Streaming video is marvelous, isn’t it? It’s a completely indispensable resource for us Western idol fans in particular, allowing us to keep up with events and shows that we’d otherwise miss out on, so thank goodness for that. Quite often, following an event I especially wish I had seen, I hit the internet in the days afterward to see if I can find some video, and lo and beyond, often I find what just what I wanted. One thing that’s nice about chika-level idols in particular is that many of these groups have relaxed rules for filming shows. Some groups even have just about nearly every gig uploaded for fans to see. I’ve had a few favorites lately, and I thought I’d share them in one handy place and perhaps help bring something your way that you’ll especially enjoy. It’ll be like a TV PARTY!
First up is Avandoned, the duo who have never failed to make me happy and excited to see what creative endeavors they’ve taken on next. These are the girls who I feel have really broken ground, having elevated to a new sub-sub genre, the Art Idol. Another thing I love about them, they’ve been escaping the usual dark basement club circuit and performing in quirky shops and galleries, attracting crowds out side the usual flock of wota devotees. Avandoned’s relationship with the Vivid Sound label is really striking gold, with a string of vinyl singles that suit the group’s vision perfectly. Avandoned have a new single coming out on October 10th, and they perform the a-side here in this video at the 28:33 mark. It’s another perfect fix of pop-goodness, and they sing like they’re having the time of their lives!
Hey, it’s RHYMEBERRY! The world’s most adorable hip-hop unit (Don’t get mad at me Lyrical School fans.) were featured at a street-culture event held in the lovely South Pacific islands of New Caledonia. This show is definitely away from the usual idol crowd they’re used to, but they held up like pros, with OMOCHI especially looking like she had a blast! This got me thinking that it’d be interesting to see how RHYMEBERRY would fare if they ever played to primarily hip-hop crowds in the West. Would the audience embrace them or treat them like novelties? I’m not certain, but I think these girls are pretty terrific and just keep getting better all the time. I think I’m going to try to make more effort to get them included in Homicidols blog entries with greater frequency. Besides, OMOCHI is basically chika-royalty after all being a former a Shoujo kakka no International member…
I recently reviewed the Dots/tipToe. split single, and mentioned that the new Dots song, “Can You Feel The Change of the Seasons” is quite seriously among the very best tunes the mysterious etherial entities have recorded yet, and in fact the song is every bit as good as many of the best classic Shoegaze tunes of the overall genre at large. It was nice to come across a new video of them showcasing this song in particular. It reminds me to point out something worth noting. We (myself included) spend so much effort dissecting and analyzing the heavier concepts of the dot-chans that it gets missed that the group has steadily become more and more experienced at being a solid stage presence. Yes, the singing is a little shaky and the dancing unpolished, (Which is a trait I love in most all music I follow.) but the group has really developed an ability to connect to their fans. And I love their quirky choreography!
I was on the internet specifically searching for this one: SAKA-SAMA teaming up with Melon Batake a Go-Go! A convergence of adorable oddballs… The “Idols from Outer Space” and a group that just released a “Space Disco Sushi Song” is just too perfect to not get super-excited over, and it looks like this show didn’t disappoint. Here they all re performed one of the original Melon’s early-in-the-game songs and having a heck of a good time, with a great crowd that’s enthusiastically one board for the cosmic voyage to planet Melon, inhabited by the SAKA-SAMAs…
If you don’t already, you should follow Tentenko’s instagram. There’s lot’s of reasons to do so, and one of them is because Tenten has her finger on the pulse of Japan’s experimental music scene and will consistently keep you abreast of all the latest art-noise-undefinable happenings. She is, without question, the coolest Cat Lady around. In particular, she performed recently on a bill with the legendary “Kings of Noise” Hijokaidan and the LA-based experimental grindcore wizards Sissy Spacek. (What a great name!) They capped the night off with a breath-taking meltdown of purely gorgeous and epic sound that makes your teeth rattle simply just watching in the safety of your home. Goodness only knows how much hearing loss occurred at this actual gig, but what an amazing way to lose one of your five senses, right?!?!? This thing brings tears to my eyes and exhilarates me with a slight feeling of terror, and I really do mean that in a positive way…
Anyway, thanks for checking out the TV Party! Hope you found something in here you enjoyed! Was this a fun segment? Perhaps we should do this again sometime, we could even make this a Team Homicidols joint effort. And of course feel free to suggest any live videos you think are notable, I’ll be sure to give you a shout-out!
