:: LIVE

Beast Feast (in Tokyo)

From all over the world, iron-hearted soldiers of metal will gather in Makuhari for this two day ritual of carnage that will culminate in the appearance of Slayer, emperors of thrash metal for the last ten years. Good old comrades like Metallica have changed their style, but Slayer remains Slayer. Also summoned up, amongst others, will be the supergroup Down, Max Cavalera's (ex-Sepultura) Soulfly, and living legends Motorhead. Your blood will flow backwards and evaporate.

12/14, 15 (Sat, Sun) 10:30-24:00 @Makuhari Messe, Chiba., near Tokyo.
2 days reserved (2F): \10000, 2 days unreserved \18000, 1 day unreserved \10,000.
Tickets from Pia 03-5237-9999, Lawson 0570-00-0903 (L-code 39041), E-Plus http://eee.eplus.co.jp,
CN Ticket Agency 03-5802-9900. http://www.beastfeast.net/index.html

Kraftwerk + Squarepusher, Andy Weatherall, Tim Deluxe

Kraftwerk have released just one real single, Expo 2000, since 1986, but their status as visionary inventors of modern electronic pop music ensures that their popularity doesn't dwindle. Don't expect much action on stage, probably just blokes tapping notebook computer keys, but you might hear a new tune or two.

12/15 (Sun) 16:00 @Zepp Osaka \6500 (adv.) Tel: 06-6361-0313

Manic Street Preachers

Wales' most mispronounced (well, mis-stressed) pop-rock trio has just released a greatest hits LP, Forever Delayed, which means fans should enjoy a set packed with their powerful hits, including those written or co-written with missing-presumed dead guitarist Richey James. Expect a mature but visceral performance from the once gender-bending, leftist, self-proclaimed "best band in the world."

1/24 (Fri) 19:00 @Zepp Osaka \6500 Tel: 06-6362-7301

Sleater Kinney (+ Shonen Knife)

This guitar-guitar-drums trio took their name from a highway juction, which appropriately conjures up the sound of throbbing engines and an image of fuming exhausts. But since their days of raw aggression and opinionated rants they have progressed to a cleverer form of punk-pop and an a happier vibe, especially on their new LP, One Beat.

12/17 (Tue) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5500 Tel: 06-6361-0313

Sonic Youth

Their new LP, Murray Street, is one of the more accessible in their collection - basically pop songs, sometimes beautiful but still unconventional. But on stage, who knows what will happen - grunge hits or half-hour crescendos of triple guitar-powered noise? Probably a bit of both.

2/21 (Fri) 19:00 @Nanba Hatch \6000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

Quick listings:

STEVE KIMOCK BAND Jerry Garcia's "favourite unknown guitarist," and co. 12/5 (Thu) 19:00 @Minami America Mura Big Cat \6000 Tel: 06-6362-7301

EILEEN IVERS BAND Fiery celtic fiddle champion and her band. 12/7 (Sat) 17:00 @Club Quattro \5500 Tel: 06-6281-8181

INCOGNITO Long-time purveryors of funky acid jazz.12/5,6,9-11 (Thu, Fri, Mon-Wed) 19:00 + 21:30, 12/7 (Sat) 18:00 + 20:30 @Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

CLEMENTINE Tres cool cafe-bossa-jazz moderne. 12/6 (Fri) 19:00 @IMP Hall \7000 Tel: 06-6233-8888

WILDHEARTS Modern glam rock. 12/8 (sun) 18:00 @Club Quattro \6300 Tel: 06-6281-8181

THE FOUR FRESHMEN U.S. barbershop quartet who influenced bands such as The Beach Boys, now with an all new lineup. 12/8 (Sun) 19:00 @Shin Kobe Oriental Gekijo, 12/9 (Mon) 19:00 @Kintetsu Sho-Gekijo \5000 Tel: 0120-540-254

DERVISH Traditional Irish sextet. 12/10 (Tue) 19:00 @Kyoto Taku Taku \500 Tel: 075-351-1321

DOWN Hard rock side project for members of Pantera, Corrosion Of Conformity, and Crowbar. Also headlining at Beast Feast in Tokyo. 12/12 (Thu9 19:00 @On Air Osaka \5500 Tel: 06-6361-0313

14 KARAT SOUL Soul classics. 12/13 (Fri) 19:00 @Club Quattro \7000 Tel: 06-6341-3525

YNGWIE MALMSTEIN Ridiculously fast guitar rock. 12/13 (Fri) 19:00 @IMP Hall \7000 Tel: 06-6341-4506

TOTO "Hold the line, love isn't always on time, whoa whoa whoa..." 80's rockstars. New LP Through the Looking Glass just released. 12/14 (Sat) 18:30 @Osaka Koseinenkin Kaikan Dai-Hall \8000/7000 Tel: 06-6341-4506

MIDTOWN Emo punk. 12/16 (Mon) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5250 Tel: 06-6281-8181

CANDY & HANS DULFER Father/daughter sax team. Candy has played with the likes of Prince, Dave Stewart, Pink Floyd, and Van Morrison. 12/16, 17 (Mon, Tue) 19:00 + 21:30 @Blue Note \8400 Tel: 06-6342-7722

IN FLAMES Swedish heavy/death/prog metal. 12/17 (Tue) 19:00 @On Air Osaka Tel: 06-6374-6355

HATEBREED Back to basics 30 second thrash metal. Also appearing at Beast Feast in Tokyo. 12/19 (Thu) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

JULIA FORDAM R&B/Brit-hop/pop flavoured jazz croons. 1/20-22 (Mon-Wed) 19:00 + 21:30 @Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

THE STYLISTICS Smooth and sweet soul oldies. 12/27 (Fri) 19:00 + 21:30, 12/28 (Sat) 18:00 + 20:30 @Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

ZAPP + SHIRLEY MURDOCK Innovative funk/electro-pop legends from the 80s, with hits including "More Bounce To The Ounce," and soulful singer whose hits include "As We Lay." 12/30 (Mon) 18:00 + 20:30 @Blue Note \8400, 12/31 (Tue) 20:00 + 22:30 @Blue Note \9450 Tel: 06-6342-7722

HOOBASTANK Faith No More meets Weezer meets Def Leppard, with a whole lot of Incubus. 1/8 (Wed) 19:00 @On Air Osaka \5800 Tel: 06-6341-4506

JOSHUA REDMAN Earthly, unhurried, smooth sax dude. 1/10 (Fri) 19:00 + 21:30, 1/11 (Sat) 18:00 + 22:30 @Blue Note \8400 Tel: 06-6342-7722

BON JOVI Rock supremos. 1/11 (Sat) 18:30, 1/12 (Sun) 17:00 @Osaka Dome Tel: 06-6341-4506

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Stoner metal band known for their guitarist's naked performance and arrest at Rock in Rio, and for having adopted ex-Nirvana Dave Grohl on drums. 1/11 (Sat) 18:30 @On Air Osaka \6800 Tel: 06-6341-4506

SNUFF Purportedly totally unserious UK pub-punk band - certainly silly, but have been playing around the world for about fifteen years and have released several decent albums. 1/20 (Mon) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5000 Tel: 06-6281-8181

HAVEN Brit indie appretices of Smiths' Johnny Marr, about to try to break big in the US. 1/21 (Tue) 19:00 @Club Quattro \6000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

ERIC MARTIN Former Mr. Big frontman, still making tepid, inoffensive pop-rock, but now with short hair. 1/22 (Wed) 19:00 @On Air Osaka Tel: 06-6341-3525

BOYS II MEN Early adopters of the R&B warbling vocals phenomenon who have become America's biggest-selling R&B group. 2/2 (Sun) 17:00 @ Osaka-Jo Hall \7800/6800 Tel: 06-6363-9922/06-6341-4506

BEN FOLDS Pop's favourite pianist. 2/11 (Tue) 17:00 @Minami America Mura Big Cat \7000 Tel: 06-6341-4506