The JoJo Swing Quintet. Can you guess what they sounded like from the name? Yeah, that’s exactly what they sounded like. Can you guess how many there were? That’s right, 5. Wanna know what they looked like?
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Not everything in life needs to be complicated.
There’s something about a man with a mustache in full drag. Complete with Goldilocks wig. Singing in a deep baritone. Yes. This is string bean skinny Toby-san. Nice to meet you, how you do?
Toby is assisted by his assistant, the beautifully Reubenesque Mia. A more than capable assistant. More than capable of outdoing any Harajuku girl. Gwen Stefani take note. Continue Reading…
UP FOR SOME COPS AND ROBBERS?
As I stepped into the Cafe de Paris tent forthe first time, two uni boys behind me summed it up perfectly; “Koko, iine (This place is good)”.
They meant of course the bikini/tutu/feather headress-clad bar maids walking around serving guests, but I can’t disagree.
There couldn’t be a more appropriate place for Big Willie’s Burlesque to play. The draped fabric across the ceiling, the makeshift chandeliers – the only thing missing would be a couple of big leather armchairs and cigar smoke. Oh, and a real floor would be nice too.
I was walking past the Ohashi Trio to get to the Cafe de Paris, and very nearly stayed there. That show sounded bloody great. But I had Cassette Con Los circled in the schedule and I persevered. Glad I did.
Can someone at Smash book these guys for the Field of Heaven next year? They were the best start to the festival I could have asked for. They play calypso, but they seem to have stretched the genre a bit, getting jazzy in places, rocking out elsewhere, and I suspect all the tunes were their own, since the melodies were new to me and the lyrics all Japanese. I’m pretty sure one song was called “O-ha, baka da na” which is a pretty great title.
“We’re not used to being so far from the crowd,” says the singer. If I had to guess, I’d say they were about 20 inches from the crowd. Not sure where they usually play. But the quintet is clearly happy to be at Fuji, thanking us relentlessly, telling us they love us. It’s a feelgood start to the festival, everyone’s dancing, and even when the bassist snaps a string, the place grooves on until he fixes it.
They’re playing in ShimoKitazawa next Friday. I suggest you check them out.
Photo: 古川喜隆 via fujirockexpress.net
Mokudotei
Naeba Shokudo
I went to Fuji Rock Festival for three years before I figured out where the Naeba Shokudo stage was. I’d seen it, but never realised it was an official performance space. I thought it was just a noodle stand inviting their mates to busk. It’s fair to say that every act performing here is too big to perform here, and that’s what makes it so fun. This year’s lineup is the strongest ever: EKD, Asakusa Jinta and the Kensington Hillbillies should all be top shows.
The Pyramid Garden
This stage debuted last year in the campsite area, only for campers. Well, they deserve something for having to sleep in a tent on a mountain, in the shadow of a comfy hotel. It’s produced by the same people that set up those candle displays by the entrance to the Field of Heaven. This year, Sandii of Sandii and the Sunsets ought to be fun, and Takeshi Hosomi of Ellegarden and The Hiatus will play a solo set the day before his band plays the White Stage.
Cafe de Paris
It’s outside the festival proper, past the Orange Court, down by the river. The Cafe de Paris seems to be appearing every other year now, with a Frenchy cabaret theme. Big Willie is bringing his Burlesque show to the tent ever day, and JoJo Swing Quintet will also play three times. And then there’s this.
Day Dreaming & Silent Breeze
No idea. Never been to this stage in all the years I’ve been going to Fuji. But Fujirocker Dom says it’s worth a look. And you get to try the world’s longest cable car ride.
Mokudotei
A little wooden stage in the woods, and one of my favourite spots. You’ll find it halfway along the boardwalk that connects the White Stage to the Field of Heaven and the Orange Court. The Kensington Hillbillies and Olde Worlde ought to be worth checking out.
I can’t find any words for this. I guess it speaks for itself. This pair will be performing in the Cafe de Paris tent on Saturday and Sunday.
MORE SKA?!?! KING COLUMBIA WILL DUKE IT OUT WITH OTHER YOUNGBLOODS @ ROOKIE-A-GO-GO
A few days ago while eating a late night sandwich, I was assured by the guitarist in a Taiwanese post-rock band, Su, who was DJing at the time, that the “Taiwanese bands” at Fuji Rock would be announced on July 1. So I stayed up late, thinking “Taiwanese bands?” Is there really a plural there? There’s never been more than one Taiwanese group at Fuji Rock before, and now, on the freshly released web page of the Japanese site, there are three: Sheng Xiang & the Band, Sugar Plum Ferry and Silverbus. All are playing at Gypsy Avalon, where post-rock at noontime will definitely be an experiment.
The bigger news is that band lists for Fuji Rock’s seven smaller stages are now out and more or less finalized. These are the lineups for the little hippie field (Gypsy Avalon), the competition stage for young bands (Rookie-A-Go-Go), the little performance area in the middle of the woods on the boardwalk between the White Stage and Orange Court (Boardwalk Stage), the food court area stage (Naeba Shudoku), a daytime cabaret in a cleverly converted shed (Cabaret de Paris – last year it was called Cabaret Fiesta), and the Pyramid Garden (a rather mysterious stage that, like the evil fortress in Krull, disappears at sunset and appears in a new location each dawn). There are also a few additions to Daydreaming, which is a late morning/early afternoon DJ stage at the top of a mountain a 20-minute gondola ride from the rest of Fuji Rock (and there is definitely a pretty good reason for why it’s so far away).
Check the additions here: http://www.fujirockfestival.com/artist/
MUSTANG
Last year’s additional stage was the Moulin Rouge-accented Cafe de Paris tent way at the ass end of the festival. We haven’t heard yet whether or not it will be continued this year, but if it is there are plenty of French or Francophone artists on the menu to provide it with the proper je ne sais quois, though we doubt seriously that the two pop techno freaks of Air would ever deign to play such a puny venue. They are, after all, headlining the Red Marquee Sunday night. Moriarty, though they generally sing in English, is based in France, and they’re already playing at least two gigs during the weekend so it’s likely they could be talked into a third. Then there’s the French swing ska punk ensemble La Ruda, who’s slated for the Orange Court Saturday afternoon. With eight members it might get a little tight in the CdP, but I’m sure they’d be game. And while singer-songwriter Emeline Michel is Haitian, she sings in French and creole and would likely fit right in. Continue Reading…
We’re now live from the fest at: http://www.fujirockexpress.net/09e/
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Flickr and Vids to come.
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