CLEAR AND REFRESHING

In a city where even the better-known underground bands rarely bring in audiences of more than a dozen or so people, Akihabara Club Goodman's "Two-Man Series" is a risky proposition and the Tuesday night scheduling seems designed to minimise damage rather than maximise crowds. Nevertheless, it's in front of a packed house that two of Tokyo's most Now bands step onstage tonight. » Read More

Thee 50s High Teens' last ever gig in Tokyo went off with a bang tonight at the UFO Club. Coming at the tail end of the first day of Koenji's "awaodori", » Read More

There are only so many ways you can say how good Limited Express (Has Gone?) are, but one thing at least that deserves mention is their choice in support bands. At last year's one-man live in Shibuya, Miami, Tokyo's finest technopop duo, opened for them, and this time round at Shimo-Kitazawa's so-hip-you-want-to-punch-someone Shelter it's Nhhmbase. » Read More

Opening act Apricot are on and making a lot of noise when I arrive, but not for long enough to allow a clear conclusion to be drawn as to their merits or otherwise. No such uncertainty though for » Read More

If 2005 has been any Japanese band's year, then Afrirampo is that band. With two albums released this year alone, ecstatically received tours of the US and Europe, and a slot on the White Stage of Fuji Rock, they've achieved the kind of success that most bands in Japan can only dream of. » Read More

After working together on last year's Nickel Comb/Holiday split seven-inch, Only Lovers Left Alive (named after the album by 80s punks The Wanderers? Or after the teen rebellion novel by Dave Wallis?) and No T-Shirt finally consummate their relationship with a series of shows in Tokyo. » Read More

In the wake of their second wonderful album, Makes You Dance, Limited Express (Has Gone?) are doing their first "one-man-show" in Tokyo, but not before the support band has finished. » Read More

Won? open with a set of vaguely modern and vaguely 70s Noo Yawkish mid-pace instrumental pieces that shows flashes of inspiration » Read More

Opening act Paper Bag Lunchbox have a singer with a very high voice and take themselves very seriously indeed. They also remind me a lot of late 90s post-Britpop also-rans Geneva, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but where Geneva had some killer tunes and knew where the line between sweepingly epic and just plain tedious lay, Paper Bag Lunchbox will require further schooling. » Read More

Melt Banana open with a characteristically intense display of tightly controlled aggression and high-energy screaming and guitar abuse. » Read More