Accentuate The Negative

Midori @ Tower Records, Amerika-mura, December 2005

2006-05-22T22:04:00.000+10:00

Hey, I'm closing up this photoblog, so this will be the last entry here. Why? Well, basically I'm paying a lot more attention to the upkeep of my flickr.com site here so please check that out instead. Also, I'm not sure if anyone was actually reading this haha. So, I'll leave it open for a while longer, but please update your links to my flickr page if need be, or if it was relevant to the content here (ie. mostly Japanese band pics and links) just delete the link. Arigatou gozaimashita.

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Rain Dogs, Osaka, July 2005

2006-05-06T01:57:00.000+10:00

Donna Summer (not Jason Forrest) @ Docore, Osaka, July 2005

2006-04-25T07:58:00.000+10:00

It's been awhile between posts, so here's a few to keep you going, and let's get back to the Japanese artists, what we're all here for, right?

The Droolers in Rockrock, 2005

2006-04-08T01:40:00.000+10:00

Aust Centre for Contemporary Art, 2003

2006-04-07T03:44:00.000+10:00

Docore, Nippombashi, 2005

2006-04-02T02:31:00.000+11:00

My Bentencho apartment, early 2005

2006-03-31T05:16:00.000+11:00

I'm overseas at the moment (London right now, to be precise) so these daily updates won't be so daily for a while. You'll treasure the new pics even more now, won't you? What? You don't look at this page anyway? Well, what are you doing right now? Ha!

Bentencho, 2004

2006-03-26T16:18:00.000+11:00

The Futures @ Bridge, Osaka, January 2005

2006-03-25T12:53:00.000+11:00

The Futures @ Bridge, Osaka, January 2005

2006-03-24T11:27:00.000+11:00

Aichi Expo, 2005

2006-03-23T12:33:00.000+11:00

Arthouse crowd at Caustic Soda show, December 2004

2006-03-22T12:02:00.000+11:00

Braid in Kyoto, September 2004

2006-03-21T11:54:00.000+11:00

Yoshimi with DMBQ @ Bridge, Osaka, February 2005

2006-03-20T13:32:00.000+11:00

Cool Boy Noi

2006-03-18T12:56:00.000+11:00

Rock Rock Finger

2006-03-17T12:22:00.000+11:00

Catch of the Day

2006-03-16T12:50:00.000+11:00

Yumi @ Bridge

2006-03-15T14:20:00.000+11:00

okonoMARKi

2006-03-14T12:36:00.000+11:00

Hungry Kanako

2006-03-13T17:29:00.000+11:00

This week is People Week!

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Whoopees, Kyoto, December 2004

2006-03-12T12:10:00.000+11:00

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Whoopees, Kyoto, December 2004

2006-03-11T13:37:00.000+11:00

Ni-hao! @ Pony, Melbourne, February 2006

2006-03-10T10:42:00.000+11:00

Ni-hao! @ Bar Open, Fitzroy, February 2006

2006-03-09T12:31:00.000+11:00

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Borofesta, Kyoto, October 2005

2006-03-08T10:53:00.000+11:00

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Whoopees, Kyoto, December 2004

2006-03-07T11:30:00.000+11:00

Ni-hao! @ Bar Open, Fitzroy, February 2006

2006-03-06T10:51:00.000+11:00

This week is Yukari Week here at Accentuate The Negative. Yukari is the bass player and co-songwriting force for two awesome Kyoto bands, Limited Express (Has Gone?) and Ni-hao! I was gonna feature one of the bands itself but realised I had a swag of great Yukari shots I've decided to post instead. I guess you could call it kind of a crush... Oh, and the Ni-hao! shows in Melbourne last month were fantastic, they've progressed from the times I saw them play in Osaka into a classy, fun-filled live act that had the crowd pleading for more. What's that? You missed out? Hang your head in shame!

Midosuji Line, Osaka, 2005

2006-03-05T12:56:00.000+11:00

Sapporo, 2005

2006-03-04T16:56:00.000+11:00

Harajuku, 2004

2006-03-03T11:16:00.000+11:00

Tennoji, 2005

2006-03-02T15:31:00.000+11:00

Hanami, Yoyogi-koen, 2005

2006-03-01T11:35:00.000+11:00

Kobe to Osaka, 2005

2006-02-28T12:57:00.000+11:00

Sapporo, 2005

2006-02-27T11:19:00.000+11:00

Let's make this week's theme "fun things in Japan", slightly out of the ordinary stuff that just had to be snapped. Starting with what seems to be a Ganguro paradise in Sapporo. Also, John Harte has launched his website containing awesome photos of the Osaka scene over many years, links to many artists and bands, and info on how to purchase his newly released photo books on Afrirampo and the legendary Misono Building in downtown Osaka. Get amongst it.

Melt-Banana @ Namba Bears, December 2003

2006-02-26T22:49:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Whoopees, Kyoto, June 2004

2006-02-25T14:30:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Fandango, Juso, September 2005

2006-02-24T10:35:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Fandango, Juso, September 2005

2006-02-23T11:15:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Fandango, Juso, September 2005

2006-02-22T11:27:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Fandango, Juso, September 2005

2006-02-21T13:21:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Fandango, Juso, September 2005

2006-02-20T13:19:00.000+11:00

Accentuate The Negative will now commence with a run of weekly "themes". For the first week the theme is none other than Japan's (and maybe the world's) best band, Melt-Banana. The majority of shots will be from a show at Fandango in Osaka, where the choice of black & white film proved to be a winner, thanks to Yasuko's bright white jacket.

Gion Matsuri, Kyoto, 2005

2006-02-19T12:03:00.000+11:00

Utsubo-koen, Osaka, 2005

2006-02-18T13:22:00.000+11:00

Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, 2003

2006-02-17T12:49:00.000+11:00

Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto, 2004

2006-02-16T12:54:00.000+11:00

Corrupted @ Firefly, Nagahoribashi, January 2005

2006-02-15T14:13:00.000+11:00

Whenever Corrupted play at Firefly they set up on the floor and the crowd circles around them. Once the band kick in to their most guttural, heaviest, darkest moments, viewing them from the raised stage area is akin to peering into the depths of hell. Definitely what you'd imagine the soundtrack down there to be. And I always manage to forget my earplugs.

Halloween show at Saomai, Namba, 2005

2006-02-14T14:04:00.000+11:00

Utero @ Saomai, Namba, October 2005

2006-02-13T13:05:00.000+11:00

Contortions @ Club Noon, Osaka, July 2005

2006-02-12T12:49:00.000+11:00

Marty of Tic Toc Tokyo, St.Kilda, January 2006

2006-02-11T12:47:00.000+11:00

Marty of Tic Toc Tokyo, St.Kilda, January 2006

2006-02-10T00:25:00.000+11:00

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Borofesta, Kyoto, October 2005

2006-02-09T11:35:00.000+11:00

Zuinosin @ Fandango, Juso, September 2005

2006-02-08T12:29:00.000+11:00

Near Phillip Island, Victoria, January 2006

2006-02-07T12:59:00.000+11:00

Melbourne CBD, January 2006

2006-02-06T13:05:00.000+11:00

Mu @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, January 2006

2006-02-05T18:01:00.000+11:00

Mu @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, January 2006

2006-02-04T12:14:00.000+11:00

KA4U @ Borofesta, Kyoto, October 2005

2006-02-03T12:11:00.000+11:00

"Lighter Gun", 2005

2006-02-02T12:52:00.000+11:00

Ninja-mura, Mie-ken, 2005

2006-02-01T16:51:00.000+11:00

Kamo River, Kyoto, Summer 2004

2006-01-31T13:15:00.000+11:00

Midori @ Rain Dogs, Osaka, August 2005

2006-01-30T11:15:00.000+11:00

Midori @ Rain Dogs, Osaka, August 2005

2006-01-28T01:57:00.000+11:00

And you thought sitting high up on a balcony would be a safe place to watch the band... Midori's school uniform wearing vocalist, Mariko, scaling the heights and getting to know the fans a little better.

Zuinosin @ Tower Records, Amerika-mura, September 2005

2006-01-27T11:20:00.000+11:00

Asakusa, Tokyo, New Year 2004

2006-01-26T12:32:00.000+11:00

"Acoustic Guitar", 2005

2006-01-25T10:39:00.000+11:00

Buddyhead have gotten around to putting up their "Best & Worst Releases of 2005". Whilst their best choices are not totally in line with my own, their worst certainly are, and they keep coming up with new, colourful, hilariously vulgar ways to talk about musicians (and people on the radio and MTV). Review of the year? It has to be Fallout Boy, as we all know a picture can put it better than 1000 words can.

Pig & Machine @ Saomai, Namba, October 2005

2006-01-24T11:56:00.000+11:00

Shabushabu @ Saomai, Namba, October 2005

2006-01-23T12:12:00.000+11:00

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Borofesta, Kyoto, October 2005

2006-01-22T12:03:00.000+11:00

Limited Express (Has Gone?) @ Borofesta, Kyoto, October 2005

2006-01-21T10:29:00.000+11:00

"Go Smoking", 2005

2006-01-20T11:57:00.000+11:00

Cohol in Shinjuku, June 2004

2006-01-18T15:10:00.000+11:00

King Brothers @ Pipe 69, Amerika-mura, June 2004

2006-01-17T11:59:00.000+11:00

King Brothers @ Pipe 69, Amerika-mura, June 2004

2006-01-16T13:53:00.000+11:00

King Brothers @ Pipe 69, Amerika-mura, June 2004

2006-01-14T18:42:00.000+11:00

King Brothers @ Pipe 69, Amerika-mura, June 2004

2006-01-13T10:27:00.000+11:00

Ok, back to the bands. This was one of the best live performances I've seen. Period. More shots to come.

Longmen Caves, Luoyang, China, 2005

2006-01-12T14:35:00.000+11:00

Xi'an, 2005

2006-01-11T10:24:00.000+11:00

Beijing, 2005

2006-01-10T14:45:00.000+11:00

Melt-Banana @ Whoopees, Kyoto, June 2004

2006-01-09T08:35:00.000+11:00

Afrirampo @ Fandango, Osaka, October 2004

2006-01-08T11:38:00.000+11:00

"Palindrome", 2005

2006-01-07T12:56:00.000+11:00

Dotonbori, Osaka, 2005

2006-01-06T13:23:00.000+11:00

Midori @ Tower Records, Amerika-mura, December 2005

2006-01-05T11:39:00.000+11:00

Midori are part of the Kansai area's recent attack on the Japanese underground music scene. Along with bands like Zuinosin, Afrirampo, and Limited Express (Has Gone?), Midori explode in a tantrum of sound like Melt-Banana and the Boredoms before them, but have a more definitive jazz feel in parts with the inclusion of piano and double bass. They have a gripping live show already, the singer sporting a school uniform and spending half her time howling into the mic, the other half destroying the stage, climbing onto things and falling about. Their official debut release "First" came out in December of 2005 and follows two self-released EPs. My tip for big things in 2006.

Midori @ Tower Records, Amerika-mura, December 2005

2006-01-04T16:44:00.000+11:00