Volume 04, Number 12
Music
I Hate Kate.
By David Royer
This month, I Hate Kate, an alternative rock band from Huntington Beach, California, will rock in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. Founded in November, 2004 by former Zebrahead guitarist/vocalist Justin Mauriello, I Hate Kate's sound, he says, is influenced by "80's music, and a bit of The Cure, with some punk in it, some rock in it, and some pop!" When questioned on his reasons for starting another band while being in a successful band like Zebrahead, Mauriello explains, "Playing with other people gives you a chance to try new things. When you are in a band for so long it's like being married to the same person for a long time. And, don't forget Zebrahead is a big band in Japan, but in the US or anywhere else, Zebrahead is not so big. A lot of people in Japan were wondering why I'd want to leave such a big band. Sure, it was cool to be a rock-star for a few weeks and play in front of 10,000 people in Japan, but we'd go back to the States and play in front of 50 people, you know?" Here's hoping that I Hate Kate will be as well received as Zebrahead by the Japanese fans.
Find out more and listen to tracks at www.myspace.com/11040954 and if you like what you hear, then you can see them live on the following dates:
Osaka: Jun. 18−Club Quattro
Nagoya: Jun 19−Club Quattro
Tokyo: Jun 21−Liquid Room
Music Listings
Need to get your Western music fix—check out these American and Canadian acts to see live in Tokyo:
June 14–19
New York musician, Nile Rodgers, and Chic—the band he co-founded, play the Blue Note Tokyo. ¥8,400. Tel. 03-5485-0088.
www.bluenote.co.jp
www.nilerodgers.com
June 17
Rock for Human Rights Amnesty International Benefit concert Featuring rock ‘n' roll band Two Tone Deluxe and Japan-based New York jazz singer Lenne Hardt. ¥1,000, What the Dickens, Ebisu. 7:30pm.
www.aig78.org
June 20–23
The Manhattan Jazz Quintet at the Blue Note Tokyo. ¥8,400. Tel. 03-5485-0088.
www.bluenote.co.jp
June 21
New Yorker Christina Aguilera performs her Back to Basics Tour live at the Budokan. 7pm. ¥8,400−¥9,500 Tel. 03-3402-5999.
www.udo.co.jp
www.christinaaguilera.com
June 23
Soul-influenced rockers from LA, Maroon 5 perform at Zepp Tokyo, but will they be singing songs about Jane? 5pm. ¥7,500~ Tel. 03-3402-5999.
www.udo.co.jp
www.maroon5.com
June 23–26
Founded by the Calloway brothers and Belinda Lipscomb at the Kentucky State University in 1976, Midnight Star will perform 80s electro funk and ballads at the Cotton Club, Marunouchi. from ¥9,450 Tel. 03-3215-1555.
www.cottonclubjapan.co.jp
www.midnightstarband.com/news
July 2–6
New York jazz vocalist Jane Monheit at the Blue Note Tokyo. ¥8,400. Tel. 03-5485-0088.
www.bluenote.co.jp
www.janemonheitmusic.com
July 7–8
The Manhattan Transfer explore the traditional and progressive sides of jazz, as well as various shades of Latin, world, and pop music. Bunkamura Orchard Hall. Tel. 03-3409-3345.
www.bunkamura.co.jp/english/orchard
www.manhattantransfer.org
Zanzibar rhythms.
By Owen Schaefer
If you never learn any other word of Swahili, you want to learn the term taraab. It derives from Arabic, meaning "to move or be agitated." But for those living in Zanzibar, the legendary trading island off the coast of Tanzania, it is pure music.
Taraab is a stylistic mix that reflects the island's mixed cultural heritage of African and Middle Eastern influences, with the more modern influence of Latin rhythms appearing in recent years. But Taraab is still played on traditional instruments with names like characters from a Star Wars film: the kidumbak, cherewa, ud, mkwasa, and sanduku, to name just a few.
Culture Musical Club is the name of Zanzibar's best-known group of taraab performers, and they will be appearing in Tokyo for the very first time, along with a special guest—the singing and chanting queen Bi Kidude. Kidude was awarded a World Music Award for lifetime achievement…she is 95-years-old. This is something you won't want to miss.
The Music of Zanzibar: Taarab (Jul. 19) Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall. Shibuya Station (JR, Metro).
¥5,500–¥6,500. Various times.
Tel. 03-5301-0950. www.arion-edo.org