Finnish electro Halloween

by liza


If you prefer your music more sinewy than spooky this Halloween weekend - check out Shine 2009, Zebra & Snake, and DJ Ercola at Mado Lounge on Saturday. Shine 2009 is on a massive world tour promoted by Finland, ahead of Helsinki hosting the World Design Congress in 2012. "Madchester" definitely comes to mind at first but they're also both catchy and easy to get lost in. They're a bit sleazy and gothic and happy all at the same time, too - a memorable sort of sound that earned them the title of "Most promising band of 2011" by the Finnish music industry.

DJ Ercola has had some hits with Annie and other artists so this is a good chance to catch some bands who may end up being pretty big at a cool venue like Mado Lounge!

Get your gig info here, and happy Halloween!

Halloween weekend parties

by craig

It's Halloween this weekend so there are plenty of Halloween themed gigs and parties on. Here are some picks.

29th

On Friday night, there will be an interesting free party at Maple House in Gakugei-Daigaku. Performing will be a Misfits tribute band, as well as the multi-national group ABIKYOKAN (who I'll be playing bass in), who sound nothing at all like the Misfits! It opens at 8:00. Details on TGG.

30th

On Saturday night, go down to Ruby Room in Shibuya for Bad Noise. The bands performing are BROKEN DOLL (Fashion-obsessed neon new-wave punks), CES☆ (Hard-rocking yank chick and three bears), TEXAS STYLE (Explosive three-boy garage rock unit). If you dress up in any kind of costume, you can get a free shot! Details on TGG.

31st

On Sunday night (Halloween), catch the 3rd instalment of WILD MOOD SWINGS schizophrenic all-genre DJ party at Echo in Shibuya. It's free and starts at 7pm. The DJs will be Timebred (Gaijintonic), craig eee (me, Tokyo Gig Guide), Grant McGaheran & Jake Arntson (Abikyokan), Special K, Mu-tan and more. Everyone's welcome, costumed or otherwise! Details on TGG.

Tokyo Gig Guide presents FARM PARTY #4

by craig



The next super-fun Farm Party will be held this Sunday October 24th at Gamuso in Asagaya. This month's event will focus on experimental music.

Live:


ii (from Australia)
http://www.myspace.com/iitunes
ii ("ai ai") is the abstract, experimental pop duo of Alex Nosek and Jon Tjhia (from Aleks and The Ramps) from Melbourne, Australia. Mostly improvising - and using an array of synthesisers, samplers, guitars and effects - the pair create adventurous and richly detailed music. Their sound sits somewhere between strange electronics, deep drone, ambient techno and guitar pop. They've played with bands including Tujiko Noriko, Beach House, High Places, Fabulous Diamonds, Lawrence English and many more.


OPQ
http://www.myspace.com/opq
OPQ will fill Gamuso with bizarre homemade instruments, toys and their experimental, ambient psychedelic sounds.


henna dress (変なドレス)
http://www.myspace.com/hennadress
Electronica pico pico wildness with gameboys and gadgets.


Moon Face Boys (Kei from My Pal Foot Foot)
http://www.suhaak-haaksu.com
New solo project of Kei from the wonderful experimental psych-folk band My Pal Foot Foot.

DJs:
Denim Owl + Extreme Wheeze (Aleks and The Ramps)
Jon+ Alex (ii)
Timebred (Wild Mood Swings)
Grant McGaheran (Abikyokan)

Video: craig eee
http://craig.tokyogigguide.com
Farm Parties are as visual as they are aural, with films cut up by craig eee projected throughout the night

Only 1000yen＋drink (500yen). Starts at 18:30.
http://farmparty.tokyogigguide.com
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154032344629379

Aleks and the Ramps Japan tour

by craig


Aleks and the Ramps are an experimental pop quintet from Melbourne, Australia.
This October, Japanese audiences will again be able to meet Aleks and the Ramps on stage, this time with all five members in tow.
Since forming in 2005, the band have released two albums - Pisces vs Aquarius, and Midnight Believer. They've delighted and confused crowds Australia-wide, touring the country numerous times, and venturing as far as Canada and New Zealand. They also played some low-key shows in Tokyo as a 2-piece in 2008, and since then they've spent their time playing alongside esteemed acts such as The Sea and Cake, Dan Deacon, Why?, The Ruby Suns and Vivian Girls.
In 2009, the group released Midnight Believer - a critically lauded 40 minute album of strange, abstract and addictive pop tunes. The album's first single 'Antique Limb' was played on the radio extensively, and its video clip was seen on TVs in Australia and YouTube far beyond. Their mothers were proud.
Live on stage, Aleks and the Ramps are a surreal treat: bursts of noise scattered between pop gems, a group cacophony of the most joyful nature, with dynamic songs that flaunt the potential of pop and melody. Lights are attached to things they aren't usually attached to. Shirts are lost. Kittens are worshipped through dance. Drums, synths and guitars form inappropriate relationships.



ii. Aleks and the Ramps members, Alex Nosek and Jon Tjhia, will also be playing in ii, their abstract, experimental pop project.

4 bonjour's parties, the lovely seven-piece indie-pop band will also be playing some shows with Aleks and the Ramps.

DATES:

10/15 - Kyoto Urbanguilde - Aleks and the Ramps, ii

10/16 - Kanazawa Onpa - Aleks and the Ramps, ii, 4 bonjour's parties, noid, NINGEN OK

10/17 - Nagoya AT Cafe - Aleks and the Ramps, 4 bonjour’s parties, 小鳥美術館

10/18 - Shibuya O-Nest Aleks and the Ramps, The Velvet Teen, The New Trust. Details.

10/22 - Shimokitazawa Basement Bar/Three. BASEMENT BAR - Aleks and the Ramps, 4 bonjour's parties, oono yuuki, SoulTuneFactory. THREE - ii, FilFla, たゆたう, kooreruongaku. Details.

10/23 - Osaka Sleeper Hallucination Camping

10/24 - Asagaya Gamuso - ii, OPQ, henna dress, Moon Face Boys. Details.