Happy weekend !! I’m in LA for Cruel World festival whose lineup includes Bauhaus, DEVO, The Damned, Christian Death, Blondie and a number other legendary groups whose influences help shape the music we talk about here today. Coupled with the very exciting news from earlier this week that MELON BATAKE A GO GO are visiting the US at Saboten Con, it’s becoming more and more clear that festivals and cons are very much back on. Another case in point:

📢event announcement@HYPERJAPANevent + Orion Live = HYPER LIVE
2 dedicated nights of live music in HJ's 1st ever mini fest.

Hyper PARTY: @FEMM____ @DOUBLE_AND @3cro_mika @blank_paper_jp

Hyper ALTERNATIVE: @NECRONOMIDOL @Ayme_official @GARUDA_info https://t.co/lDriGYKO4J pic.twitter.com/aBEG9nZ15R

— Orion Live International (@_OrionLive) May 12, 2022

That’s three of our all-time favorites, 2& , NECRONOMIDOL and GARUDA, all heading for the UK in July courtesy of our friends at Orion Live. It has been a long time since we’ve had so many overseas lives to look forward too. I’d say something optimistic, but I’m afraid to jinx these happy circumstances.

With cons getting back up and running all over the place, be sure to also support your local idols !! Jenny Hayes is appearing at Leeds Anime Con in June.

I will be performing at Leeds Anime Con at 3pm on June 19th! I can't wait to see you guys there #leedsanimecon

I will also be selling some brand new merch! It will be revealed soon!

What song are you excited to see? pic.twitter.com/5w1aAR8fps

— Jenny Hayes 🐯 The Prey NEW SINGLE 12.2.2022 (@jennyhayesidol) May 8, 2022

Also in June, melancholiaah! is appearing at A-Kon in Irving, Texas.

【EVENT ANNOUNCE】

Let's look forward to it! In 2018, I debuted at A-kon and haven't returned since then, but am happy to return to it years later on the main stage!

Find more information and purchase tickets here :@WeAreAKon https://t.co/SBL9XidkwG pic.twitter.com/4JYPotGrIa

— melancholiaah! @ A-IDOL FEST 06.04 (@melancholiaah) May 5, 2022

In our Best of The Year (So Far) roundup, we didn’t include a “Best New Unit” preview, but I believe Planet After the Rain is a contender.

PIGGS is going major label! Their debut single will be a competitive release between two versions: one produced by the indie team led by Ryan B and the other produced by this anonymous major label guy in a pig mask.

⚡️対談記事公開⚡️

プー・ルイ(PIGGS) × ブタ山(某メジャーレーベル A&R)

なぜインディーズラストシングルを2種類発売するのか？南波先生に聞いていただきました。

チェックよろにく🐷https://t.co/IepMmAMNlq#PIGGS #PIGGSメジャーへの挑戦 pic.twitter.com/nAVIvtSByC

— PIGGS (@PIGGS_idol) May 10, 2022

Speaking of the best, situasion is as good as it gets right now. Here’s a PV of one of their more upbeat tunes.

Potential Collaboration of the Year right here: RAY + For Tracy Hyde .

🔥FTHとコラボ7インチリリース🔥
ドリームポップバンドFor Tracy Hyde×RAYのスペシャルコラボ7インチレコードが7/20にリリース❕隠れキラーチューン「フランボワーズ・パルフェのために」のFTHver.＋RAYver.を収録https://t.co/qmqO35p61g

✅5/11 00:00以降RAYver.先行配信https://t.co/lCf90N2ECk pic.twitter.com/zvfSg0ilJ1

— RAY 5/25 2ndアルバムリリース (@_RAY_world) May 10, 2022

Wonder Lander dropped a new streaming release and it’s really good stuff.

It’s kinda sad that we got to this point, but when the MV started I just assumed BiSH were doing a tie-in to sell a car.

I love this Nousatsu ❤︎ After Beat tune so I’m thrilled they made it into an MV. Ska idols !! LET’S GO!

INUWASI is dropping a bunch of live PVs.

This seems like the first we’ve heard from MONOCLONE in a while.

Now we only have three months of Dan te Lion left before we never see them again.

Our friends at Chaotic Harmony, who we can thank for bringing MELON BATAKE A GO GO to US shores, have hooked up with Younapi. I must believe that this can only mean good things.

Meet AXELIGHT from we-B studios (home of PassCode). They dropped their first album leading up to their debut on the 20th.

【🧬2022-05.11-00:00🧬】
Axelight 1st Album「futurist」配信開始
M1,M2,M6 : かめりあ @cametek
M3 : Mameyudoufu @mameyudoufu
M4 : rejection @rejection_dj
M5,M7 : kamiya @ka38_3
Jacket designed by
オクソラ ケイタ @okusora
🔌 : https://t.co/UFkR64n50n pic.twitter.com/KDVPL1xuLt

— Axelight (@axlt_official) May 10, 2022

A little AMEFURASSHI never hurt anyone.

Oshiloss Corner

Shortly after dropping what is quite possibly the album of the year, Kai is suspending activities from RAY .

突然の報告となりますが、RAYの活動をしばらくお休みすることになりました。
今一番周りに迷惑をかけずに、自分自身も前を向ける選択なのかなと思います。

自分はRAYが一番に大切なことは変わりありません。また復帰できるまで、共にいてくれるとうれしいです。 https://t.co/SRUPcTm32i

— 甲斐莉乃 (@norimaika) May 12, 2022

Why are you teasing me KANARIA?

🕊…

— カナリア (@KANARIA_VU) May 12, 2022

It has been one year since the dissolution of SPARK SPEAKER .

解散から一年。

スパスピと繋いできた歌は
キミの光になれていますか？

今日も明日もキミが自分らしく
金色に輝いてますように。
いつまでも祈ってます。 pic.twitter.com/uA1Eq6smY4

— 木山しずか@SPARK SPEAKER (@SHIZUKA__SP) May 12, 2022

Have a Good Weekend !!

I know I will.