Friday, December 23, 2016

So long and thanks for all the sashimi!

Fuzz Things at Live from the Kitchen Disco - photo by Andi Brooks
As you might have surmised if you follow my Instagram feed, I have left Japan! I got an offer too good to refuse, and will move to Newcastle Upon Tyne in UK early next year. This means that there will be no more regular updates on Tokyo Deep - in particular, no more weekly Live Picks. There are still quite a few bars, books and bands I want to write about, so look out for the occasional new post next year. And of course, if mine and Mamiko's band Fuzz Things are playing, this is the place to find out!

It's been a little over a year ago since I started Tokyo Deep, in September 2015. From there it has grown to over 8000 visitors per month at last count, and still rising - most coming from outside of Japan. I believe this is just about the only place you could regularly get information about garage rock and punk gigs in Tokyo in English. Even though I did over 60 posts, some of my big ambitions were never fulfilled, and I would have liked to write about many more venues and bands, but let's just say I had other things to do...

Thanks for visiting! If you are going to Tokyo feel free to contact me through e-mail or the Tokyo Deep Facebooks page, and I'll try to give some personalized recommendations. Sayonara!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Tokyo Deep Live Picks End Of The Line Bumper Edition!

This will be the last Tokyo Deep Live Picks for the foreseeable future! So make sure you go to each and every one of these events, even if it means being in two places at once. I know I will!

Friday


Twistin' Rumble Bye Bye2016 DJ Session Special!!
Great sendoff at the cozy DJ bar Memphis Kyodai in Shimokitazawa, with Hiroshi Sekiguchi, Ryo the Dynamite, Wild Ox and more!

Saturday


Call And Response Christmas Disco
Secret lineup of Tokyo underground artists in Koenji! And chances are you can snag a copy of the new book on Japanese alternative music, Quit Your Band! Musical Notes from the Japanese Underground! (A review will be forthcoming.)

Sunday


Winstons Presents -Party Time!-
Tokyo's deepest soul band Winstons head up a great lineup at Hatagaya Heavy Sick, with hard rock from The Great Moongoose, Fifi Poorcow's new band Yesterday Once More, DJ Rie from Stompin' Riffraffs and more!


Rockabilly Graffiti -Xmas Party-


London Nite X'mas 36th Anniversary Special

Monday + Wednesday


FRED & TOODY Live in Japan 2016
Members of Portland, OR punk rockers join an all-star Tokyo cast for two gigs. It's worth going just for Guitar Wolf, Fadeaways, Tweezers, Talent Show, Rockbottom, and DJs Hiroshi Sekiguchi and Toyzo! Poor Cow will be open after the Shimokitazawa show.


Live From The Kitchen Disco Volume 31: Bumper Christmas Special!
Last event of the year for Tokyo's most diverse music event - all free!

Also happening


Ramones Exhibition
Nothing But True Punk!


Romi Mori Photo Exhibition「Eternal Dusk」

Gun Clubber and sometime Jesus and Mary Chain guest Romi Mori shows photos from a life in music. Also live and DJ events, see Facebook event for details!



Massive antique and flea market with hundreds of dealers from all over the world selling 50s, 60s, 70s art, design and fashion!

Monday, December 12, 2016

New Fadeaways album and video!



Tokyo Deep favorites The Fadeaways have just released a new video to promote their latest album! Garage Punk Hitsville is out this week on Radio Underground records and collect favorites from the band's 11 years of rocking Japan and the rest of the world. Check out their new video below and find out more at The Fadeaways on Facebook!


Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Live picks: Weekend of Friday, December 9, 2016

Friday


Let's Bop♪♪
DJ Ayumi & friends at Memphis Brothers in Shimokitazawa

Saturday

 

Guitar Wolf and Neatbeats headline the latest Blast Jams! at Shimokitazawa Basement/Three, with soul from Soulcrap, garage from The Fadeaways and Stompin' Riffraffs, and much more!


Here is my number
Another laid-back show at Ichibee Dining in Kichijoji, with the amazing rocking Minnesota Voodomen, indie from Bitter Sweet Generation and more.

Sunday


Young Parisian presents We Got A Radio!
Glam rock and more in Hatagaya!


Monday, December 5, 2016

Tokyo garage punk in the cinema!



The new documentary Garage Rockin' Craze, based on Mario Cuzic's many years of documenting the Tokyo garage rock scene and the Back From The Grave events, will have exclusive screenings with English subtitles on January 14-27! Check out the amazing Rockin' Jelly Bean poster above and the trailer below!

For more information, see the movie's homepage! (Japanese only)


Friday, December 2, 2016

Garage punk photo exhibition in Tokyo



Yukko Ono has been documenting the Tokyo garage punk scene for many years. Now you have a chance to see some of her amazing photos at the Ban Kuruwase bar in Yotsuya.

Opening hours: 19.00-24.00 weekdays until December 26.
One drink order required.
Event homepage
Google map



Monday, November 28, 2016

Live picks: Weekend of December 2, 2016

Sheena was a punk rocker!


In The Dynamite Jet Saloon vol. 2
On Saturday and Sunday, be prepared for a pop-punk explosion! Your ear will be ringing with melodies and your head will be rattling from the power chords attack of bands including Rockbottom, The Broken Hearts, Sunny Branch and The Humhums! There's also country-tinged tones of Talent Show, flat-out rock-n-roll of Rangsteen, DJs and much much more.


Tension!
And if pop-punk is not for you, what about some post-punk? Seven hours of that, plus lashings of noise-rock and offbeat experimental pop, all in hip Kichijoji! Hosted by Call and Response Record's Ian Martin, who just published the indispensable book Quit Your Band! - Musical Notes from the Japanese Underground.


If all that post is too newfangled, let's go for some pre-punk! Stompin' Riffraffs, The Pringles, Los Rizlas and more hammer out raunchy rockabilly, riveting old-school rockers and more all night at the Yokohama Custom Hot Rod Show pre-party!

More gigs

Saturday


The Steed Hooves Presents「Go Now!」

Hot rod cars and bikes, vendor booths, art, live music and much more. Don't miss Tokyo Deep's favorite surf rock combo Jackie and the Cedrics with bass player and low-brow artist Rockin' Jelly Bean! What more could you wish for a Sunday afternoon by the sea?

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Live picks: Week of Friday, November 26, 2016

Wednesday


Deke Dickerson JAPAN TOUR 2016 Tokyo
Get twanging at Hatagaya Heavy Sick with the surf guitar legend known from Untamed Youth and many other projects! Also Japan's own beach combers Jackie and the Cedrics, faux-Mexicans Los Rizlas, the deranged Hasil Nuts, DJs and more!

Thursday


Burlesque Restaurant
Naughtiness and rock-n-roll with The Tassels, plus guest artists The Pringles, lounge DJs and more at Moja in Shibuya!

Friday




YOU GOT A RADIO LAST LIVE
The legendary Tokyo post-punk band bids farewell at Shimokitazawa Shelter!



Mystery Meat Vol. 44: Make Mystery Meat Again
DJ night at Beat Café in Shibuya!

Saturday


Days Of Speed
Low-key show with Key Yoshida (That's A No No!) and more at Kichijoji restaurant Ichibee Dining



Where were you in '63?
Rocking nostalgia with still-going-strong girl band The Pebbles, modsy Motel's Sofa and more at the intimate Green Apple in Koenji!


Litters present powerpop, punk and more from The Tweezers, The Bubbles and more at Kokubunji Morgana!

Outside Japan


If you are in New York, don't miss the chance to see the fantastic Stompin' Riffraffs at The King Khan & BBQ Show on November 22! See their Facebook page for more details & gigs.

Missed it? You can hear them live on WMFU here!

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Halloween Ball 2016!

Book the weekend for the year's wildest party! All Japan's best garage rock bands are playing, plus costumes, international guests, talk shows, and more!

Day 1 Facebook page
Day 2 Facebook page




Also happening


Mystery Meat Vol. 43: Raw Meat


MARCH OF THE MODS



King Salami and the Cumberland 3 Afterparty at Heavy Sick

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Live picks: Weekend of October 21, 2016

It's the calm before the storm next week, as the Back From The Grave Halloween Ball lets loose the Garage Rockin' Craze of 2016. But before that, there's this...

Saturday


Call And Response Indie Disco - Iko Chérie Japan Tour
Iko Cherie from French singer Marie Merlet, formerly of the groups Lisbonne, Zooey and Monade (with Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier), with a deubt album out on Elefant Records.

Sunday


FREAK OUT!
Tweezers, XTits, Australian guests and more at Hatagaya Heavy Sick!


Get Your Mood On Vol. 7
Dark The Giant, CCS, and more at Higashi-Koenji UFO Club

Tuesday


Howlin' Jaws JAPAN TOUR
Howlin' Jaws from France join Mellvins and Minnesota Voodoo Men at Heavy Sick in Hatagaya

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Live picks: Weekend of October 14, 2016

Featured

Kristian Anttila tour

 

The singer/songwriter from Sweden does a small Tokyo tour, including stops at Poor Cow (Thursday) and Liten Butiken (Saturday)! 
Facebook events:
Kristian Anttila x 5 in TOKYO
Kristian Anttila live at Poor Cow
Kristian Anttila (from Sweden) Tokyo Show! in Liten Butiken

Peach Kelli Pop tour


The California band's Japan tour continues - we'd recommend catching up with them along with The Fadeaways, The Mellvins, The Buttercup and Tawings at Green Apple in Koenji!
The Fadeaways × Rhyming Slang presents “TEEN CITY”

More gigs

Friday


EARLY ALLEY Session 76
Deep soul from Winstons and indie psychedelia from Petersfield, at Hatagaya Heavy Sick

Saturday



Sister Paul present "Tokyo Gay Rockers" at Shibuya Last Waltz
The Tokyo band that recently worked with Doctors of Madness, along with Talent Show, Rockbottom, more!

Sunday


Four bands and a rooftop party with a barbecue. Bring your own drinks!

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Live picks: Weekend of October 7, 2016

Featured

Sunday


Live From The Kitchen Disco Volume 29
Absolutely free show in Shinjuku, featuring alternative stars Molice, Jam cover band Jexit, and Tokyo Deep's very own Fuzz Things.

All week 

Peach Kelli Pop Tour
Los Angeles rockers and Burger Records recording artistes Peach Kelli Pop join lots of great Japanese bands for a whirlwind tour of Tokyo! Check out the flyers below and their homepage. Look out for even more shows next week!

       

Tuesday


Kristian Anttila x 5 in TOKYO
Swedish pop star Kristian Anttila does a string of singer/songwriter gigs in Tokyo

More gigs

Friday


Wotzit, DJ Ian Martin (Call and Response) and more!

Saturday


Mad 3 re-union
Return of legendary power trio at Shimokitazawa Shelter!

Sunday


Tokyo Gig Guide presents FARM PARTY 20



Madness from Ed Woods and more!


Supersnazz, Rangsteen, more at Waseda Zone B

Johnny Disco Beach, Great Mongoose, more at Hatagaya Heavy Sick



Incredibly entertaining hard rockers celebrate 25 years of Shimokitazawa's famous live house