Radiohead

Apr.14 & 15

By now most of you have already bought your tickets to this spring’s Osaka appearance of the overwhelmingly popular anti-rock stars from Oxford, Radiohead. Having cemented their status as one of the most important progressive rock groups of their generation with the critical, and subsequent popular success of such albums as The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A, these purveyors of beautiful dissonance, disturbing eloquence and audacious production choices arrive in Kansai at the peak of their game.

Generally releasing an album every two years or so, the band has hinted that their current Hail To The Thief may represent the final chapter of Radiohead, as fans have come to know them. Alluding to a possible future metamorphosis in identity, lead singer Thom Yorke has predicted that the band may indeed “(disappear and) re-emerge completely unrecognizable in two years time.” As for where and what they are now, their current release, whose title is an undisguised appraisal of the work of U.S. President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair in their war on terrorism, is widely interpreted as a melding of key elements of Kid A and OK Computer, and has, more importantly, been hailed as a success in that regard.

Among other things, Hail primarily represents a thematic and sonic expression of impatience and disgust with the current political environment. As recently as this past November, Yorke has been prominent in anti-Bush protests, saying “… both of these men (Bush and Blair) are liars … we have the right to call them such … they are not controlling the terrorist threat, they are escalating it.” Whether on the strength of successfully tapping into the current momentum of sociopolitical discontent, or on that of the phenomenal success of the 2003 single “There there,” it is clear Radiohead are poised to rock Osaka audiences this month.

As a special treat for their loyal fans in Japan, the band last month released a Japan Tour CD, which includes the song “2+2=5” as well as nine b-sides. It also contains the video of the song “Sit Down Stand Up” and an excerpt from Radiohead.tv. Of course, these are morsels devotees have likely already discovered through fanhood’s diligent research and web crawling. For those who are not yet as deeply committed, we’ll keep it simple: see Radiohead, this month, here in Osaka.

Intex Osaka
19:00 • ¥7500 • Tel: 06-6776-1400

Travis

Apr.27

Part of the recent wave of UK-based acoustic rock bands such as Coldplay and Starsailor, underrated Glasgow quartet Travis plays Osaka late this month. The current tour is in promotion of their latest CD, “12 Memories,” released this past October. Generally known for their charming, simply constructed songs with sophisticated melodies, they address more serious issues on the current outing, such as domestic abuse (“Re-offender”), alcoholism (“Quicksand”) and war (“Beautiful Occupation”).

Travis’ line-up comprises Francis Healy on vocals, Neil Primrose on drums, Andy Dunlop on guitar and Dougie Payne on bass. Praised for their charismatic live show and for Healy’s ‘Lennonesque’ vocals, Travis have grown in stature with each new release. The success of singles “Why Does It Always Rain On Me” and “Sing” (from their previous album, The Invisible Band) easily won them legions of new fans, established them as one of the bands-to-watch, and created anticipation for their 4th and current album.

Slowly shedding their underdog status, the quartet has continued to garner critical and chart success. “12 Memories is Travis at their most powerful, poignant and effecting,” says Epic Online.
Next month they will release a DVD of their sold-out show to a crowd of over 8000, which took place this past December at the UK’s famed Alexandra Palace. They arrive in Osaka on the last of six dates in Japan. Fans of original, inspired Britpop are recommended to catch Travis while they’re in town.

Zepp Osaka
19:00 • ¥6300 • Tel: 0570-02-9999

Kottonmouth Kings

Apr.5

Combining west coast hip hop beats and punk attitude, and celebrating the consumption of massive quantities of illegal smokable substances, Suburban Noize records’ Kottonmouth Kings offer a uniquely entertaining take on getting the party started, and keeping it going. Joined by fellow rap/rockers the Phunk Junkeez and Judge D, the band that describe themselves as “an institution in American subculture, a movement and a lifestyle” bring their notoriously high energy live show to Osaka’s club Quattro on April 5. Having toured relentlessly for the past seven years, and shared the stage with acts as various as Eminem, Moby, Fishbone and Green Day, the Kings have developed a musically airtight funky sound and garnered a dedicated cult following well beyond their southern California base.

The once-underground group was started by former Humble Gods frontman Daddy X in Orange County 1994, but had their profile raised when their track “Suburban Life” appeared on the soundtrack for the movie Scream 2. Since then, they have been featured at the big U.S. festivals such as Smoke Out, and have been named band of the year by High Times magazine. They also have begun their own merchandising company and independently own, record and promote their material. Their Japan visit finds the Kings anticipating the April 20th release of their 6th full length CD, “Fire It Up.”

The current lineup includes not only a DJ, rhythm section and two tag-team rappers, but also the dance artistry of a masked former Hollywood Wax Museum mime (Pakelika), giving their live show a visual dimension to complement their music’s aural assault. Although the lyrics of their most popular songs (“Bump,” “Bring It On”) tend to focus on ‘party hardy’ themes and riffs, others, like “Suburban Life” show their willingness to offer doses of social commentary as well.

“It’s not about just hitting the bong, it's about learning something," says rapper Saint Vicious. Nevertheless, followers of the Kings know that being “down with tha krown” means first and foremost, coming to party.

Club Quattro
19:00 • ¥5500 • Tel: 06-6281-8181

Live Listings April

4/1
Papa Grows Funk. Taku Taku.
New Orleans Funk. 19:00. ¥5000.
Tel: 075-351-1321
4/1
Junior Senior. Club Quattro. Pop. 19:00. ¥5500. Tel: 06-6281-8181
4/1 & 2
Diana King. Osaka Blue Note. Reggae/Pop/Soul. 19:00/21:30. ¥10,500. Tel: 06-6342-7722
4/2
West Road Blues Band.
Taku Taku. Blues. 19:00. ¥4000.
Tel: 075-351-1321
4/3 & 4
Namie Amuro. Festival Hall. Pop/R&B. 18:00 (17:00 4/4). ¥6500. Tel: 0570-02-9500
4/3
The Travellers. Club Quattro.
Pop. 18:30. ¥3500. Tel: 06-6281-8181
4/5
Kottonmouth Kings. Club Quattro. Rock/Alternative. 19:00. ¥5500.
Tel: 06-6281-8181.
4/7
Flogging Molly.Club Quattro. Rock. 19:00. ¥4500. Tel: 06-6281-8181
4/8
Reggae Magic. Club Quattro. Reggae. 19:00. ¥6500.
Tel: 06-6281-8181
4/14
Charlotte de Rothschild. Kobe Bunka Hall. Classical Vocalist. 19:00. ¥4300. Tel: 078-251-7447
4/14 & 15
Radiohead. Intex Osaka. Prog Rock/Alternative. 19:00. ¥7500.
Tel: 06-6776-1400.
4/16
Blue Murder. Namba Hatch. Rock. 19:00. ¥6800. Tel: 0570-02-9999
4/16
Doping Panda. Osaka Muse Hall. Rock. 19:00. ¥2500.
Tel: 06-6535-5569
4/16 17
Shakatak. Osaka Blue Note.
Jazz. 19:00/21:30. ¥8400.
Tel: 06-6342-7722
4/19 & 20
Akiko. Osaka Blue Note. Jazz. 19:00/21:30. ¥6500.
Tel: 06-6342-7722
4/22
Shingo Nakamura. Phoenix Hall. Classical Pianist. 19:00. ¥4000.
Tel: 06-6363-7999
4/23
Alexander Ghindin. Festival Hall. Classical Pianist. 19:00. ¥2000-¥7000. Tel: 06-6227-1061
4/23 & 24
Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubble-field & Fred Wesley. Osaka Blue Note. Jazz/Funk. 19:00/21:30. ¥8400. Tel: 06-6342-7722
4/24
Dream Theater. Imp Hall. Prog Metal. 18:30. ¥7000 Tel: 06-6450-2233
4/24
The Hundreds. Club Quattro. Rock. 19:00. ¥3500. Tel: 06-6281-8181
4/25
Chie Ayado. Kyoto Kaikan Daiichi Hall. Classical. 18:00. ¥6500.
Tel: 075-211-0261
4/27
David Sylvian. Sankei Hall. Rock/Alternative. 18:30. ¥7500. Tel: 06-6362-7301
4/27
Travis. Zepp Osaka. Rock. 19:00. ¥6300. Tel: 0570-02-9999
4/27 & 28
Jackson Browne. Osaka Kosei Nenkin Kaikan Dai Hall. Rock. Call for details.
5/2
Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette. Festival Hall. Jazz. 19:00. ¥8500/¥9800. (All rsvd seating) Tel: 06-6450-2277
5/2
Soilwork. Big Cat. Rock. 18:00. ¥6000. Tel: 0570-02-9999
5/7
Supercar. Namba Hatch. Rock. 19:30. ¥4800. Tel: 0570-02-9999
5/9
The Living End. Imp Hall. Rock. 18:00. ¥5800. Tel: 0570-02-9999
5/10
Stereolab. Club Quattro. Prog Rock/Ambient. 19:00. ¥6000.
Tel: 06-6535-5569
5/17
Japan Blues Carnival. Namba Hatch. Blues/Soul. 19:00. ¥7000. Tel: 06-6362-7301