Recent Entries

• THE ROCKTIGERS: Dishin' out some hot Kimchibilly!

  by Marty Shane June 12, 2010
  Riding the psychobilly bandwagon jump-started by the likes of Tiger Army and taking influence from the leather jacket Jet Rock 'n' Roll of Guitar Wolf, Korea's Rocktigers have gained a cult following at home while raising eyebrows across Asia. With pinup knockout Velvet Geena as the group's spellbin...
  comments

• Nikki Corvette & Gorevette Sideswipe Japan

  by Marty Shane May 27, 2010
  Every year, the week between April and May is a big vacation holiday in Japan called Golden Week and this year Detroit punk legend and girl group enchantress Nikki Corvette came with her latest backing band Gorvette, consisting of members of the Gore Gore Girls. They made a four show tour organized ...

• ATOMIC SUPLEX-ed in Japan

  by Marty Shane April 13, 2010
  ATOMIC SUPLEX, the high-power UK rock 'n' Roll band, came to Japan at the end of March to celebrate the release of their split 7" EP alongside Tokyo's most frantic garage punk trio THEEE BAT on the new Swamp Fiction label. This time Stuart came with the Emma (guitar) and Dan (bass) and were backe...
  comments

• Rock 'n' Roll Circus in Taiwan - Dec. 2009

  by Marty Shane February 19, 2010
  OK, I might not have been at this gig, but I really feel like it deserves mention on my blog. In an effort to throw down some seriously needed RnR raves (as opposed to techno house raves) in Taiwan, THE DEADLY VIBES have been organizing an event called Rock 'n' Roll Circus on the island for the past...
  comments

• GOLDEN ♦ Dark alt-country & post-punk from Japan

  by Marty Shane February 17, 2010
  Over the past several years GOLDEN has been bringing their erratic city slicker swagger to Tokyo's live house circuit. With jagged post-punk guitars melded to dark country mandolin playing, the trio has drawn comparisons to NICK CAVE and GALLON DRUNK. In 2009, they were picked up by the fledgling Ts...
  comments

• SHLONK's Two Fisted Tour of Japan

  by Marty Shane November 18, 2009
  Occasionally Pacifiction Records helps out overseas garage and punk bands with touring in Japan. This can be a result of having personal ties or, in the case I don't know you, if I really like your band. And ultimately it comes down to being able to afford the trip and expenses. That's just a fact o...
  comments

• BACK from the GRAVE: Halloween Ball '09 featuring THE MUMMIES!

  by Marty Shane November 17, 2009
  Well, So much for promises. I never got my Minolta sorted with a flash and I also still need to buy a battery for it. And to top it off I didn't actually get to see the MUMMIES at Shinjuku Loft. Tickets sold out lightning quick and I was feeling rundown after partying several nights with SHLONK, a s...

• A-BONES in Tokyo!

  by Marty Shane September 12, 2009
  OK, so I mentioned in a thread that I was going to see the A-Bones in Tokyo for for a big Tokyo Back from the Grave blowout and there was a request for some photos. There was about 30 bands and I took three or four successful pics. I'm mostly upset that I didn't shoot the 5678's who played as the or...

• Here Come the Rice - Modern Group Sounds

  by Marty Shane June 22, 2009
  Those familiar with 60's garage rock, British Invasion and psychedelic bands are probably also familiar with the Group Sounds, or simply GS, movement in Japan in the late 60's. The Nuggets II set highlights The Mops and other groups like The Tigers and The Spiders have at least become familiar names...

• PLAYHOUSE - Japanese Demin Jacket RnR Trio

  by Marty Shane May 25, 2009
  PLAYHOUSE are a true-to-form Japanese rock 'n' roll trio that have been playing together for the past decade or so. While the guitarist smokes up the stage, the bass player and lead vocalist carries right along with the cat on sticks; and then, they all stop on a dime together, just to hop right bac...
  comments