Category: Music

I enjoy Mitski’s music and was lucky enough to see her live in Tokyo.

As I don’t use TikTok, I was not familiar with her TikTok success and was surprised that her latest (good album) is also a big commercial success. Read about it and a quick search on youtube showed collection of Tiktok memes.

So imagine how surprised I was when I heard “Stay Soft” playing in a Supermarket (Tokyu in Futako Tamagawa) in Japan. I wonder who selects the Music for the supermarket and if that means Mitski is becoming “main stream”

Went to see “The Stranglers” perform in WWW, Shibuya.

But let me start with “Are these really The Stranglers”? When two members continue the band and add new members that sound different and perform different, is it still the same band ?

Will Radiohead be “Radiohead” without Thom Yorke?

It is always fun to go to a concert and remember the old songs, but it did sound to me like a band covering “The Stranglers” . (And asking forgiveness from the members that are there from the starts).

So, I have to say I was disappointed.

My ears hurt when in “Golden Brown” struggles to sync with the keyboards. Song started with the drums, keyboard entered and were out of sync… Drummer struggles to sync which he did, but lost it again several times.

In another song the drums were too strong, but then settled down as song progressed.

Tuning the guitars was messy, talk was bad (but have to admit most artists fail to talk with Japanese … maybe they are concerned they will not be understood).

So, overall enjoyed an evening of two guys from the Stranglers (I know) performing their songs with some people I do not know.

Unfortunately, I could not go to Fuji Rock this year. I tried, enrolled, but lost the draw and decided not to do an overnight bus. I am too old for that.

Watched the concert Live on YouTube. (Thank you Softbank) . It was magnificent.

When the show ended, Robert Smith seemed like he wants to stay on the Stage, that it is difficult for him to part from the crowd. His body language showed emotions, which was very endearing.

I was not the only one noticing it, and he was asked about it in the post concert interview.
The interview has some good news for me as Robert Smith stated he would like to come back to Japan and tour it properly! YEAH!

Found this ticket and the memories overflowed me.
Wow! It was great and just after I saw them in Reading Festival.
Was a bit worried going to the venue as I remember the entrance was not very clear. But it was great!!!

Not sure if I knew this song when I was young, but discovered it last week while listening to Spotify and I can’t just stop listening to it.

 

The Psychedelic Furs, Love My Way :

 

 

Found the Kettles through their “Heart of Glass” Cover and found an interesting band of two members, Drums and Guitar.

Love their most recent cover, “Lift” by Radiohead.  Actually, “Cover” is a not the fitting word here as the music is copied, but the lyrics are different.

When Radiohead Lyrics are about being in a safe place, isolated when it is time to come home, Kettles Lyrics are about a new start. Similar in a way, but different.

(Translation below is not complete)

 

もう走れない靴で歩いてた

I walked in shoes that cannot run

ずっと曇ってる空が続いてる

Cloudy days continue

…

 

ついにさよならを告げる時が来た

何もかも捨ててしまえば

朝は来る

Time to say goodbye, throw away
Morning is coming

もう二度と嘘はつかずに生きていたい

そっと休めてた羽を広げて

この空を飛び回ろう

Want to live a life without lies, spread my wings and fly

朝を迎えて そして

新しい日々が始まる

振り向かずに

Facing a new morning, new days are coming.

Not looking back

As expected, The Cure 40th Anniversary concert, is sold out.
Planned for July 7 in Hyde Park. Had considered going there, but obviously did not do enough to plan and purchase a ticket.

Should I get excited?

All music sites, spin, pitchfork   discuss the new album by the Breeders.

Release is expected March 2nd, with only two songs released.  I like “Wait in the Car” better than “All Nerve”, but I definitely missed Kim Deal’s voice and Bass.

Hope I don’t get disappointed.