RIZE 2012 Fallin' Tour

RIZE TOUR 2012 - Sponsored by Stride gum

Everyone's favorite Japanese grunge-rock band RIZE is back at it again, along with the release of their newest single, "Local Defense Organization." 

Magenta Beach

Some bands make it, some bands don't. Some bands have great music, and terrible PR. Other bands just don't give a f*** and make music for the love of it. Magenta Beach is one of those bands...

Magenta Beach has 5 members:

Ali (Vo,)

Candy (Bass, Vo.)

Kosuke (Guitar)

Maro (Drums)

Chemizalfa (DJ)

I can't accurately recall the first time I met these guys. I want to believe it was in 2008, at a show at Club Asia in Shibuya. At the time, I had no idea their music would find its way to my iPod, but flash forward to 2012 and I can't help but smile every time I hear one of their songs come up on shuffle.

Hakai Hayabusa ( ハカイハヤブサ )

While waiting in the clubs for the headliners to play, I've often discovered new bands I would have otherwise never known existed.  I've been introduced to some really great bands, and really great people via this method. One such notable group I've met via a random encounter is the band Hakai Hayabusa (ハカイハヤブサ).

Pictured: KZ (Gu./Vo.)

Hakai Hayabusa was formed in 2002 and was originally a three piece band. Hakai Hayabusa currently consists of four members:

KZ (Guitar, Vocals)

Nori (Drums)

Moby (Bass, Chorus)

WACK (Guitar, Chorus)

I've rocked out with Hakai Hayabusa live a few times. I remember first seeing them (meeting them, and partying with them) on August 8, 2008 at a show in Tokyo. I was at the show to support my friends in the band Chokesleeper, but before they were due up to the stage that evening, this super chill, surf-punk band ruled the stage (Hakai Hayabusa).

Steady & Co.

In 2001, members from the bands Skebo King, Rip Slyme, and Dragon Ash, combined forces to make one of Japan's most epic Hip Hop groups of all time, Steady & Co.

Steady & Co. consists of 4 members:

Kenji Furuya (Dragon Ash)

Bots (Dragon Ash)

Ilmari (Rip Slyme)

Shigeo (Skebo King)

The band's only major release was in 2001, an album titled "Chambers." The Chambers album is packed from front to back with awesome songs, as to be expected from Japan's 2001 Hip Hop dream team.

Nobuaki Kaneko's New JDrama - VISION

Nobuaki Kaneko, the drummer to the popular Nirvana-esque Japanese garage punk band RIZE, finds himself behind the camera once again in this summer's new police drama- Vision.

Nobuaki Kaneko (NK) has been a drummer his entire life. When he was 17 years old, he created the (now famous) band RIZE with his lifelong friend, Jesse McFaddin. RIZE has gone on to release 7 major full length albums, spanning the genres of Rock, Reggae, Rap, Punk, and JPop. It is also rumored that RIZE will release a new album in 2012 (or early 2013), but the release date has not yet been confirmed.

In Vision, NK plays the role of the lead character Kazuma, a cop who frequently finds himself on the wrong side of the law. In episode 1 - Awakening, the plot reveals that Rena, the lead actress, thinks she is being followed by a ghost. I won't spoil anything though, so if you want to find out what happens in this summer's hottest JDrama, head over to Crunchy Roll and check out the first two episodes.

FIREBALL (Japanese Reggae)

The Japanese reggae scene has seen an explosion of talent in recent years. From Ryo the Skywalker to 卍Line, and Def Tech, the Japanese music scene continues to embrace the irie culture. One of my personal favorite Japanese reggae bands is FIREBALL.

FIREBALL consists of four members:

CRISS

TRUTHFUL 

CHOZEN LEE 

JUN4SHOT

If you see FIREBALL perform live, you might be confused to see more than four people on stage performing with  them. Providing FIREBALL's irie sound while touring is their supporting (back up) band, Home Grown. The two bands intermingle frequently, as seen in the Home Grown song "Stay with Me" featuring Criss from FIREBALL.

PaymoneyTomyPain

One of my personal favorite bands from Japan, PaymoneyTomyPain offers up a collection of rhythmic hits, each with their own catchy guitar riffs and punk/rock hooks. Formed in 2005, PTP continues to make waves throughout the Japanese music scene.

The band consists of four main members: 

K - Vocals

Pablo - Guitar

Zax - Drums

Tsuyoshi - Bass

Albums

• Another Day Comes (September 12, 2007)
• After You Wake Up (March 18, 2009)
• Remember the Name (January 26, 2011)