International Creative Network

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2 days ago

• Status

  earthquakes are really scary when you're in the shower

7 days ago

• Status

  finally! what happened to asoboo?

9 days ago

• Aprils, Hazel Nuts Chocolate, Aira Mitsuki, Furil @ Basement Bar 26 April
  Deciding I needed a dose of happy-happy pop, I went down a Shimokitazawa basement to Basement Bar. Surprisingly, the place was chock-a-block with an odd mix of folks.
  
  First up was Furil, who I didn't know anything about and who didn't really help with my need for happy-happy pop. They were a squeaky synthetic karaoke act who took themselves too seriously, but seemed to go down well with the otaku I noticed congregating at the front of the stage.
  
  
  
  The otaku didn't quite know how to react to the next performance, Hazel Nuts Chocolate.
  Yuppa made a hilarious entry and danced about singing a bunch of Hazel Nuts classics. Although she was singing to a backing track, she also played synth and was joined by Dr Usui from Motocompo on guitar. They were loud, eccentric, danceable and put a smile on my face as they always do.
  
  
  
  When Henachoco finished, there was sudden excitement on the otaku front. Patrick, who I ran into at the show, was perfectly correct in guessing they were all there to see Aira Mitsuki, the idoru who was up next. She was an idoru of the Perfume type, and like Perfume, she was actually blessed with some interesting songs, produced by Yasutaka Nakata worshipper, Oonishi Terukado. At first I was admittedly a bit afraid though; a singer who looked like a doll wearing a maid-like dress, her management wearing suits, choreographed dancers, nerds enthusiastically copying the moves.. Was this Shimokitazawa or Akihabara? Well, perhaps Akihabara via Shibuya. Well, via the post-Shibuya-kei techno-pop of the likes of Capsule.
  She even did a cover of Cornelius' Star Fruits Surf Rider and even pressed a couple of keys on a synth. Bonus points.
  Everything she sang was through a vocoder and she not only sounded, but also looked like a robot. However, this artificiality was indeed intentional and part of what made her interesting.
  Quite enjoyable actually. Though those otaku were scary.. But they made a mad dash to the merchandise table after Aira finished, leaving a bit more room for us to enjoy Aprils.
  
  
  
  I pulled out the light stick Aprils gave out for free (Oh no! Otaku behaviour! I'm becoming one of them!) and watched Aprils enthusiastically belt out some of their happy-happy pop classics. As usual, they filled the stage with supporting members, lights, smoke, pico-pico-flipper's-guitar-pop and monitors synched up to their songs. No appearance by the giant blue panda this time though. But they did play Pan・da:
  
  
  
  Check out the Chipple report of this show.

23 days ago

• Fuji Rock Lineup
  Lots more artists have been announced for Fuji Rock.
  
  Some friends are coming over from Australia for it so I'm going to go too.
  Want to join the TGG cohort?
  
  ASPARAGUS, BEAT CRUSADERS, BEN FOLDS, BETTYE LAVETTE, Bill Laswell presents Method of Defiance, BLACKMARKET, Bootsy Collins Tribute to the Godfather of Soul, THE BREEDERS, THE CRIBS, CSS, DatA, THE DEATH SET, DOBERMAN, eastern youth, ELLEGARDEN, FEEDER, FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND, FreeTEMPO, GALACTIC featuring Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5) and Boots Riley (of The Coup), THE GO!TEAM, GOGOL BORDELLO, GOSSIP, GOTYE, HARD-FI, IAN BROWN, KIYOSHIRO IMAWANO & NICE MIDDLE with NEW BLUE DAY HORNS plus NAKAIDO "CHABO" REICHI, JANET KLEIN, JASON FALKNER, JASON MRAZ, KASABIAN, KATE NASH, Kicell, LETTUCE, M!NK, MELEE, MICHAEL FRANTI AND SPEARHEAD, THE MUSIC, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, MYSTERY JETS, NARUYOSHI KIKUCHI DUB SEXTET, ONE NIGHT ONLY, OZOMATLI, PRIMAL SCREAM, PRINCESS SUPERSTAR, QURULI, THE RASCALS, Riddim Saunter, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR., RYUKYUDISKO, SEASICK STEVE, SHERBETS, SPECIAL OTHERS, SPOON, SWITCH, Tomobe Masato, TRAVIS, UNDERWORLD, WHITE LIES

Apr 08, 2008

• Reply to Jrim: Wiki Vanity
  ha ha. i work with andrew!
  
  even more disturbing is organisations editing/censoring articles.
  http://wikiscanner.virgil.gr/

Apr 07, 2008

• Reply to Jo3y: Why Must I Cry
  WOW
  http://www.cafepress.com/rehdogg.1526431 79

Mar 28, 2008

• Reply to Jrim: Kan Mikami
  wow, that was a fascinating interview. it makes me want to go see him even more.
  i added the upcoming events. some interesting venues. zen pussy!
  i'll probably go to the show next tuesday at aketa.

Mar 27, 2008

• Tokyo Gig Guide in Best Of The Web '08
  Tokyo Gig Guide was included on Japanzine's Best Of The Web '08 article about Japan websites.
  It's in the 'Tragically Hip' section, along with some good music sites like Japan Onchi and Improvised Music From Japan.

Mar 24, 2008

• Status

  earthquake!

Mar 23, 2008

• Dancing to a Japanese Beatles cover band by the tandoor
  Last night, a coworker had been invited to play bass in a band in Chiba, so I decided to go along.
  After getting totally lost, we finally managed to get to the venue which was an Indian restaurant hidden under a huge apartment building in the middle of nowhere in Higashi-Chiba.
  Inside, it was a British rock-themed izakaya-like place jam-packed with an odd collection of middle-aged locals. I tucked into a super-spicy North Indian curry and some pints of Bass.
  The band set up and earnestly played Beatles songs. A few people got up and danced at first, and later after more songs, beer and samosas, chairs were pushed aside and half the place was getting on down. An Indian chef showed off some Bollywood moves and a lady in a strange dance outfit very enthusiastically tried to make me dance with her, while an old guy with overalls and a combover cheered and took photos. We were offered some home-brewed ale.
  Next, just to make things even more surreal, an old guy in an orange shirt got on stage and started singing opera.
  It was great to see some real, unpretentious culture. If only I'd brought along my camera.