio. Daniel Tidwell is an independent musician who wears many hats; artist, producer, promoter and record label. This instrumental guitarist’s first album does faithful but inventive covers of classic video game music.
Blind Guardian
BLIND GUARDIAN were founded in the mid 1980s in Krefeld, Germany as a speed/power metal band. Beginning with their third album “Tales from the Twilight World,” the band expanded their musical vocabulary and eventually created their very own style which is still rooted in speed/power metal, but is also very orchestral and epic in nature. […]
Icon Girl Pistols
With the following flights of fancy, Icon Girl Pistols intrigued me and fanned me from the first listen. Icon Girl Pistols formed in March 2008, when retired porn star Shinnosuke Shirakura (gt/pf/vo) discovered Ken Fukuda (dr) tapping chopsticks on tin cans in the alleyways of Tokyo. They spent their time jamming and writing… Interesting.
POWERGLOVE
“We are POWERGLOVE and we are here to fuck with your childhood!” proclaims the band at the beginning of its live shows. After finding success mining the brains of the A.D.D.-driven video game generation with songs like “Tetris”, POWERGLOVE has set its sights on the inner child in all of us. To this end, the […]
DEWA
Dewa Suwija is Manchester’s adopted guitar prophet, originally from Bali and raised in Manchester, UK. DEWA’s last album Time Is Master — fuses the roots of jazz, blues, rock, and ladens it with dark club beats and world reggae vibes. I talked with Dewa Suwija about his history, and DEWA’s newest album to be released […]
James Scott Bullard
“With a past steeped in love, loss, death, addiction, human suffering, torrid tales of flirting with the devil, the wrath of deep south religion, more southern-gothic lore than a Tennessee Williams play and a constant walk on a moral tightrope, James Scott Bullard’s songs reflect not just his own life, but real life. He has […]
BUDDHISTSON
Formed in Kashiwa City, Japan, in the summer of 1999, BUDDHISTSON consists of Shima Takuya (Vocal, Guitar), Marcy (Drums), Yumi (Keyboard), Yas Uenuma (Bass), and Hiroshi Yoshii (Guitar). Soft and lilting while being intense and focused at the same time BUDDHISTSON’s alternative rock sound is otherworldly and primal. While, the band’s melodies are emotionally charged […]
Laurent Leemans of Ceilí Moss
CEILÍ MOSS is an acoustic folk-rock band from Belgium founded in 1996. “The name came from Ceilí, Irish Gaelic for a party with traditional music, and Moss, the nickname of Alain Mossiat, boss of “L’éblouissant,” the pub in Namur where they learned to deal with stage fright.” Perhaps it is Genevieve Williams from Widdershins who […]
Netlabel – Dystopiaq James Osborne
Established in 2008, Dystopiaq is a netlabel that releases groundbreaking experimental and electronic music from artists around the world. Along with their own releases, this group of artists is currently working on the third installment of the labels signature compilation albums – Dystopiaq 3.
Living Colour
Ground breaking rock, funk, metal, virtuoso band Living Colour returns to Japan for the first time in 17 years. Living Colour, winner of 2 Grammy awards, an MTV Music Video Award and countless accolades as one of the most influential bands of the last 25 years will play 8 shows in Japan from May 21 […]