Kasabian

British indie rock quartet

Formed in Leicestershire, UK, in 1999, the “Madchester” scene left an impression on Kasabian, with their early demos reflecting a heavy Stone Roses influence. In the past five years, the band has released three studio albums: 2004’s self-titled debut album; Empire in 2006; and West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum last year, which reached top spot in the UK album charts. Their debut was also received extremely well by critics and the public and, like seemingly all UK bands destined for big things, they shut themselves up in a country farmhouse to avoid being disturbed while recording it. Just a year on, they were gracing the stage of UK mega festival Glastonbury.

Since then, no less than six computer games and two movies have used the band’s attitude-heavy rock. All seemed rosy until, due to “creative and artistic differences,” keyboardist Christopher Karloff was asked to leave the band. As a real creative force, people saw this as a major event in the timeline of the quartet, however they have continued with hardly a break in stride. 2006 and 2007 were busy times for Kasabian on the live circuit, which concluded with a New Years Eve gig in Scotland featuring Noel Gallagher on three songs.

Jan 11, 6pm; Jan 12, 7pm, ¥7,000. Zepp, Osaka. Tel: 06-7732-8888

Roddy Frame

Ex-Aztec Camera singer-songwriter

Anyone remember ’80s band Aztec Camera? Well, Scotsman Roddy Frame was the founding member of the group. The band released their debut alum, High Land, Hard Rain, in 1983 through UK cult label Rough Trade, while their sophomore, Knife, was produced by Dire Straits’ Mark Knopfler. The band released their final album Frestonia in 1996 and, from there on in, Frame became a solo artist.

With a musical and vocal style that retains `80s vibes (I don’t know if he’d agree), Frame has never been afraid to buck the fashionable music trend. Testament to this would be his solo repertoire that has included a folk version of Van Halen’s “Jump,” as well as a take on Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.” This could be a gig for the nostalgic, but for new audiences, Frame’s style of music should be suitably impressive.

Jan 22, 6:30pm/9:30pm, ¥6,900/¥8,400. Billboard Live, Osaka. Tel: 06-6342-7722

Cat Power & The Dirty Delta Blues Band

US singer-songwriter and band

Cat Power is the stage name of American singer-songwriter Charlyn Marie Marshall, who in the ’80s, was a high school dropout. Her minimalist musical style has hints of The Velvet Underground, but it’s very difficult to pigeonhole her into a specific musical genre.

In 1992, Marshall moved to New York where she was introduced to free-jazz and experimental music. (She claims, at one early gig in New York, that she strummed a two-string guitar whilst reciting the word “no” for no less than fifteen minutes…)

Personal problems in 2006 saw Cat Power step out of performing, before returning with The Dirty Delta Blues Band. The lineup includes Judah Bauer of Blues Explosion, Gregg Foreman of The Delta 72, Erik Paparazzi of Lizard Music, and Jim White of Dirty Three.

Jan 16, 6pm, ¥6,300. Big Cat, Osaka.
Tel: 06-6535-5569.

Michael Schenker Group

Legendary heavy rock guitarist

“A new Michael Schenker era has started,” according to the German legendary heavy rock guitarist’s website.

Schenker, the quintessential rock god–complete with industry-standard battles with alcoholism and personal problems–has been a professional musician for nearly four decades. Starting out with older brother Rudolf in 1969, they put together the first Scorpions line-up. Supporting UFO in Germany not too long after, Schenker was asked to fill the vacant guitarist slot for them after original guitarist Bernie Marsden turned up at the airport without a passport and was unable to leave the country.

Schenker’s on-off affair with UFO has not gone undocumented, with an incident-filled history including fights with vocalist Phil Mogg, and walking off stage mid-song. Leaving the band in 1978, he returned to the Scorpions for a brief stint and then, after turning down jobs with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Aerosmith, put together The Michael Schenker Group.

Disaster struck Schenker just a few years ago when he lost the rights to his own music and collection of trademark Gibson Flying Vs in a divorce settlement. Michael is back on the road now and, judging from the rave reviews recently, should be as phenomenal as ever.

Jan 15, 7pm, ¥8,000/¥9,000. Namba Hatch, Osaka. Tel: 06-7732-8888

Live Listings

Rafven.
World/Folk. Club Quattro, Osaka. 1/7. 7pm. ¥5,800. Tel:06-6535-5569

The Ventures.
Nostalgia Super Group. Billboard Live, Osaka. 1/7-9. 6.30pm/9.30pm. ¥7,400/¥8,900. Tel:06-6342-7722

Jet.
Rock. Namba Hatch, Osaka. 1/8. 7pm. ¥6,500. Tel:06-6535-5569

Kinki Kids.
J-Pop. Kyocera Dome, Osaka. 1/9-11. 6pm(9th-10th)/4pm(11th). Tel:0180-993-700

Tim Kinsella.
Indie/Experimental. Sunsui, Osaka. 1/11. 7pm. ¥3,200/¥3,700. Tel:06-6243-3641

Kasabian.
Indie Rock. Zepp, Osaka. 1/11-12. 6pm(11th)/7pm(12th). ¥7,000. Tel:06-7732-8888

Tinted Window.
Rock. Big Cat, Osaka. 1/13. 7pm. ¥6,500. Tel:06-6535-5569

The Used.
Rock. Big Cat, Osaka. 1/14. 7pm. ¥6,200. Tel:06-6535-5569

Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Indie Rock. Club Quattro, Osaka. 1/15. 7pm. ¥6,500. Tel:06-6535-5569

Michael Schenker Group.
Rock. Namba Hatch, Osaka. 1/15. 7pm. ¥8,000/¥9,000. Tel:06-7732-8888

Saosin.
Rock. Club Quattro, Osaka. 1/16. 7pm. ¥6,000. Tel:06-6535-5569

Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues.
Blues/Female Osaka. Big Cat, Osaka. 1/16. 6pm. ¥6,300. Tel:06-6535-5569

Fountains of Wayne.
Rock. Club Quattro, Osaka. 1/18. 7pm. ¥6,800. Tel:06-6535-5569

Fair Warning.
Rock. Big Cat, Osaka. 1/19. 7pm. ¥7,500/¥8,000. Tel:06-7732-8888

Green Day.
Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka. Rock. 1/21. 6.30pm. ¥8,000. Tel:06-7732-8888

The New Mastersounds.
Rock/Funk/Blues. Club Quattro, Osaka. 1/21. 7pm. ¥6,000. Tel:06-6535-5569

Roddy Frame.
Singer Songwriter. Billboard Live, Osaka. 1/22. 6.30pm/9.30pm. ¥6,900/¥8,400. Tel:06-6342-7722

Taste of Chaos ft. In Flames/Atreyu/Oky/Endless Hallway.
Rock. Namba Hatch, Osaka. 1/24. 5pm. ¥8,000. Tel:06-6535-5569

Das Pop.
Indie. Club Quattro, Osaka. 1/25. 7pm. ¥8,000. Tel:06-6535-5569

De La Soul.
Rnb. Billboard Live, Osaka. 1/25. 6.30pm/9.30pm. ¥7,500/¥9,000. Tel:06-6342-7722

Aiko.
J-Pop. Grand Cube, Osaka. 1/27-28. 7pm. ¥5,250. Tel:06-6344-3326

Christopher Cross.
AOR. Billboard Live, Osaka.1/29-30. 6.30pm/9.30pm. ¥7,400/¥8,900. Tel:06-6342-7722

Ken Yokoyama.
Rock. Mother Popcorn, Osaka. 1/30. 7pm. ¥3,000. 06-6535-5569

Whitney Houston.
Female Vocal. Osaka Jo Hall, Osaka. 2/17-18. 7pm. ¥14,000/¥24,000

Compiled by Phillip Jackson