:: LIVE

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant

Thee Michelle Gun Elephant - Japanese garage rock giants.

They call their sound 'Japanese Monster R&B,' but this band is true, blue, driving rock and roll, inspired by bands like MC5 and the Stooges. After charting in the mid '90s, they have become absolutely huge here in Japan, and are one of the few Japanese rock outfits to be released in the States. They're pushing their new record, Wild Wild Sabrina Heaven, and this show will be wild indeed.

5/10-11 (Sat, Sun) 19:00 @Zepp Osaka \3800
Tel: 06-6341-3525

Datsuns

Datsuns - kiwi rock.

After six years, a string of releases on their own label, and winning a local radio station's Battle of the Bands two years in a row, these New Zealand boys finally got signed to a deal that didn't have them paying for hotels out of their own pockets. It may be hard to keep up with the Hives/Strokes-esque rooster-tails racing though the mainstream these days, but expect something a little heavier and darker from the Datsuns. It'll be interesting to see which of these bands decide to change with the music scene, and which change the scene itself.

4/19 (Sun) 18:00 @On Air Osaka \5000
Tel: 06-6233-8888

Murphy's Law

Murphy's Law - Jimmy Gestapo and his latest pals.

Born in the mid '80s in NY, and (im)matured in the hardcore scene with Sick of it All and The Beastie Boys. Among the ever changing line-up, the only fixture seems to be frontman Jimmy Gestapo, who's seen four different labels over five albums (one out every five years or so). 2001's The Party's Over could be a message that they're finally coming of age, but then again with tracks like Skinhead Girl and Woke up Tied up, maybe they're still young at heart. This is their second trip to Japan this year, so it should be quite a party and full of some serious 'pretend it wasn't you who elbowed the skinhead' fun!

4/16 (Wed) Shinsaibashi Club Quattro \4500
Tel: 06-6361-0313

Hall & Oates

Although mostly remembered as an '80s act, Temple University mates Daryl Hall and John Oates were making music together since 1967. Their modern take on Philly Soul eventually topped the pop charts, and briefly the R&B charts in the US, which was almost unheard of for white singers. This could be your last chance to see the blue-eyed kings of the doo-wop.

6/1-2 (Sun, Mon) 17:00 +19:00 @Festival Hall \8000/7000 Tel: 06-6341-4506

The Coral

The Coral - 'best new band in Britain' in 2001, according to NME.

The best new band in England' according to New Musical Express a few years ago. Six lads from the same neighbourhood in Liverpool bring their neo-psychedelic indie rock to Japan for the first time. Should be trippy and fun.

4/17 (Thu) 19:00 @Minami America Mura Big Cat \5500 Tel: 06-6361-0313

Nile Rodgers & Chic

Chic - serious disco..

Bands like Chic proved that disco wasn't simply a joke. Led by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards, both jazz trained, Chic smoked on stage and in the studio. Their sound would later influence urban funk and hip-hop, and Rodgers and Edwards wound up producing everyone from David Bowie to Mick Jagger, and Rod Stewart to Duran Duran. Rodgers has regrouped a funky unit, so put on your dancing shoes and freak out.

4/3-5 (Thu-Sat) 19:00 +21:30 (18:00 +20:30 Sat) @Osaka Bluenote \9450 Tel: 06-6342-7722

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Quick listings:

SONATA ARCTICA Experimental heavy metal from Finland, so popular here that they released a 'live in Japan' CD last year. 4/6 (Sun) 18:00 @On Air Osaka \6000 Tel: 06-6233-8888

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN She began her journey to superstardom at twelve years old, by winning a Haley Mills-lookalike contest. The multi talented Olivia Newton-John would hit it big as a country singer, much to the dismay of a few purists who quit the Country Music Association in the U.S.A. to protest her Female Vocalist of the Year award. But when she turned to pop, the hits were unstoppable - 15 top ten pop singles. It's time to get out your roller skates. 4/7 (Mon) 19:00 @Festival Hall \9500 Tel: 06-6367-6000

　

The Libertines.

THE LIBERTINES If The Strokes saved rock and roll then The Libertines have got it laid. Rock and roll like mom and dad used to make-out to. 4/9 (Wed) 19:00 @Club Quattro \5500 Tel: 06-6281-8181

THE ROOTS One of the few hip-hop bands around, The Roots have impressed audiences from Lollapalooza to the Montreux Jazz Festival with their live shows. They're back in Japan promoting last year's album, Phrenology. 4/10-12 (Thu-Sat) 19:00 +21:30 (18:00 +20:30 Sat) @Osaka Bluenote \8925 Tel: 06-6342-7722

LUNASA Irish prog-folk instrumentals played by masterful musicians on fiddle, flute, and uilleann pipes, along with guitar and bass, and even the occasional lap steel, clarinet, harmonium, etc. 4/13 (Sun) 18:00 @Club Quattro \6000 Tel: 06-6281-8181

SANTANA Vintage latin rock fusionist who followed up his Grammy Award winning Supernatural LP in October with its equally popstar studded sequel Shaman. Expect a bit less of the pallid pop, and a bit more of the meaty Mexican funk at the live show, though. 4/14 (Mon) 19:00 @Festival Hall \8500/8000 Tel: 06-6341-4506

SIGUR ROS This Iceland band blew away packed venues in Japan last year with their mesmerizing space rock sound. At the core of it is the unique, often angelic voice of singer Jon Thor Birgisson, who also plays guitar with a violin bow. A big hit in England, and one of Radiohead's favourite bands. 4/16 (Wed) 19:00 @Melpark Hall \6500
Tel: 06-6363-9977

JACKSON BROWNE The California sun keeps him looking young, but Jackson Browne has seen a lot in his 35 year career. A highly respected songwriter from the late '60s, he divided his time between Greenwich Village, where he worked with the likes of Tim Buckley and Nico, and the Los Angeles folk circuit, where he hung out with the Byrds. A young David Geffen signed him and his solo career took off with a long string of gold records and hit songs. 4/28 (Mon) 19:00 @Festival Hall \7000 Tel: 06-6361-0313

ELVIS STORY So realistic that audience members have been brought to tears. Your chance to live it all over again. 5/14,15 (Wed, Thu) 14:00 +19:00 @Osaka Kosenenkinkaikan \9000/8000
Tel: 06-6233-8888 www.fujitv.co.jp/jp/events/elvisstory/program.html

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS A wolf in sheep's clothing if ever there was one. Fluffy stoner rock on the outside, but guitarist Michael Arnott's (Carcass, Carnage) bloodthirsty death metal underneath. 4/20 (Sun) 18:00 @Minami America Mura Big Cat \6000
Tel: 06-6233-8888

KING CRIMSON Heroes of prog-rock still sounding like twentysomething avant-gardists. 4/21 (Mon) 19:00 @Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan \8000/7000 Tel: 06-6367-6000

AVRIL LAVIGNE At the not-so-tender age of 17, this girl from Ontario gave us the 2002 release, Complicated, which cursed us by running through our heads all summer long. The worst part is that she's kept churning them out ever since then. This Canadian pop protege comes to town with all the power and persuasion that money and the business can buy. 5/27 (Tues) 19:00 @Zepp Osaka \7000
Tel: 06-6362-7301

　

Murderdolls.

MURDERDOLLS After touring together at Ozzfest, guitarists Joey Jordison of Slipknot and Tripp Eisen of Static-X spawned the Murderdolls. Their debut album featuring singer Wednesday 13, Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls, crosses rap metal and hardcore punk. 5/27 (Tue) 19:00 @Minami America Mura Big Cat \5800 Tel: 06-6361-0313

EASTERN YOUTH Formed in '89, they managed to survive the band boom and bust of the early to late '90s, and toured most recently in the States with At the Drive In. These Japanese indie-rockers are doing a couple of shows at home. It is definitely gonna be loud but there's nothing wrong with that, is there? 5/28 (Wed) 19:00 @Namba Hatch \2500 Tel: 06-6361-0313 www.toysfactory.co.jp/artist/artist_top.cfm?artistcode=1037

LOVE PSYCHEDELICO Excellent songs and a hip, retro feel are the ingredients of one of Japan's best rock units. Kumi can sing and sneer in flawless English, and partner Naoki Sato plays some decent guitar. 5/31 (Sat) 18:00 @Osaka Jyou Yagai Ongakudo \4200
Tel: 06-6344-3326

Live section compiled by Dan Jury and Scott Mintz .
Japanese by Terumi Tsuji.