Yokoso Kyogen: Manzo Nomura and Thane Camus bring “mad words” to the barbarians

Posted on February 17, 2012 by dangrunebaum

“The previous generation overcame war and disaster to preserve traditions, but we need to evolve.” Kyogen master Manzo Nomura IX

Metropolis, Feb 15, 2012

Africaemo: Shouty raps, slashing beats—and a bottle of wine

Posted on February 8, 2012 by dangrunebaum

“Just to do Afrobeat would be boring, so we thought to bring in a completely different genre like emo rock would be an interesting clash of concepts,” explains keyboardist Yuki Abe.

Metropolis, Feb 3, 2012

Anna Calvi: The English-Italian diva pens torch songs for the new millennium

Posted on February 4, 2012 by dangrunebaum

Are people around her concerned about her coming to Japan? “Concerned? About what?” she asks. Seems like Fukushima may have fallen off the international radar. “It’s my first time to Japan,” she says, brushing off the gloom-and-doom. “I’m really excited because I’ve always wanted to go there. It should be cool.”

Metropolis, February 1, 2012

“Home Alone” Oshogatsu Edition: Top 10 ways to while away the holidays

Posted on January 25, 2012 by dangrunebaum

For the resident foreigner, Japan’s Oshogatsu New Year holidays are a time of enforced inactivity. With the nation at a standstill, your foreign friends off in Thailand and your Japanese mates in their hometowns, things can be pretty quiet. In the holiday spirit, we offer ten ways to enliven the downtime.

Metropolis, December 25, 2011

Washed Out: The chillwaver is just a salaryman at heart

Posted on January 20, 2012 by dangrunebaum

“I don’t know if people realize I’m married and lead a very simple life,” Washed Out’s Ernest Greene says. “My wife plays in the band and handles the business end of things. When we’re at home we have a pretty normal domestic life where I do my creative things in one room while she’s in the other scheduling the year for us.”

Metropolis, January 17, 2012

Sugizo: Time to move on, says the visual kei icon

Posted on January 8, 2012 by dangrunebaum

The guitarist for X Japan and Lunasea lauds visual kei for introducing the world to Japan’s unique visual pop esthetics, but says it’s now time for the music to take center stage.

January 5, Metropolis

Getting Sourcey with the Crowd

Posted on January 1, 2012 by dangrunebaum

The aces behind some key 3/11 crowdsourced charity arts efforts

 

Metropolis, December 29, 2011

 

Michael Jackson Tribute Live: The Jackson clan looks to get it right the second time

Posted on December 9, 2011 by dangrunebaum

“They are basically strolling down memory lane, and I think they’ll get away with that here.”

Metropolis, December 8, 2011

 

DJ Krush: 20 years on and still searching

Posted on December 9, 2011 by dangrunebaum

“My music never lies.”

Metropolis, December 1, 2011

Photo by Dan Grunebaum

Uhnellys: Japan’s most unusual duo—by process of elimination

Posted on November 24, 2011 by dangrunebaum

Metropolis, November 16, 2011