Ogre You Asshole flirts with tension on latest album
The members of Ogre You Asshole are bracing for something. At least, that's what the title of their seventh album, "Handoru o Hanasu Mae Ni" ("Before Letting Go of the Handle") suggests. (The album's official English title is the less tense "Everythingsomethingnothing.") "It's not really ...
Mama's Tattoo event pushes women to write new narratives
Deep in Tokyo's indie music hub of Shimokitazawa, the twin venues of Three and Basement Bar often play host to some of the most diverse and offbeat expressions of Japan's underground music culture. Drifting between performances at both locations as part of the Mama's Tattoo ...
Dinosaur Jr. to bring Tokyo a glimpse of life in 'ear-bleeding country'
Lou Barlow is looking forward to his trip back to Japan. It's the cuisine, more than anything that has him anticipating his return to the country, but it's not what you might think. "I look forward to the egg salad sandwiches at 7-11 or Lawson," ...
Bo Ningen: 'We're Japanese, but a London band'
Though seasoned music festival veterans overseas, the four members of British rock band Bo Ningen had never been to a Japanese event until Fuji Rock in 2013. "It was really fun compared to festivals in other countries," says singer and bassist Taigen Kawabe. "It's clean, ...
Wrapping up a musical trip across Japan
When I first embarked on my attempt to visit every prefecture in Japan and learn about the local indie music scene in each one, the idea that I would be able to draw any meaningful generalizations from the adventure seemed ludicrous. The music scene ...
Mitsume's long days on the road pay off
Over the past decade, a go-to method for older rock bands to drum up excitement for a tour is the promise of playing a classic album in its entirety. It's a win-win proposition: Fans get to feel nostalgic while the artists themselves can coast ...
DYGL soaks in New York's garage rock and politics
The life Nobuki Akiyama has been living since moving to the greater New York City area in March sounds like a dream come true for any young musician. "We wake up at around 11 or 12 and start listening to music," the lead singer and ...
The fin. tries to break through borders with its 'Through the Deep' EP
For the members of The fin., being a Japanese rock band isn't easy. Ever since its inception, the four members say they have felt a sense of being on the outside of an industry that rarely embraces those who challenge established conventions. Even after ...
Indie music finds a novel way to survive in Kyushu
We are living through the dying days of the CD format. It clings to life here and there, but its usefulness as a medium for transmitting music is pretty much over. What remains is a sort of meta-existence, where the value of a physical ...
Mitsume play the indie game, but are winning the mainstream
Mitsume subscribes to an easy-to-get-behind ethos regularly found in indie-rock communities: "Since our first album, we've been under nobody's control but our own," says lead vocalist Moto Kawabe. "We prefer to do whatever we can ourselves." Accordingly, the Tokyo-based quartet has released all its singles, ...
Rock group Zoobombs announce split, prepare for sudden farewell tour
This month marks the 20th anniversary of Tokyo rock 'n' roll act Zoobombs. It also marks their demise as the group has announced they will part ways at the end of September. Things went well for Zoobombs and their brand of jam-laden garage rock through ...
