:: LIVE

Snuff

Snuff got together in 1986 to "take the piss out of" the kind of radio pop acts who take themselves a bit too seriously. Soon, however, their light-hearted thrash pub-punk version of Jimi Hendix's Purple Haze was, ironically, earning them serious attention, and they have been touring the world, playing to beer-fueled singalong crowds ever since.

1/20 (Mon) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5000 Tel: 06-6281-8181

The Ventures with special guest Nokie Edwards

The Ventures may be one of those bands who have been more or less forgotten in the States, but, being appreciated in Japan to the tune of over 40 million records, why would they care? They hit upon a winning formula early on - covering hit songs (from whatever genre or theme tickled them) in their breezy, laid-back, instrumental surf-guitar style - and still play pretty much the same way today, 40 years on. Their line-up now includes Leon, son of the late Mel Taylor, on drums. "Special guest" Nokie Edwards is actually a long-time (but not current) member.

1/7-9 (Tue-Thu) 19:00 + 21:30 @Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

Hoobastank

Having started out in 1998 with the unlikely sounding self-financed single They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To, it's almost surprising they were ever taken seriously at all. But the college grunge pop-rock kids lapped them up, and a major label deal was signed. If a weird hybrid of Weezer, Incubus and Def Leppard sounds good, then see them.

1/8 (Wed) 19:00 @On Air Osaka \5800 Tel: 06-6341-4506

Haven

Haven are the epitome of the UK's current rock revival - unashamedly rock (in a way that would have led straight to the bargain bin a few years ago) but with melodies that echo the 60s and indie 80s. They may be a bit safe in their songwriting, but singer Gary Briggs' oyster-smooth Jeff Buckley-esque voice makes them worthy.

1/21 (Tue) 19:00 @Club Quattro \6000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

Chicago

A full time horn section was not exactly all the rage amongst rock bands when the Chicago Transit Authority formed in 1967. But with their blend of rock, pop, jazz, easy listening, and unforgettable tunes, they proved themselves right - becoming America's second most successful rock band of all time, second only to the Beach Boys. Chicago are living legends. Go see them.

1/29 (Wed) 19:00 @Festival Hall \8500/7500
Tel: 06-6233-8888

Yes

Many old bands play in Japan because they've been forgotten elsewhere, but Yes, now back to their "classic" lineup of Wakeman, Squire, Anderson, White, and Howe seem as popular as ever and whether you like their brand of anal retentive prog rock or not, you have to marvel at their virtuosity.

2/21 (Fri) 19:00 @Osaka Kouseinenkin Kaikan Dai-Hall \9000/8500 Tel: 06-6341-4506

Quick listings:

THE JEEVAS Ex-Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills in explosive new pop-rock trio. 1/10 (Fri) 19:00 @On Air Osaka \6500 Tel: 06-6361-0313

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

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

JULIA FORDHAM Bittersweet chocolatey-voiced pop-jazz singer. New LP Concrete Love out last year. 1/20-22 (Mon-Wed) 19:00 + 21:30 @ Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

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

MANIC STREET PREACHERS Rock. 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

JOSHUA Cleverly calculated emo-indie rock. 1/28 (Tue) 19:00 @ Club Quattro \4500 Tel: 06-6361-0313

CHRISTOPHER CROSS 1980's biggest star of soft rock. Won 5 Grammy's then disappeared. Back with a new LP Red Room in 2000. 1/28, 29 (Tue, Wed) 19:00 + 21:30 @Blue Note \8400 Tel: 06-6342-7722

　

BRANFORD MARSALIS

BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET Jazz sax statesman who has huffed his horn for Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Herbie Hancock, Sting, and Jay Leno's Tonight Show, amongst others. Pure class. 1/30, 31 (Thu, Fri) 19:00 + 21:30; 2/1 (Sat) 18:00 + 20:30 @ Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

DOVES America-friendly chart-topping UK rockers along the lines of Radiohead, the Verve and Ocean Colour Scene. Bizarrely, all ex-members of the successful dance unit Sub Sub. 2/1 (Sat) 19:00 @Club Quattro \6000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

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

　

THE SEA AND CAKE

THE SEA AND CAKE A project by members of various bands including Stereolab and Tortoise since 1994. Lilting jazzy pop-rock. 2/2 (Sun) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5500 Tel: 06-6281-8181

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

HELEN MERRILL Seventysomething warm-voiced jazz singer who still likes to surprise (she released an LP of mostly Croatian songs in 2000). 2/13, 14 (Thu, Fri) 19:00 + 21:30; 2/15 (Sat) 18:00 + 20:30 @ Blue Note \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

TIME REQUIEM Prog power metal similar to Symphony X and Dream Theatre. 2/15 (Sat) 19:00 @ Minami-America-Mura Big Cat \6000 Tel: 06-6258-5008

PAT MARTINO QUARTET Jazz/bop/world/rock/pop fusion guitarist since the 60s. Had to learn to play again from scratch after a brain aneurysm in the 80s. 2/17-19 (Mon-Wed) 19:00 + 21:30 @ Blue Note \8400 Tel: 06-6342-7722

DIRECTIONS IN MUSIC Improvisational rock guitar/bass/drums trio from the Chicago scene, featuring Tortoise bassist Bundy K. Brown. 2/19 (Wed) 18:30 @Festival Hall \10000/8000 Tel: 06-6762-6130

JOHN SQUIRE The one time Dangermouse animator and former Stone Roses guitarist came back this autumn from 2 years in the wilderness with his best LP in years, Time Changes Everything (on which he sings!). Expect a rip-roaring performance including classic Roses numbers. 2/19 (Wed) 19:00 @Club Quattro \6000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

SONIC YOUTH 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

DANIEL JOHNSTON Manic depressive singer-songwriter from Texas with a huge cult following including the likes of Curt Kobain, who was often photographed wearing a Johnston T-shirt. Sometimes musically primitive to the point of cacophony, sometimes beautifully naive and direct. 2/22 (Sat) 19:00 @Kyoto Taku Taku \3200 Tel: 075-351-1321

THE GET UP KIDS

TOOTS THIELEMANS Virtuoso grandpappy of the chromatic harmonica. 2/24-26 (Mon-Wed) 19:00 + 21:30 @Blue Note Tel:06-6342-7722

GET UP KIDS Former emo/punk rockers who softened up like a comfy sofa on their 2002 LP On A Wire. Corking, complex pop songs that echo the 60s. 3/1 (Sat) 19:00 @On Air Osaka \5500 Tel: 06-6361-0313

　

BREEDERS

PEARL JAM The band with one of the most schoolboyishly smutty names in the business has returned with an album of consummate maturity, Riot Act, which swells with uncheesy rock greatness. 3/4 (Tue) 18:30 @Osaka Kouseinenkin Kaikan Dai Hall \7500/6500 Tel: 06-6341-4506

BREEDERS Indie circuit stars back since about a year ago after a 7 year hiatus with a new low-fi grunge-athon LP, Title TK. 3/6 (Thu) 19:00 @Minami America-Mura Big Cat \5500 Tel: 06-6361-0313