Fujirockers: The official fansite of the Fuji Rock Festival

Well the others have summed it up pretty succinctly, I think. Not much more to say, other than don’t listen to anyone on what you should like.

But we don’t go for the music. Nope. If it were the music we went to see, then we’d shell out like the rest of you do. Then we could actually relax and enjoy said music. I remember a few years beck, our esteemed leader commented that he was having a near perfect weekend, catching up with old friends, and if only the bands would shut the fuck up and give them some peace it would have been truly perfect! Continue Reading…

Go Zen

It goes without saying Fuji Rock presents some serious logistical challenges to those people that want to see all their favorite bands, but my first recommendation for folks is something like this: go zen. Continue Reading…

Below you’ll find some of my music recommendations, but first off, a few nuggets of advice:

What to remember:

- Don’t forget sun protection (hat, extra sunglasses and sunblock). And if you use them like I do, bring your own genki drinks for an added late-night boost. Despite all the stalls at Fujirock, I’ve only rarely seen these on sale.

- Walk the entire length of the fest grounds at least once. That’s right: from the Red Marquee all the way to Cabaret Fiesta and back. At sunset or after dark is best, and make sure to take the boardwalk. Try not to look at your watch. You’ll be glad you did.

- Take the Dragondola up to the Day Dreaming stage at the top of the mountain, even if you just turn around and come back. The view, the fresh air and thrity minutes off your feet will do you good.

What to see:

Trying to point out a handful of shows at Fujirock is like recommending only one dish at your favorite restaurant: the entire menu is delicious, but you only have so much room in your stomach. It’s a foregone conclusion that bands like LCD Sound System, Broken Social Scene and One Day as a Lion will be mind-blowingly great live experiences, so I’ll try to point out some of lineup further down the marquee:

My list after the jump

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Viva Vinyl

Whether it’s late night at the Orange Court or regular Red Marquee revelry, Fujirock has you covered for DJs. Headliners like Rusko, Z-Trip, Ken Ishii and Riva Star will deliver the goods like they always do, but dig a little deeper into the lineup and you’ll find even more choice selectors.

This year has quite a handful of DJs plucked from bands in the lineup: Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip and James Murphy from LCD Sound System play back-to-back sets at the Red Marquee Sunday night. Both should be stellar, but Murphy’s will be a must-see. Check out his label’s mix series for a primer.

Now dig even deeper and we arrive at the Palace of Wonder, where some of the best spinning takes place every year…

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Aye Carumba! Is it hot in here?

The 2010 Fujirock schedule has its share of francophone acts, but anyone who’s a fest regular knows that the guys who run Fujirock have a healthy hard-on for all things Latin (and they’re not the only ones in Tokyo). Every year, there are bands from Italy, Spain or South America to spice things up on the side stages. There was cumbia troupe, Very Be Careful playing out of the back of a slow-moving pickup, and the tropical sounds of Ska Cubano splashing off the Avalon stage. And of course no one can forget the scorching sets by Manu Chao from years past.

A quick look through this year’s lineup proves that the Latin love affair continues.

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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…

Willie Martinez & Mambo Loco?

I need to start this by saying that one of my favourite acts at Fuji Rock over the years has been Big Willie’s Burlesque. Big Willie is one of the hardest working guys at Fuji Rock. although he’s never pulled off the most-shows-at-the-fest prize in any given year, without actually counting he may well hold the overall prize, as he’s been so many times, and plays three, four or more sets each time. That’s sure to add up to quite some FRF kudos. So I was excited when I saw in the Don’s piece on the Crystal Palace line-up that the Willie Martinez of Willie Martinez y Mambo Loco is actually Willie McNeil aka Big Willie. Continue Reading…

Human Cannonball and Wheel of Death

Quietly slipping in under the radar the other day (Don Coglione’s Crystal Palace update notwithstanding) have been some minor tweaks to the Fuji Rock 2010 line-up.

The complete Palace of Wonder, Gypsy Avalon, Day Dreaming and Silent Breeze details have been scheduled, as have announcements for the death spectacle that is the Palace Arena, Fischerspooner at All Night Fuji, and DJ Alexis from Hot Chip added to Sunday night’s Red Marquee lineup. Continue Reading…

The Crystal Palace

The schedule for the Palace of Wonder is up, and bend me over and poke a stick up my exit if it isn’t the greatest line-up that they’ve ever assembled there.

First, foremost and bloody hell: Ozomatli are going to play the Palace. It’s becoming a tradition to have a high-energy party band on the Sunday night, and who else but Ozomatli could have done it this year? It’s already right at the top of my to-see list.

Then there’s Beardyman, already punching well above his weight on the Fujirocker to-see lists, and now slated to play with Tucker, the acrobatic electone superstar from Fuji Rock ‘06, which looks even more compelling than Beardyman’s main set.

Willie Martinez Y Mambo Loco is the Willie of the always-on-the-bill Big Willie’s Burlesque, which presumably means he’ll be a bit less saucy and a lot more Cuban this year.
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Kitty, Daisy, and Lewis?

Sometimes it’s easy to guess where an act’s going to appear. If Kitty, Daisy & Lewis aren’t booked for the Palace of Wonder, I’ll buy you all tickets to the festival. Quiffs, double bass, retro fashion, swing and rocking blues… even if they play elsewhere, they’re bound to play the Palace. Continue Reading…

Auditions for Fuji Rock’s Rookie A Go-Go stage are now being accepted.  More after the jump.

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We’re now live from the fest at: http://www.fujirockexpress.net/09e/

follow us on twitter, as well.

Flickr and Vids to come.

jinki

At my first FRF in 2005, I was floored by Watusi Zombie as they opened the Rookie a Go-Go stage.  So impressed was I, that I’ve made a point of catching the lead performance at Rookie a Go-Go each year since.  Continue Reading…

Glastonbury concluded this weekend, and to many, the festival will always be connected with Joe Strummer, the late-great Clash front man and the leader of the Mescaleros. His presence ranges from a memorial stone laid in Glastonbury’s Green Fields to a campfire tended by Strummerville–organization which nurtures young musicians and continues Strummer’s “Yes We Can” attitude to important causes. The same organization makes an annual appearance at the Palace of Wonder bringing many of the same cast and characters. Here is a video from Day 1 of Glastonbury.

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The first time I saw Asakusa Jinta, I knew they were Fujirock material.
Click “continue reading” for more info and vids.

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Any hardcore Fujirock fan knows that the Palace of Wonder is where it’s at during the wee hours, and now that Smash UK is moving forward with a dedicated website, you can count on more coverage.
Many, many links, vids and more info after the jump.

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DJs are known to be tech-savvy and travel-ready, but Diplo is like MacGyver, Indiana Jones and Grand Master Flash rolled into one.

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