Blog - Weekly revue: 2019 week #23 (June 1 to 7)
Weekly revue: 2019 week #23 (June 1 to 7)
Music events: - On June 1st was an event presented by Niigata idol group RYUTist, titled "HI, HOW ARE YOU with SOLEIL" at Shinjuku Marz. It was apparently the 4th of their "Hi, How Are You" series where they shared the stage with other artists. This time their guest was band SOLEIL! Both SOLEIL and RYUTist each played a generous set of 50 minutes!
This time singer Soleil and bassist Sally Kubota were accompanied by guitarist Hirakawa Yūichi (leader of The Pen Friend Club) and drummer Tanabe Manaka. It was the 3rd time SOLEIL played a show in this formation, and my first time to see it! There sound was very clean and tight, with both the guitarist and drummer impressively recreating that SOLEIL sound! I had seen Manaka's drumming with Milli Milli Bar (Mia Nascimento & Yafune Tetsurō) and also Yume to Cosme, and she's definitely one to keep an eye on. SOLEIL played a total of 12 songs including the two from latest single "Mellotron Girl" along with many favorites.
Then RYUTist also played a great set of their songs, which are all very good. Some are produced by the likes of Okii Reiji (Tweedees, Cymbals), Microstar, Ikkubaru, Orangeade, and their latest single "Sensitive Sign" also features Wack Wack Rhythm Band. Excellent!
After the show I bought a small Soleil figurine that I had kept missing before, and I could manage getting my 7" signed by Soleil, Sally and the band's arranger Okada Yumi (and songwriter of "Mellotron Girl")! Thanks!! :)
Set list: Do You Believe in Magic? / Sweet Boy / My Sweet Fifteen / Baby Boo / Pieces of Candy / Captain Scarlet theme song (cover) / Mellotron Girl / Bittersweet Graduation / koi no Happy Date (Gotta Pull Myself Together) (Ishino Maki cover (original by The Nolans)) / High School Lullaby (Imo-Kin Trio cover) / Marine I Love You / Are you happy?
- On Wednesday was an in-store event with Kaji Hideki at Pied Piper House (Tower Records Shibuya 6F), in promotion of his new (18th!) album "Goth Romance" out that day. Most of the event was a talk show where Nagato Yoshi (Pied Piper House) interviewed Kaji-kun about the new album. Another guest present throughout the talk show was the ex-owner of Maximum Joy, a great record shop that used to be in Shibuya around the time I came to Tokyo. Later, secret guest Nomiya Maki (!) also joined to talk about the two songs she participated in. Kaji-kun and her sang along quietly while the songs played. There was yet another guest, Ushio Kenta, the guitarist of Otogivanashi, band that lately often plays as Kaji's backband.
The event ended with a mini live show where Kaji sang two songs from the new album: "Spray and Fanfare" and "French Cinema!". There was some trouble with his guitar cord, and in the 2nd song he gave it up and went unplugged, walking up closer to the audience and singing with no mic as everyone clapped quietly. A very nice recovery!
After that, I got my copy of the new album autographed! Yay!! The new album is really great!
Exhibition: - I went to Negicco's Megu's label Curry Rice Records' T-shirt exhibition, titled "CURRY RICE RECORDS presents 30 Designer's TEE-SHIRTS market!!!" at Kata in Ebisu (above Liquidroom). Megu, who loves curry, has invited 30 designers and artists to make T-shirts under the "Curry Rice Records" theme! I love curry and also Negicco, and T-shirts, so I couldn't resist checking this out! I bought one designed by Kaseki Cider! I also bought a pack of original Negicco curry (the last one!).
To my surprise, Megu-chan was at the gallery when I visited, and once I was done shopping the gallery's staff called her over and she came to greet me and shake my hand! Wow!!! I forgot to say that I love curry and Negicco (which is probably obvious anyway)... but I was able to wish her Happy Birthday (she had just turned 30 two days before). She was really nice! :D
The exhibition is until today Saturday June 8, it ends at 15:00. Details here.
Music release news: Kaji Hideki, The Highmarts
This week's video: Kaji Hideki "Non Non Song"
Kaji Hideki "Spray and Fanfare"
Posted on June 8, 2019 at 11:32 | Tweet
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