Lo-Fi Blog

http://mag.vibirth.com/2010/03/exchange-0319.php

This month we we're booked for a large scale music event that's going to be held in the O-East stage in Shibuya. This concert hall has a capacity around a thousand so I'm interested to see how large the party is going to turn out.


The artists that are participating are bands and musicians affiliated with the TBS TV show in collaboration with viBirth music distribution on myspace.

The show features an indie artist and other alleged "pros" give them advice about how to shape up their act. For better or for worse Lo-Fi hasn't been privaleged to the honor of taking part in this show.

Many people tell us how it's kind of difficult to push our music/band, 'cause we don't fit snug into the J-Pop scene. Well personally I don't understand how sounding like someone else or sound stereotypically jpop is going to help my music or our listeners but I guess I'll just have to weather this type of common expectation in the music industry now.

We are getting lots of positive feedback from directors or producers event organizers that want to take their projects overseas as well. This is great becaus we think music international and just sound by itself has no borders.
And slowely I guess international-English is becoming the common language in a large part of the world.

Which reminds me I wish I had the ability to sing in more languages. Until then I'll do my best to reach out with the sound.

Well on March 19th we were fortunate enough to have our supporters push us into this event. So if your in town please drop by to catch the music.



5

We played at the bar "Wasted Time" last night as a duo for the first time! I really enjoy playing at this small bar because it's really laid back and the atmosphere is nice. Unfortunately these type of live music venues are dying out in Tokyo now.

Since they can't really attract a large audience anymore, they've started to generate their main income not from the customers that come there for the music, but from the bands that perform there.

Of course the bar "Wasted Time" runs on a different circuit for better or for worse. I can really feel how they are having a hard time booking the place too. The location is really good, but I guess there aren't enough people who just randomly go out to listen to live music.

It's the general rule that most gigging places dint advertise for the bands so you need to do the publicity part on your own. Also they usually have a minimum drink charge rule, and with normal booking procedures, it's likely that you'll be playing with a band that doesn't really balance out well with your band and audience. I guess it's more important to fill the dates with performances than to make every single one count. I believe this can lead to distancing potential fans though... I guess I just haven't found that great venue that always has great music almost everytime you go.

The only exception would be the Superdeluxe in Roppongi/West Azabu area, which is a multi-purpose hall / club / gallery! It's got great atmosphere and very inspirational interesting artist there from around the globe. That's where Lo-Fi did their release party and also opened for a band from Norway the other day. It's got some really fun monthly events too like Pechkucha night and Testtone.

Anyway the duo gig last night was with Nori and me, the keys and bass only. I've never seen an duo with a bass vocal, and especially not with the styles that we play. So I had nothing really to go on when we made the arrangements to our songs. I guess it's kind of awkward at first to be doing rap-style rhythm over no beat but only keys and bass. But I guess you gotta create your own beat. It took some gettin used to but I guess there is a freedom of no drum track tying you down.

We had comments from our fans that have been to many of our shows, that it was really interesting to hear this different side of Lo-Fi, but I dunno if we're ever gonna do this again! Maybe a seperate sub-project in this style, but I think Lo-Fi is not Lo-Fi when one of us is missing from the stage.

Now we are getting ready for two concerts coming up next weekend. One at the JICA hall and another at Thumbs Up in Yokohama, Japan.


5
Goh Hirose
Vocalist/bassist/guitarist

Lo-Fi opened for Zanussi 5 on the 23rd and it was great!
They were a great band and so it was too bad that they only got one night in Tokyo.

We did a few so songs to warm up the crowd for Zanussi 5, but it was a really different crowd than what we were used to! Everyone was listening so intently... I felt like I was at and audition... Not to say that that was bad! It was fun for us though, considering that it's a good chance to concentrate on subtle expressions when people are sitting down and listening.

Here's a shot of Zanussi 5



5
Goh Hirose
Vocalist/bassist/guitarist

Alicia Saldenha from Trinidad lives in Osaka and is a very soulful singer we met when we toured there.

She came to Tokyo to play for two nights and Lo-Fi was there to be her band!

This is a photo of her second night in Tokyo with 5 & Nori of Lo-Fi, Yuki of Hypesessions and David Whitaker who helped organize the event on our second night!




5
Goh Hirose
Vocalist/bassist/guitarist

I can't express how much it meant to us for so many people showing to see our show in Tokyo.

This was actually our first CD release party and to be honest it was nerve racking due to so much trouble that happened on the day and days leading up to the event. BUT with everyone's support the party turned out great. It was heartwarming and inspirational and I was grateful to have so many fans out there along with my favorite artists that came to participate in our event.

I really think that we had so many challenges that would have made the event impossible if it were not for everyone there who pushed us along!

Also for those of you who were truly worried and come up to us to give us advice on the accident,

Yosh got the hospital after the show and had a full scan and there are no complications other than

some neck pain (he got a brace for that). 

I'd like to introduce once again the artists that helped make the event happen!

Art/Paint:

  Ayumi http://www.a-live-ayumi.com/ 

  Yaberay http://ameblo.jp/ray-yabe/ 

Haven't been updating my blog for a while now, but after making my own donation
I thought it would be meaningful to spread the word and help out in anyway we can.

Personally I've had bad experiences being badgered by suspicious people asking for donations who take the money nowhere. I've also felt that just donating wasn't enough. That maybe it was just another way to get off feeling guilty or something. But after getting older I've realized that I was being a bit childish.

Now that I have more opportunities to reach out to more people at my concerts or parties etc., I felt the duty of helping people become aware of being more involved in one's community. That community must be very different for many people considering their social background or perspective, but eventually I think everybody will realize that everything is connected and that we are all part of one community.

I feel kinda depressed sometimes when I see the news here in Japan, and have the news caster say in relief "No Japanese were involved in the accident.". I honestly didn't understand what that comment was for. That doesn't change anything. That shouldn't be a relief to anyone when global communities need to support each other to overcome humanities new problems.

Anyway, I'm sure most people have considered donating some money to the relief efforts in Haiti.
It's easy. Holding back on a few movies or nights out, you could probably help save lives.

UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/

American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/