http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2010/11/far-east-to-east-coast-bo-peeps-kawaii.html
Make sure you check out his book, Japanamerica.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Bo-Peep Tour Plugged By Japanamerica's Roland Kelts
Author, commentator, and lecturer Roland Kelts has plugged Bo-Peep's tour!
http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2010/11/far-east-to-east-coast-bo-peeps-kawaii.html
Make sure you check out his book, Japanamerica.
http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2010/11/far-east-to-east-coast-bo-peeps-kawaii.html
Make sure you check out his book, Japanamerica.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Bo-Peep Written Up on Examiner.com
Check out this article hot off the press!
Thanks to Examiner.com and Justin Tedaldi for hyping Bo-Peep's tour. We hit the road this Friday!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
BO-PEEP: Japanese Press Release
"SUSHI BURNING! GEISHA BURNING! HANABI BURNING!"
「３ピース女性バンドBO-PEEP、３度目のアメリカツアーへ」
東京を拠点に活動するBO-PEEP（ボーピープ）が３度目のアメリカツアー（海外ツアーとしては６度目）を１１／１２より敢行する。今回は初のNYマンハッタンでのLiveを含む東海岸６都市公演。
福岡で結成されてから丸１０年を迎える２０１０年は、３月に１５本のアメリカ中西部ツアーを行なったばかりだが、NEW YORKやBOSTONの大学生たちからのラブコールに答えての急遽のツアー実現となった。
ステレオタイプな日本女子のイメージを完璧に覆すライブパフォーマンスで急激に話題になっているBO-PEEPが、配信サイトで人気の最新アルバム "VIBE" を引っさげ、人種と音楽のルツボNYでどんなパフォーマンスをするか、どんな反応を得るか。乞うご期待！
＊2009年にSouth By South Westに出演したときのJohn Pareles氏寄稿THE NEW YORK TIMESの記事の和訳：
↓
長年多くのロックのライブを経験してきて、日本は面白く可笑しいが、すぐに違和感がなくなるようなバンドを多く輩出していることがわかった。もし私がSXSWのスケジュールを見間違えていなかったら、東京から来た３人の女性ハードロックバンド、BO-PEEPを見る事はなかっただろう。運がよかった。BO-PEEPの荒々しく効果的なリフは、それがぶっきらぼうなワンコードの力強い乱打だろうと、調和しないメタルのラインだとしても、パンクのように鳴り響かせていても、冗談めいた所などなかった。
ボーカルはヨーコ・オノ風の震え声で英語だったとは思うが、何を言っているのか理解はできなかった。しかし、それは問題では無い。BO-PEEPはどんなアメリカやイギリスのサイケデリックなバンドや激しいバンドと並んでも負け劣りしない、そしてそうあるべきだ。
＊Tour Schedule:
↓
Friday, November 12
AS220, Providence, Rhode Island
Sunday, November 14
The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, New York
Monday, November 15th
Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, November 16th
O'briens Pub, Boston, Massachusetts
Wednesday, November 17th
Daniel Street Club, Milford, Connecticut
Thursday, November 18th
Arlene's Grocery, Manhattan, New York
Official Page:
http://bo-peep3.com/
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/bopeepjapan
Japanese management: 3rd Stone From The Sun Corp.
http://www.3rdstones.com/
「３ピース女性バンドBO-PEEP、３度目のアメリカツアーへ」
東京を拠点に活動するBO-PEEP（ボーピープ）が３度目のアメリカツアー（海外ツアーとしては６度目）を１１／１２より敢行する。今回は初のNYマンハッタンでのLiveを含む東海岸６都市公演。
福岡で結成されてから丸１０年を迎える２０１０年は、３月に１５本のアメリカ中西部ツアーを行なったばかりだが、NEW YORKやBOSTONの大学生たちからのラブコールに答えての急遽のツアー実現となった。
ステレオタイプな日本女子のイメージを完璧に覆すライブパフォーマンスで急激に話題になっているBO-PEEPが、配信サイトで人気の最新アルバム "VIBE" を引っさげ、人種と音楽のルツボNYでどんなパフォーマンスをするか、どんな反応を得るか。乞うご期待！
＊2009年にSouth By South Westに出演したときのJohn Pareles氏寄稿THE NEW YORK TIMESの記事の和訳：
↓
長年多くのロックのライブを経験してきて、日本は面白く可笑しいが、すぐに違和感がなくなるようなバンドを多く輩出していることがわかった。もし私がSXSWのスケジュールを見間違えていなかったら、東京から来た３人の女性ハードロックバンド、BO-PEEPを見る事はなかっただろう。運がよかった。BO-PEEPの荒々しく効果的なリフは、それがぶっきらぼうなワンコードの力強い乱打だろうと、調和しないメタルのラインだとしても、パンクのように鳴り響かせていても、冗談めいた所などなかった。
ボーカルはヨーコ・オノ風の震え声で英語だったとは思うが、何を言っているのか理解はできなかった。しかし、それは問題では無い。BO-PEEPはどんなアメリカやイギリスのサイケデリックなバンドや激しいバンドと並んでも負け劣りしない、そしてそうあるべきだ。
＊Tour Schedule:
↓
Friday, November 12
AS220, Providence, Rhode Island
Sunday, November 14
The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, New York
Monday, November 15th
Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, November 16th
O'briens Pub, Boston, Massachusetts
Wednesday, November 17th
Daniel Street Club, Milford, Connecticut
Thursday, November 18th
Arlene's Grocery, Manhattan, New York
Official Page:
http://bo-peep3.com/
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/bopeepjapan
Japanese management: 3rd Stone From The Sun Corp.
http://www.3rdstones.com/
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Japanese Band Bo-Peep Tours the Northeast US
Japanese Band Bo-Peep Tours the Northeast US
Tokyo, Japan – November 1st, 2010 – Bo-Peep, one of Tokyo’s hottest rock bands, has recently finalized the schedule for their upcoming Northeast US Tour.
The band will play 6 dates in mid-November in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Milford, and Providence. This will be the band’s third US tour after appearing at Austin’s prestigious South By Southwest festival both this year and last.
Well known in Tokyo for their ferociously intense music and lean visceral show, Bo-Peep is an all female trio that epitomizes the excitement of the Japanese rock scene. As described by one journalist, “Bo-Peep is harder than a hurricane and louder than bombs.”
The band is earnestly looking forward to sharing their own breed of Japanese-influenced hard rock with new audiences and die-hard fans in the USA.
Official Page:
http://bo-peep3.com/
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/bopeepjapan
Tour Schedule:
Friday, November 12
AS220, Providence, Rhode Island
Sunday, November 14
The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, New York
Monday, November 15th
Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, November 16th
O'briens Pub, Boston, Massachusetts
Wednesday, November 17th
Daniel Street Club, Milford, Connecticut
Thursday, November 18th
Arlene's Grocery, Manhattan, New York
For all press inquiries and general questions, please contact:
Ethan Green, Tour Manager
ethan@tokyowerewolf.com
Sunday, October 31, 2010
BO-PEEP: November 2010 USA Tour
Friday, November 12
AS220, Providence, Rhode Island
Girls Rock Showcase
9PM
$10
Sunday, November 14
The Trash Bar, Brooklyn, New York
11PM
$6
Monday, November 15th
Danger! Danger! Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8PM
Tuesday, November 16th
O'briens Pub, Allston, Massachusetts
8:30PM
$7
Wednesday, November 17th
Daniel Street Club, Milford, Connecticut
8PM
$8
http://manicproductions.org/
Thursday, November 18th
Arlene's Grocery, Manhattan, New York
12AM (technically Friday morning)
$8
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rock in China
The New York Times posted a cool video about emerging rock festivals in China. With 100 festivals and counting, maybe they will one day rival Japan's festival scene. Check it out:
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Bo-Peep: 10th Anniversary Show
This past Saturday night, Bo-Peep celebrated their 10th anniversary with a special live show featuring bands and musicians who have stuck by their side and supported them all these years.
The Tokyo Pinsalocks, who are gearing up for their upcoming album release, played a set featuring their new material.
Hisayo...
Reiko...
Nao...
At this point, I don't think I can count the number of times I've seen Bo-Peep live, but this time around, Mika's smile was the brightest I've ever seen. The positive vibes in the room must have caused the band to kick it up a notch.
For each song, Bo-Peep featured a line-up of different guest bass players. Hisayo, Arie from Vola and the Oriental Machine, and Hime, Bo-Peep's original bassist, all played numbers. In the end, Take, the group's current master of the 4-stringed axe, closed the set with her characteristic energy. The power was alive.
Chatmonchy and Electric Eel Shock
I'm a week behind on posts. My apologies.
On Tuesday last week, I swung by Shelter in Shimokitazawa to check out a double bill featuring two incredible Japanese bands, Chatmonchy and Electric Eel Shock.
Chatmonchy is one of the hottest modern rock acts in Japan. Walk into Tower Records, HMV, or any other major record store, and you will find their latest albums prominently displayed. Their 2009 album release, Kokuhaku, with it's incredible range of moods and sounds, is one of my favorite Japanese rock albums. I've been eager to see the band live for some time.
Chatmonchy's appeal is their seamless blend of cuteness (in the girlish/feminine sense) and intensity (in the guitar driven rock 'n' roll sense). The band is an all female trio featuring Kumiko Takahashi on drums, Akko Fukuoka on bass, and Eriko Hashimoto on guitar and lead vocals.
Eriko's shimmering vocals are soft in tone and reach a high register; in some sense, she sounds like a grown woman with a girl's voice. Her soft-spoken persona was even more evident on stage. Her stature was shorter than I imagined and her youthfulness (all the members of the band are in their mid-twenties) was quite evident. Between numbers, she talked to the audience in a shy, almost hesitant manner. This was in stark contrast to the depth and maturity of the band's songs.
Bassist Akko embodies the band's rock 'n' roll personality. Like Akko from GO!GO!7188, she displays a true performers spirit, hoping up and down the stage during the band's more intense numbers. When I met her at Ruby Room a few months back, she was frank, upfront, and not the least bit shy.
Check out the video for Sekai ga Owaru Yoru (The Night the World Ends)
My personal favorite song, Kaze Fukeba Koi
This one is also pretty cool. Renai Spirits (Love Spirits)
Electric Eel Shock is another story all-together. The first time I saw them at Shelter was actually back in early 2009 when the band opened for Bo-Peep. Eel Shock's blend of in-your-face indy rock and heavy metal definitely turned the heat up a notch after Chatmonchy. The band is aggressive and almost rude. In Chili-Pepper's fashion, the drummer plays naked with nothing but a tube sock covering his extremities. During their classic number, "Bastard" the band wasn't shy about accusing each and every audience member of bastardry. Check out the videos to see what I mean.
Metal Man
Bastard
It was an awesome night and I think it will be quite a while before I see such a diverse and talented line-up of bands share one stage.
___
Here is a photo of Eel Shock that I snapped at Shelter a year and a half ago.
On Tuesday last week, I swung by Shelter in Shimokitazawa to check out a double bill featuring two incredible Japanese bands, Chatmonchy and Electric Eel Shock.
Chatmonchy's appeal is their seamless blend of cuteness (in the girlish/feminine sense) and intensity (in the guitar driven rock 'n' roll sense). The band is an all female trio featuring Kumiko Takahashi on drums, Akko Fukuoka on bass, and Eriko Hashimoto on guitar and lead vocals.
Eriko's shimmering vocals are soft in tone and reach a high register; in some sense, she sounds like a grown woman with a girl's voice. Her soft-spoken persona was even more evident on stage. Her stature was shorter than I imagined and her youthfulness (all the members of the band are in their mid-twenties) was quite evident. Between numbers, she talked to the audience in a shy, almost hesitant manner. This was in stark contrast to the depth and maturity of the band's songs.
Bassist Akko embodies the band's rock 'n' roll personality. Like Akko from GO!GO!7188, she displays a true performers spirit, hoping up and down the stage during the band's more intense numbers. When I met her at Ruby Room a few months back, she was frank, upfront, and not the least bit shy.
Check out the video for Sekai ga Owaru Yoru (The Night the World Ends)
My personal favorite song, Kaze Fukeba Koi
This one is also pretty cool. Renai Spirits (Love Spirits)
Electric Eel Shock is another story all-together. The first time I saw them at Shelter was actually back in early 2009 when the band opened for Bo-Peep. Eel Shock's blend of in-your-face indy rock and heavy metal definitely turned the heat up a notch after Chatmonchy. The band is aggressive and almost rude. In Chili-Pepper's fashion, the drummer plays naked with nothing but a tube sock covering his extremities. During their classic number, "Bastard" the band wasn't shy about accusing each and every audience member of bastardry. Check out the videos to see what I mean.
Metal Man
Bastard
It was an awesome night and I think it will be quite a while before I see such a diverse and talented line-up of bands share one stage.
___
Here is a photo of Eel Shock that I snapped at Shelter a year and a half ago.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
DJ Open Mic - Be-Wave in Shinjuku
When I first landed in Tokyo, I was religiously attending the Ruby Room's Tuesday night open mic. Via Ruby Room, I've crossed paths with incredible musicians, awesome bands, and many wonderful people who have become by closest friends in Japan.
This time around, I want to plug a new open-mic-style event in Shinjuku, Thursday People at the venue Be-Wave. Thursday People is organized by my DJ friend Michiya Hisano and is an open mic of sorts for DJ's. Perhaps "Open Tables" would be a more appropriate name. Anyone can bring their records and CD's and DJ for thirty minutes. It's an awesome place to try your hands DJing, plug your own events around town, and see where the music nuts are planning their next big bashes.
Here is the Werewolf spinning a set on Thursday two weeks ago:
This time around, I want to plug a new open-mic-style event in Shinjuku, Thursday People at the venue Be-Wave. Thursday People is organized by my DJ friend Michiya Hisano and is an open mic of sorts for DJ's. Perhaps "Open Tables" would be a more appropriate name. Anyone can bring their records and CD's and DJ for thirty minutes. It's an awesome place to try your hands DJing, plug your own events around town, and see where the music nuts are planning their next big bashes.
Here is the Werewolf spinning a set on Thursday two weeks ago:
More details
7:00-24:00 every Thursday, entrance is free!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
