Summer Sonic 2010
August 7(Sat), 8(Sun) 2010
TOKYO & OSAKA
Chiba Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe and Maishima Osaka, JAPAN http://www.summersonic.com/2010/
Here are another biggest "Natsu Fes" Summer music festival, Summer Sonic 2010 held in Chiba and Osaka. Sakanaction; New Rising-up Unique JPOP Band with Techno Electronica taste and Rock'n Roll play ther this year. Headliners are JAY-Z and STEVIE WONDER. And Eikichi Yazawa, The Offspring, The Smashing Pumpkins, Orbital , PIXIES, Jonsi and more bands appear there. it's fantastic!!
Female SSW with innocent voice, Predawn last week announced that 2 guest bands play performance at her new album "tenonakanotori" release party at Shinjuku Mars, July 14.
One is indiePOP band, Riddim Saunter. This time they play in acoustic unplugged style. And the other is Atsuhi Horie's solo post-rock project; ent from BritPop influenced band STRAIGHTENER. He is known music maker for the movie - Solanin original soundtrack. It seems get to be aggresive release party.
Predawn will play at Nano-Mugen Circuit presented by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION http://www.nano-mugen.com/
July 21 at Hiroshima club Quattro
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Ra Ra Riot
Predawn
10/09/15(wed) Tokyo Shimokitazawa - SHELTER
10/09/18(sat) Osaka - SUNSUI
10/09/19(sun) Nagoya - CLUB ROCK'N'ROLL
10/10/17(sun) Roppongi - SUPERDELUXE (LITE presents SPECTRUM vol.6)
LITE New Album called ILLUMINATE (5 tracks included) gets the LIGHT on 7th July. In this album, LITE adds synthesizer, percussion and chorus to their soundscape. And tries mixture of the music essence such as rock, progressice rock, postrock, shoegaze, electronica and jazz.
LITE ILLUMINATE 2010.07.07 Release
RDCP-1005/I Want The Moon
01,Drops
02,Image Game
03,On The Mountain Path
04,Andromeda
05,100 Million Rainbows
On June 20, Sakanaction played at Base Ball Bear's HALL IN MY LIFE liveshow, Hibiya Yaon, Tokyo. And unvieled the new collaboration song kimino-me by Base ball bear + Ichiro Yamaguchi from Sakanaction. You can enjoy its music video now at YouTube. This guitar-driven psychedellic jpop track; kimino-me get to be only available at iTunes music store japan today.
one more news about Japan EXPO in Paris (the Parc d’Expositions in Paris-Nord Villepinte July 1 - 4)
Japanese label digitally releases compiled album; Sound of Japan 2010 including 12 tracks from Japan EXPO performing 6 artists / bands like below...
ViViD http://www.myspace.com/vividjp
Established in April 2009, Visual Kei band; ViViD plays unconventional music, based on melodious mixture rock, but incorporating hard rock touch and rap elements.
die!!die!!color!!! http://www.myspace.com/diediecolor
Digital hardcore Revolution! A contagious energy, a stunning mix of music styles, shattered sound!
Root Thumm http://www.myspace.com/rootthumm
Root Thumm proposes cheerful music made of traditional Japanese melodies, electro sounds but also live instruments, arranged by vintage keyboards! All this gives an electro-pop result orchestrated by the four members of the band.
GIBIER du MARI http://marinatsuki.com/news/
Famous as a singer, Mari NATSUKI is also known as a dancer, actress, performer, writer… and dubber since she is the voice of the old witch Yubaba in Spirited Away (Hayao MIYAZAKI)!
Noriyuki Iwadare http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~iwadare/
Noriyuki Iwadare is a Japanese composer and arranger, working especially in the video game industry. He composes such the theme songs of Grandia, Lunar, Radiata Stories, Phoenix Wright, Growlanser, Langrisser, True Fortune and so much more!
Baltimore, MD (June X, 2010) - Attendees of Otakon and J-Rock fans rejoice as the YOSHIKI and SUGIZO, of the legendary visual kei rock band X JAPAN, will make a special appearance and and perform a brief live performance at Otakon 2010's Masquerade-just one (1) week prior to the band's appearance at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Full details on the appearance will be posted to the convention website in coming weeks at www.otakon.com
YOSHIKI
The heart of X Japan is Yoshiki - songwriter, drummer, and classically-trained pianist who also plays guitar, bass and trumpet. His double-record classical album, Eternal Melody (1993) was co-produced and arranged by the legendary George Martin, recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and remains one of Japan's most successful classical releases. For Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, the 1994 KISS tribute album, Yoshiki arranged and produced "Black Diamond" as a piano concerto, prompting Rolling Stone magazine to comment in its CD review, "the ingenuity award must go to Yoshiki..." Yoshiki has produced some of Japan's most influential bands, including Dir \en grey and Glay. At the request of the Japanese government in 1999, Yoshiki composed a piano concerto and performed it with a 77-piece orchestra to commemorate the Emperor of Japan's 10th anniversary on the throne. In 2005, he was named the Music Director for the 2005 World Expo, composed the event's theme song, and conducted the orchestra at the opening ceremonies. Yoshiki also wrote the X Japan song "I.V." for the 2007 international blockbuster film, "Saw IV," which played over the film's closing credits.
SUGIZO
Originally the guitarist of another pioneering visual kei band, Luna Sea, began performing with X-JAPAN in 2008 for the X-JAPAN¹s Tokyo Dome reunion concerts and was made a formal member of X-JAPAN last year during the Hong Kong stop of the band¹s world tour.
Otakon 2010 will be held July 30 August 1 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
X JAPAN
Calling X Japan the most successful rock band in Japan is not a statement made lightly. X Japan has sold more than 30-million albums, singles and videos, headlined and sold out Japan's 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome 18 times - so far - and has started playing to tens of thousands of fans outside of Japan. Going back to the 1980s, the band's look and sound sparked a global interest in Japanese entertainment, especially with the Japanese cultural rock phenomenon, "Visual-Kei," a movement X Japan pioneered that went on to become a catalyst for today's worldwide Anime craze. X Japan was formed in 1982 (calling themselves X) by Yoshiki and Toshi while still high school students. Over the next 13 years, the band released five studio albums - Vanishing Vision (1988), Blue Blood (1989) Jealousy (1991), Art of Life (1993) and Dahlia (1996), as well as six live albums, 10 compilation albums, and 15 video albums. X Japan was one of the first Japanese bands to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label - Yoshiki's own Extasy Records. The band was so popular, SEGA produced an X Japan video game. In the fall of 1997, the band's lead singer, Toshi, decided to leave X Japan, which lead to the dissolution of the band. Four months later, Hide, X Japan's original lead guitarist, was found dead in his Tokyo apartment. At his funeral, more than 50,000 fans came to mourn his passing, and in May, 2010, even more fans stood in line at a memorial service to pay their respects and mark the 12th anniversary of his tragic death. In early 2007, Yoshiki and Toshi started working together again, and later that year, X Japan officially reformed. During 2008-9, the band launched its reunion tour, being bigger than ever, and sold out everywhere it played. In January, 2010, X Japan filmed a music video on the rooftop of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre, with a throng of some 8,000 U.S. fans taking part in the shoot on Hollywood Blvd. The members of X Japan - Yoshiki, Toshi (vocals), Pata (guitarist), Heath (bass), and Sugizo (guitar) - have been spending time in Yoshiki's Los Angeles recording studio working on what will be the band's U.S. debut, and its first album sung in English. "We decided to record English lyrics for four or five of our most popular, previously released songs," Yoshiki explained, "and then write an additional four or five brand new songs, also sung in English. We have worked very hard on this album, and are very excited to present our music to the American rock fans." Immediately following their August Lollapalooza set, X Japan will fly back to Tokyo where they will play their biggest concert ever - headlining two nights at the Nissan Stadium, performing to nearly 150,000 fans.
X JAPAN also appears on Sunday, August 8 to play the Main Stage at this summer's hottest ticket, the Lollapalooza Festival with other international superstars such as Lady Gaga, Green Day, Soundgarden, MGMT, and The Strokes.
Here Jpoplover picks kawaii idols up who play performance at J.E. Live House / Japan EXPO in Paris (the Parc d’Expositions in Paris-Nord Villepinte July 1 - 4)
Morning Musume。 http://www.myspace.com/morningmusumeofficial
Morning Musume releases single after single, with lively pop songs and funny choreographies which make the heart of the Japanese public melt! In a few years’ time they are everywhere in the media: the phenomenon is getting out of control!
Natsuko ASO http://www.myspace.com/natsukoaso
Natsuko ASO is a Japanese actress and pop singer. She is known for her role as Hasegawa Chisame in the live action MAGISTER NEGI MAGI Mahou Sensei Negima! She released her first CD, Brand New World, in 2009. It was also the end song of the Anime series Shin Mazinger Shogeki ! Z hen on Television.
Ai TAKEKAWA http://aitakekawa.net/
Ai Takekawa sings Toi Michi no Saki de (Down the Distant Road) has been use for outro themes of popular anime; Inuyasha The Final Act.
Here Jpoplover picks a few bands up who play performance at J.E. Live House / Japan EXPO in Paris (the Parc d’Expositions in Paris-Nord Villepinte July 1 - 4)
Seikima-II http://www.myspace.com/seikimaiiofficial
Born in the 80s, the Akuma band Seikima-II (pronounced "seikimatsu" and meaning "end of century") is absolutly make-up legendary in Japan!
Long Shot Party (DefSTAR RECORDS) http://longshotparty.com/
In 2007, SkaPunk Band, Long Shot Party's song distance has been used for NARUTO Shippuden OP theme.
HITT & Guests http://www.myspace.com/megahittofficial
HITT performs with two Guests, guitar and bass players, who come and share fresh and original pop rock music!
Doping Panda http://www.myspace.com/dopingpanda
3 piece hailing from Tokyo, Japan. Blending an eclectic mix of rock, electro and pop, they have created a dynamic sound to captivate a wide range of fans.
YOSHIKI & ToshI from X Japan http://www.xjapan.ne.jp/
Formed in 1982, X Japan is the biggest band in Japan rock history. Their popularity has spread throughout Japan, throughout Asia and Europe, and now is about to explode in the US!
Hifana, breakbeats duo of KEIZOmachine! is ready to rlelease new album 24H on 28th July. You can preview listening samples for all 12 tracks on the album here: HIFANA 24H TRACK LISTENING PAGE at http://hifana.com/music/
And Hifana uploaded new Wamono Nihongo RAP music video - HIFANA ZAMURAI featuring TUCKER, Chinza DOPENESS, AFRA & IBB, KEYCO, LEYONA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhtrKt8X8ow
Hifana http://www.myspace.com/nampooh
HIFANA have always been known for original and creative live performance, during which they cut beats with realtime sampler and incorporating scratch and percussion, without using programmed sequences. On the other hand, in their tracks on CDs and records, they heavily use programmed sounds and sequences to make HIFANA sounds.
JAPAN: JPOP Lover Kafuka - Tracer
Check the unreleased track from the underground Electronica, Hyogo, Japan. Kafuka ・just like 20th century's famous bohemian novelist - is an indie bedroom musician with ambient taste, playing lo-fi Guitar. Deeply weird, but satisfying post-rock with synthwave jams.
ARGENTINA: Zonaindie Springlizard - Docks Of The Okinoh
Two guys with acoustic guitars, ancestral melodies and lyrics, and Dreams Of The Wolf, a record with a limited edition of just 297 hand-made copies (you can get a digital version for free, just check their MySpace). Oh, and to Blogpartei readers: Springlizard will be touring Germany next August, so you better check them out!
AUSTRALIA: Who The Bloody Hell Are They? World's End Press - Golden Child
Not the easiest band name to roll off the tongue, but World痴 End Press have done very well with their disco jams meets the Stone Roses sound. The live show is a full-on party set, selling out parties in their hometown, Melbourne. Also check out their previous track, Only The Brave, on their myspace. Their debut album is being produced by fellow Melbournian electronic whiz Qua.
BRAZIL: Meio Desligado Superguidis - Nao Fosse O Bom Humor
Nao Fosse O Bom Humor is the main song of the 3rd album of southern Brazilian band Superguidis, released a few months ago. Its heavy riff and melodic lines remembers some of the best times of Foo Fighters, impression that, live, gets even stronger.
CANADA: I(Heart)Music Ghostkeeper - Don't Come Knocking
If The Libertines had grown up somewhere in the Canadian Prairies, Ghostkeeper is probably how they would've sounded. The band's self-titled debut is one of the most creative and exciting things to come out so far this year, and this song has ample evidence of why that is.
CHILE: Super 45 El Sueno De La Casa Propia - Voluntad De Oro
Sample-based artist El Sueno De La Casa Propia (ESDLCP) started his music career molding his own electronic version from Chilean folk music. But in his new album - Historial De Caidas, available July 15th by Chilean net label Pueblo Nuevo - Jose Manuel Cerda (ESDLCP's real name) takes a giant leap by adding elements from r&b and rock music that converge on a dynamic pop album. An essential and long awaited album, introducing a stronger organic sound; a clear improvement from previous works.
DENMARK: All Scandinavian Kellermensch - Black Dress (Live)
Kellermensch (who incidentally were also this blog's very first MAP contribution) released their awesome debut album last year, which - apart from much praise - earned them invitations to do both an XFM and a BBC Radio 1 Live Session. End July, a revamped version of the debut including four brand new songs will be released in the UK. First - and great - single, Army Ants, is out now, but here痴 a live version of Black Dress, recorded November 21, 2009, to give you a sweet taste of the band痴 supreme performances.
ESTONIA: Popop Junk Riot - Black Widow
Junk Riot is a four-piece garage/indie/experimental band from Tallinn, Estonia. Their sound is built on high-pitched vocals and heavy usage of pitch-shifting/delay effects on guitar. Formed in late 2006, it took about a year to gain reputation as an exciting live band, a fresh breath of air in smoky clubs. By now, Junk Riot is among one of the first Russian-speaking Estonian bands to be fully accepted by the Estonian indie scene.
FINLAND: Glue Kim Curly Band - Passerby
With the alias of Kim Curly, singer Kimmo Numminen delivers a sharp songwriting that combines intimate moments with full band Americana. Passerby, included in the Kim Curly Band debut album, is an uplifting rocker that reminds us of the most traditional Ryan Adams.
GERMANY: Blogpartei Sickcity - Julia
To name a constant insider's tip, SICKCITY is a good choice. This four-piece from Munich does manifold music, from danceable indietronics to waltzrock. Although Julia has some time under its belt, it's still one of my favourite songs. A tripping waltz accompanied by the intense voice of Daniel Shah, reminding of Marilyn Manson.
GREECE: Mouxlaloulouda My Wet Calvin - Laps
My Wet Calvin is an experimental act with a DIY aesthetic that offers unconventional live performances and delivers a blend of shoegaze, pop, noise and intense drumming with shimmering guitars, synths, electronics and fragile vocals. All Great Events convincingly balances the scales of different sounds and textures, without sacrificing anything in terms of musical ideas or melody. Each song sounds like a distinct ray of light and although it's packed into something both surprisingly subversive and cohesive, it's the strength of each of them that makes the whole album stand out. Laps is a thrilling evidence of compelling thoughtful craftsmanship. Just close your eyes and enjoy it. It's even more satisfying.
ICELAND: I Love Icelandic Music Feldberg - Dreamin
Feldberg was formed in January 2009 by Einar Tonsberg, better known as Eberg, and Rosa Birgitta Isfeld, the singer of the band Sometime. The duo decided to meet every Tuesday night for a couple of months and write some songs together. One of their songs, Don稚 Be A Stranger, was used in an ad and later on released as a single. Debut album Don稚 Be A Stranger was released by Icelandic label Cod Music last year. The song Dreamin was Song Of The Year at the Icelandic Music Awards 2009.
INDONESIA: Deathrockstar Mocca - Lucky Me
One may say that this band is the biggest name in the Indonesian Indie-pop scene.
And probably the sweetest voice you could ever hear.
IRELAND: Nialler9 Sunken Foal - Sailing Architrades
Signed to influential electronic label Planet Mu, Dunk aka Sunken Foal's music is a compound of stringed instruments, analogue synthesizers and ambience, matched with a healthy dose of innovative beats. This once off tune hasn't found a home on a release yet, but if you like what you hear, check out his 2008 debut, Fallen Arches.
ISRAEL: Metal Israel Spawn Of Evil - Screamager (Therapy Cover)
Spawn of Evil is a rambunctious death/thrash Zionist metal band with straight up metal influences mixed with Middle Eastern groove and a sense of humor. This is a cover of Therapy?'s hit Screamager, approved by Therapy? themselves.
ITALY: Polaroid Les Mange-Tout - Weak Week
If you are invited for tea, just bring this album by Les Mange-Tout with you. One girl from Genova, one from Le Havre: they sure know how to rock the hell out of a tea party. Folk twee pop with a magnificent attitude for weaved melodies, lovely choruses and nursery rhymes. Just add some glockenspiel and melodica, a double bass and a driver lent from the band The Calorifer Is Very Hot, too many super cute vintage dresses and you're done!
MEXICO: Red Bull PanameriKa Torreblanca - Parece Navidad
Juan Manuel Torreblanca is a multi-instrumentalist (and illustrator) from Mexico City. His talents on the piano and accordion have been recruited by quite a few in the Mexican scene. His own compositions however are the real deal, as he fronts a full ensemble. Torreblanca counts on a quintet armed with a strong rhythm section and wind instruments. He and his fellow musicians recently released a debut titled Defensa, an astonishing first EP with just four songs composed by great arrangements and confrontative, existentialist lyrics. Parece Navidad is the second and the most complex cut from this promising EP, after the homonymous first single.
NEW ZEALAND: Counting The Beat Thieves - Seizure
The first wave of iconic NZ label Flying Nun was the jangly indie pop that became known around the world: bands like The Clean and The Chills. The second wave came in the 90s - the music was noisier and darker - and it was some of my favourite music of all time. It's this second wave of Flying Nun that Thieves invoke on their excellent self titled EP. Thieves brooding alternative guitar rock is showcased on the EP's centrepiece, Seizure. They have two EPs available to download from http://thievesss.bandcamp.com
PERU: SoTB Electro-Z - En Ficcion
Electro-Z was one of those strange flashes that sometimes happen in music. His self-titled album turned 10 years, and is remembered as the glow of innovation that ended with the war of styles in the Peruvian music scene of the last decade. Electro-Z made his sound from the link created between the distortion of rock and the coolness of pop, and found his key in the unification of these genres. En Ficcion is a good example of all these. Although the style seemed unclassifiable at that time, it would be later known as indie.
PORTUGAL: Posso Ouvir Um Disco? Pop Dell Arte - Ritual Transdisco
We are proud to bring here one of the most important Portuguese alternative bands, celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Led by Joao Peste, they have been exploring and composing lyrics and sounds that you never heard anywhere. Ritual Transdisco is their first single from the just released new album, Contra Mundum.
ROMANIA: Babylon Noise Butterflies In My Stomach - Another You
Butterflies In My Stomach started as a project in the spring of 2005. They are one of the few bands in the acid jazz/nu-jazz/trip-hop area in Romania. The name comes from the wonderful sensation that takes you by surprise and leaves its traces for a long time.
SCOTLAND: The Pop Cop Kid Canaveral - Good Morning
Kid Canaveral offer a free return ticket to the mainstream indie-pop sound of the 90s, favouring the irrepressible joy of melody ahead of racking up cool points. The frantic chug of Good Morning takes in some typically Scottish themes - drinking and going out - to give a welcome indication of what to expect from KC's forthcoming debut album Shouting At Wildlife, which is released on July 5.
SINGAPORE: I'm Waking Up To... Elsa X - Baby Steps
On paper, Elsa X is a one-person experimental outfit that combines elements of post rock and electronica, under a pseudonym for a girl who suffers from mental disorders. Actually, it's a project meant to raise awareness on mental illness. The music however was released as a 2 sides EP written by one principal songwriter, Wang Wei Yang, who has deftly combined various emotional undertones based on research by his project mates. The air of bipolar emotions constantly flits through the soundscapes, hopeful and hopeless all at the same time. Elsa X is not real, and the music may not have been conceived from an artist's vision, but in this schizophrenic world, who can truly say what is what?
SOUTH KOREA: Indieful ROK Jambinai - Miro
All trained in traditional Korean music, the three members of Jambinai play piri, geomungo and haegeum, respectively. Currently performing musical experiments in the realm of post-rock, they are working their instruments to create a fresh and natural sound and hope to make their first official release later this summer. Starting out slowly before proceeding into a fascinating display of prowess, Miro is a sonic delicacy not to be missed.
SWEDEN: Swedesplease De Montevert - High On You
De Montevert's style is all over the place from indie pop to indie folk to experimental electronica and everything in between. I chose the song High On You because it has the most accessible sound and that indescribable indie pop naivety and purity.
I could honestly go on and on. But I値l just ask to do yourself a favor and check out her MySpace page, listen to DKT, All Happy Endings, Both Human and/or Galpal.
SWITZERLAND: 78s Solange la Frange - Wakawak
To capture the special energy of a live-show on a record is a complicated undertaking. For the Swiss trio Solange La Frange, it was a piece of cake. The band got famous for their dynamic and powerful live performances and managed to put that atmosphere on a proper record. The special blend of electro and rock would make CSS and Karen O envious, if they knew about Solange La Frange from Vevey, Switzerland.
UNITED STATES: I Guess I'm Floating Oberhofer - I Could Go
Oberhofer started as the solo, lo-fi bedroom project of Brad Oberhofer in Tacoma, Washington, only to develop into a full band once he moved to eastward to Brooklyn, New York. I Could Go is a great song with catchy percussion, climatic melodies, and wonderful whistling.
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