The Other East

Taiji Sawada wasn’t the first bassist for X Japan, but for the bulk of their recordings he either took part in the early stages, or is on the final recording. Taiji Sawada was on bass for the band’s albums Vanishing Vision, Blue Blood, Jealousy, and the single “Standing Sex”. He also was on early recordings of the mini-album “Art of Life”, before he left the band after a dispute with leader Yoshiki 18 and a half years ago.

Now, nearly two decades later, Taiji will possibly rejoin the band as a guest member during their upcoming shows in Yokohama. Taiji hinted that he had reconciled with the band last week, but for him to be performing on stage with them again is truly shocking.

Link: Sanspo

I told you I wouldn’t post until after Otakon unless something happened. Well. This is something.

Tags: taiji, X Japan

Hey guys, things are crazy around here. I’m trying to get all my stuff in order before I head to Japan so I’ll more than likely not post anything before the beginning of August, when I’ll post a whole bunch of Otakon coverage! If something unexpected happens, then maybe I’ll post before then, but probably not. I’m going to try to post at least every other day from Japan though. See you there!

X Japan just held a press conference in Tokyo, here is some of the news that was announced. Some of it is reiterations of previous rumors and news.

-Sugizo has written a song for the band, and it may be performed soon
-An American tour is being discussed by the band, with 10 dates.
-The band acknowledges the World Tour’s many set backs in its name for the Yokohama two day concert series: “Choukyoukou toppa nanakorobi yaoki ~sekai ni mukatte~” which translates to “Violent breakthrough seven times falling down, eight times standig up ~towards the world~”
-They are planning a state-side singles release campaign, with “Jade” coming first, followed by “Born to be Free” and “I.V.” again.
-They are now saying “Fall” for the album

Here’s a source: Link

Oh look here’s another write up about Lilac by me. This is the third time that I’ve written about them playing in less than a year. Though, probably the last since I’m wandering over to Tokyo for a while. Why do I like them? Aside from them being very good and electric on-stage they are a welcome break from the piles of really heavy, screamed vocals, bands that there are so many of these days. I like metal, don’t get me wrong, but I have a sweet tooth for hard rock. These days I’ll listen to Cloud Nine over X Japan, and Lilac satiates that hard rock love.

Like [geist], Lilac had their own set of drum problems. Long time drummer ChaCha was here, but the house drums kept falling apart on him. Even though I didn’t remember much about Gelatine’s drummer’s drumming, he must have done a number on them. ChaCha wasn’t too happy about the couple times in which the show had to completely stop to fix the kit. Gabriel and Toshi were left to talk to the audience, while the staff tightened various knobs hoping it would hold.

Aside from those unfortunate instances, the band was as tight as I’ve come to expect. In fact after another ridiculously good set laced with killer solos and showmanship I started to think about just were this band ranks among not just the American Jrock bands, but Japanese and Japanese bands as a whole.

Its pretty high up there, I’d put them in the top 50 easy. They are certainly more interesting the stuff bands like Versailes, X Japan, and Vamps are putting out right now and that’s really saying something about a band that’s barely a year old. Are they better from a technical stand point? I don’t know, but I know when I hear one of their songs I’m far more interested in hearing it than most other bands.

The band has yet to release their debut album, so far only releasing an EP last fall, but they have a sizable body of songs already that easily filled their hour set. The audience, though small, was into the set and I’m quite certain that there were far more people there to see Lilac than headliner Kazha. I’m not sure anyone would have shown up if Kazha had played alone. They are actually pretty talented, but they are completely unknown here.

There is only so much I can say about them that I haven’t previously said, and if I talked too much about specific songs no one outside of NYC would know what I was talking about because they still haven’t ventured outside of the Empire State. I personally think they are ready, and when they hit your town you’d be a fool to not go check them out. So here are the rest of the photos for you to enjoy.

Tags: America, concert, Jrock, new york, nyc

I haven’t picked up the laptop in an editorial manner in a long time, but I feel like I have to open up on the subject of the overseas Jrock scene. Specifically the American one, but this applies in various ways to everyone. Basically in 2010 we’re in EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE WE WERE IN 2008. Its a big year, people are thinking it could launch the scene. D’espairsray, Vamps, X Japan, Miyavi, etc all coming over. We thought that in 2008 when in was MUCC, D’espairsray, The Underneath, etc. Yet I’d argue the scene is weaker than it was then.

Now, I have to clarify that this mostly only applies that want this to be some sort of scene. If you are content to download music, listen to it, and have your connection end there that’s fine. This isn’t for you.

1) Support your local bands. Now, I know I mostly blog about the bands here in the North East United States but I know there are bands in England, L.A., etc. Are they all amazing? Some are. Some aren’t. Just like any scene, but that’s not really my point. My point is that most J-music fans aren’t just not into them, they are flat out not even giving them the chance. Whether they don’t know they exist, or they don’t care, the effect is the same.

Well here’s a story for you: Once upon a time a bunch of Japanese kids really like David Bowie. They really liked KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, The Sex Pistols, Iron Maiden, etc. Problem was there weren’t any bands like that in Japan so they made them. X. D’erlanger. The Stalin. Der Zibet. Yokosuka Saver Tiger. Where they any good when they formed? Hell no. But people supported them, and as they stayed around they got better. Why? Because they had their own bands, their own scene, their own events now. Visual Kei, Japanese Punk, etc, were born. I’m not saying that we’re creating the next X Japan right now(And I admit to generalizing), but who the hell knows?

“They aren’t Japanese” is not a valid reason to not listen to a band. I’m not pulling this out of my ass. This has been given to me a reason why people don’t listen to the American bands by said non-listeners. If those Japanese people in the 80s acted like a lot of people are acting now, there WOULD BE NO VISUAL KEI/JROCK/JPUNK FOR YOU TO LISTEN TO.

I really have to direct this at the various Jmusic websites too(with the exception of Purple Sky, who gets it). Look, no, bands from America aren’t technically Japanese but you know what? If the scene dies, you die. Simple. Create a future for yourselves. Besides, American bands=easier content.

2) Go to shit.
This ties in with support your local bands in that you should go to their shows. Why go to their shows? Well, for one here in the north east its usually something ridiculous like 4 bands for ten bucks. Two, its a community thing. Come meet people and hang out with friends. I mean, damn, worst case scenario you killed an evening with some buddies.

When obscure Japanese bands show up, and you can afford it, go! Once again this is an economic issue. When the industry sees shows being successful more shows will follow. If you live outside of Baltimore/DC/NYC/LA this is especially important. You guys almost never get anything. I’m not saying you don’t deserve it, but unfortunately you’ll have to prove to the industry that you do. Even though its proved that it can pack a Jrock show, Baltimore hasn’t seen a single Tainted Reality(Tour organizer responsible for tours such as Versailles and Seileen) show since The Candy Spooky Theater show bombed in 2007. Three years ago. So what do you think your chances of getting a big name concert in…say North Carolina would be, if you let The Candy Spooky Theater bomb there?

3) Don’t be a dick. Pulling a random scenario out of my ass: Ok so you’re the best Hime:Ichigo fan in the state. So your better then, what? 6, 7 people? How about everyone chills the fuck out and enjoys our common interest together. The scene isn’t big enough for drama. Go ahead and pretend it is and see how long it lasts.

Just to plug my most recent post, here’s an example of what you are missing if you aren’t going out to shows.

Tags: America, Jrock, nyc, visual kei

I’m off to Tokyo on August 2nd, arriving August 3rd. I’m excited. What do you want me to write about once I get there?

Gelatine is a band that I’ve been around many times over the last few years, but never had the chance to really shoot. This was the first time I actually decide to elbow through the pit and fight for some shots. 7D in hand, I was going to see if I could keep up with the absurdly energetic vocalist Seiko.

Gelatine is a Japanese punk band that fits into the sub genre of “Insane”. While all the members are relatively quirky, its Seiko that steals the show. This in spite of a bassist wearing a cow kigurumi. Tonight she performed in a sort of skimpy bunny outfit. Wearing bunny ears, and a miniskirt made from stuffed animal fabric and actual stuffed rabbits, she ran around stage screaming and singing with more energy than anyone has any right to have.

Of course the other members brought their own quirk to the stage. The guitarist, who is actually Seiko’s husband, looked like he was in an 80s metal band. Taking the stage with sunglasses and a flying V guitar you can tell he’s thinking about where he can bust out some power moves and stances and he sure as hell did. Adopting the wide stance of a heavy metal shredder, he concluded the set by playing the guitar upside down, vertical, and held out over the audience. I’m told he’s a metal head.

The bassist didn’t have a ton of stage presence, but judging from the nerdy glasses and kigurumi that was the point. He was playing the role of a Otaku on stage, if I was to wager a guess(I’ll put 2 Francs on it) He had chops on the bass though, and didn’t break a sweat even though he was in a cow suit and shredding up and down the neck.

It has to suck to be a drummer in a group like this which revels in crazy stage antics. He left the least impression of all of them on this night, and that’s a side effect of playing in a smaller venue in which you’re sort of trapped in the back. He looked snazzy with a sports jacket, hat, and big sunglasses, though.

Honestly, Gelatine has never really captured me musically. They are fun to watch, and awesome people from my interactions with them, but I’m just not feeling it. I suppose its supposed to be light hearted and crazy, which it is, but I don’t I really find them terribly musically pleasing. I don’t hate them or anything, I guess its not my thing. I know a lot of people are going to hate me for saying that, but that’s how it is. I can stand them enough to enjoy watching them onstage, so they can claim that victory.

Then [geist] played. [geist] was late(more on that later eventually…), and didn’t have a drummer with them. Now former drummer Sai had ceased to be a full member of the band several months ago and became simply a hired member ironically making him the only member of the band taking a check away from each show. He made the band’s show in DC the previous weekend his last, and they had to go on without a drummer this time making do with a click track to launch each song.

They played with Sai’s drum tracks, but the absence still showed in the music. They weren’t a disaster exactly, but they certainly sounded off. This is hardly the first time they’ve soldered on without a drummer, but it would be good for them if they found a drummer in a hurry.

If they handle this situation well it will just be a minor speed-bump. They recently signed on with Hear Japan, and while that move went largely ignored by the various English Jrock news outlets it provides [geist] with access to advertising clout they didn’t have before, and a small global presence. This wasn’t a good set, and hopefully the band won’t have any reason to remember it years down the road, having moved onto bigger and better things.

Maybe one day they can take the Maryland flag to Japan. I hope so.

Tags: gelatine, Jrock, nyc, [geist]

Otakon is a very large event that draws over 20,000 people to Baltimore City every year. This year there is the adding incentive of a mini-X Japan performance by Yoshiki and Sugizo. Recently Otakon has gone out of its way to avoid scheduling the convention during Baltimore Ravens(NFL), or Baltimore Orioles (MLB) games because the stadiums are on the same street as the convention center and within eye-shot of each other. Previous cons took place during games and traffic and hotel situations were less than desirable.

It was thought that this year was good to go, but now an exhibition match has been scheduled between the football clubs Manchester City and Inter Milan for July 31st at 8pm. This is the second day of the convention which takes place between July 30th and August 1st. The performance is, as of now, taking place on July 31st. This will cause problems for anyone that hasn’t booked a room yet and needs one.

While most people consider football/soccer a second tier sport in America, last year a similar event drew around 75,000 and booked the hotels around the convention center/stadium complex solid. Luckily I live near the convention center, so I don’t have to worry about a hotel, but the commute is going to be interesting. The metro train in Baltimore stops running relatively early so driving is necessary for most local con goers. This should be interesting.

Tags: baltimore, otakon, X Japan

-Had a computer setback, I wanted to have the next set of Deatharmonic pics up tonight but that’s not going to happen which is a probablem because:

-I’m not not going to have access to the internet until Monday most likely.

Other business:
-I’m working on a big editorial piece that I think everyone should read

-I’m looking for people to cover the NYC scene for me while I’m in Japan. I can’t pay, but I can get you press passes.

Peace!

Crash Mansion is one of the better venues that the American Jrock bands have played in together. Its a state of the art place with all sorts of lighting, great sound, an awesome bar, and even their own radio booth. There was even somehow free beer even though it was an 18+ event.

With a great venue, free booze, and an NYC visit by [geist] and Kazha, it would seem that it had the potential to be a successful event. However the turnout was disappointing, perhaps because it was a relatively late show on a Sunday night. Perhaps because 3 of the bands had already played in NYC in the last 2 weeks.

First up for the night were Asian rock’s representative’s from Boston: Typherus. Now, I say Asian rock instead of Jrock in the case of Typherus because while influenced by Japanese rock the vocalist actually is more comfortable singing in Chinese. Chinese has a different feel when sung compared to English and Japanese, and this helps give their hard and heavy metal sound a different feel then the night’s other heavy hitter, [geist].

Joining long time vocalist Le-ak, guitarist Emilio, and keyboardist Texas, were new bassist Mitch, and new drummer Charles. While a vaguely Visual Kei band, these two didn’t embrace that style of performance, electing for more plain clothes while Emilio rocked blackout contacts and Le-ak a fishnet shirt and teased hair.

After previously seeing this band in less then musically flattering venues such as a dump in Philadelphia called Connie’s Ric Rick Room, and playing in the dark at Webster Hall it was nice to see them on a proper stage where their musical skill and showmanship could be demonstrated.

Much of the community seems to think Le-ak resembles Gackt, and he has his established set of fangirls. I could see Jrock fans that typically don’t give the American scene a chance coming to like Typherus if they gave them a chance.