Blog - August 2018 Archives

August 2018 Archives

Index

.31 Weekly revue: 2018 week #34 (August 18 to 24)
.18 Weekly revue: 2018 week #33 (August 11 to 17)
.11 Weekly revue: 2018 week #32 (August 4 to 10)
.05 Weekly revue: 2018 week #31 (July 28 to August 3)

August 31, 2018

Weekly revue: 2018 week #34 (August 18 to 24)

Food: - Vegetable 65, mutton curry, garden rice and blueberry ice cream at Cochin Nivas
- Ice cream at La Ruche, Jiyūgaoka
- "Tochō Fry Tower" at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buidling's restaurant

Music events: - I went to the release party event for synthesizer quartet Hello, Wendy!'s album "No.9". It was held at SuperDeluxe, and also featured Metalchicks and Tachibana Hajime & Low Powers. The event was presented by Buffalo Daughter, as all of the bands feature either Ohno Yumiko or Yoshinaga suGar.

First on stage was Tachibana Hajime & Low Powers, a band formed in 1997 featuring singer eri (14 years old back then) and Ohno Yumiko, and this was their 2nd show since they just came back this month after 21 years. Tachibana Hajime played three different guitars, singer eri also played an acoustic guitar, Yumiko played mostly bass, and young drummer Hina was great too! The show consisted of songs from their "Low Powers" album.

Next was Metalchicks, the unit of suGar (on guitar) and drummer Yoshimura Yuka (ex-DMBQ & OOIOO). The two played a great energetic set and they seemed to be having a lot of fun! They had remained inactive for many years, but now it seems they're preparing a new album! They played two new songs including one titled "Ladder". They also did a cover of Madonna's "Music", and finished the show with "We Are The Warriors".

There was a big set change for "Hello, Wendy!", and synthesizers were brought one after the other, as well as an electronic drum kit which was to be played by guest Asa-chang.

Hello, Wendy! set list: No.9 (Beethoven) / Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 - 3. Allegro (Bach) / Revolution / Violet's Green Eyes / Moment of Eternity / Escalator Step (Ohno Yumiko) / Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two) (Harry Dacre) / Let 'Em In (Paul McCartney)
w/ Asa-chang: shinroku / Self Portrait Sakamoto Ryūichi) / Pop Muzik (M) / Star Cycle (feat. Yoshinaga suGar) (Jan Hammer)
Encore: Lavender (A cappella) (Dolinda Morgan)

- Hung out at Shibuya no Natsu-matsuri 2018 organized by Mixi Group, and got to catch a live performance by Tajima Takao (Original Love) who had also played last year. He gave a great soulful and rocking show. The bon-odori event that followed had Shibuya theme song "You Make Shibuya" (sung by Nomiya Maki with music written by Kaji Hideki) played several times. A fun and peaceful event.

- Dropped by a karaoke contest held by Mitsui Building in Shinjuku. Held every year, this was the 44th time! The contest features only participants who work at companies of that office building. The stage and crowd are huge, and the performances aren't only about singing well but also feature a good dose of entertainment with costumes, dancers and props, etc. The event is held over three evenings, the first two have all participants perform their song up to the first verse, and if selected as finalists (total of 20) they get to sing the whole song on the 3rd night. During all three days, co-workers of the performers come close to the stage to cheer, and a popular way of cheering is to use recycled shredded paper as confetti and throw lots of it to the stage. It was so fun that we went twice, on the first night and then on the last to see the final.

Music release news: Kaji Hideki, Halfby, P.O.P

Playlist: Natsu Summer, Halfby, Hoshino Michiru, Soleil, playtime rock

This week's video: Hello, Wendy! "Revolution"

Hello, Wendy! "Pop Muzik" (just a bit, live at Super Deluxe)

Kaji Hideki "aki no Olive"

August 18, 2018

Weekly revue: 2018 week #33 (August 11 to 17)

Food: - Pizza at Massimottavio, Eifukuchō

Music events: - I went to event "manatsu no dekigoto" (真夏の出来事) at Nishi-Azabu Shinsekai. The event featured Love Jones (the band of Itō Eriko also a member of Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys), Tokyo Killer (instrumental surf rock band led by Keme (Kinoco Hotel)), Francis avec Haruko (unit of Ori Makoto (ex-Collectors) and Tajima Haruko) and Nosa Reina. I actually was looking forward to see each of these, so this show was a great opportunity! All were awesome! Reina used a soroban as a shaker-like percussion. Brilliant! Also, I was told by Francis that he played bass on Pizzicato Five's "Sister Freedom Tapes", and that the album took its name from the studio it was recorded at: Freedom Studio in Ōkubo (now Freedom Studio Infinity). I'll have to sneak in sometime. :)

Francis avec Haruko (partial) set list: S'il vous plaît! / Alexandre (Nino Ferrer cover) / Jamón, jamón / Delaware / Copacabana (Barry Manilow cover)

Nosa Reina set list: Robot (Sakakibara Ikue cover) / kūdō desu (Yura Yura Teikoku cover) / S58 / manatsu no dekigoto (Hirayama Miki cover) / saizansu Mambo (Tony Tani cover) / China Blue

- I also went to see singer Natsu Summer's release party for recent album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation", held at Moon Romantic. The reggae-ish album was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei) and this special show featured him part of a full band of 9 including keyboards, two guitars, bass, steel drum, saxophone, Hirano Eiji on percussions (Happiness Records!), Kitayama Yūko on drums (city-pop beat master, also a member of band misola), and live dub PA! The show was divided in two sets, and included songs from her two albums. The whole was great! Of course I couldn't resist the chance to get 7" single "Old School Surfer" two days before its release. :)

Set list: Old School Surfer / Midsummer Weather / Long Hot Summer / Sexy (kimi wa Sexy) / Summer Illumination / issho ni yume o mimashō / Japanese Reggae Woman / machi akari / Night Shadow (yoru wa kirai) / futari ga tonari ni iru koto / Tropical Christmas
Encore: koi no Timing

Exhibition: - Went to see a food-themed group exhibition at Shinjuku Ophthalmologic Gallery. There was drawn artwork, photos, sculptures, etc. Lots of fun pieces! Manga artist Maki Hirochi also had two pieces on display, and I bought her self-produced book "Broken Heart Café Masako" and an autographed set of postcards. :)

Music release news: Natsu Summer, Jintana & Emeralds, The Natsuyasumi Band

Playlist: Manon, Wakita Monari, Elektel, etc.

August 11, 2018

Weekly revue: 2018 week #32 (August 4 to 10)

Dropped by Asagaya Tanabata Matsuri:

Food: - Tamarind & corn hiyajiru curry (tamarind & corn) at Tapir, Shin-Okubo
- Fig & bacon salad, sausage, fish & chips and lemon pie at Bespoque, Higashi-Nakano

Talk show: - I went once again to Shindō Mitsuo's "Be My Baby" retrospective exhibition for a talk show with Makimura Kenichi, who was the executive producer of Flipper's Guitar (early 90's unit of Oyamada Keigo and Ozawa Kenji) among others. The talk focused on Flipper's Guitar, for who Shindō-san did all the artwork (a lot of rarities are on display at the exhibition). It was mentioned that the first artwork he did for Pizzicato Five was the 2nd EP ("Pizzicato V in Action"), for which he was credited by nickname. This artwork was the reason he was asked to work on Flipper's Guitar's first album. The talk also included episodes of filming music videos for "Goodbye Our Pastels Badges", shot in one take on the Marunouchi metro line between Akasaka-Mitsuke and Shinjuku-3chome, and "Young, Alive in Love" shot in Paris including a scary location on the oblique roof of Agnès b.'s office building. That was a very interesting talk show. Plus I had the chance to take more photos of the exhibition, and get Shindō-san's book autographed!

Music release news: Crazy Ken Band, chelmico, Perfume, DÉ DÉ MOUSE, Her Serves & Receive

Playlist: hitomitoi, Wakita Monari, HALLCA, Wack Wack Rhythm Band, Nosa Reina

This week's videos:

Flipper's Guitar "Goodbye Our Pastels Badges"

Flipper's Guitar "Young, Alive, In Love"

DÉ DÉ MOUSE "be yourself"

August 5, 2018

Weekly revue: 2018 week #31 (July 28 to August 3)

Food: - Beef soup curry at Tapir, Shin-Ōkubo
- Dinner at Yaoyu

Music events: - On Sunday July 29 was a show of SOLEIL at Yoyogi Zher the Zoo, celebrating singer Soleil's recent 15th birthday! The opening band was The Pen Friend Club, a young band that plays evergreen songs of the 60's (The Beach Boys, Roger Nichols, etc.) as well as their own originals. Being that SOLEIL's music is also greatly inspired by music of the same era, it was an excellent match! The two bands also have in common that they use glockenspiel, and members who use Rickenbacker bass/guitars (one of Sally Kubota's favorites). Despite being presented as the opening act, the 8 members of the Pen Friend Club played a full set!

Then SOLEIL played, this time accompanied by drummer Sankon Jr. (of Ulfuls) and chorists Lemon and Hoshino Michiru. The set included most songs from first album "My Name is SOLEIL", and also two brand new songs (they were great!) from forthcoming album "SOLEIL is Alright" of which details were announced at this show. The new album will have songs by Takanami K-taro, Yokoyama Ken (Crazy Ken Band), Microstar and many more.

Just before the encore, members of The Pen Friend Club came on stage singing "Happy Birthday" in their beautiful voices while bringing a cake. For the encore, the band came back as just its three official members with Soleil on drums. They first played their usual instrumental session, which always evolves a bit every time especially in terms of drum solos. Then they proceeded to play two more songs, "Guitar in Love" and "Pinky Fluffy", with Soleil singing while playing drums! That was a very fun show! And now I'm really looking forward to the new album, it will be released on September 19. Check out the teaser clip below.

The Pen Friend Club set list: Darlin' (The Beach Boys cover) / River Deep - Mountain High (Tina Turner cover) / Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes (The 5th Dimension cover) / Tell Me (Do You Really Love Me?) / Don't Take Your Time (Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends cover) / The Monkey's Uncle (The Beach Boys cover) / Fun Fun Fun (The Beach Boys cover) / Wichita Lineman (Glen Campbell cover)

SOLEIL set list: Theme of SOLEIL / Marine I Love You / Summer Wink / Apple Princess Go Go! / koi no Happy Date (Ishino Maki cover) (original "Gotta Pull Myself Together" by The Nolans) / Love Letter in Blue Ink / Captain Scarlet theme song / Pieces of Candy / New song: "Late Summer Silhouette"? / New song: The Beginning of Love / Do You Believe In Magic? / Are you happy? / So Long My Fourteen / Theme of SOLEIL (Reprise)
Encore (w/ Soleil on drums): Session / Guitar in Love / Pinky Fluffy

- I went to event "Torimatorimae" presented by Dr.Usui & (M)otocompo at Roppongi Varit. The artists playing were idol group Ikoku no Palpitante (produced by Dr.Usui), Nosa Reina, shoegazer rock band Jan flu (whose new album was mastered by Dr.Usui) and (M)otocompo. Nosa Reina sang 5 songs from her latest cover album "Endless Party" karaoke-style, and was accompanied by two dancing cats named the "Neko Cats". Very cute performance. :) Band Jan flu had a very cool sound with a hint of nostalgy. (M)otocompo did a set with 4 members, as fun as always.

After the show I had Nosa Reina draw a caricature of me as a rabbit ("Nosa usagi"), and also I bought (M)otocompo's latest single (a download card) which included the opportunity to have a photo taken with a member of my choice, so I picked drummer Hirano Kinoko. :)

Nosa Reina set list: Robot (Sakakibara Ikue cover) / Nuance shimasho (Kōsaka Miyumi cover) / Niagara ondo (Ōtaki Eiichi cover) / Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) (Oginome Yōko cover) / kūdō desu (Yurayura Teikoku cover)