Fri July 30, Sat July 31, Sun Aug 1
Fuji Rock Festival '10
Here’s to being ready for Fuji Rock '10. With some supergroup additions (such as Them Crooked Vultures and others), some that come close to the wire such as LCD Soundsystem (which may soon be off the circuit), and the newly released Scissor Sisters which is getting big praise â€" this year’s line up is shaping up to be the best one of recent years. Although Fuji Rock as the potential to turn into another muddy music festival á la Glastonbury, this year the weather is expected to be clear, sunny and with expansive starry skies in the evening. Tickets? Cash? Sunscreen? Check. All that’s left is to get out of Tokyo. More Music Festivals 2010
Time: 9am open, 11pm start
Location: Naeba Ski Resort (Yuzawamachi, Niigata)
Tickets: 1day ¥16,800; 3day ¥39,800
Thur Aug 5
Nada Surf
In 1996, this group got the attention of the media as ‘post-Weezer’, with the great video for their hit single ‘Popular’. After that the outfit hit a bit of a rough patch, but despite that was able to hang on with their Weezer-like sensibilities diluted and the beauty of the melodies coming to the forefront. Somehow they managed to settle into a very special place within the musical establishment. With their first foray into Japan in 2009, it took incredible 14 years to get them here, and they are finally coming back out with a long-awaited solo performance and appearance at Summer Sonic. Their newest album, ‘if i had a hi-fi’ features covers that range from punk to prog-rock and even J-pop inflections from Asian Kung-fu Generation, with a canny ability to any kind of genre theirs. A performance that is a long time coming and worth catching.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Unit (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥4,500 (plus one drink)
Fri Aug 6
Atari Teenage Riot + Rebel Familia
Berlin-based digital hardcore band Atari Teenage Riot is back after 10 years. In 1992 Alec Empire took the helm in forming this unit that carried the political message of ‘awakening the revolution’ that appealed to a radical aesthetic with wildly popular live performances. By 2001, however, they had all but formally disbanded. Last year, the beginnings of a comeback were glimmering in the distance, with a live performance in Holland, and Summer Sonic 2010. This event starts at 12.20am, on the border between waking and sleep. It’s worth slapping yourself awake but to get to the Liquidroom is much easier.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Liquidroom (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥5,500 (plus one drink)
One Day As A Lion
Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha and The Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore make up the superunit that will be doing a one-time post-Fuji Rock performance. Expect to hear tracks from their five-track sole album, ‘One Day as a Lion’. This year this impossible to ignore band will be causing enough upheaval at the Fuji Rock White Stage that it’s inevitable that it will sell out.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Unit (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥5,500
Sat Aug 7, Sun Aug 8
Summer Sonic 2010 (Tokyo)
With die-hard music fans prone to carrying things to the extreme, these next two weeks are the stuff of manically happy dreams with Fuji Rock this weekend and the upcoming Summer Sonic right on its heels. Chiba Marine Stadium plays a warm (literally) host to the Marine Stage, where you’ll need to check the line up to be sure you can see the bands you want from the side of the stadium you’re ticketed for (right or left ). Despite the fact that you might need to take into account where the most shade in the stadium might be, and steps to be sure that you don’t get knocked out with heatstroke, it should be a great event. More Music Festivals 2010
Time: 9am open, 11am start
Location: Chiba Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe
Tickets: 1day ¥15,800; 2day ¥29,800
Mon Aug 9
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
In the wake of Summer Sonic, this will be an independent performance by the always black-clad San Francisco indie rock group. Whether it’s rock, punk or psychedelia you’re after, this group will have something for you to appreciate with songs that sound like sugared dynamite explosions coated in a voice that drips with charm. In 2008, when their previous release ‘Baby 81’ came out they hit up Duo Music Exchange with a three-hour performance that left themâ€" and their fans â€" jellylegged. With new member Leah Shapiro joining for their 5th studio release, ‘Beat the Devil’s Tattoo’ expect something of the divine to be at Liquidroom during their set.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Liquidroom (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥5,800 (plus one drink)
Blood Red Shoes + Everything Everything + Band of Skulls
Three of Summer Sonic 2010’s most talked-about bands are coming together to make this show of epic proportions. In February of this year Blood Red Shoes played Unit (read interview here) to promote their latest release, ‘Fire Like This’. They so hypnotised the audience of Summer Sonic that they’re back again. Coming along for the ride is the Manchester four-piece who made the ‘BBC Sound of 2010 Top 10’, Everything Everything. Joining them is Southhampton’s boy-girl twin-vocal group Band of Skulls whose new single, produced by Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien was just picked up as something to watch this week on the iTunes community.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Duo Music Exchange (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥5,000 (plus one drink)
Hail The Villain
Ontario, Canada’s hard rock unit Hail the Villain will be making an appearance, proving their edge sounds and powerful vocals despite being relative newcomers. After this performance, they will definitely be a band to keep looking out for. Unfortunately, they’ll only be playing Summer Sonic Osaka but luckily, Tokyo fans can find get their fix at Astro Hall.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Astro Hall (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥3,900 (one drink plus)
Elliot Minor
Hailing from York, England this 22 year-old (on average) five-piece band debuted in 2007 and at the time were hailed as creating a shocking fusion of rock and classic who hit their musical target dead-on and got rave reviews for it. This year, their new album ‘Solaris’ was released, featuring strings and a chorus garnering the label ‘emo-classic’.
Time: 6pm open, 7pm start
Location: Unit (Full details & map)
Tickets:Â¥4,500
Tue Aug 10, Wed Aug 11
The Smashing Pumpkins + 9mm Parabellum Bullet + Acid Android and more
The Chicago alternative-rock ‘charisma band’ Smashing Pumpkins come out for extra post-Summer Sonic shows. Following their shocking break-up and equally surprising reformation, their new album comes at a time when the fresh sucession of new members has continued to the point where there is only one original band member, vocalist Billy Corgan, left. Notwithstanding, the enduring legacy of Smashing Pumpkins in Japan is something far bigger that its band members, making it a show you will still be clamouring to see in support of Corgan . The opening acts for August 10 will be 9mm Parabellum Bullet and MUCC, and Acid Android and Ling Tosite Sigure for August 11.
Time: 5pm open, 6pm start
Location: Studio Coast (Full details & map)
Tickets: ¥6,800
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