"Early Noise Night," a new artist hookup event sponsored by Spotify, was held on October 7th at Music club JANUS in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
The event, linked to the popular playlist of the same name, aims to introduce promising newcomers from Japan to a wider audience. Coupled with the affordable admission fee of 1,000 yen each time, it has attracted attention, especially from young music listeners.
This was the eighth time the event was held, and the second time it was held in Osaka since the event in June. As it fell on the middle day of "MINAMI WHEEL 2018," one of the largest circuit events in the Kansai region, which was held over a three-day weekend, the venue was filled with music lovers who appeared to have been to several live venues. Unfortunately, THREE1989 had to cancel their appearance due to poor health of one of their members, but TENDOUJI was confirmed to perform instead, and we report on the exciting night that featured six rock bands, including Ryu Matsuyama, WOMAN, tricot, Domico, and The ManRay.
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Next up was the up-and-coming five-piece band WOMAN. Though they only formed last year, their debut album, "beautiful," released in May of this year on FLAKE SOUNDS, a label run by FLAKE RECORDS, has garnered significant attention, boasting high stream counts on Spotify. With James Blake's cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" as the sound effect, the band kicked off their set with "Ballad," the final track on the aforementioned album, and "Breaking Dawn," the album's opener. It was as if they were listening to their album on repeat. Their highly original musical style, skillfully incorporating prismizer-like vocal effects, chopped-up voice samples, and floating synth sounds reminiscent of Bon Iver and Francis and the Lights, instantly transformed the atmosphere in the venue. The members' flexibility, switching instruments for each song, was also very contemporary. "We seem to be the only Osaka band at this event, so we're going to proudly represent Osaka," they said during the MC, despite their limited vocabulary, clearly conveying their pride in their hometown. While their dynamic performance showed a nod to modern technology and trends, they also maintained a core sense of pride as a rock band.
The third act was the internationally acclaimed band tricot. Unlike the previous two acts, who mostly performed lengthy songs, they unleashed a string of tight, solid tracks, steadily raising the energy in the venue. The opening song, "Oyasumi," was perhaps a unique choice for a late-night event. Their sharp guitar riffs, versatile song structure, and rock-solid performance skills demonstrate their deep experience. The new song, which began with a mellow chorus and a decisive "We're playing a new song," transformed into a truly tricot-esque number, reminiscent of their previous track. Combining stillness and movement, softness and strength, they embodied the high-level rock sound they could only achieve. This time, there were no dives, and the atmosphere was perhaps more subdued than their usual live shows, but perhaps this also allowed for a glimpse of a new side of the band. "This is our first time performing at a live house late at night," they said quietly during the MC, and their calm yet passionate performance captivated the audience. They closed the set with "Melon Soda" from their third album, "3." Nakajima Ikki's final shout of "Thank you very much!", accompanied by the rising band ensemble, was one of the highlights of the day.
We're finally at the halfway point. As the night deepens and the venue warms up, Tokyo-based two-piece band Domico finally makes their long-awaited entrance. This was Sakashita's second appearance at "Early Noise Night," following Vol. 05 in May, but she already exudes a sense of dignity and understatement. The opening song was the bluesy "Shinkai Ryokou ni" (Shinkai Ryokou ni). Vocalist Hikaru Sakashita's supple vocals, her looper-driven performance, and her well-coordinated performance with drummer Keita Hasegawa all exuded exceptional stability. It was disappointing that the setlist didn't include the much-talked-about new song "Bedroom Shake Summer," which Natsumi Kawashima explained in her pre-show MC that "its Spotify listener numbers have increased fivefold." However, this paradoxically speaks to the breadth of her live repertoire. Sakashita's easygoing, somewhat uncoordinated personality elicits laughter during inter-song MCs, but when she performs, she unleashes a powerful presence like a completely different person. Her performance, which encompasses everything from backing to lead and bass, all on one guitar, while also taking on vocal duties, is a sight to behold, no matter how many times you watch it. Armed with hooky melodies and colorful psychedelia, they once again succeeded in drawing the audience into their own worldview.
The fifth act of the night, and their second performance of the day, including "MINAMI WHEEL 2018," was the hardcore rock trio The ManRay. Their track "Brown Sugar," from their debut EP "You Will Be Mine," released last June, reached No. 2 on the Spotify Japan Viral Chart, and their new EP "Fly To The Moon," released this year, is also enjoying high stream numbers. This band is currently on a roll. Their live performance, with its rugged sound devoid of unnecessary sounds and the seemingly pristine exhilaration of rock music, is a rare sight in this day and age, resonating with endless freshness. Drummer Ryuji Ooshiro wore a tank top, and bassist Ko Koga was shirtless from the moment they took to the stage. Their down-to-earth style, coupled with their performance's relaxed, albeit positively so, instantly transformed Shinsaibashi JANUS into the atmosphere of a suburban American pub. The audience, with drinks in hand, danced to their hearts' content, raising their hands in response. Their approach, exploring the fundamental elements of rock music—garage, blues, rockabilly, and more—exudes a timeless, universal appeal.
The final act of the day was TENDOUJI, who was selected as a pinch hitter to replace THREE1989, whose show was unfortunately canceled. This was their second appearance at "Early Noise Night," following Vol. 07 in July. Like The ManRay, this was their second consecutive performance on "MINAMI WHEEL 2018." Even though the sun was already rising, they were, of course, full throttle from the get-go. They unleashed a barrage of explosive numbers, including the catchy riff-driven "Skippy," the subdued tension and subsequent explosive power of "D.T.A.", and the undeniably popular "Kids in the Dark." At one point, they commented on their sudden appearance at this event, "We've ended up owing Spotify a favor," drawing laughter from the audience. According to Kawashima Natsumi during the MC, their music enjoys a high number of plays on Spotify from overseas. This is likely due to their exceptionally catchy sound and catchy melodies. Even if you can't hear the lyrics, their live performance is filled with happy vibes that will have you excited regardless, and it doesn't make you feel any barriers such as borders or language. With the audience so excited that it was hard to believe it was already early in the morning, the 8th "Early Noise Night" came to a grand finale.
The event, linked to the popular playlist of the same name, aims to introduce promising newcomers from Japan to a wider audience. Coupled with the affordable admission fee of 1,000 yen each time, it has attracted attention, especially from young music listeners.
This was the eighth time the event was held, and the second time it was held in Osaka since the event in June. As it fell on the middle day of "MINAMI WHEEL 2018," one of the largest circuit events in the Kansai region, which was held over a three-day weekend, the venue was filled with music lovers who appeared to have been to several live venues. Unfortunately, THREE1989 had to cancel their appearance due to poor health of one of their members, but TENDOUJI was confirmed to perform instead, and we report on the exciting night that featured six rock bands, including Ryu Matsuyama, WOMAN, tricot, Domico, and The ManRay.
■Ryu Matsuyama
■WOMAN
Next up was the up-and-coming five-piece band WOMAN. Though they only formed last year, their debut album, "beautiful," released in May of this year on FLAKE SOUNDS, a label run by FLAKE RECORDS, has garnered significant attention, boasting high stream counts on Spotify. With James Blake's cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" as the sound effect, the band kicked off their set with "Ballad," the final track on the aforementioned album, and "Breaking Dawn," the album's opener. It was as if they were listening to their album on repeat. Their highly original musical style, skillfully incorporating prismizer-like vocal effects, chopped-up voice samples, and floating synth sounds reminiscent of Bon Iver and Francis and the Lights, instantly transformed the atmosphere in the venue. The members' flexibility, switching instruments for each song, was also very contemporary. "We seem to be the only Osaka band at this event, so we're going to proudly represent Osaka," they said during the MC, despite their limited vocabulary, clearly conveying their pride in their hometown. While their dynamic performance showed a nod to modern technology and trends, they also maintained a core sense of pride as a rock band.
■tricot
The third act was the internationally acclaimed band tricot. Unlike the previous two acts, who mostly performed lengthy songs, they unleashed a string of tight, solid tracks, steadily raising the energy in the venue. The opening song, "Oyasumi," was perhaps a unique choice for a late-night event. Their sharp guitar riffs, versatile song structure, and rock-solid performance skills demonstrate their deep experience. The new song, which began with a mellow chorus and a decisive "We're playing a new song," transformed into a truly tricot-esque number, reminiscent of their previous track. Combining stillness and movement, softness and strength, they embodied the high-level rock sound they could only achieve. This time, there were no dives, and the atmosphere was perhaps more subdued than their usual live shows, but perhaps this also allowed for a glimpse of a new side of the band. "This is our first time performing at a live house late at night," they said quietly during the MC, and their calm yet passionate performance captivated the audience. They closed the set with "Melon Soda" from their third album, "3." Nakajima Ikki's final shout of "Thank you very much!", accompanied by the rising band ensemble, was one of the highlights of the day.
■Domico
We're finally at the halfway point. As the night deepens and the venue warms up, Tokyo-based two-piece band Domico finally makes their long-awaited entrance. This was Sakashita's second appearance at "Early Noise Night," following Vol. 05 in May, but she already exudes a sense of dignity and understatement. The opening song was the bluesy "Shinkai Ryokou ni" (Shinkai Ryokou ni). Vocalist Hikaru Sakashita's supple vocals, her looper-driven performance, and her well-coordinated performance with drummer Keita Hasegawa all exuded exceptional stability. It was disappointing that the setlist didn't include the much-talked-about new song "Bedroom Shake Summer," which Natsumi Kawashima explained in her pre-show MC that "its Spotify listener numbers have increased fivefold." However, this paradoxically speaks to the breadth of her live repertoire. Sakashita's easygoing, somewhat uncoordinated personality elicits laughter during inter-song MCs, but when she performs, she unleashes a powerful presence like a completely different person. Her performance, which encompasses everything from backing to lead and bass, all on one guitar, while also taking on vocal duties, is a sight to behold, no matter how many times you watch it. Armed with hooky melodies and colorful psychedelia, they once again succeeded in drawing the audience into their own worldview.
■The ManRay
The fifth act of the night, and their second performance of the day, including "MINAMI WHEEL 2018," was the hardcore rock trio The ManRay. Their track "Brown Sugar," from their debut EP "You Will Be Mine," released last June, reached No. 2 on the Spotify Japan Viral Chart, and their new EP "Fly To The Moon," released this year, is also enjoying high stream numbers. This band is currently on a roll. Their live performance, with its rugged sound devoid of unnecessary sounds and the seemingly pristine exhilaration of rock music, is a rare sight in this day and age, resonating with endless freshness. Drummer Ryuji Ooshiro wore a tank top, and bassist Ko Koga was shirtless from the moment they took to the stage. Their down-to-earth style, coupled with their performance's relaxed, albeit positively so, instantly transformed Shinsaibashi JANUS into the atmosphere of a suburban American pub. The audience, with drinks in hand, danced to their hearts' content, raising their hands in response. Their approach, exploring the fundamental elements of rock music—garage, blues, rockabilly, and more—exudes a timeless, universal appeal.
■TENDOUJI
The final act of the day was TENDOUJI, who was selected as a pinch hitter to replace THREE1989, whose show was unfortunately canceled. This was their second appearance at "Early Noise Night," following Vol. 07 in July. Like The ManRay, this was their second consecutive performance on "MINAMI WHEEL 2018." Even though the sun was already rising, they were, of course, full throttle from the get-go. They unleashed a barrage of explosive numbers, including the catchy riff-driven "Skippy," the subdued tension and subsequent explosive power of "D.T.A.", and the undeniably popular "Kids in the Dark." At one point, they commented on their sudden appearance at this event, "We've ended up owing Spotify a favor," drawing laughter from the audience. According to Kawashima Natsumi during the MC, their music enjoys a high number of plays on Spotify from overseas. This is likely due to their exceptionally catchy sound and catchy melodies. Even if you can't hear the lyrics, their live performance is filled with happy vibes that will have you excited regardless, and it doesn't make you feel any barriers such as borders or language. With the audience so excited that it was hard to believe it was already early in the morning, the 8th "Early Noise Night" came to a grand finale.
