Live Report: MAN WITH A MISSION At Lee's Palace June 25th - Toronto, Canada

 

You all missed a great show. No, seriously, you did. Sure it was a Wednesday night and according to the event postings and live house ticket sales they were set for the late stage time of 11:15pm. But you should have been there. 

Upon arrival and checking in with the swag booth we were informed that the set time was actually 10pm! Though I quickly sent a tweet to the effect, I am sure that this did influence a portion of what would have been concert attendees had they realized the set time was a bit more reasonable for a Wednesday work night. That said, for their first and only Canadian tour date it was a poor showing from the fans.

MAN WITH A MISSION took to the stage shortly after the change-over from their opening band, PARTYCAT, fantastic local band from T.O. Not one to hold back, nor daunted by the small crowd, MWAM lit the stage up with their energy and never looked back.

The Weekly Quickie: Perfume, Morning Musume, G.L.A.M.S., Destrose, Golden Bomber

Hold onto your hats, kiddies, I've got all kinds of goodies for you this week.  Starting with:

Girl group Perfume will be performing two shows in the US:  Hollywood Paladium in LA on 11/9 and Hamerstein Ballroom in New York on 11/15.  They will also be releasing their live DVD "Perfume World Tour 2nd" this fall, so keep an eye out for it!

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CDJapan Rewards: Double Extra Points Until July 4th!!!

CDJapan is now doubling extra points when placing an order worth over 5,000yen only for a limited period of time until July 4, 2014 Noon (GMT+9). Your CDJapan customer account will be credited with limited-time extra points as detailed below in 4 days after your order is shipped.

See more details in the offer page.

Note

Rewards for purchase over 5,000yen that they normally offer as detailed under the "Up to 800 Points for a Purchase Over 5,000yen" section does not apply to orders that are eligible for this promotion.

Magistina Saga At Animethon 2014‏!

Just announced, fairy tail visual kei band Magistina Saga will be performing at Animethon 21 this August along side An Cafe!! If you hadn't already gotten your pass with the first announcement, don't delay! This concert night is not to be missed!

Animethon

Dates: August 8th-10th 2014

Website: http://www.animethon.org

Concert Date: Saturday August 9th, 2014

Location: MacEwan University City Centre Campus,

10700 – 104 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta.

**Doors open 7:00 PM | Concert Starts 7:30 PM | Second act 9:00 PM

J-rock North Promotions Inc. Presents: Magistina Saga @ Animethon 2014

* In association with Starwave Records

[Magistina Saga Official Comment Video - Animethon 21]

Interview LIVE at Anime North: Rose Noire & DaizyStripper

Amidst the chaos of convention life, both Rose Noire and DaizyStripper were kind enough to sit down with me prior to their lives at Anime North. Both bands were present during the interview, so the conversation will bounce between both bands. Enjoy!

The Weekly Quickie: MEJIBRAY, BLACKLINE, BABYMETAL

For those of you that have been following the condition of MEJIBRAY drummer, Meto, since his terrible fall a few weeks ago, you will be happy to hear that he has been released from hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.  The band has also released their new tour schedule and announced the release of a new single!  Titled "Theatrical Blue-Black" , it is slated for release on 9/24 and will be available in three types.  And, how about that new look?  Nice, yeah?

Heavy rock band BLACKLINE has separated from their management company, Fuji Production as of June 12.  There aren't a lot of details regarding the separation, but it appears to be an amicable one.  What does that mean for BLACKLINE?  I wouldn't get too worried as of yet.  With the release of a new EP, This is War, on June 11 (available for overseas purchase next month) and a full touring schedule, they don't appear to be slowing down.

Speaking of touring fools, BABYMETAL is kicking ass with even more US tour dates!  This time with Lady Gaga.  They will be appearing at a handful of Lady Gaga's artRAVE:  The ARTPOP Ball dates from 7/30-8/6.  By the way, pre-sale tickets for their LA headliner show sold out almost instantly, so DON'T HESITATE!  Get your tickets early so you don't miss out.

Oh, have I mentioned I'll be hanging out at Orlando Nerd Fest?  You should hang out with me.  ViViD want to meet you.  They said so.  It's all in their comment video.


See?

And that's the Quickie.  Love you!

BABYMETAL First Ever Headlining Gig in LA!!

It has just been announced that BABYMETAL will hold their first ever headlining gig in Los Angeles, California on July 27 at the Fonda Theatre!  Tickets go on sale June 20 at 10am and it's sure to sell out fast, so don't wait!

BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2014

July 27th The Fonda Theater

Door:6:30PM / Start:8:00PM

Ticket price:25.00USD

Buy tickets:http://www.axs.com/events/251359/babymetal-tickets

※The show starts at 8:00PM - No opening act.

Get Nerdy with Me! Nerd Fest Orlando 2014

 

I once tried to describe Nerd Core to a coworker of mine and she responded with, “That's a thing?”.

Yes, it's a thing. A wonderful, glorious and supremely dorky thing. A thing that tickles our inner otaku and celebrates geeks. A thing that allows gamers, anime fans and role-players to come together and revel in the things that might otherwise bring them ridicule. A thing that let's them know that someone else gets the joke.

The Akira Project - Live Action Trailer (Official)

So apparently I’m a little behind in my awareness of this awesome trailer existing! While the Hollywood adaptation version is receiving very shifty glances, this crowd-sourced trailer by true fans gives a glimpse of what we’d like to see. Enjoy!

Fashion Fraction: Introduction to Japanese Fashion at Conventions

Hello everyone, I'm Taka- here to bring you your weekly Fashion Fraction of Project: Lixx!

For this first article, I'm going to dive into Japanese Fashion and its representation at conventions! I recently went to a convention known as Colossalcon in Sandusky, Ohio and ventured around, eyeballing all the fabulous non-cosplay fashionistas.

The Weekly Quickie: Memento Mori, Crossfaith, Man with a Mission, landz.

Just announced, eccentric rock band, Memeno Mori will be disbanding after their live at Shinjuku BIRTH on 8/17.  Personally, this really bums me out.  Memento Mori was one of my favorite up and coming bands.  There are no details given on the reasons behind the break up, but you can find member comments on their homepage which has been kindly translated by Karu Suzume on the Facebook fan page.  We will continue to support them until the end and wish them luck in their future endeavors.

Live Report: Rose Noire At Anime North

Rose Noire was the first of 2 bands slotted for the Saturday night concert, a promise of very good things to come. Having the arguably daunting task of being the opening act, Louie and Jill showed us what this sibling duo is truly made of. 

Dan's Pick: "Indigo La End"

     Welcome back! 15th. Dan's Pick.

  You remember last week's pick, right? Well while I was watching some of their other videos, something on the sidebar caught my eye. So I clicked it. Let me say, I wasn't too disappointed with the random click.

  Indigo La End, comprised of: Kawatani Enon (guitars + vocals), Curtis Nagata (guitar), Ohta Yuusuke (drums), and Kotori Ryosuke (support bass) are a what I would say an indie/rock/pop band formed on the 4th of November, 2012.

  The song I entered into was 名もなきハッピーエンド from their mini album "Ano Machi". What first caught me were the guitars. A cooling, crisp tone that makes me imagine riding my bike through some city on a sunny mid Summer's day. Trees and grass are green, flowers in full bloom, the whole shebang. I really love the riff through the whole song. They're very upbeat and energetic. The bass is a constant fun groove, which also makes me very happy. I love good bass. I was also drawn in by Kawatani's vocals. The pace he sings his lyrics kept me interested. Not that its anything crazy or fresh, just liked it. Also, his voice has a sweetness behind it. High pitched and tender, you know? Without a doubt a great first song to listen to from these guys.

Indigo La End "名もなきハッピーエンド'

Website: http://indigolaend.com

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/indigo_la_End

Buy "Ano Machi" at CDJapan!

Live Report: GEEKS and Ra:IN at AKON 25

On June 6, A-KON, North America’s longest running convention, played host to two amazing bands, GEEKS and Ra:IN, and brought them together in a cataclysmic clash of musical wonder.

I hadn't heard of GEEKS, but I had definitely heard of Ra:IN and am myself a huge fan of Pata's work. It was something I had to see and hear for myself. Fueled by the urgency to attend, I made my preparations with less than a month before the convention.

Hey, Do You Know: THE MICRO HEAD 4N'S?

Hey everyone, my name is Iris and I will be introducing bands that I have been listening to or have come across and enjoy. I try to keep up to date with what's happening in the world of Jrock/VK. This is my first time writing for a blog so please bear with me, I will improve with time!

The first band I'd like to introduce is...THE MICRO HEAD 4N’S!

PV Analysis: Inshouha - 'BEAM!'

Inshouha is a J-pop group comprised of Mica (keyboard/vocals) and Miu (guitar/vocals), in their own profile formed vaguely in 2010 in Osaka. After a break for a year, they increased activity in 2013 with their first mini-album and more releases. In analysis of their latest PV BEAM! I was unable to get translated lyrics, but the imagery tells a fairly clear story to interpret. In the vein of their first clip SWAP this PV is an animated tour de force, this time dropping the viewer into a story in progress as we open on the remains of a decimated city under the track title – BEAM! - rendered in a stylized logo.

The Weekly Quickie: D.I.D., Kazha, VK Fest, TMRevolution

Looks like we get to add another one to the disabled list this week.  It was recently announced that D.I.D. will go on indefinite hiatus due to the mental illness of their vocalist, Akane.  Akane has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder and been admitted to hospital.  Do to his inability to work, all planned releases and future performances have been canceled. 

The folks over at Shattered Tranquility have been kind enough to translate member comments on his illness as well as Akane's letter to his fans.

LIQUIDZ EDGE - LIFE CD Trailer - Available On iTunes!

"LIFE" On Sale!!

【iTunes】

1. Life - Single - Liquidz Edge

2. 17 - Single - Liquidz Edge

3. Believe - Single - Liquidz Edge

Be sure to follow the band online!

Official website

Facebook

audioleaf

Live Report: DaizyStripper At Anime North

@AndreNutbean

No matter how much I write in this report, nothing will convey truly my excitement of seeing DaizyStripper live for the second time here in Canada. This band has my heart.

Fans had their first opportunity to see the band at opening ceremonies Friday afternoon. Sadly I don't think too many fans were there. I was caught between wanting to scream, and realizing I had the camera a few inches from my face and not wanting to drown out the audio. That however takes nothing from the fact that the guys looked great and my excitement for the weekend only grew. 

Shibuya Crossing Episode 028 LIVE Friday June 6th!

On the June 6th edition of Shibuya Crossing we're taking you on a express train adventure from Montreal to Toronto, then to Tokyo - and finally around the world!

On our lineup: the complete sit-down interview with Visual Kei rock stars DaizyStripper and Rose Noire courtesy of J-Rock North Promotions and CJLO. They were the musical guest for the city's Japanese Pop Culture convention, Anime North in May of this year.

We also have a mini-feature on Montreal's very first Harajuku walk that happened in early June. We speak to one of the co-organizers of this unique outdoor event and learn more about Japanese street fashion, its origins and its influence on pop culture.  

Taking it a little more back home, we play a few tracks showcasing the music of Dir en Grey. This band has been a consistent guest in the Canadian rock music scene. We finish our Artist Spotlight series on this ever-evolving band. 

Also this week: new music releases, a notable artist request, a setlist drawn from Toronto's fame as a destination city for many J-Music acts, and a track we're playing that's related to rainbows. 

That and more this week on Shibuya Crossing - Japanese rock music - and pop culture gone global. Catch the live edition Friday, June 6th at 9am EST on CJLO.com and at 1690AM in Montreal. 

You can also catch the full episode in streaming audio the same day by 9pm EST (UTC-4) on the Episode Archives section of our home page www.cjlo.com/onair/shibuya-crossing.

This week, we will also post all of the segments of this edition at once on our Tumblr page: shibuya1690.tumblr.com.

VYPER Japanese Music Magazine First Issue Release

VYPER Japanese Music magazine, the first 100% Visual-kei and J-Rock french print magazine is now available for pre-order! Pre-order is available until June 30th, with the first issue due to be released July 1st. Shipping is available world -wide. Please make sure to choose the correct shipping option when you order (Envoi International for us!). The first issue with international shipping for North America is 8.50€ (12.60CAD/11.56USD)

Further information can be found on their Facebook page! Please note this magazine is in french. 

Order HERE! The first 100 pre-orders get a free surprise gift!

Cover and Interview:

MIYAVI

Inside this issue:

MIKARU -G.L.A.M.S-

YOSHIKI

UPLIFT SPICE

LUNA SEA

SuG

GREMLINS

DAIZYSTRIPPER

RoseWholesale.com Swimwear Special!

Update From Overworld!

Our MERCH store is finally BACK! Go PRE-ORDER our new EP "Bring Down the Sky" and get awesome bonus features, as well as getting to hear it before everyone else! Also check out our new brilliant T-shirt - more new items are coming soon! All the money we make will go towards making our NEW MUSIC VIDEO!

What are you waiting for? Go get yourself some brand new 2014 OVERWORLD gear! Shipping worldwide, of course! Rock 'n' roll!

>>> http://overworld.storenvy.com <<<

Via: Facebook

Rose Noire & DaizyStripper Fan Q&A At Anime North 2014

Video up! Please forgive the slight jumps and the camera switch at the end. It went a little longer than anticipated and we missed 2 questions. Please enjoy!

The Weekly Quickie: An Cafe, Sukekiyo, Ganglion, NoGod, J Summit New York

It's going to be a very Jrock summer, guys!  It seems like everyone is finding their way out of Japan and stamping their mark on the overseas market.  Starting with:

An Cafe!  It's just been announced that An Cafe will be appearing at Anime Friends 2014 in Sao Paolo, Brazil.  The convention takes place July 17-20 and 20-27.  An Cafe will be appearing on the final day.

2014 Summer Rock Schedule

I know we've been loading you up with LOADS of North American event and tour dates lately, so we thought we'd hook you up with a Quickie version (see what I did there?) to help you plan your summer.  Check the list below for appearance dates and ticketing links for your favorite Jrock act.

ViViD and Earthbound Papas at Nerd Fest Orlando

Dates:  August 7-11

Event Homepage:  http://orlandonerdfest.com/