SXSW 2008
SXSW | Japan Band Profiles @ SXSW 2008 | | Print | |
Bands listing in alphabetical order.
aonami Avengers in Sci-Fi Damage Damage is a six-piece rave punk band, and it started in Osaka on April Fool’s day in 2003. Holding glamorous and suspicious electro sound, they have played with various artists, such as Some Girls (from the Locust), Vermilion Sands, Corrupted, kid606 (from Tigerbeat 6), and Ceephax Acid Crew (from Rephlex). Their first demo That Koichi Hara, Boredoms’ Engineer, was recorded in 2003 and sold limited 1,000 copies at the gigs in the wink of an eye. It was praised as “the single of the year” on Crossbeat, a major rock magazine in Japan. In 2006, their first album “Signal New York” was released and has sold over 3,000 copies. Moreover, in 2007, they released a mini album called “Mudmix” including Justin Pearson (from Three One G/The Locust) remix, Cycheouts Ghost (from Romz) remix and so on. Damage’s sound that has taken in electro, new wave, body-beat and hip-hop resounds even with New Rave sounds, which has been disorderly born at the same time all over the world. “I hear there is a scene called new rave in London, while in Osaka, Japan, a shocking scene is coming out. In the center of it are erection and damage. Damage’s sound is the newest cool music from Japan and it deserves to be called new beat, body music and new rave.” (April, 2007) Kenji Kubo (music journalist / ex photographer of melody maker & nme) the video clip below 'DIRTY SMELL G.O.D. ROBOT' directed by ROKAPENIS Contact Person: detroit7 Dokkebi Q Avent-Dubbist, Dokkebi Q is a London-based Japanese duo. They skew dub sounds into hyper-extreme hybrids with heavy bass, glitch and chaotic psychedelia, which they called DEATH DUB. Contact Person: The Emeralds Formed in 2002, The Emeralds are a three-piece Rock 'n' Roll band from Yokohama, Japan. The band's cutting edge performance is like the cutting edge of the Japanese samurai sword "Katana," and tongue twisting lyrics create a world like no other band, but one that everyone can join and enjoy. The Emeralds have performed five times at South By South West Music Festival and they are definitely creating momentum with their strong R&R music. Contact Person: Ketchup Mania Ketchup Mania, formed in Japan in 1999, is made up of HIRO (vocal), with a cute and unique voice, DAI (guitar), who loves GINGER "THE WiLDHEARTS", YOSEI (bass), who loves Ichiro from the Seattle Mariners, and WANI (drums), who loves Travis Barker from "BLINK182." Their outstanding powerful performance is well known in the field of girl vocal punk rock band in Japan. "Marronscar" from the album "LOVE" has been selected as the TV commercial song of SEGA. They have won the USA Shojo Beat's "Best Japanese Punk Group" award in the 2007 and are returning to USA after the success of A-Kon in Dallas TX. Maki Rinka Maki Rinka sings original cinema songs from soundtrack of the 1950’s and 60’s and the cover of old jazz standard songs and broadway musicals. She mainly sings in bars, café shops, and a live house in Osaka and Tokyo. She writes her original lyrics and makes melodies herself. The concept of her performance is "CABARET ENTERTAINMENT SHOW with a piano" and she acts through her lyrics like an actress in her performances. She released two albums "Manechika" and "Inematica" and her albums caught great support from record shops in Japan and recorded good sales. Contact Person: Peelander-Z Petty Booka As world famous Japanese ukulele duo, Petty Booka specializes in putting a unique polynesian and Country-Western twist on faves from the world of country, bluegrass, exotica, punk, 1980s pop, and more. Petty Booka consists of two new young singers, Petty and Booka. The concept and spirit haven't changed as they play American classic, Country Western and 80's hits such as the Ramones that guarantees to make music lovers of all ages happy. They will bring new songs of Alan Jackson, UB40, Louvin Brothers etc. with hilarious bluegrass arrangements this time. Tour Dates: The Pillows Quartz-head 02 Sodopp A three-piece all-girl band, Sodopp was formed in 1999. After some member changes in Autumn of 200, the band members now consist of Satoko, on guitar and vocals, Ayano, on bass and chorus, and Seina, on drums and chorus. Contact Person: Toddle |
Genre: Rock
Genre: Industrial Body Beat, New Wave, Hip-Hop
Genre: Rock
Genre: Dub, Hardcore, Reggae, Punk
Genre: Japanese Rock 'N Roll
Genre: Rock
Genre: J-Pop, Jazz, Cinema Music
Genre: Bluegrass
Genre: Electronic
Genre: Pop Rock
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