Who's up for some Cross Dressing Metro Sexually Confused Prog/Power Metal?

[spag]

I wish this thread had been started last month. I saw that Versailles played in LA on June 3rd, and I totally would have gone to check it out. Show was off my radar.

[Perditions Ghost]

Originally Posted by sh0kr0k

All good bands! I'm still warming up to alice nine. after being put off by all the fangirls shoving them down my throat. Same with Gazette/the GazettE. Suicide Ali is a recent discovery for me but I really like what I've heard! Did you see DéspairsRay on the Taste of Chaos tour? I wish this topic came up a few months ago, then maybe y'all could have made it out here for the Versailles show!! ^_^

Nah, I was going to bum a ride off a few of the kids I know that are into Avenged Sevenfold/Atreyu/etc, but didn't have the money to go see D'espairsRay and MUCC only play 20/25 minute sets each.

I'd also love to go see Sigh in NYC, but can't make it with all the other shows going on at the time (And my lack of a license until a few weeks after that)

[Cheiron]

And their sound was crappy and they were stuck on one side of the stage but if I recall correctly MUCC was very good.

[Daybreaker]

I once knew a guy who was all into this Japanese stuff. So much so he cross dressed. He bought wigs, dresses, make up, and dressed up like a woman. All the posters on his walls were of guys in drag. I found that a little odd. Yes they were "metal bands" but, ehhhh. It was still a little weird for me.

[TheLongshot]

Originally Posted by sh0kr0k

Eventhough I agree with you, I still don't understand the aversion to non-english vocals. I've been working real hard on opening up other avenues for these bands besides the anime cons. There are a few venues along the west coast and in New York that are hosting Japanese bands, so that's a start! GLAY just announced 3 shows in California, Versailles played there, Miyavi, the super group S.K.I.N.... m/

Well, I know there was kind of a minifestival of Japanese groups last year at Jaxx. Course, that was footed by a local promoter and might have been more J-Pop from what I saw.

As for the non-english vocal thing, there is a good reason why there are a lot of english language albums from groups of non-english speaking countries. They know that it is a hard sell otherwise. Bands like Rammstein are a rarity.

I think the first step to getting the bands more exposure is to stop pigeon-holing them with labels like "j-rock" eventhough I'm guilty of using it too. I won't get too deep but it's amazing how much a simple "tag" or "label" can affect a band. For example the "Christian" label on many metal and rock bands. Many of them are brilliant musicians who deserve as much recognition as many other "secular" artists, but that label puts off (many) people in the metal world. You've all seen it "J-Rock" tells people "this is different than rock, therefore you don't have to treat it the same" yet the musicians are playing the very same styles we all love - and sometimes better!

Maybe someone needs to push Glenn into signing a Japanese metal band, particularly one that isn't a big name like these guys. I mean, that's the point of festivals, isn't it?

Course, there are many barriers for a Japanese band in this country. The travel time just to the west coast is pretty huge. Also, importing stuff from Japan has always been a costly enterprise.

That being said, if NEARFest can bring in Japanese bands, Glenn can too.

Jason

[sh0kr0k]

Originally Posted by spag

I wish this thread had been started last month. I saw that Versailles played in LA on June 3rd, and I totally would have gone to check it out. Show was off my radar.

I'm sorry I posted a little about Versailles in a Galneryus thread (an older one) a couple months back. No one said anything so I didn't go any further with it. I had known about the shows for months but never thought to post the dates here Well, here are some things going on out your way. Maybe you'll like these bands too:

July 3-6: GaGaalinG @ Anime Expo, Los Angeles, CA
Aug 15 & 16: GLAY @ House of Blues, Los Angeles, CA
Sept 8: Sigh (w/Zimmer's Hole) @ Knitting Factory, Los Angeles, CA
Nov 7-9: Suicide Ali @ PMX 2008

There's a lot more than that, but those might interest you. Please, everyone, check out these sites for other dates/bands:
http://www.jrockeventsusa.com
http://www.jrockrevolution.com

Originally Posted by Perditions Ghost

Nah, I was going to bum a ride off a few of the kids I know that are into Avenged Sevenfold/Atreyu/etc, but didn't have the money to go see D'espairsRay and MUCC only play 20/25 minute sets each.

I'd also love to go see Sigh in NYC, but can't make it with all the other shows going on at the time (And my lack of a license until a few weeks after that)

Ugh, yeah that's true about the short sets. I'd bust my ass to get there and spend money I don't really have just for an hour of music. Thankfully, that tour helped those bands gain enormous exposure and popularity, so I'm sure they'll be back soon. Then I'll be able to exorcise this ghost that's haunting me. *crosses fingers* At least it wasn't BUCK-TICK

Originally Posted by Cheiron

And their sound was crappy and they were stuck on one side of the stage but if I recall correctly MUCC was very good.

Ain't that always the way I had heard a lot about MUCC before but dismissed them as a "nu-metal" thing. I'm glad I took time to listen, because I really enjoy them! Methinks they'll be back soon too!

Originally Posted by Daybreaker

I once knew a guy who was all into this Japanese stuff. So much so he cross dressed. He bought wigs, dresses, make up, and dressed up like a woman. All the posters on his walls were of guys in drag. I found that a little odd. Yes they were "metal bands" but, ehhhh. It was still a little weird for me.

That happens to everyone! ..at first! As for your friend cross-dressing on a regular basis, well, that's just his thing. If visual kei bands were his model, I bet he probably looked better than most girls!

Originally Posted by TheLongshot

Well, I know there was kind of a minifestival of Japanese groups last year at Jaxx. Course, that was footed by a local promoter and might have been more J-Pop from what I saw.

Oh really? Do you remember the name of the event, by chance? There's a minifestival of sorts at SXSW each year too. Still haven't seen anyone on that bill that I'd be interested in though, but it's only a matter of time. I'm guilty of liking more than my fair share of J-Pop.

As for the non-english vocal thing, there is a good reason why there are a lot of english language albums from groups of non-english speaking countries. They know that it is a hard sell otherwise. Bands like Rammstein are a rarity.

Oh I'm not disagreeing, I just wonder WHY it's true. It's too bad that the general market has an aversion to non-English music. I'm sure I already know why, but I probably better keep my mouth shut and wish for happy things. It's true that a lot of bands are making English-language discs because there is more of a call for it... but again, why insist on the language of the music? Seems silly to me, really. Many bands include lyric sheets or have translations that are a click away. I don't see Japan demanding that Dream Theater sing in Japanese. Or any other country for that matter. The "English is the most dominant language" argument doesn't work for me either. Whether it's in Japanese or German, Greek, Swedish, Portuguese or whatever - the fact that American's can't consume it until it's in English irritates me to no end. But you know I understand what you're saying. It's a fact. I just hate it.

Maybe someone needs to push Glenn into signing a Japanese metal band, particularly one that isn't a big name like these guys. I mean, that's the point of festivals, isn't it?

The travel time just to the west coast is pretty huge.

That being said, if NEARFest can bring in Japanese bands, Glenn can too.

If BAR Fest can do it--- well, I don't know the circumstances around that, so I can't use that as an easy example. BAR Fest might have gotten a deal or Concerto Moon could be local or paying for it themselves, so that might be an exception. I don't know if NEARFest and ProgPowerUSA have the same budgets, but Glenn also has to take into account the sponsor submissions. So between cost, all the other variables, AND if anyone puts a band on the sponsor list... there are just many barriers. But it's not impossible! It might require some coordination with other events like J-Rock Revolution or a con or two, but that's not so bad. I think the biggest part is having the desire to see the band instead of the financial benefits of hosting them, so I don't know if it would be in the cards for ProgPower. Glenn brings us bands we want to see, yes, but it's a balancing act with other important factors.

Anyway, you know all of this already. Maybe it will happen! Afterall, the PP family are showing the also like bands that don't fit neatly in the box (see: Volbeat, Mustasch, Amorphis) and I suspect that trend will continue. I could easily see bands like Meshuggah, Dark Tranquillity, or even Moi dix Mois, UnsraW, and others fitting in with the PP crowd if it continues to move forward in the direction it is. Now if Glenn, by a miracle of the gods, could pull of a reunion show of an old favorite from the Japanese scene, that would bring in all kinds of new fans! Malice Mizer, Sex Machineguns, X JAPAN, or Phantasmagoria would have people coming out of the woodwork. Then again, we'd be over-run with 15 year-old fangirls too.


Moi dix Mois

You Tube

[sh0kr0k]

Links to buy Versailles' 'Lyrical Sympathy' and/or 'The Revenant Choir'


As expected, you can purchase "Lyrical Symphony" from their State-side distributor Tainted Reality.
http://www.taintedreality.net - just click on "shop", scroll down to "shop by band"... BTW, a "mini-cd" is not a 3" disc. It's a term used by a lot of Asian labels to describe a CD that is longer than an EP but not quite an LP. This has only 7 songs, and "The Revenant Choir" isn't on it (for some stupid reason)

CDJAPAN
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=SASCD-27
This is a highly-respectable vendor. You can read reviews too. On the right is a pre-order for the first full-length disc "NOBLE" w/DVD (region 2 though).

EBAY
Auction #1...You know this already. Versailles have major fangirl support, so you're never too far away from something related to the band.

Cheers!

[TheLongshot]

Originally Posted by sh0kr0k

Oh really? Do you remember the name of the event, by chance? There's a minifestival of sorts at SXSW each year too. Still haven't seen anyone on that bill that I'd be interested in though, but it's only a matter of time. I'm guilty of liking more than my fair share of J-Pop.

Akiba Fest

http://www.afxakibafest.com/

It looks like they put on multiple events on the east coast.

Oh I'm not disagreeing, I just wonder WHY it's true.

Probably because most of us as a culture are very English-centric. In general we don't usually have to deal with another language. Now, that might be different if you live in a multicultural environment like I do, where going down the street you could be dealing with 4-5 different native languages, but for most Americans, they aren't really exposed to that kind of multiculturism.

Also, some of it probably comes from record executives, who don't think that that kind of thing would go over with the general public.

If BAR Fest can do it--- well, I don't know the circumstances around that, so I can't use that as an easy example. BAR Fest might have gotten a deal or Concerto Moon could be local or paying for it themselves, so that might be an exception.

BARFest is also on the West Coast, which makes it easier.

Anyway, you know all of this already. Maybe it will happen! Afterall, the PP family are showing the also like bands that don't fit neatly in the box (see: Volbeat, Mustasch, Amorphis) and I suspect that trend will continue. I could easily see bands like Meshuggah, Dark Tranquillity, or even Moi dix Mois, UnsraW, and others fitting in with the PP crowd if it continues to move forward in the direction it is. Now if Glenn, by a miracle of the gods, could pull of a reunion show of an old favorite from the Japanese scene, that would bring in all kinds of new fans! Malice Mizer, Sex Machineguns, X JAPAN, or Phantasmagoria would have people coming out of the woodwork. Then again, we'd be over-run with 15 year-old fangirls too.

I hope Glenn does continue to push the envelope. It is that aspect that still makes NEARFest attractive to me, even tho I'm bummed for not being able to go this year.

Jason

[Perditions Ghost]

Originally Posted by sh0kr0k

Anyway, you know all of this already. Maybe it will happen! Afterall, the PP family are showing the also like bands that don't fit neatly in the box (see: Volbeat, Mustasch, Amorphis) and I suspect that trend will continue. I could easily see bands like Meshuggah, Dark Tranquillity, or even Moi dix Mois, UnsraW, and others fitting in with the PP crowd if it continues to move forward in the direction it is.

I could see Meshuggah (Though maybe they're edging towards too big? I don't really know how big they are), and to be honest I've never heard Moi dix Mois or UnsraW (though I'll check them both out right now, especially since you just posted a MDM video), but - Dark Tranquillity? I don't think I could ever see them on the ProgPower stage.