The next month features a great mix of concerts for all sorts of live-music fans. Several long-running bands visit Japan in April, as do some of the most hyped-up young outfits in the world today. Whether you like apocalyptic postrock or Swedish indie rock, the next 30 days have you covered.
Anyone excited for the upcoming festival season can get an early headstart when the SonarSound electronic-music festival comes to club AgeHa in Tokyo's Koto Ward on April 6 and 7 (9 p.m. start Saturday, 2 p.m. start Sunday; ¥7,750 for one day, ¥14,500 for two days; 03-5768-1277). This year's edition features sets from overseas artists Karl Hyde, Nicolas Jaar, Darkstar, Actress and xxxy. SonarSound also highlights some stellar domestic talent in Toe, Sapphire Slows, Submerse and Tofubeats.
For those who want more guitars, Canadian gloom-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor plays two shows at Liquidroom in Tokyo's Ebisu district on April 9 and 10. (7:30 p.m. start both days; ¥6,500; 03-3499-6669). The doomsday-evoking outfit released an LP titled " 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!" to rave reviews last year, a decade after their last full-length album, "Yanqui U.X.O."