Halloween Ball 2017, October 28-29

It's only a month left to the biggest Japanese garage punk event of the year - the Back From The Grave Halloween Ball! Join dozens of bands, wild DJs, and a cast of thousands in outrageous outfits (including yours truly) over Saturday and Sunday at Shinjuku Loft!

Halloween Ball day 1 Facebook Event

Halloween Ball day 2 Facebook Event

Quit Your Band! But first, delve into the history of Japanese pop

Writer and music blogger Ian Martin has published the first of two promised playlists going deep into the underbelly of Japanese rock and pop music. They are intended as accompaniments to his excellent book Quit Your Band! Musical Notes from the Japanese Underground - partly a summary of the Japanese music scene, and partly his own personal history as DJ, label manager, music reporter, gig organiser and more in Tokyo. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know more about what lies beyond the Akihabara girl groups!

Read more here and don't forget to buy the book!
Quit Your Band! Soundtrack 1 (Japanese Pop 1950-2001)

So long and thanks for all the sashimi!

Fuzz Things at Live from the Kitchen Disco - photo by Andi Brooks

As you might have surmised if you follow my Instagram feed, I have left Japan! I got an offer too good to refuse, and will move to Newcastle Upon Tyne in UK early next year. This means that there will be no more regular updates on Tokyo Deep - in particular, no more weekly Live Picks. There are still quite a few bars, books and bands I want to write about, so look out for the occasional new post next year. And of course, if mine and Mamiko's band Fuzz Things are playing, this is the place to find out!

It's been a little over a year ago since I started Tokyo Deep, in September 2015. From there it has grown to over 8000 visitors per month at last count, and still rising - most coming from outside of Japan. I believe this is just about the only place you could regularly get information about garage rock and punk gigs in Tokyo in English. Even though I did over 60 posts, some of my big ambitions were never fulfilled, and I would have liked to write about many more venues and bands, but let's just say I had other things to do...

Thanks for visiting! If you are going to Tokyo feel free to contact me through e-mail or the Tokyo Deep Facebooks page, and I'll try to give some personalized recommendations. Sayonara!

Tokyo Deep Live Picks End Of The Line Bumper Edition!

This will be the last Tokyo Deep Live Picks for the foreseeable future! So make sure you go to each and every one of these events, even if it means being in two places at once. I know I will!

Friday

Twistin' Rumble Bye Bye2016 DJ Session Special!!

Great sendoff at the cozy DJ bar Memphis Kyodai in Shimokitazawa, with Hiroshi Sekiguchi, Ryo the Dynamite, Wild Ox and more!

Saturday

Call And Response Christmas Disco

Secret lineup of Tokyo underground artists in Koenji! And chances are you can snag a copy of the new book on Japanese alternative music, Quit Your Band! Musical Notes from the Japanese Underground! (A review will be forthcoming.)

Sunday

Winstons Presents -Party Time!-

Tokyo's deepest soul band Winstons head up a great lineup at Hatagaya Heavy Sick, with hard rock from The Great Moongoose, Fifi Poorcow's new band Yesterday Once More, DJ Rie from Stompin' Riffraffs and more!

Rockabilly Graffiti -Xmas Party-

London Nite X'mas 36th Anniversary Special

Monday + Wednesday

FRED & TOODY Live in Japan 2016

Members of Portland, OR punk rockers join an all-star Tokyo cast for two gigs. It's worth going just for Guitar Wolf, Fadeaways, Tweezers, Talent Show, Rockbottom, and DJs Hiroshi Sekiguchi and Toyzo! Poor Cow will be open after the Shimokitazawa show.

Live From The Kitchen Disco Volume 31: Bumper Christmas Special!

Last event of the year for Tokyo's most diverse music event - all free!

Also happening

Ramones Exhibition

Nothing But True Punk!

Romi Mori Photo Exhibition「Eternal Dusk」

Gun Clubber and sometime Jesus and Mary Chain guest Romi Mori shows photos from a life in music. Also live and DJ events, see Facebook event for details!

Tokyo Super Junk Show

Massive antique and flea market with hundreds of dealers from all over the world selling 50s, 60s, 70s art, design and fashion!

New Fadeaways album and video!

Tokyo Deep favorites The Fadeaways have just released a new video to promote their latest album! Garage Punk Hitsville is out this week on Radio Underground records and collect favorites from the band's 11 years of rocking Japan and the rest of the world. Check out their new video below and find out more at The Fadeaways on Facebook!

Live picks: Weekend of Friday, December 9, 2016

Friday

Let's Bop♪♪

DJ Ayumi & friends at Memphis Brothers in Shimokitazawa

Saturday

 

Blast Jams!

Guitar Wolf and Neatbeats headline the latest Blast Jams! at Shimokitazawa Basement/Three, with soul from Soulcrap, garage from The Fadeaways and Stompin' Riffraffs, and much more!

Shimokitazawa Three/Basement access map

Here is my number

Another laid-back show at Ichibee Dining in Kichijoji, with the amazing rocking Minnesota Voodomen, indie from Bitter Sweet Generation and more.

Ichibee Dining access map



Tokyo Gig Guide presents FARM PARTY 21: Cocoon Pit, ネオンズ, 病気くん, Barry Zogon Band

Sunday

Young Parisian presents We Got A Radio!

Glam rock and more in Hatagaya!

Tokyo garage punk in the cinema!

The new documentary Garage Rockin' Craze, based on Mario Cuzic's many years of documenting the Tokyo garage rock scene and the Back From The Grave events, will have exclusive screenings with English subtitles on January 14-27! Check out the amazing Rockin' Jelly Bean poster above and the trailer below!

For more information, see the movie's homepage! (Japanese only)