TOKYO GIG PICKS (APRIL)

Gig Night

In my view, Tokyo has slipped a lot as a World music city, with many of the big acts and new acts being a lot less willing to come here than in former years, meaning those that do, tend to overcharge (yes IGGY, ERIC CLAPTON, and GUNS N' ROSES I'm talking about you!). It has also suffered from the "K-Pop apocalypse" with slop formulaic acts spamming the music sensibilities of the less sophisticated. But, despite all this, it still does better than most cities in offering musical entertainment, especially if you drill down. So, having got all that out of my system, here is Tokyo-Met's picks for the year ahead: 

MELT BANANA

Japanese Noiseniks MELT BANANA finally released a new album last year so I guess there must be a new spring in their step, which sucks because I was hoping they would mellow out a bit. But the good thing about J-bands doing "hardcore punk experimental" music is that it doesn't sound as mannered and fake as when they do something more "cultured" like blues or thrash. The shrill, brittle aggression of punky music has an authenticity here. The support for the show at the pokey Shin-Okubo Earthdom are NEGATIVE SUN, WOLF CREEK, CHIKAN CHEF, & TAKAKURA KEN, representing some equally marginalised forms of sonic expression. 7th of April. Price: ￥6,000 (Ticket info)

DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979

I guess we've all got to support Canada at this trying time, so here at Tokyo Met we say "Fuck you Trump" and "Never 51" by recommending DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 at Shibuya's WWW. The punky hard rockers are big enough to guarantee a solid night's entertainment (if you're OK with squashed bass) but not big enough to overcharge, so right in that "Tokyo music value pocket" that we work so hard to identify. WWW Shibuya, 18th April, Price: ￥7,500 (Ticket Info)

FLOOK

This Anglo-Irish -- with more stress more on the Irish -- band of flute blowers and bodhrán-bashers are pretty "kick-ass" in the folk world, having delivered serious soothing vibes for the last three decades. The band's flutist Sarah Allen has also performed and recorded with THE WATERBOYS obviously. Good choice for those feeling a bit homesick for rainy pubs and sheep lost in the mist. WWW Shibuya, 23rd April Price: ￥8,000 (Ticket info) 

TEMPLE OV SUBSONIC YOUTH

The sound of the cavernous clubby recesses of Tokyo, TEMPLE OV SUBSONIC YOUTH is apparently the new monicker of "sound bwoy" and "father of nocturnal technology" MARS89, basically a club DJ, who, when he can't find what he wants, just makes his own. Will be a tight fit at the tiny Ochiai Soup where visitors are warned not to upset the residential neighbours. Other names on the bill include Yasunobu Suzuki, Masahiro Hiramoto, and Hiroaki Maki. Ochiai Soup, 27th of April. Price: ¥2,500 (Ticket info)