[BakaGaijin]

Next Music From Tokyo will be returning in May, 2012.

www.nextmusicfromtokyo.com


This will be the fourth edition of the tour and the featured artists this time around are Zazen Boys, group_inou, Praha Depart, and Charan-Po-Rantan.
The tour dates are as follows:


May 18th Toronto@ The Rivoli

May 19th Toronto@ The Rivoli

May 21st Montreal@ Divan Orange

May 23rd Vancouver@ The Waldorf Hotel



Here are the bands that will be appearing at NMFT vol. 4:


Zazen Boys


Mukai Shutoku’s former band Number Girl is renowned as one of the most important
and influential bands in Japanese rock history. The manner in which Number Girl
abruptly disbanded in 2002 at the peak of its popularity was heartbreaking to
legions of fans throughout the country. Having been the frontman and creative
mastermind behind Number Girl, Mukai Shutoku inherited an immediate and substantial
fanbase for his subsequent project, ZAZEN BOYS.
But instead of sticking to a proven formula (i.e the straightforward alt-rock
approach of Number Girl) Mukai would use ZAZEN BOYS as a vehicle for experimentation
and for profoundly stretching his creative boundaries. Although ZAZEN BOYS’s first
album was a direct continuation of the more experimental side of Number Girl,
subsequent releases diverged greatly in exploring intricate arrangements and changing
time signatures, delving into house/electronica/funk/folk/spoken word, all with a heavy
dose of unpredictability but maintaining a modicum of pop sensibility. This progressive,
“less accessible” approach alienated a good portion of the original core of Number Girl fans,
but has garnered a generation of new fans who appreciate Mukai’s sophisticated, improvisational genius.
ZAZEN BOYS greatest strength as a band lies in its passionate live performances characterized
by a high degree of improvisation, impeccable cohesion and virtuosic, unmistakable skill.
On stage their veteran swagger and instrumental mastery exude an aura that is “larger than life”
compelling the audience to believe they are witnessing the pinnacle of musicianship.
Although ZAZEN BOYS will never achieve the commercial success of Number Girl, Mukai’s current project
has already accomplished much more in expanding the scope and capabilities of Japanese rock and
music in general.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXtI4zLSSaM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5OGe47h_JU


group_inou

group_inou is a duo of iconoclasts who deconstruct chiptune, hip hop, IDM, krautrock, jazz and noise
to create a unique, clearly distinct and innovative musical style of their own. Both members started out
playing in garage/punk bands and CP (emcee) had originally intended Imai (DJ/producer) to play drums
for his (still active) emo/post-punk band Uri Gagarn.
Imai never did play drums for Uri Gagarn but would instead team up with cp to create a revolutionary style of music
centered around cp freeflow rhyming and screaming over Imai’s beautifully crafted genre-escaping instrumentals.
Their refreshing approach to dance music is progressive, experimental and intelligent and champions an underground/DIY
ethic that keeps them level and focussed on pushing the envelope despite increasing mainstream success.
Having a background in punk/HC music clearly shows in the wildness and sheer intensity of group_inou’s live performances.
cp roams the stage unpredictably like a demon-possessed and often performs amongst the audience
on the floor with them or crowd-surfing with mic-in-hand right above them. Imai is just as animated and impassioned
behind the mixing board flailing his limbs and contorting his body to match the emotion, soul and ferocity of his music.
group_inou have shared the stage with Battles, Gang Gang Dance, deerhoof, OWEN, Why?, Locust, Melt Banana, nisennenmondai,
toe, and ZAZEN BOYS and group_inou’s spectacular live performances have more than held their own.
They are just as comfortable performing at tiny, cramped live houses as they are performing in front of tens of thousands
at major festivals such as Fuji Rock and Rising Sun. While group_inou’s groundbreaking music sounds just fine on CD
their true brilliance is best appreciated in a live setting.is (still active) emo/post-punk band Uri Gagarn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pTCWYdK00k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8_q0gFreLI


Praha Depart

Praha Depart’s music is a fusion of metal, shoegaze, hardcore and psychedelic
post-punk with an underlying tribal/folk beat. Something the Japan Times describes as
“irrepressibly danceable gypsy punk.” The instrumentation and female vocals ebb and flow
between darkly serene to ferocious crescendos of emotion and noise.
Jumpei’s intricate and powerful drumming is the backbone. An infectious tribal beat peppered
with thunderous fills and improvised solos. Tsukasa layers on simple guitar melodies
accentuated with brilliant phrasing, spine shivering effects and lightning speed riffs.
Lastly, Mai attacks the low end on bass while using her voice to demonstrate the full spectrum
of her emotions with soothing whispers, playful shrills, ear shattering war-cries and
bloodcurdling screams.
Already revered in Tokyo’s underground, Praha Depart ventured stateside in 2011 playing
multiple shows in New York and Philadelphia followed by a European tour with 11 shows
in Slovenia, France, Spain, Netherlands and Germany.
Praha Depart’s music is soulful, unpretentious and overflowing with emotion and raw power.

http://soundcloud.com/callandrespons...t-portrait-man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbsS7nWW-O8



Charan-po-Rantan & CANCAN BALKAN

As a duo, Charan-Po-Rantan can captivate any audience with their soulful, quirky charm.
However, when backed by their supremely talented support band CANCAN BALKAN , Charan-Po-Rantan’s already potent stage performance is exalted to an awe-inspiring level. Bizarre and campy but oozing with elite musical talent, Charan-Po-Rantan & CANCAN BALKAN’s brilliantly orchestrated original songs and unique Japanese twist on Klezmer and gypsy/folk classics is guaranteed to elicit cheers from anyone with an open mind and appreciation for good music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk01qCEcLbw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn9Ln7pnoZ8

[EVOLghost]

Praha Desert is pretty cool.


Charan-po-Rantan......uhhhh,........

[EVOLghost]

That first song is nice and upbeat...but yeh...not something I'd be able to listen frequently....

[BakaGaijin]

Originally Posted by EVOLghost

Praha Desert is pretty cool.


Charan-po-Rantan......uhhhh,........

Praha Depart (Translation = Prague Department Store) are actually in New York right now for anyone in the area:

Thursday, March 29 @ Pianos (Manhattan)
Friday, March 30 @ Fontana’s (Manhattan)
Saturday, March 31 @ Lit Lounge (Manhattan)
Sunday, April 1 @ Don Pedro (Brooklyn)
Monday, April 2 @ The Trash Bar (Brooklyn)　

[BakaGaijin]

Promo Video: http://vimeo.com/40379322

[vulva]

I'll probably go to this

[EVOLghost]

Hyacca! So lucky....

[BakaGaijin]

Originally Posted by vulva

I'll probably go to this

All the bands will be fantastic live........just like the last tour.....and for $10...you really can't go wrong.

The Saturday show was sold out last year. I suspect both shows will sell out this year.

Did you get the Akai Ko-en CD? Too be honest, I think they are better live than on CD.

[BakaGaijin]

Originally Posted by EVOLghost

Hyacca! So lucky....

Hyacca were on the last tour in October. Hyacca were absolutely amazing live. At the Rivoli show, in Toronto, Hiromi launched her guiter into the audience during the last song....then she climbed on top of a speaker and dove into the crowd.

Good times.

I'm not sure if they'll ever play outside of Japan ever again.....but if you ever get a chance to see them, they are fantastic.

Here is some crappy video from the second Toronto show at the Velvet Underground:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ29zpAajGA

[vulva]

Originally Posted by BakaGaijin

All the bands will be fantastic live........just like the last tour.....and for $10...you really can't go wrong.

The Saturday show was sold out last year. I suspect both shows will sell out this year.

Did you get the Akai Ko-en CD? Too be honest, I think they are better live than on CD.

Yeah, the CD was nice but the live energy was totally different. Are you going to be at this show? If it's going to sell out I might be in trouble since I'm coming from out of town.

[hypertonic]

I'm so hooked on Number Girl as of late... Diggin that new project, nice!

Man this would be great... shit..

[BakaGaijin]

Originally Posted by vulva

Yeah, the CD was nice but the live energy was totally different. Are you going to be at this show? If it's going to sell out I might be in trouble since I'm coming from out of town.

I anticipate they will sell out.....but not for awhile. Let me know when the date gets closer if you still need a ticket and I'll see what I can do.

[vulva]

I'm definitely heading up to see that show but won't have any way to get a ticket beforehand. I'm going with one other friend. Is there any way I'd be able to meet you at the show and pay you? I could even paypal you beforehand if that makes you more comfortable?

[BakaGaijin]

Originally Posted by vulva

I'm definitely heading up to see that show but won't have any way to get a ticket beforehand. I'm going with one other friend. Is there any way I'd be able to meet you at the show and pay you? I could even paypal you beforehand if that makes you more comfortable?

Sorry Vulva, I have been extremely busy and haven't checked this forum. I don't have any extra tickets on me and I won't be at the venue until close to show time tomorrow. Best bet is to call Soundscapes or Rotate This! and see if they have tickets left and then go down early and pick some up from there.

[vulva]

No problem. Just grabbed my ticket!