Now in its fifth year, the Next Music From Tokyo project brings select groups of Japanese indie bands on a short Canadian tour in the name of cross cultural interaction and awesome music. Run by a single guy who arranges and pays for the tour out of his own pocket, it offers an exciting look at the unique spectrum of independent music being made in Japan right now.
May 17: Toronto @ the Rivoli
May 18: Toronto @ the Rivoli
May 20: Montreal @ Divan Orange
May 22: Vancouver @ Rickshaw Theatre
If you live in Canada and have any interest at all in Japanese music, please try to check this out!
THE BANDS
きのこ帝国 (Kinoko Teikoku/Mushroom Kingdom)
Heavily influenced by post rock and shoegazer groups, Kinoko Teikoku is currently touring in support of their second full-length album, ユーリカ (Eureka).
Official Homepage
mouse on the keys
A piano-and-drums trio with occasional brass, a quote on the Next Music from Tokyo website calls mouse on the keys "jazz for people who don't like jazz". If you are familiar with American jazz groups like The Bad Plus and Brad Meldau Trio, you should give this a try.
Official homepage
チーナ (Chi-na)
Chi-na (rhymes with Tina; not like the country) are an orchestral pop group coming out of Saitama. OP thinks they sound a little like Los Campesinos! They are joining the Next Music in Tokyo project for the second time.
Official homepage
harafromhell
Pop-punk group harafromhell formed in 2010 and have but a single EP to their name according to their website. What they make lack in polish they make up for in talent and passion.
Official homepage
OP is a bitterly jealous Kinoko Teikoku fan who will be consoling herself with whatever scraps of info she can get from Twitter.