In what's shaping up to be a new musical tradition, the all-Japanese package tour Next Music from TOKYO will be hitting up Canada again this fall. The third instalment of the travelling showcase whips together another ensemble of unique Japanese acts that otherwise might not get exposure in Canada.
A quartet of bands will be making their way to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver for a handful of dates this October. This year's roster is anchored by self-described "progressive hardcore jazz aggressive improvisation rock band" Natsumen. The eight-piece experimental outfit apparently pull influence from the Mars Volta and Miles Davis, but come up with something that's distinctly theirs.
There is also new wave quartet Merpeoples, whose live show and recently released self-titled mini-album "ooze with quirkiness, energy, underground appeal and charm." Chiina, meanwhile, are an orchestral indie pop act based out of Saitama, replete with violin, keys and contrabass that blend classical music tendencies with jazz, pop and rock.
Perhaps the punkest of the four bands playing this edition are Fukuoka's Hyacca, who offer up a sonic maelstrom of "lightning speed punk with shoegaze soundscapes, Krautrock rhythm and angular, mathy riffs." The band's danceably aggressive tunes suggest what it would sound like if Bad Brains, My Bloody Valentine and Neu! got together for a jam.
While the intent of the shows is to highlight the international acts, spazzy Vancouver ensemble SSRIs will tag along on the West Coast gig in Vancouver.
Tour dates:
10/13 Montreal, QC - Divan Orange
10/14 Montreal, QC - Club Lambi
10/15 Toronto, ON - the Rivoli
10/16 Toronto, ON - the Velvet Underground
10/18 Vancouver, BC - the Biltmore Cabaret *
* with the SSRIs
A quartet of bands will be making their way to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver for a handful of dates this October. This year's roster is anchored by self-described "progressive hardcore jazz aggressive improvisation rock band" Natsumen. The eight-piece experimental outfit apparently pull influence from the Mars Volta and Miles Davis, but come up with something that's distinctly theirs.
There is also new wave quartet Merpeoples, whose live show and recently released self-titled mini-album "ooze with quirkiness, energy, underground appeal and charm." Chiina, meanwhile, are an orchestral indie pop act based out of Saitama, replete with violin, keys and contrabass that blend classical music tendencies with jazz, pop and rock.
Perhaps the punkest of the four bands playing this edition are Fukuoka's Hyacca, who offer up a sonic maelstrom of "lightning speed punk with shoegaze soundscapes, Krautrock rhythm and angular, mathy riffs." The band's danceably aggressive tunes suggest what it would sound like if Bad Brains, My Bloody Valentine and Neu! got together for a jam.
While the intent of the shows is to highlight the international acts, spazzy Vancouver ensemble SSRIs will tag along on the West Coast gig in Vancouver.
Tour dates:
10/13 Montreal, QC - Divan Orange
10/14 Montreal, QC - Club Lambi
10/15 Toronto, ON - the Rivoli
10/16 Toronto, ON - the Velvet Underground
10/18 Vancouver, BC - the Biltmore Cabaret *
* with the SSRIs
