This article was posted to the pure-japanese-rock mailing list, and it gives a nice glimpse into the workings of the Japanese music industry in Japan. Shigeo Maruyama quit his job as head of Epic Records to launch his own independet label, 247 Music. The article has a few interesting tidbits.
Yearly Archives: 2004
At least you’re not named ‘Do As Infinity’
One of these days, I’ll write about why I like SXSW far more than the ACL Fest. Granted, most of the enmity toward the latter stems from having worked at the very first festival, which, to put it in the mildest terms, fucking sucked.
For now, I’ll be content just to comb through this year’s showcases to find some clever band names.
Fuck you, Queer Eye
Rather than subject you to all the useless Flash — useless Flash, how redundant — let’s just cut to the chase.
One woman. 14 bachelors. A million dollars. The trick? If the person she ends up with is straight, she splits the million. If he’s gay, he takes it all.
Makes Straight Plan for the Gay Man look tolerant by comparrison.
Shit … maybe I should audition for this show …
(Found this link while reading a rather useless story about the next Law & Order incarnation.)
What are the chances ‘W’ gets to be a taster?
Oh. My. Goofness. Yet another means by which to drool over Alton Brown.
I have to say I find the original Iron Chef entertaining, but between a really good West Wing re-run and Iron Chef, I’ll gladly opt for a Joshua Malina/Bradley Whitford fix.
But a US version of Iron Chef with AB as commentator? Mmmm …
Death match DSL vs. cable
For all of Time Warner’s chest thumping about the inconvenience of DSL — and yes, it is terribly inconvenient, since I couldn’t even move my connection with me when I moved a mere 50 yards — DSL has done one thing my cable connection hasn’t — stayed connected.
Minnie me!
Actress Minnie Driver has a showcase at SXSW. Yup. Her quest for a label deal continues in our very own city. I would go to this showcase if only I weren’t already occupied with Japan Girls Nite on Saturday.
She’s not the only Hollywood-type pursuing the rock star dream. Los Angeles Latin band Fredabla sports as its lead singer one Eric Balfour, whose notable guest appearances include Xander’s vamped friend Jesse in the first few episodes of Buffy, the guy who harrasses Zoe Bartlett in Georgetown bar in an episode of The West Wing, and most infamously, Gabriel Dimas, the guy on the receiving end of a decapitated foot delivered by Claire Fischer in Six Feet Under.
The only reason I know this much about Balfour is the fact he strikes me as being a mini-Ben Affleck.
Speculation
I know I shouldn’t read too much into it, but Quruli, the one band I want to see more than anything this year at SXSW, is scheduled as part of the Barsuk Records showcase.
Of course, John Vanderslice, a Barsuk artist, is signed to Quruli’s indie label Noise McCartney Records in Japan, so this could very well be a case of reciprocity.
But it would be very, very cool if Barsuk issued Quruli albums here in the States.
QOTSA Watcha!
OK. So, Nick Oliveri takes a shot at Josh Homme, but Josh proclaims his undying love.
Dude, forget gay — these guys sound like they need marriage counseling. I have no idea why I’m fascinated enough about this split — it’s not like they’re my favorite band.
In other news, this tidbit from the Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll seemed somewhat topical for this post:
Best Marriage-on-the-Rocks: OutKast. Big Boi is all, “Don’t listen to all those rumors! Me and my man are gonna last forever!” And we’re all, “Damn, girl! He’s cheatin’ on you!”
TIM GRIERSON
Los Angeles, California
The parallel histories of Smashing Pumpkins and Number Girl
When I first read about Billy Corgan saying James Iha split up the Smashing Pumpkins, I of course took James’ side. Corgan still strikes me as taking himself way too seriously.
But then I read Corgan’s statement myself, and I have to say I give him credit for staying mum about Iha, and even for coming clean about it.
Thing is, Number Girl follows a parallel history with Smashing Pumpkins, and that break-up was spun entirely differently.
Don’t listen to that man in OutKast
Polaroid doesn’t suggest shaking your Polaroid pictures. To wit:
“The image, which dries behind a clear plastic window, so never actually touches the air, is best laid flat, and away from the wind, advises the Polaroid website.”
So I guess the semantically correct way of saying it say, “Shake it like you could a Polaroid picture.”
Or something like that.