Showing newest posts with label Boom Boom Satellites. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label Boom Boom Satellites. Show older posts

Calendar 2010 - Far East To East Showcase 2010



Sunday, October 10th
Far East To East Showcase / The New York Anime Festival
Irving Plaza, New York

Puffy AmiYumi
Boom Boom Satellites
Zazen Boys
Echostream

Source: Superglorious






BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, ZAZEN BOYS,AND ECHOSTREAM TO PERFOM AT FAR EAST TO EAST SHOWCASE AT NYAF

Bands Join Puffy AmiYumi For Concert In NYC’s Irving Plaza

Norwalk, CT, August X, 2010: The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) today announced bands Boom Boom Satellites, Zazen Boys, and Echostream will come together with previously-announced musical guest Puffy AmiYumi for a concert at the Far East To East Showcase (FETES) on Sunday, October 10, 2010. FETES is produced by Superglorious, a live event production firm responsible for orchestrating events with a very eclectic and exciting mix of artists. The New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention, will take place October 8-10, 2010 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. It is created by and co-located with the New York Comic Con. Boom Boom Satellites, Zazen Boys, Echostream, and Puffy AmiYumi will all appearing at NYAF for speaking sessions and autograph signings prior to their show. NYAF has additionally announced seiyuu and singer Minori Chihara and Japanese rock band VAMPS will also appear as guests, and comics legends Stan Lee, John Romita, Sr., and John Romita, Jr. will headline the New York Comic Con.

Presented in Irving Plaza (East 15th Street, New York, NY) for the first time, FETES is proud to take place in this historic venue, and will be presenting a roster of performers fully befitting the concert hall.

“FETES 2010 is a one-night-only, once-in-a-lifetime lineup,” FETES Manager Hayden Brereton said. “With FETES going into its third year, we’re pulling out all the stops to produce an event that offers a very diverse selection of top artists. Fans of pop, electronic, rock, alternative or just great live music will fall in love with the Far East to East Showcase this year!”

“Created as a night of music that brings together musical artists from both America and Japan, focusing on the borderlessness of song, and creating an evening appealing to anime fans, audiophiles, and casual New Yorkers interested in something new, FETES has been a unique attraction at the New York Anime Festival since 2008,” NYAF and NYCC Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. “And we could not be more humbled and thrilled looking out at the artists who’ll be taking the stage this year!”

Boom Boom Satellites, Zazen Boys, Echostream, and Puffy AmiYmi will all be appearing at the New York Anime Festival and New York Comic Con throughout the weekend for panel discussions and autograph signings before taking the stage on Sunday night at Irving Plaza. Tickets to FETES are $22 in advance and are separate from NYAF and NYCC admission. FETES tickets can be purchased now at www.superglorious.com or www.livenation.com.

Tickets for NYAF or NYCC may be purchased at www.nyanimefestival.com or www.nycomiccon.com. Other information about the shows, as well as news about the Reed Pop Culture Group, which also organizes Star Wars Celebration, is available at Lance Fensterman’s blog, www.mediumatlarge.net.

ABOUT BOOM BOOM SATELLITES:

Electronic/Rock unit Boom Boom Satellites — bassist/programmer Masayuki Nakano and guitarist/vocalist Michiyuki Kawashima — first broke in Europe in 1997. Absorbing both electronic and rock elements, they created a completely new and unknown sound, which not only established them as an exciting new band, but also boosted their profile as one of the most distinguished music producers in Japan. Their first single, 4 A Moment of Silence, was released in Europe in 1997 and triggered rave reviews from such definitive European music magazines as Melody Maker, who compared their debut impact to those of the Chemical Brothers’ and Prodigy’s. In 1998 the band embarked on a 3 month US tour with Moby, and shortly after they began receiving — and still keep receiving — requests for remix work from various artists such as Garbage, Josh Wink, and many more, which proved that their sound could be acclaimed and accepted internationally. When Oliver Stone and Luc Besson chose a band’s track to use in the film Yamakashi, it reinforced interest in their music from industries out side of the music business. In 2004 the band continued their film work by producing the soundtrack album to the animated film Appleseed. Boom Boom Satellites contributed four new songs, including the movie’s main theme, Dive For You, to the soundtrack, which also included music from Paul Oakenfold, Basement Jaxx, and Ryuichi Sakamoto. In 2007, their 6th album EXPOSED was released. Japanese lead track Easy Action was featured in 3D live action anime film, Vexille (directed by Fumihiko Sori), and was included in the soundtrack which also features Asian Dub Foundation, Underworld, and The Prodigy. EXPOSED was produced in an attempt to find the answer for the band to the long-standing question from the industry that tends to appreciate genre specific music, namely, Rock vs. Dance. In this album they have reached an answer — Rock AND Dance, both can exist at the same time and same place. Hence the new follow-up greatest hits album, OVER AND OVER. Coming in September 14, 2010 from SonyMusic Independent Network, this album is thoroughly re-mastered and re-mixed by the members themselves, and allows the listeners to appreciate it as a completely new album rather as a simple compilation of pre-existing tracks.



www.bbs-net.com

www.myspace.com/boomboomsatellites

www.facebook.com/boomboomsatellites

ABOUT ZAZEN BOYS:

Zazen Boys are Mukai Shutoku / Vocal,Guitar.Synth , Matsusita Atsushi / Drums , Yoshida Ichiro / Bass , Yoshikane Sou / Guitar

Zazen Boys were formed in 2003 by Mukai Shutoku,former leader of Japanese rock band Number Girl. In a word, Zazen Boys aspire to be `Led Zeppelin in kimono`. Their eclectic style is complex but raw, ranging from funk in irregular time, to Captain Beefheart combined with Minyo (traditional Japanese folk songs),to angular guitar-driven punk-ballads. Mukai`s lyrics are in Japanese, and the unique worldview that they express are based around two key concepts:`shogyou-mujo` and `seiteki-shodo`, meaning roughly `the transience of this world`and `sexual impulse`. To date, Zazen Boys have released 4 albums and 2 singles, all through their own label Matsuri Studio. Their latest album `Zazen Boys 4` was produced by Dave Fridmann (49th Grammy Winner for Best Recording Engineer),It opens with `Asobi`, a dark and brooding number performed entirely on drum machine and synthesizer, reminiscent of early deep house, and then on to `Honnoji`, a raging 16 beat-psyche-funk rock tune, and so on. Zazen Boys` awesome live shows reach almost 100 per year, and their music continues to stir hearts all over Japan and beyond. (www.mukaishutoku.com)

ABOUT ECHOSTREAM:

Echostream’s music draws the audience into a singular world, where haunting melodies swirl over grooving beats and unique instrumentation. Drawing on classical sensibility, the music includes techniques and arrangements normally only found in stuffy concerts populated by grey-haired old ladies. Here, those same instruments are let loose like beasts released to roam the wilds in search of adventures. Pianos, French Horns, Mandolins, Theremins, and of course the standard rock fare — drums, bass, guitars — abound, blending and accentuating one another to create a sound that is just as at home in a movie, on TV, or in a game, as it is on a festival stage. Echostream is not a new band, although you may only now be discovering them. Over a history of five years, two self-released albums, multiple licenses for TV and compilations both domestic and abroad, and many large-venue performances, the band has honed its sound and skills to an exceptional level. (www.myspace.com/echostream)

ABOUT PUFFY AMIYUMI:

Puffy AmiYumi, composed of singers Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura, debuted in 1996 with the million selling single Asia No Junshin. Since then, their music has made them household names in Japan, leading to numerous hit songs, commercial appearances, and even their own television show. In 2000, Puffy AmiYumi began releasing albums and touring in the US. In 2004, Cartoon Network created an original cartoon, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, which became one of the most watched cartoons in the world — havin g been broadcast in 110 different countries. In 2006, Puffy AmiYumi were appointed the Goodwill Ambassadors of the Visit Japan Campaign for the US. In 2009, Puffy AmiYumi performed in Europe for the first time in front of 5,000+ people in Paris’s Japan Expo. In the same year, they sang the theme song to the Naruto film Naruto Shippuden 3: Inheritors of the Will of Fire. Their latest album, Bring it!, includes All Because Of You and I Don’t Wanna written by Avril Lavigne and her producer Butch Walker, Hiyori Hime written by the Japanese female rock icon Sheena Ringo, the theme song to the new Genji anime series, and other songs written by numerous stellar song writers. In September 2010, PuffyAmi Yumi will perform in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the following month, they’ll be coming to NYC. (www.puffyamiyumi.com)

ABOUT SUPERGLORIOUS:

Superglorious is a music event production company that specializes in creating unique live music presentations. With a special emphasis on distinctive sounds, engaging performance, and high production values, Superglorious unifies a diverse collective of artists to create soundscapes that are meant to entertain and inspire. The firm’s strong understanding of the local music industry and global approach to art has allowed artists from across America, the Far East, and Europe to boost and extend their connections to audiences across New York City. Utilizing a holistic approach to its projects, Superglorious offers a wide range of expertise that includes artist and equipment coordination, online and street marketing, print design and artist booking. Its constant pursuit of excellence offers challenging and exciting opportunities for both artists and music lovers. (www.superglorious.com)

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:

The New York Anime Festival takes place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan and is organized by Reed Exhibitions, the creators of New York Comic Con. The New York Anime Festival showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. (www.newyorkanimefestival.com)

ABOUT NEW YORK COMIC CON:

New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention. Our show floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Our panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators. Our screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either big or small screens. And with dedicated professional hours, New York Comic Con is a market place, bringing together the major players in the entertainment industry. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City. (www.newyorkcomiccon.com)

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS POP CULTURE GROUP:

The Pop Culture Group at Reed Exhibitions owns and operates the New York Comic Con (NYCC), the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), and the New York Anime Festival (NYAF). New York Comic Con was launched in 2006 and quickly became a dominant presence in the pop culture world of public events. In 2009, 452 companies exhibited at NYCC for a total of 84,000 square feet of paid exhibit space, and it has been ranked by Crain’s New York Business as the second-largest annual event in NYC. C2E2, which will debut April 16 – 18 at Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center, is modeled after NYCC and will provide fans the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite writers, creators, and artists, as well as to see, hear and learn about the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. The Pop Culture Group also operates the recently-launched UFC Fan Expo in partnership with the UFC – the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization – and it formed a strategic partnership with Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in 2008 and will work closely with PAX on the launch of PAX East in Boston in 2010.

VIDEO: Boom Boom Satellites "Drain"



There's not much going on in this new video from Boom Boom Satellites. A big, dark room lit by a giant projector flashing a few black and white shapes. Pretty simple idea, but it's really all about the song anyway. "Drain" is BBS at their best, intense and dark and huge. Aimed less at the club scene and more for the fist pumping industrial enthusiasts. Still danceable, but pretty heavy. Let's hope the rest of the album follows suit!

Calendar '09 - Boom Boom Satellites - New York Show



November 24th
Boom Boom Satellites


with Me You Us Them
Santos Party House
96 Lafayette Street, New York

Source: Superglorious

The Best Japanese Albums of 2009 - Part 1



We have hit the half-way mark on 2009 (well OK, we've gone well past it, but still) so that can only mean one thing. Time to take the first look back at the best Japanese albums of the first half of 2009!

This year, I'm trying something a little different than the past two. Instead of posting one giant list of albums, I've broken it up into two distinct parts. Here at the A-Z you've got the more rock, post-rock, post-punk, post-whatever and indie oriented bands. Over at Japanator you've got the more electro and pop stuff. Neither one is totally one genre or the other, but I thought it would be interesting to see how one list works against the other. So, once you are done soaking up the harder-edged stuff here, make sure to head on over to Japanator for even more.

OK, on with the list!

Lillies and Remains - Part of Grace [BUY IT]



First off, while none these picks are in any sort of order, I will say that the first three all fall into my own "album of the year" category, each for different reasons. First up is Part of Grace by Lillies and Remains, which I reviewed in full here. The self-produced album is a fascinating mix of darkness and light, with its gothic post-punk guitars and reverberations alongside some very lovely melodies. KENT's deep vocal style is also unique, adding to the swampy mystery. Factor in the all English lyrics, and these guys should have no problem making it big around the world.



Ling Tosite Sigure - Just A Moment [BUY IT]



On the opposite end of the spectrum lies Just A Moment, the self-produced album from Ling Tosite Sigure. If Part of Grace is a dark, brooding fog, Just A Moment is a violent hurricane. Full of explosive noise as well as equally quiet and calm passages, Just A Moment is a constantly shifting volcanic landscape.



Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind [BUY IT]



My final pick for unofficial album of the year is Hymn to the Immortal Wind by Mono. The instrumental post-rock group has made a true masterpiece with Hymn. The expansive, lengthy songs all move through several stages, from silence to a roaring clash of guitars, drums and a full string section. Through it all runs a very strong sense of melody, with many painfully beautiful passages. Much like Sigure Ros, Mono provide the listener with all they need to imagine their own personal and/or otherworldly stories.



Viridian - Sangenshoku [BUY IT]



The song "Little Soldier" on Viridian's debut album Sangenshoku is well worth the price of admission in its own. The rest of the album is more quality indie rock, with singer Sano Hitomi's voice being a stand out, as her tone is more mature and deep than many other female singers. She stays well away from any cutesy flash and instead focuses on simply singing both well and with passion. It's a great album that will both lighten your mood and get you ready to kick a little ass.



Mass of the Fermenting Dregs - World is Yours [BUY IT]



Mass of the Fermenting Dregs continues to be one of the most exciting all girl (or, these days, almost all girl) indie-rock bands out there. They manage to pump out some really frenetic rock, while also maintaining their calm, cool and collected demeanor. While World is Yours is really more of a mini-album that a proper full release, it still proves that their ability to produce pulse-pounding anthems is no fluke.



Qomolangma Tomato - Camouflage [BUY IT]



With a healthy disregard for vocal perfection as well as a sometimes loose grove, it might seem like Qomolangma Tomato is falling off the rails from time to time, but rest assured that it's all part of the act. Camouflage is full of otherwise tuneful songs pushed to the brink of self-destruction. They actually aren't as rough as some of the individual songs might make them out to be. Overall, Camouflage is a multifaceted album full of surprises, provided you give it the chance.



Straightener - Nexus [BUY IT]



At first listen, the new album from rock veterans Straightener is rather unassuming, maybe even little laid back. While they've never been a very extreme rock band, Nexus feels even more mild in temperament than usual. Upon closer inspection, however, the songs really open themselves up and reveal some very solid tunes.



Winnie - Headquarter [BUY IT]



Winnie blends lead male and female vocals just as well as they blend their slightly pop rock sound with much more listenable heavier rock textures. Their swirling guitars and danceable beats set them apart from the regular rock crowd just as their weighty guitar moments set them apart from the typical feel-good dance-rock bands.



Matryoshka - Coctura [BUY IT]



While not actually a new album, but rather a remix album, Matryoshka's new release Coctura is nevertheless something totally new. The songs get both the standard remix treatment from the likes of World's End Girlfriend and Headphones Remote, as well as more of a cover song thing with guest vocalists and producers working together. All of this serves only to add even more atmosphere and a sense of reverence to Matryoshka's already moody and muzzy style.



Boom Boom Satellites - Back on My Feet [BUY IT]



This one is a bit of a cheat, since Back on My Feet is really just a glorified four song single or maybe an EP. Regardless, it's a great little release, worthy of inclusion on the list. While the group's previous album was pretty up-tempo and had a bit of a good-times party vibe, the material on Back on My Feet is darker and more subtle, much like their very early work. The songs take more time to develop and have greater depth. The use of piano and strings along with the usual batch of pounding cut-up drums, guitars and synths adds to the overall more mature and serious mood. Let's just hope we get an album in this style as well.



That's all for now. There's already a list of potentially great releases for the rest of the year, so I'm already excited about things to come!

See something missing? Then by all means write up your own best of list in the comments. Together we can bring all the best music into the light it deserves.

Videos of the Week 7-5-09



First off, sorry for the marked lack of updates this week. A combination of work ramping up at, er, work, and some very nice summer days have made it tough to want to sit around inside. I know it goes against the blogger code or something to want to actually spend time in the sun,. but I think I make up for it during the other nine months that we northern dwellers live under a blanket of snow and darkness.

So anyway, things should be picking up soon. Until then here are some new videos!

Aira Mitsuki "Plastic Doll"


First up is this cool new one from picopico pop sensation Aira Mitsuki. This video is full of eye-candy, and the song it actually pretty hard hitting. This whole Auto-Tune fetish-pop movement has gotten totally out of hand, but every once in a while something listenable comes out of it.

OK, let's get more serious after the jump!



Boom Boom Satellites "Back on My Feet"


Back on My Feet is the new single/EP from BBS, and it's a fantastic little collection. I haven't been too into their recent releases because they are all a bit too happy and party-centric. I like that they seem to be getting back into their more atmospheric and darker side on Back on My Feet. It reminds me of early Hybrid as well, what with all the strings and cut up drums. More like this, please!

Versailles "Ascendead Master"


I don't think I've really understood much of what goes on in Versailles videos, and this one is no exception. Something about a girl that the singer is all hot for? And a TV crew is filming them in a church for some reason? Whatever. I'm sure it's all part of some long-running story that I've been missing out on.

School Food Punishment "Butterfly Swimmer"


Here's the new one from SFP. Definitely more pop and mainstream than their previous releases, but then again it's not like there were ever that far-out to begin with. Still, they are on a major label now, so there you go...It all feels just a little too bland to me.

Puffy "Dareka Ga"


New song from Puffy. I really like their very early music, and this is almost along those lines. Still, it's super pop-rock like way too much of their recent stuff. I think if the music matched the video a little more that it might be a better song!

Gackt "Flower" (Karaoke)"


Here's a TV clip of Gackt laying down some karaoke for his newest single "Flower." Hijinx ensue! It's always nice to see Gackt in a less-than-serious mood. Of course all his serious stuff is actually just as silly. It's all a matter of perspective, I guess.

Jonathon Coulton - Live on local NY TV


And finally, for your non-Japanese pick of the week, here's a clip from a local New York news broadcast featuring Jonathon Coulton. It's pretty short, but at least there's a bit of talk with the man.

That's it for this week. Let me know what you're watching!

Otaku USA Magazine #11



It's time again for another fantastic issue of Otaku USA Magazine to stomp its way into better magazine sellers everywhere!

This time around, I've got a nice interview with my heroes Polysics. I managed to catch them in the phone just before they kicked off their latest US tour.

There are also album reviews of Saitone, Boom Boom Satellites and 9mm Parabellum Bullet for your merit debating pleasure.

Of course, that's just my own personal neck of the woods. There's a ass-ton of the usual great content, from games reviews, interviews, manga and anime talk, figures and much more. Plus, in case you didn't notice last time, the cover price is almost half of what it used to be! You can't lose. I hope you get a chance to pick it up soon. There's much more to come, so stay strong, true believers!

Boom Boom Satellites



Maybe it's just me, but it seems that no one is better at crossing genres than the Japanese people. Case in point, Boom Boom Satellites. Are they an electro dance band? Electro-punk? Rock with computerized beats? Jazz/electro fusion? I guess they're a little of everything. Mostly drums. Lots and lots of drums, cut up and looped until the fabric of time and space calls it a day and goes home defeated. BBS are first and foremost a dance band, but a very dark one, with vocals shouted and run through the same time-warp as the drums, wailing synths and guitars. Their music has been featured in several video games and movies, most notably "Dive For You" in the 2004 Appleseed movie.