Say hi to Each of the Days

Self described as a metalcore band, Each of the Days is from Nagoya, Japan.  I, personally, would categorize them closer to plain hardcore as they are missing much of the techno aspects I usually associate with metalcore (thinking EotD is more towards August Burns Red or As I Lay Dying), but when it comes to all these sub-genres is the classification really all that important?  The music is good, the concerts are fun, and the moshpit is crazy...Just the way I like it.

Each of the Days has six members.  Two guitarists, a bassist, vocalist, drummer and can you guess the last?

 A percussionist!

As you've probably guessed I'm a sucker for different or unusual instrumentations.  I love a little something unique and the extra percussionist in Each of the Days sells it for me.  It enables them to do quite a bit rhythmically and allows them to use more percussion then what's found in a typical rocker's drum kit.  Listen carefully for those little unique touches, they're what's going to keep the band relevant and interesting as they continue to "grow-up."

Check out a recent music video from them:

Notice anything else awesome?

Female drummer is wicked.  Female drummer in f*cking leopard print heels is crazy awesome.  Most bands don't have female drummers and I suspect that's it for a similar reason there aren't very many professional female concert pianists.  That isn't to say it's a correct assumption, but here it is:  women don't have the muscle and stamina to perform for a two hour concert.  Proving it's not true is Mako, the cutest female drummer ever.

And just for the fun of it, here's a 2nd "live" video:

So there you go.  A new band from my home away from home.

In a poor attempt to make up for my extreme non-posting these last few months expect a few more in the next few days.

I'm Back!

After three months of hiatus what do I have to say for myself?

 

Rock On, Mad World, Rock On!

Where have I been?

I kind of wanted to apologize about starting this blog, writing a few posts and then disappearing for over a month.  I have an excuse, whether it's good or not, it's the only excuse I have:

I was unexpectedly laid-off from my job and have since then been thrown into a rush of decision making.  I had to decide if I wanted to dig my heels in and find another, similar job in Japan or try for something different.  Given my almost hatred of being a wastrel assistant English teacher, I decided that the 'something different' sounded best.

BUT

My current apartment and car and pretty much everything else is provided by my company so I was given a month to find a new job, pack, break up with my boyfriend (when the best part of the relationship is the sex, long distance isn't going to work), move, etc.  I've been a very busy girl. 

On top of all the stuff I had to do I've been rushing to attend a few last concerts of favorite Japanese bands before I head back home for a much needed vacation.  It's been a wild past few weeks, full of long-ass goodbye parties nearly everyday and concerts in both Tokyo and Osaka (neither of which are super close to where I live nor to each other).

I actually don't take pictures at most concerts because it's annoying, so this is a really old photo from one of the first lives I attended in Japan--the band is UnsraW, a now defunct band. 

Hopefully I'll be back to being terminally bored and full of blogginess very soon.

First Times

Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons.  You will find it is to the soul what a water bath is to the body.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Since starting this blog I've been thinking a lot about my previous concert going experiences.  I believe that a lot of people would agree when I say that your first concert is kind of a deal breaker.  If it's a good experience you will keep going to concerts for the rest of your life, but if it isn't very good you will just be left wondering why people make such a big deal about it.  I can't particularly remember my first concert.  I grew up being dragged to the local college symphony and band concerts.  My brother was in band and my sister was a singer.  I went to their concerts regularly.

I think my first truly memorable experience with a professional orchestra was the London Symphony.  I had been traveling in London with several of my fellow students and a couple of professors and we stopped at the Music Hall.  They played several impressive songs, but the final song was Beethoven's famous 5th Symphony.  I've heard it a million times and, so, probably have you.  But live, it had an incredible impact on me.  The rows of violins on the left side all bowing in tandem to the powerful line, duh-duh-duh dum.  It was something like magic because suddenly something I had heard every day I could now see.  I had somehow never thought too much about the visual impact of a song, but after this concert I've never thought about music quite the same. 

I recently (if you consider four/five years recent, some days I do, some days I don't) discovered a Japanese musical movement that they call Visual Kei.  The exact nature of the scene is somewhat argued (a lot), but I think can most basically be boiled down to music and visual expression combining to make a single experience that provokes ALL the senses.  I'm thoroughly fascinated by the idea and am hoping that through this project I will get to explore the idea further.  I had at one time even thought about going to graduate school and doing my thesis on a related idea (I'm still open to this, but later in life. Not yet.).

Some of you may have heard of Alexander Scriabin, the romantic/modern composer.  He was a little crazy and believed that his last song, a piece he titled Mysterium and believed would last 7 days, when performed in the foothills of the Himalayas would harken the end of the world.  He also created a preliminary piece, Prefatory Action, to help prepare people for the final apocalyptic piece.  He not only wrote the notes of the song, nor simply the normal directions, but also wrote directions for the visual aspects of the piece.  He considered them just as important as the sound being created.  He never finished the piece and I suppose that's good, just in case playing it really will bring the end of the world.  We don't have to live in fear of some orchestra picking up the piece and playing it through to the double bar at the end. 

Many artists have at some time described the relation between vision and sound.  And I think it is why so often we claim we like the music for the music, but still spend hours commenting on musicians looks, fashions, cd art, or flyers.  Humans are visual creatures just as much as we are auditory.  Perhaps more so. 

My first 'rock' concert was also in college.  It was a local concert with local bands at an all ages venue.  I was, quite possibly, the oldest person besides some of the staff.  But I remember the last band, My Paper Camera.   They were dressed in typical indie band attire: skinny jeans, Chuck Taylor all stars, floppy hair cuts, and big Harry Potter style glasses.  I don't suppose the music was particularly unique either, as the band has since split up, but I will forever remember their front man.  He was standing behind a mic, a keyboard, and a synthesizer and he was having the time of his life performing.  And through the music and his sheer joy at being able to create music the audience was able to tap into his happiness.  It was the first time I felt that kind of connection with strangers.   We were all living in that moment completely unaware of the past or the future.  Just the peace of the here and now. 

Do you guys remember your first times?  Were they good or bad?  Incredible?  or just OK?  Who was the band?  Tell me your stories!!  I want to hear from you.

Say hi to Septic Flesh

Today, I'll be taking a moment to introduce you to my favorite flavor of the month:

Septic Flesh

They're old, they've been around, disbanded, re-banded (I know that's not a word, but with so many bands doing it these days, it totally should be) and otherwise proven themselves in most of the metal world.  I think?

I'm a little behind on album releases, which I will blame on living in Japan, but Septic Flesh released a new album in April of 2011.  It may not be new to you, but it's new to me...  I was doing my daily dose of Youtube surfing and ran across one of their songs.  Which has been followed by about a month of listening to very little else.  (I'm a little bit obsessive about my music; I've mentioned that before right?)

Septic Flesh is a Greek band that started in 1990, broke up in 2003, and had a reunion tour followed by an album in 2007-2008.  Check out their official website if you want to know more boring biography details.

 Their sound is dark, melodic metal at it's best.  The guitarist recently completed a degree in classical composition and the newest album, The Great Mass, has some slight reflection of his newly earned degree with its use of  a symphony as well as allusions to classical forms spread through-out the album.  But make no mistake, it's not the all too common mix of screaming guitar and Moonlight Sonata.  It's so much more and, thank god, so much better than that. 

A short teaser for the album:

Interested? 

(also, I love parentheses, so get used to seeing them!)

Say hi to Gevolt

I'm going to try to make a regular (twice a month-ish?) article introducing various bands.  To do this regularly, as I hope to do, I'll need lots of suggestions!!

I'm going to try to keep away from super well-known bands, but may include a few if I really like them...or if I run out of ideas.

To keep it fresh, I'll also be venturing into lots of different genres, though I'll try to keep it geared towards bands you can headbang to.

So...
To start with I'll be introducing you to

Gevolt

 

(official promotional photo from their website, by Igor Kruter)

Gevolt calls itself Yiddish metal and is the first band I've ever heard that sings in Yiddish, so kudos for that Gevolt. And somewhat ironically, considering history, Yiddish sounds a lot like German... In fact, Gevolt sounds a lot like Rammstein, mostly due to the vocalist's Till-like voice.

BUT.

I don't want you to think they are copycats of the more famous Rammstein, Gevolt clearly has it's own, unique sound.  It's metal with a violin and just a touch of electronic something.

Gevolt is composed of six members:

Vadim Weinstein - drums
Eve Yefremov - violin
Anatholy Bonder - vocals
Michael Gimmervert - guitar
Dmitry Lifshitz - synthesizer
Mark Lekhovitser - bass guitar

They've released two albums, Sidur and AlefBase.

I don't want to bore you with the same information you can find on their website, so on with the music!



Here's their latest PV for the song, Tshiribim Tshiribom:

And if you look here you can download their album, AlefBase, from their official website.  FOR FREE!!! (if you like it there's an option to donate or buy the album as well)

My Brand New...

This is my brand new baby.

And the reason I haven't  been to a concert since New Year's Eve.
  -->（had to save money and concerts are a triple threat: travel, tickets, and alcohol...)

It arrived today via delivery dude.  

But who the F*ck cares because I have a piano!!

Also, because I'm sure you care... Slayer is giving out a free condom with certain purchases from their store.  Great way to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Go forth and spread the love!

Eluveitie - Helvetios

I have a very love/hate relationship with the Eluveitie.  First of all, I find the name annoying to type because I always forget if it's e-i or i-e in the middle, but I double checked it this time (just for you).  Definitely e-i.  Secondly, because they're completely, utterly awesome, but sometimes they're not.

The complete truth is I generally don't like female singers in metal.

1) Bands that are fronted by a female are often lost in her stardom, everything ends up being about her instead of the band as a whole.
2) Female fronted bands tend to fall into two categories: whiny or too operatic.  
3) clean vocals, and they're almost always clean vocals when it's a girl, really aren't what I'm usually looking for when I'm listened to metal.

That said, sometimes they're exactly what I'm looking for and I'll listen to the same song over and over.  If you like them I won't hate on you for it!

I'm sure you can sympathize with the feeling.

ANYWAY...

On February 10th Eluveitie is releasing a new album entitled, Helvetios.  Already, through the magic of youtube I've been able to hear two of the songs, A Rose For Epona and Meet the Enemy.  Here's the music video for A Rose for Epona so you can form your own opinion:

 Eluveitie uses a mix of both male and female vocals which keeps their albums unique and interesting.  Some of their songs are sung in there entirety by the female vocalists and some by the male.  In keeping with my general preferences...I usually like the songs with the male singer, songs like Inis Mona and Thousandfold.  In A Rose for Epona they succeed in using both vocalists and create an enticing collage of male and female vocals that escalates the end.

What I really love about Eluveitie and what keeps me coming back for every album they produce is the use of historical instruments.  I'm a total sucker for strange and interesting instrumentation.  How many bands do you know that have a permanent hurdy-gurdy playing member?  Some folk metal bands get lost in the folk part, but Eluveitie really seems to provide a consistent mix of metal and folk.

I'm really looking forward to hearing the rest of the album!

What am I Trying to Say?

Why music?

I worried about writing too much here.  And then I worried about writing too little.  It's hard to talk about music and feel any sense of completion because music is music and it's something more than mere words.  At my most basic level I'd like to explain simply that live music pleases me.  Even when it is the saddest, most painful song I'd rather be standing in that audience than be anywhere else.  But this is too simple and then I have to attempt to explain WHY I feel that way. 

Music is a somewhat magical art form in that it can last forever (we're still listening to music written four hundred years ago) and is also exists only in the single moment of it's performance.  At a concert there is a connection between you and the performer and through the performer a connection to every other audience member. 

Music is one of the best ways to enjoy the present.  It's not much fun to look forward to hearing music or to remember what a song sounded like last week, but music right now absorbs you and places you in the moment.  ~Terri Guillemets

Live music reminds me of the transcendentalist literature movement.  Everyone 'plugging into the All.'  Unlike paintings, sculpture, or movies, music's completed form exists only inside your head.  Hearing it live is like having ESP.  Suddenly your connected to something so much bigger than simply yourself. 

I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours.  But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places.  Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality.  ~H.A. Overstreet

Beethoven once described music as "the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life."  It connects our souls to our bodies and our bodies to our souls.  More than words or pictures, music communicates beyond time and place, it transcends language and culture, and it can come bearing the heaviest messages.  But it is also something that becomes background.  We listen to it while getting ready, we sing in the shower, we listen to it in the car and I'm listening to it while I type this article.  We use it in our crazy human mating rituals (dancing music, music to 'get horizontal' too, etc). 

So, anyway:  I like music.  And if you're reading this, you probably do too. 

Musical compositions, it should be remembered, do not inhabit certain countries, certain museums, like paintings and statues.  The Mozart Quintet is not shut up in Salzburg:  I have it in my pocket.  ~Henri Rabaud

Why travel?

Perhaps I'm just testing that all too common saying that music is the universal language (in case you were wondering it was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who stated this in his work, Outre-Mer).  By the way, I'd like to mention here: I took music lessons from a teacher who didn't speak my language on an instrument that wasn't native to my culture.  And it was weird.  And it was awkward.  And music might be universal, but the language to teach music is NOT.  But I can claim to know a little bit about playing Erhu now.  Or perhaps, I was simply bitten by the travel bug (if it looks anything like a mosquito I may or may not have killed it this morning).

One of my main points about music is that it unites people, what better way to test than to see it in action around the world ?

Let you in on a not-so-secret

 I have already started.  I grew up in rural America, studied abroad in London, lived in Taiwan, volunteered in Mexico, and currently am living in small town Japan.  I've gotten to know a lot of seedy venues in a lot of towns and met my fair share of fellow rockers.  My first few posts will be catching you up with what I've already done, but for me to do more I need your input.  I will need your help and your advice.  Tell me about your favorite bands, cheapest travel tips, share YOUR world of music with me.   

A vision without a task is but a dream, a task without a vision is drudgery, a vision and a task is the hope of the world." ~ carved into a church in Sussex England ca. 1730

And so...

With that, let's let it roll.