Calexico

Jan 24

Club Quattro, Osaka

A compelling mix of indie rock and traditional country.

Named after a southern Californian border city (though based themselves in Tuscon, Arizona) Calexico's origins go back to the early nineties when members Joey Burns and John Convertino met at the University of California.

The band's style is influenced by traditional Southern US and Mexican music (they have been described by one media source as "alternative country"). Burns and Convertino played together in a number of line-ups before the band took a definite shape in 1996. Their first album was put out through German indie label Hausmusik and by the time they'd reached their third album the band had added a horn section and violin.

Calexico's latest album Garden Ruin is a departure lyrically for the band; more used to tales of mythical Americas this album features tracks about religious fundamentalism and environmental corruption.

The band, with it's full roll of guitar, drums, pedal steel, trumpet, keyboards, upright bass and accordion, also took it's first steps in to the world of movies last year when they played the part of 'bar band' in the Tom cruise movie Collateral.

Tiem: 7pm
06-6281-8181 • Genre: Rock/Trad. US/Mexican

Holly Cole

Jan 24-25

Blue Note, Osaka

Acclaimed Canadian Jazz Vocalist

Canadian Jazz vocalist Holly Cole first set out on her road to a musical career at the age of twenty. Leaving her home of Halifax, Nova Scotia she headed for Toronto and six years later finally landed her first recording deal. Her debut release with The Holly Cole Trio was an EP titled 'Christmas Blues', which was quickly followed by the hugely popular album Girl Talk in 1990.

Not one to pocket herself as a purist jazz diva, Cole released in 1995 an album of Tom Waits songs, an artist that she holds in great admiration. Asked about performing so many songs by another artist Cole replied, "I think Tom Waits is one of the greatest contemporary songwriters. People frequently ask me is it hard to do all those sad songs every night? I don't think Tom Waits songs are generally sad. To me they're hopeful songs that really champion the underdog". Cole has actually covered a number of songs over the years from both other artists and stage and screen including 'Alison' by Elvis Costello, 'Trust In Me' from Disney's The Jungle Book and 'God Only Knows' by The Beach Boys to list but a few.

Holly Cole's subtle but enchanting mix of pop and jazz has earned her seven gold and platinum albums along with numerous awards. Boasting a large following in Japan (in 1993 she won the Japanese Grand Prix Gold Disc award for Best Jazz Album and Best New Artist) this is a gig that should sell out quite quickly so don't hang around if you want to hear the smooth and alluring tones of one of jazz's best contemporary performers.

Time: 6.30pm/9.30pm ¥7,000-¥9,000
06-6342-7722 • Genre: Jazz Vocal

The Scissor Sisters

Jan 29

Namba Hatch, Osaka

Uncompromising and controversial US Glam Rockers

The Scissor Sisters were formed just five years ago and are quite different from any of their contemporaries - it is a mark of their originality that they have achieved so much success in such a short space of time. A mix of glam rock, disco and pop it seems to be their insistence on derogating from the mainstream that has opened numerous doors for them. For all intents and purposes they are a band that haven't gone looking for success but have been unable to avoid it. Their debut album reached number one in the UK charts and was the best selling album of 2004, incidentally, in the US, Wal-Mart refused to stock the album because of it containing "coarse language". In 2005 the band were nominated for three awards at the UK Brits and won all three awards (Best International Group, International Breakthrough and Best International Album) the first band in the history of the awards to accomplish such a feat. Their second album, which was released in September of 2006 (also number one in the UK charts), saw the band colla-borate on a track with Elton John and they also opened on tour to 80s icons Depeche Mode. The music on the new album has been described by the band as a mixture of sixties psychedelic, glam rock and disco.

As to the band's name, if anyone is curious, the band are named after a lesbian sex position and were originally called Dead Lesbian and the Fibrillating Scissor Sisters - you imagine that a record deal wouldn't have been forthcoming had they not decided to change the name to the shorter version.

Time: 7pm • Admission: ¥6,500
06-6535-5569 • Genre: Glam Rock/Pop

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mar 19

March 19th Kyocera Dome, OsakaMarch 19th Kyocera Dome, Osaka

High energy rock funk Californian four piece

Originally named Tony Flow and The Miraculously Majestic Masters of Mayhem the Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in 1983 for what was supposed to be a one off gig. But after playing a string of shows in their local Los Angeles they became the talk of the rock scene and were quickly snapped up by EMI before the end of the same year.

The original line-up consisted of Flea on bass, Anthony Keidis on vocals, Jack Irons on drums (who later went on to drum for Pearl Jam) and guitarist Hillel Slovak (who sadly passed away in 1988 from a heroin overdose). The early Chili Peppers albums were slow starters as far sales went and it wasn't until 1989 with the release of Mother Milk that they received commercial success. As well as a cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Higher Ground' the album also carried a track dedicated to the late Slovak. From there it seemed that there was no stopping the Chili's as their next album Blood Sugar Sex Magik (91) sold over seven million and featured the track 'Under The Bridge'. Problems were never far away though and mid tour in 1992 guitarist John Frisciante unexpectedly quit due to drug related problems. Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro replaced Frusciante but he too was to leave for the same reasons further down the line. A cleaned up Frusciante returned to the fold and the band set their sights forward.

After almost two and a half decades a huge tour in the process, a new double album selling well since the summer and recently nominated for six Grammy awards The Red Hot Chili Peppers seem to have jumped the hurdles in the history of the band without stumbling and just go from strength to strength, successfully fusing rock, funk, pop, rap, alternative, metal and getting better and better. For a live performance there aren't many that can match the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Admission: ¥8,000-¥9,000
06-6535-5569 • Genre: Funk Rock

Live Listings January

The Rifles & Milburn

1/7 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm ¥6,000 06-6535-5569• Rock

Chris Duarte & Bluestone

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

The Ventures

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

Kasabian

1/8 @ Zepp, Osaka
6pm ¥6,500 06-6233-8888• Rock

Rancid

1/9 @ Zepp, Osaka
6pm ¥6,500 06-6233-8888• Punk

Cecil Taylor

1/11 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥5,500–¥7,500
06-6342-7722 • Piano

The Roots

1/12-13 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥7,000–¥9,000
06-6342-7722• Hip-Hop

Naoto

1/13 @ Zepp, Osaka
6pm ¥5,775 06-6357-4400• J-Pop

Gonchichi

1/13 @ NHK Osaka Hall
5pm ¥6,500 06-6233-8888• Acoustic Guitar Duo

Jack's Mannequin

1/15 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm ¥5,500–¥6,500
06-6281-8181 • Rock

Fourplay

1/15–17 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥8,500–¥10,500
06-6342-7722• Jazz Super Unit

GOGO7188

1/16 @ Taku Taku, Kyoto
7pm ¥4,000 075-351-1321• J-Pop

Lily Allen

1/16 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm ¥6,000 06-6535-5569• Female Vocal

Sheena Easton

1/18-19 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥7,500–¥9,500
06-6342-7722 • Female Vocal

Holly Cole

1/24-25 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥7,000–¥9,000
06-6342-7722• Jazz Female Vocal

Calexico

1/24 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm ¥7,500 06-6281-8181• Rock

Paul Gilbert

1/25 @ Namba Hatch, Osaka
7pm ¥7,500 06-6341-4506• Rock Guitarist

Evanscene

1/25 @ Zepp, Osaka
7pm ¥6,500 06-6233-8888• J-Rock

Sugar Cult

1/25 @ club Quattro, Osaka
7pm ¥6,000 06-6281-818• Punk/Power Pop

Wolfmother

1/29 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7.30pm ¥6,000 03-3498-9999• Rock

Scissor Sisters

1/29 @ Namba Hatch, Osaka
7pm ¥6,500 06-6535-5569• Glam Rock/Pop/Disco

Kenny Garrett

2/1 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥5,500–¥7,500
06-6342-7722 • Jazz Sax

Corinne Bailey Rae

2/2 @ Club Quattro, Osaka
7pm ¥6,500 06-6281-8181• Female Vocal

Shigeko Suzuki

2/2-3 @ Blue Note, Osaka
6.30pm/9.30pm ¥6,400–¥8,400
06-6342-7722 • Jazz Female Vocal

Compiled by Phillip Jackson