Balloon Shapes By Cops » Live Music in Japan

Muse Live in Osaka 9th Jan 2010

Silentjim — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:12:39 +0000

Just last Saturday we went to see Muse live at Osaka Castle Hall (that’s not actually the hall in the castle, which would have been v. cool, but the concert hall about half a mile away in the surrounding park).

I remember buying the first Muse album when it came out years ago and liking it a lot, but then kinda lost interest in them. So the week before the gig we bought that album again and their new one The Resistance. Figured I should catch up.

To be honest, didn’t get the new album at first, it seemed to much of an homage/pastiche of T-Rex, Marilyn Manson, Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Queen.

However that all changed during the gig!

Muse Live in Osaka 2010

However they nearly blew it.
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Post tags: Gig, Live Music in Japan, Muse, Osaka Castle, The Resistance

SCF at the Urban Guild Kyoto

Silentjim — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:27:04 +0000

A few weeks ago we went to see a friend of ours “perform” in his multimedia-electronica art performance duo “S.C.F.” (Click the link for their Myspace page if you want to have a listen – it’s not for everyones tastes, but I likes it – honestly Andy!).

The nights show was called “Exorcisms” and there were about 6 performances mainly dancers, all portraying in some way (some obvious, some not so) this theme.

What was this multimedia-electronica experience like I hear you ask…
Well:

SCF at the Urban Guild Kyoto

SCF who basically stayed at the back of the hall twiddling nobs and pressing buttons to make a wall of noise while a dancer dressed in a paper dress…”danced”…on stage with a video montage playing on the wall behind her.

SCF Dancer

The dancing was pretty unconvential but very watchable and the “music” reached a hypnotising level which made the whole experience fascinating (a little bit like watching a train wreck, but I mean that in a good way).

If you get a chance to be in Kyoto and this kind of thing is your bag (Radiohead and Japanese Noise fans might dig it) then I recommend checking them out.

They have a blog here (SCF Blog) which has some videos of their performances.

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Maiko in Kyoto

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Post tags: Gig, Gigs, Kyoto, Live Music in Japan

The Neatbeats Shangri-la Osaka Dec 20th

Silentjim — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 05:22:57 +0000

Last Saturday, checked out the Neatbeats at Shangri-la in Osaka (previously saw Scouting for Girls there – kinda different gig, especially in terms of numbers! This time I was definitely the only gaijin there).

For those not up on Tokyo based Rock’n'Roll bands, the Neatbeats are a Tokyo based Rock’n'Roll band. Replete with slicked back quiffs, smart black suits, skinny ties and speakers turned up to 11.

The Neatbeats

Apologies (as usual!) for the poor quality, but taken with my phone and they wouldn’t stop moving!

As I mentioned before I managed to pick up a couple of this lots cds at a market in Ashiya for about ￥100 (an absolute bargain!) – didn’t know them at the time but you have to buy an album called “Japanese Rock & Roll Attack” don’t you?!
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Post tags: Gigs, Live Music in Japan, Music, Shangri-la, The Neatbeats