kikiandlala
Jul 4th, 2008, 09:29 PM
Recently another Free Kitten album came out and one of the members
of that sideproject is Yoshimi P-We from the Boredoms.
That got me wondering, has there been any non-Japanese bands from Asia
that has some status in North/South America and Europe? Or do Japanese
bands hold the monopoly.
Some examples:
- 4 years ago in a Japan Today article, the Electric Eel Bite mention that they're
more popular in the UK than they are in Japan. In a recent Japan Today article,
they mention how they raised $50, 000 from fans around the world through their website.
- read some blogs that talk about Guitar Wolf and their trips to New York playing
the CBGB, the blogs mention that not only does the Wolf play to full house but
they often headline the show
- Cibo Matto and Pizzicato 5 got close to mainstream props, if I remember
right Cibo Matto appeared in an early episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Then there's Puffy Ami Yumi getting their own cartoon on Cartoon Network
- The Misfits and Balzac cut an album together, then the Misfits take Balzac
touring together and props them by making them the opening act and giving
kudos to them. Heard also that Balzac toys and other memorabilia are a
cult item here.
- back in the '90s, a bunch of bands from North America make a tribute
album to Shonen Knife
I haven't heard anything about bands from elsewhere in Asia getting the same
level of exposure or acclaim. Are they frozen out for a reason, or is it just
that Japan is more effective at getting their product out to a foreign audience?
I lived in Japan for half a year and part of that was in Osaka. Holy crap,
going to that JR station bridge area near Umeda Yodobashi Camera was
fantastic!!!! Every night, bands would come out at 5 pm - 8 or so and do
free live shows. They do it to get exposure, pass out flyers for upcoming
club gigs and hawk out cheap pressed EPs for about 400 yen. I still remember
one band in particular called Doorstop Mouse. Those guys moved a bit too
much like they were practicing in front of a mirror, but damn they were tight
musically. And the lead singer had a lot of stage presence, especially with
people about 6 feet away from him. Dunno if they'll ever get big, but they
had a lot of potential. I also remember a real lively ska outfit that did well
enough that they go to play in front of the cameras of a local music show.
of that sideproject is Yoshimi P-We from the Boredoms.
That got me wondering, has there been any non-Japanese bands from Asia
that has some status in North/South America and Europe? Or do Japanese
bands hold the monopoly.
Some examples:
- 4 years ago in a Japan Today article, the Electric Eel Bite mention that they're
more popular in the UK than they are in Japan. In a recent Japan Today article,
they mention how they raised $50, 000 from fans around the world through their website.
- read some blogs that talk about Guitar Wolf and their trips to New York playing
the CBGB, the blogs mention that not only does the Wolf play to full house but
they often headline the show
- Cibo Matto and Pizzicato 5 got close to mainstream props, if I remember
right Cibo Matto appeared in an early episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Then there's Puffy Ami Yumi getting their own cartoon on Cartoon Network
- The Misfits and Balzac cut an album together, then the Misfits take Balzac
touring together and props them by making them the opening act and giving
kudos to them. Heard also that Balzac toys and other memorabilia are a
cult item here.
- back in the '90s, a bunch of bands from North America make a tribute
album to Shonen Knife
I haven't heard anything about bands from elsewhere in Asia getting the same
level of exposure or acclaim. Are they frozen out for a reason, or is it just
that Japan is more effective at getting their product out to a foreign audience?
I lived in Japan for half a year and part of that was in Osaka. Holy crap,
going to that JR station bridge area near Umeda Yodobashi Camera was
fantastic!!!! Every night, bands would come out at 5 pm - 8 or so and do
free live shows. They do it to get exposure, pass out flyers for upcoming
club gigs and hawk out cheap pressed EPs for about 400 yen. I still remember
one band in particular called Doorstop Mouse. Those guys moved a bit too
much like they were practicing in front of a mirror, but damn they were tight
musically. And the lead singer had a lot of stage presence, especially with
people about 6 feet away from him. Dunno if they'll ever get big, but they
had a lot of potential. I also remember a real lively ska outfit that did well
enough that they go to play in front of the cameras of a local music show.