VIDEO: Abingdon Boys School "Dress" Live w/ Atsushi Sakurai

I really love the updated version of "Dress" that Abingdon Boys School released a while back. Sure, the original Buck-Tick song is great, but it's a bit on the soft side and, let's face it, it's starting to show its age. Of course BT's Atsushi Sakurai is a more, let's just say "interesting" singer, but the rockin' ABS version really takes the song to a new, much more epic level.

Imagine my happiness to learn that Sakurai had done the song live during a recent ABS live gig and that it was going to be released on DVD!

It didn't take long for the video to surface. Here it is in all its boy-on-boy action. Enjoy it while you can! I know my inner fan-girl certainly did...

Calendar 2010 - Omodaka - Live Stream

Bit of a different calendar post here. Just got word that electro-chiptune master Omodaka will be playing a show in Japan on Friday, June 25th. The cool thing is that sabaco radio will be live-streaming it on USTREAM.

Omodaka will be just one of a handful of artists playing. The show runs from 7pm-11pm in Japan, so that's 5am-9am Central time in the US. So make sure to set your bookmarks and alarm clocks now!

Explore the Unexplored 30

There's a new Explore the Unexplored post up at HereJapan. Another batch of the best of the best in new releases!

This time around there's a really wide range of styles. First up is a fantastic album from Kamomekamome. Happy Rebirthday to You is non-stop brutal, yet melodic, hardore prog punk metal. There's a really cool new track from sleepy.ab complete with video. There are even a couple Vocaloid picks!

And there's more! Head over to the full post and check out and listen to all of the best new stuff from HearJapan.

Japanator Radio 135

GET THE NEW JAPANATOR RADIO AT JAPANATOR.COM!

00:00 iLL - Radio Radio - Force [BUY] 

00:58 Maximum the Hormone - Chu Chu Lovely Muni Muni Mura Mura Purin Purin Boron Nurururerorero - Deco vs Deco [BUY]
04:26 Polysics - Dry or Wet - We Ate the Show!! [BUY]
08:08 Midori - Himitsu no Futari - Live!! [BUY]

12:03 BREAK: Cowboy Bebop OST [BUY]

13:27 Dinner - #1 (Song 1) - and...hearing things [BUY]
18:54 Ogre You Asshole - Headlight - Foglamp [BUY]
22:40 alis del lotton ROY' symphonica Orchestro - Spark - New Morning [BUY at HearJapan]

26:02 BREAK: Cowboy Bebop OST [BUY]

Artist Spotlight: GO!GO!7188
27:17 GO!GO!7188 - Kutsu Shita no Ana ~Ashi no Ke Chanto Sotta no ni~ - GO!!GO!GO!GO!! [BUY]
31:54 GO!GO!7188 - Mimitabu Ni-go - GO!!GO!GO!GO!! [BUY]
35:54 GO!GO!7188 - Bungo - Ku Ni Ichi Jik [BUY]
39:29 GO!GO!7188 - Pepper Keibu - Tora no Ana [BUY]

42:35 BREAK: Cowboy Bebop OST [BUY]

44:15 Makai Yugi - Satsugai - Detroit Metal City OST [BUY]
47:37 Vamps - Kyukestu - Satsugai Vamps Ver - Angel Trip [BUY]
50:59 Beat Crusaders - Hit in the DMC - Detroit Metal City OST [BUY]

53:24 iLL - Radio Radio - Force [BUY]

Calendar 2010 - Doping Panda - EU Tour

July 1-16
Doping Panda
"The Miracle Tour" Europe 2010

7/01: Paris, France @ Japan Expo
7/03: Krnow, Czech republic @ Holcovice Fest
7/04: Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic @ Rock For people Festival
7/08: Hamburg, Germany @ Frau Hedi
7/09: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Winston
7/10: Dusseldorf, Germany @ Schreiraum
7/15: London, Uk @ Wilmington Arms
7/16: Linz, Austria @ MACOnvention

Source: Official Site



[Thanks to Peter for the tip!]

Calendar 2010 - Stereopony - AnimeNEXT

June 18-20
Stereopony
AnimeNEXT

Somerset, New Jersey

Source: AnimeNEXT

Japanator Radio 134

GET THE NEW EPISODE AT JAPANATOR!

00:00 iLL - Radio Radio - Force [BUY]   

00:53 Kamomekamome - Excuse Me - Happy Rebirthday To You [BUY at HearJapan]
04:11 9mm Parabellum Bullet - Finder - Revolutionary [BUY]
07:49 MOWMOW LULU GYABAN - SOS - Noguchi, Kutsukawa de Bakushi [BUY at HearJapan and JapanFiles]

11:19 BREAK: Hardware OST

12:14 exist trace - KNIFE - Single [BUY at JapanFiles]
17:04 Vamps - Live Wire - Devil Side [BUY]
20:17 Scandal - Koshi-tantan - Taiyo to Kimi ga Egaku STORY [BUY]

23:50 BREAK: Hardware OST

Artist Spotlight: Boom Boom Satellites
25:03 Boom Boom Satellites - Vapour - To The Loveless [BUY]
31:53 Boom Boom Satellites - Morning After - 19972007 [BUY]
34:42 Boom Boom Satellites - Push Eject - 19972007 [BUY]
39:59 Boom Boom Satellites - Stay - To The Loveless [BUY]

45:43 BREAK: Hardware OST

46:55 Aural Vampire - Shonan Zoku-Cannibal Coast - Zoltank [BUY]
50:03 Aira Mitsuki - Heat My Love - 6 Force [BUY]
53:27 De De Mouse - Journey to Freedom - Journey to Freedom [BUY]

58:59 iLL - Radio Radio - Force [BUY]

Calendar 2010 - X-Japan - Lallapalooza

August 6-8
X-Japan
Lollapalooza
Grant Park, Chicago IL

Source: jpoplover

Calendar 2010 - Mono - US Tour

June 1-10
Mono
US Tour

Jun 01 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
Jun 02 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Jun 04 Durham, NC - North State Sound
Jun 05 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Hell Stage)
Jun 06 Nashville, TN - Exit In
Jun 07 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone Cafe
Jun 08 Little Rock, AR - Revolution Music Room
Jun 09 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon
Jun 10 Houston, TX - Rudyards British Pub

Source: Official Site

Otaku USA August 2010 - Exclusive Chatmonchy Interview

The new August issue of Otaku USA Magazine should be hitting shelves everywhere any time now. You should get it!

This time around I have an exclusive two page interview with pop-rock band Chatmonchy! I had the chance to talk with them just after their US tour as part of Japan Nite. We talked a bit about their time in the US, their past, their future, you know, like you do. I also review their newest album.

There's also a lot of other get stuff on the other hundred pages or so. Obviously there's the One Piece cover story, a Final Fantasy XIII review, some great retro anime stuff, a zillion manga reviews etc etc.

So go camp out at your favorite magazine seller and grab it while you can. And if they don't carry it, demand that they do!

VIDEO: Kamomekamome "Excuse Me"

Here's a new video for "Excuse Me" from progressive punk metal band Kamomekamome. It's a pretty standard performance video, but the transition from total blankness to the reveal of the crown is nice.

"Excuse Me is on their new album Happy Rebirthday To You. It's a bit more intense and progressive than some of their previous stuff. The almost contestant changes and mix between the aggressive verses and open chorus keep the listener on their toes. It's definitely a crowd please, as you can tell from the group of Kamomekamome enthusiasts.