Nagoya Live

By Daniel Ostrander

Saturday 4th

Bunker Buster @ Café Domina
(22:00 | ¥2,000 /  ¥2,500)
An appropriate name for this night of industrial music from groups such as JaQwa & MANGIRL, as each of their songs sounds like a guided missile strike into the gray matter of my brain.  Bring your earplugs.

Clown Cafezinho @ Club Buddha
(21:00 | ¥2,000)
For something a little less damaging to your cerebral cortex, check out this night of jazz & bossa nova, featuring the sultry Maki Rinka.

Monday 6th

Tommy Guerrero @ Bottom Line
(19:00 | ¥4,000 / ¥4,500)
Old skaters don’t die; they burn out or sell out.  Lucky for music lovers everywhere, Mr. Guerrero took the lesser known “rock out” choice and is bringing his downtempo, alternative sound to Japan this month.

Thursday 9th

Leatherface @ Huck Finn
(18:00 | ¥2,500 / ¥2,800)
After suffering through a countless string of watered-down J-punk of late, this seminal UK punk band will be a breath of fresh air, figuratively.  Realistically, it will be a kick in the boyos for fun.

Friday 10th

Dandy Rhythm @ Club Buddha
(21:00 | ¥1500 / ¥2000)
I have to give major props to the organizers of this ska, soul & jazz DJ party for choosing a name that would surely earn them a beating in my hometown.

Saturday 11th

The Art of War Debut @ Radix
(21:00 | ¥2,000 / ¥2,500)
After much self-hype, this new local music collab will finally bring their rap-infused electronic sound to the masses.  They are being supported by Lady M, the One20, DJs dsk, Nick Edges and more.

The METRO Club @ LOVER:z
(22:00 | ¥2,500)
I have lots of love & respect for Nagoya’s ichiban gay & lesbian dance party.  Last month, when the AC at LOVER:z broke down in the middle of this monthly party, did they stop?  Hells, no!  Everyone just started shedding clothes and kept right on dancing!  That’s the kind of party mentality and dedication to good times that you can always expect from this scene.  This month’s theme is CIRCUS CIRCUS, and one can only wonder at how wild that is going to be.

Sunday 12th

Napalm Death @ Club Quattro
(18:00 | ¥7,500)
I distinctly remember listening to this band in junior high school more to piss off my parents than for their ear-splitting death metal.  And while I may have outgrown those rebellious tendencies, Napalm Death’s sound still has the same parental outrage factor it always has.

Going Away Jam @ Shooters
(19:00 | ¥500)
Local musicians, Shinji & Bernice are headed for the sunnier climes of California.  But before they leave, a few of their talented friends are coming together to give them a proper send off.  Featuring the music of James Cloke, The Michael Wade Band & a few other surprises.

Tuesday 14th

Feeder @ Club Quattro (18:00 | ¥6,300)
If you want to hear this song, you just call out our name….  With inane lyrics like that from the first single off their new album Renegades, I don’t think I really need say anything more.  (READ: IT SUCKS!)

Thursday 16th

The Arabian Nights @ Club JB’s
(19:00 | ¥1,500 / ¥2,000)
DJ Take has created a fun night that celebrates the culture & exoticism of the Middle East.  Includes a nice mix of energetic tribal & dance music, belly dancing, mehendi body art, Tarot card readings and Arabic clothing.

Friday 17th

white white sisters @ Apollo Theater
(19:00 | ¥2.000)
After gaining some notoriety playing Summer Sonic this year, this local electro rock duo is out to promote their new CD.  Their first single, with its use of robotic voices & heavy guitar riffs, put me in mind of a certain French DJ team.  Watch out for these guys.

Saturday 18th

Fuck Rock Festival vol. 34 @ Plastic Factory (22:00 | ¥,2000)
These DJs are bringing the ROCK, and the vulgarity, back to the Factory. If you love Metallica, Nick Lowe, The Ramones, Weezer, MXPX or Depeche Mode, then there is probably something at this event you will dig.

Sunday 19th

Art Rock Night @ Apollo Theater
(16:00 | ¥2,000)
Cover rock from several Japanese bands posing as The Police, Jimi Hendrix & the queen of rock, Bonnie Raitt… wait, that can’t be right.

80’s Romance @ Club Buddha
(16:00 | ¥1,800 / ¥2,000)
This DJ event has so much excellent new wave, post punk, neo acoustic goodness, that I don’t have the heart to tell them that it’s spelled “80s”.

Tuesday 21st

Asian Kung-Fu Generation @ Diamond Hall (18:00 | ¥4,600)
This popular J-rock outfit has long been my go-to bands when asked the ubiquitous question: “Do you like Japanese music?”  They’re doing a second show on Wednesday as well.

andymori @ Electric Lady Land
(19:00 | ¥3,150)
I caught these fun rockers at Summer Sonic last year, and from their sound it’s obvious they grew up listening to the Libertines & the Strokes.


Friday 24th
Kyte @ Club Quattro
(18:00 | ¥5,500)
ARGHHH!!! Nagoya goes all summer being ignored by the live tours, yet come September they invade us in a flood of wallet-draining excellence.  Given my weakness for ambient & eletronica, I don’t think I can resist this show.  Oh, my bank account!

DJ KRUSH @ Club JB’s
(22:00 | ¥3,000 / ¥3,500)
For 20 years, DJ Krush has been on the top of Japan’s hip hop industry, both as a producer & an artist.  He’ll be joined on this night of legendary beats by fellow pioneer, DJ Baku.

Daishi Dance @ Club Ozon
(21:00 | ¥2,500 / ¥3,000)
I’m a giant Ghibli Otaku, and have a lot respect for this Sapporo DJ for his masterful house remixes of several songs from the films I love so much.  (See related article).

Sunday 26th

High Places vs. Wildbirds & Peacedrums
@ Huck Finn
(18:00 | ¥3,800 / ¥4,300)
What makes experimental music so great is also its inherent flaw.  You just never know what to expect, which pretty much sums up these duos, from the U.S. and Sweden respectively. However, what you can expect are beautiful vocals over an ever-changing cacophony of various instruments.

Thursday 29th

Scandal @ Zepp Nagoya
(18:00 | ¥4,000)
I cannot spend all this time talking about the good things happening in the Japanese music scene without at least a brief shout out to the crap, like these 4 J-pop princesses who get by on the drawing power of being 4 Japanese pop princesses in school girl uniforms.  Regardless, this show will probably sell out.

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