The Pillows

Dec 9

Scottish post-rock pioneers.
Namba Hatch, Osaka

Internationally acclaimed Japanese Rock Trio

Originally formed seventeen years ago in 1989 as The Coinlocker Babies the band has gone through diverse musical directions as well as a few line-up changes. Roots in Indie music, the band drifted in to an unexpected jazz direction in the early nineties. However, this wasn't to last and the band eventually found much deserved commercial success with their 1997 release Please Mr. Lostman (a play on words of the Beatles track 'Please, Mr. Postman').

The band now rarely plays any pre-'Lostman' tracks and seems to have left their early musical experiments well and truly in the past. Their latest album My Foot was released in January of this year and was well received not only in Japan but right across the globe.

Much of their international success has been due to the fact that their music has been used for the manga animation series Furi Kuri (sometimes romanised as Fooly Cooly). With a growing fan-base outside Japan the Pillows toured Mexico and the US this year and also have a US website for English fans (plus another site in Portuguese).

Whilst on their travels the band managed to pick up their mascot in England. Buster-kun, a small toy they found in a London shop frequently appears in videos and on t-shirts and the bands fans also are affectionately known as Little Busters.

Whether new to The Pillows or a diehard since 1989, this energetic rocking three piece will never fail to disappoint their audience live.

Time: 7pm • Admission: ¥3,675–¥4,200
06-6341-3525 • Genre: J-Rock

Little Barrie

Dec 14

Club Quattro, Osaka

British three-piece rock combo newcomers

This three-piece, originally from Nottingham, England, have such a range of styles mixed up in their music that it really is impossible to label them with one particular genre. Many of the tracks on their two albums are as diverse as the next and the only thing that one could pinpoint is the fact that guitarist Barrie Cadogan uses no effects, as he stated in an interview for Guitar Magazine last year 'I find that a guitar plugged straight in to an amp is a really exciting sound'. Can't argue with that. But, if you must try to explain what the band's musical sound is then it's a delightful mix of funk, rock, blues, rock-a-billy, soul and more.

Raised on Cream, Bowie and the likes, guitarist/vocalist Cadogan has also appeared as guest guitarist for Morrissey and Primal Scream; add these gigs to the bands own, and it would seem that Little Barrie never pause for breath. The band easily explain their addiction to touring: 'We realized that our heroes became so good because they played so many shows, there is no substitute for the experience you get playing live'.

Little Barrie released their debut album We Are Little Barrie in February of last year. The album was produced by Edwyn Collins who himself was so impressed by the band that he decided to start playing again after hanging up his strings. The new album Stand Your Ground was released in Japan in October and will be out in the UK in January of next year. These release dates would suggest that they have a large following already in Japan and indeed there is an independent website on the net for fans in Japanese.

Little Barrie will be playing four shows in Japan includ- ing Club Quattro, Osaka on the 14th.

Time: 7pm • Admission: ¥5,500–¥6,000
06-6281-8181 • Genre: Rock

Sophie Milman

Dec 18

Blue Note, Osaka

Creamy smooth voiced Russian born jazz starlet

A new face on the world jazz scene, twenty-three year of Russian-born Canadian resident Sophie Milman, who is making quite an impression. Her self-titled debut album has been the number one iTune download in France and top five in Canada where she is a household name. The tracks are a collection of traditional jazz standards and contemporary new compositions.

The Milman family left Russia for Israel at the fall of Communism and eventually, when Sophie was fifteen, they relocated to Canada. Fortunately the family managed to take their collection of vinyl along on their journeys and it was this that formed Sophie's induction to jazz greats such as Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson and Miles Davis. Her list of influences stretches further than that, though, and the funkiness in some of her tracks clearly points to more contemporary artists.

Sophie's looks haven't hindered her rise to stardom either as her face has graced the cover of a number of glossy magazines. And if the voice and looks aren't enough she's also got the brains, fluent in four languages and currently juggling her musical career with studies in Commerce at the University of Toronto. Is there anything that this woman can't do?

Kicking off at Osaka Blue Note on December 18th, Sophie Milman will be playing five dates in Japan before heading back across the Pacific for dates in the US and Canada.

Time: 6:30pm/9:30pm • Admission: ¥5,000–¥7,000
06-6342-7722 • Genre: Jazz/Female Vocal

The Verbs - Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino & Danny Kortchmar

Dec 18, 25, 26

Namba Hatch, Club Quattro, Osaka • Taku Taku, Kyoto

Super-group trio of renowned session masters

This super-group trio of renowned session masters plays three gigs in Kansai during December. Firstly at Namba Hatch, Osaka on the 18th, next up is Taku Taku, Kyoto on the 25th and finally Club Quattro, Osaka on the 26th.

New York Producer, songwriter, Grammy award winner and multi-instrumentalist Steve Jordan has pounded the skins for such artists as Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, David Sanborn and Neil Young just to name a few. Jordan also played drums for comedians Belushi and Akroyd when they toured the Blues Brothers act.

Welshman Pino Palladino (who has Italian ancestry, hence the un-Welsh name) also has a distinguished background, playing bass for Dave Gilmour, The Jools Holland Band and Eric Clapton as well as forming the band The Law in 1991 with Paul Rodgers. To add to these gigs, Palladino has also been playing with The Who since the death of John Entwhistle.

Danny Kortchmar came to fame in the seventies playing guitar for such singer songwriters as Carole King, Graham Nash, Carly Simon and James Taylor. It has been said that his playing defined the sound of that genre. On top of his playing Kortchmar is also a producer and has produced for the likes of Don Henley, Jon Bon Jovi and Billy Joel.

Dec 18th: Namba Hatch, Osaka • Time: 7pm
Admission: ¥8,000–¥8,500 06-6357-3666 • Jazz
Dec 25th: Taku Taku, Kyoto • 7pm
Admission: ¥8,000 075-351-1321 • Jazz
Dec 26th: Club Quattro, Osaka • 7pm
Admission: ¥8,000–¥8,500 06-6357-5666 • Jazz

Live Listings December

Hitomi

12/2 @ Namba Hatch, Osaka
6pm • ¥5,800 06-6233-8888• J-Pop

David Sanborn

12/5 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥10,000–¥12,000
06-6342-7722 • Jazz Sax

Jamie Cullum

12/5 @ Geijyutsu Hall, Osaka
7pm • ¥6,000 06-6535-5569• Jazz Piano, Vocal

The Brand New Heavies

12/7-8 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥9,000–¥11,000
06-6342-7722 • UK Soul, Funk

The Pillows

12/9 @ Namba Hatch, Osaka
7pm • ¥3,675-¥4,200
06-6341-3525 • J-Rock

Monday Michiru

12/11 @ Blue Note,Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥5,000-¥7,000
06-6342-7722 • Acid Jazz

Nona Reeves

12/13 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm • ¥4,500-¥5,000
06-6882-1224 • J-Pop

Ah Wootrap

12/13 @ Fandango, Osaka
7pm • ¥2,500 06-6535-5569 • Punk

Little Barrie

12/14 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm • ¥5,500-¥6,000
06-6281-8181 • Rock

Celtic Xmas

12/14 @ Taku Taku, Kyoto
7pm • ¥5,000 075-351-1321
• Traditonal Irish

Hige

12/15 @ Taku Taku, Kyoto
7pm • ¥3,000 075-351-1321• Rock

Ayano Tsuji

12/17 @ Taku Taku, Kyoto
5.30pm • ¥4,000 075-351-1321• Vocal, Ukulele

The Verbs

12/18 @ Namba Hatch, Osaka
7pm • ¥8,000–¥8,500
06-6357-3666• Jazz

Sophie Milman

12/18 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥5,000–¥7,000
06-6342-7722 • Jazz Vocal

The Stylistics

12/19-21 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥7,500–¥12,500
06-6342-7722 • Soul

Mongol800

12/20 @ Zepp, Osaka
7pm • ¥3,300 06-6357-3666
• Okinawan Ska/Punk

Char

12/20 @ Namba Hatch, Osaka
7pm ¥6,000 06-6882-1224
• Rock, Blues

Air

12/22 @ Taku Taku, Kyoto
7pm • ¥4,725 075-351-1321 • Rock

The Count Basie Orchestra

12/22-24 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥7,500–¥12,500
06-6342-7722 • Big Band Jazz

T M Revolution

12/23 @ Zepp,Osaka
6pm • ¥5,800 06-6233-8888 • J-pop

The Verbs

12/25 @ Taku Taku, Kyoto
7pm • ¥8,000 075-351-1321 • Jazz

The Verbs

12/26 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm • ¥8,000–¥8,500
06-6357-5666 • Jazz

Arrested Development

12/30-31 @ Blue Note, Osaka
30th 6pm/9pm, and 31st 7.30pm/
10.30pm Countdown Party • ¥6,400-
¥8,400 06-6342-7722 • R&B,
Hip hop

Chris Duarte & Bluestone

1/7 @ Big Cat, Osaka
6.30pm • ¥4,200-¥4,700
06-6882-1224 • Blues, Rock

The Rifles & Milburn

1/7 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm • ¥6,000 06-6535-3569 • Rock

The Ventures

1/8-10 @ Blue Note Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥6,900-¥8,900
06-6342-7722 • Super Group

Rancid

Jan 9 @ Zepp, Osaka
7pm • ¥6,500 06-6233-8888 • Rock

Holly Cole

Jan 24-25 Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm • ¥7,000-¥9,000
06-6342-7722 • Jazz Vocal

Compiled by Phillip Jackson