sokabe keiichi band - present

New single from sokabe keiichi band. I tell you, Keiichi Sokabe is one productive man. The band released their second album earlier this year, before that the single "hoshi", then the EP "minna no uta" then a live dvd. Plus various releases and remixes as a solo artist, playing solo, playing festivals with the Rendevouz Band, long touring with the band, reuniting with Sunny Day Service and doing some live shows with them, releasing a book (although only containing previously released song lyrics). He also runs a café in Shimokitazawa called City Country City, and the label Rose records etc etc. Plus he has a wife and at least 3 kids. I have to wonder how he finds the time to do it all?

Anyways, enough of my babble (rant continues below), here's the video for "present". The single was also released on a limited edition 7" vinyl. 500 copies personally decorated by Sokabe himself.


It's a cute and catchy song, but not unlike the latest album "happiness!" I'm starting to think that the songs have become a bit too soft. They don't make as much of a strong impression on me as the earlier songs have. I think it might be because it's become a bit too sunny and rosy red in the sokabe universe. By all means should the man be allowed his happiness, but I'm just saying... Not saying that the self-proclaimed "king of mellow rock" should be miserable, I love that feel good-atmosphere that sokabe keiichi band has, but if you compare to the first album of theirs "kira kira!" it simply has better songs, like the title track, "umi to autobai" or my favourite track "yume miru youni nemuritai". There's a stronger nerve in these songs, I think. Either that, or the problem is that I'm miserable.

"hoshi" got my hopes up for the second album, but it did not turn out to be representative of the rest of the album. "Pure & True" and "nagai yoru" are quite good though. I read in an interview that Sokabe wanted to focus more on the live aspect of the music for the second album, so that could definitely have something to do with the outcome. Their live shows are always incredibly fun. Also, he might be saving up some songs for the Sunny Day Service comeback. Who knows. At his rate there'll probably be at least 50 more albums released before he retires.

Speaking of releases, the cover album "Sokabe Sings" that was previously only available for sale at his solo tour around new years will be released on Dec. 4th, containing covers of the Beatles, the Pixies, the Velvet Underground and Madonna(!) among others.

This post got a bit longer than intended, so if you made it this far here's the video for "nagai yoru".

「トキメキNight! vol.3」

February 4th, Shibuya Home

Tonight's event was called "tokimeki Night! vol.3 folk jamboree #1". Headliner was 曽我部恵一(sokabe keiichi), and he had invited some friends as well. It was my first time at Shibuya Home. The place was tiny and packed, somewhere between 100 and 150 people, I guess. I usually like standing in the front, but tonight's acts were all acoustic, which usually happens in a more quiet setting, so I grabbed one of the few barstools by the wall instead. I'm glad I did, becasue I probably wouldn't have been able to see much otherwise.

First up was 上野智文(ueno tomofumi) & CCC band. Ueno usually plays guitar with Sokabe, but he also works at Sokabe's café in Shimokitazawa called City Country City. That's where the CCC band also origins from, and I believe the other two in the band also works at the café. (it's a lovely place btw, and Ueno makes great pasta!) The songs they played were poppy and cheerful and I could almost feel that nice campfire feeling (minus the cheesy parts, mind you). The set ended with 「海の向こうで」(umi no mukou de) which is also on Sokabe Keiichi Band's album "Kira kira!".

Next up was 島津田四郎(shimazu tashiro) who's on Sokabe's label, Rose Records. He played these quirky and funny folk songs. Apparently he will release his second album this summer. He also played a track from his first album, which was a lot more mellow than the others, and where you could hear that he actually has a great singing voice too. There's this cool video here, where he sings with Sokabe:


Next up was 有馬和樹(arima kazuki) from おとぎ話(otogi banashi). Although it was announced as a solo set he did play together with Otogi Banashi's guitarist 牛尾健太(ushio kenta). They played some new songs, some from the latest album, and a couple I didn't know. I only have the latest 「理由なき反抗」("rebel without a cause"), but I need to get the first album too, because they really know how to write charming pop tunes.

This music video pretty much sums it up:


"Neon Boys" is a happy-fun-song too:

www.myspace.com/otgbanashi

Sokabe keiichi was up last. I've seen him play with the band a few times now, but this was my first tme seeing him play solo. The first thing that struck was how incredibly tired he looked though. At sokaban gigs they're all so energetic and happy. All of a sudden he was more calm and uhm, not smiling. The atmosphere was completely different, and the songs sounded more emotional and beautiful. He has a great voice too, although I reckon it has changed a bit since his Sunny Day Service days. I have two of his solo albums, "Blue" and "Love City", but I realize that I need to get more of those too.

Towards the end Sokabe called out Arima. Arima spoke of how he discovered Sunny Day Service when he was in high school, and that he really loved the album "24ji". After that Sokabe and Arima played 「月光荘」(gekkou sou) from that album together! Finally that big smile came on Sokabe's face, and Arima seriously looked like the happiest person alive. It was kind of a touching moment.

For the encore Sokabe was joined by Ueno, and they played "Stars". Sokaban always plays it at the end of the set or as the encore. It's a great ending song, I think.

Go to Sokabe's live blog for pic's and setlist: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/live-sokabe/20090204

After the show I bought Sokabe Keiichi Band's new single 「ほし」(hoshi). The sound is different from the other sokaban tracks, and it leans more towards his solo stuff. I like it a lot. By now you've probably realized that it's been impossible for me to be critical about anything this time around, but seriously, shows like this one is the reason why I love going to concerts.

Here's the music video for "Hoshi":

曽我部恵一BAND「カントー的!」

nov 21st, Chiba Look
nov 30th, Shibuya Quattro

Because the last sokabe keiichi band gig was so fun I decided to see them twice on their Kanto tour. First at the local club (well 30min away by train, but at least a lot closer than Tokyo) in Chiba, and later the tour final in Shibuya.

[pic from http://d.hatena.ne.jp/live-sokabe/20081121)

「ヤバイヤバイヤバイ！」

sokabe was really impressed by the crowd in Chiba. Basically because everyone was crazy and so much into it. It was sokabe keiichi band's first time in Chiba, so that explains a lot. Although I don't really see that people in Chiba would have much trouble going to Tokyo. Nonetheless it was fun to be at a gig where everyone were so excited. Sokabe also said that he wanted to live in Chiba. Ahahaha. haha....ha..(why would anyone live here rather than Tokyo?)

I've never been to Look before, and it turned out to be a tiny club with a capacity of maybe no more than 200 people. The "bar" was really just the other end of the merch table, and instead of lockers they had a shelf where everyone would put their stuff. I love small venues, so this place was pretty sweet. The only bad thing was the washiki ie a Japanese toilet ie a toilet in the floor. I really hate those things.

Anyways, the gig was so much fun. The entire band really give it all, and they're always in a good mood. Happy and so energetic. They're btw also one of the few Japanese bands I've seen who drink alcohol (beer) on stage. I guess most japanese people would get drunk in an instant and be unable to play, hehe.

They played a long set, 24 songs. The entire setlist and more pics can be seen at their live blog: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/live-sokabe/20081121
They played four new songs, all which where pretty good. Tomo, the guitarist, has written and sings on one of the new songs as he does on 「海の向こうで」 (umi no mukou de). If I'm not mistaken they're currently recording new songs. At least a new single will be released in February.

They played a few Sunny Day Service songs to, and I was really glad that they played「恋におちたら」(koi ni ochitara). Before "Telephone Love" sokabe told this long story about falling in love and eating peanuts. Apparently Chiba is famous for peanuts. I've never seen any Chiba-peanuts though... After "mellow mind" everyone thought that the gig was over, but suddenly the band came back out and did another song! I like to believe that it was because they thought the crowd in Chiba were awesome.

They had new t-shirts this time with artwork from the tour flyer. It's cute. I got a purple one. And after deliberating over it a long time I bought a sokabe keiichi rendevouz band vinyl. The reason I was hesitating a bit is because my record player is in Norway, so I won't be able to listen to it here in Japan. That, and the fact that I'm always incredibly slow at making up my mind. By the time I'd finally bought the thing though, the entire band had come out and were packing their gear on the stage. I got sokabe to sign my vinyl.

(pic from http://d.hatena.ne.jp/live-sokabe/20081130)

The gig in Shibuya was more or less the same, but I mean it in the sense that it was great too. In the beginning I was standing in the front, but people were pushing so much that it became so uncomfortable that I moved further to the back. The stage was bigger this time though so I had a perfect view. They played a couple of other new songs. Sokabe failed a bit at the story before "Telephone Love" this time. I think he was running out of ideas, but it was still funny. Setlist and pics in sokabe keiichi's live blog here:
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/live-sokabe/20081130


Sokabe keiichi is currently doing a solo acoustic tour around the country. The show in Chiba was unfortunately sold out under less than two hours(!). I'd love to see him solo sometime. Apparently he's playing 「あじさい」(ajisai, another Sunny Day Service song). Would've been great to hear live.

nhhmbase + sokabe keiichi band

The day after YO-MA, and a long night out in Tokyo, I came back to O-Nest Sept 21. to see nhhmbase and sokabe keiichi (曽我部恵一)band.


I had seen sokabe keiichi once before, but that was sokabe keiichi rendevouz band, which is a different band, and that performance was more mellow and soul-ish. Sokabe keiichi band however was all about rock'n'roll. From the second they came on stage to the very end it was a riot. In a very happy, super optimistic kind of way. I've never talked to the man, but I'm convinced that sokabe keiichi is one of the nicest people in the world. He's always smiling and his songs gives the term feel-good a whole new meaning. At times the songs are almost too cheezy, but you have to have a heart of stone not to be charmed by those pop-hooks and sweet lyrics. You know you're good when you can get away with song titles like "telephone love", "let's get married" and "let's ride the magic bus". I think it had a lot to do with their energy and presence on stage though, 'cause damn, they were awesome. Besides that one other gig I was completely unfamiliar with his songs, but I was immediately taken in by their performance. They were jumping all over the stage, and at one point the bassist and guitarist went out in the audience, while the drummer was hanging fom the ceiling. Fun! I also loved the new version of "seishunkyousoukyoku" (青春狂走曲), and old Sunny Day Service song, which is sokabe keiichi's old band.

I wanted to buy some cd's after the gig, but I had no idea what would be the best record to start with. I looked clueless at the merch stand, and so the guy standing there recomended me their new live record "tokimeki LIVE!". It really captures the essence in their live shows. "Okay," I said, "can you recommend one more?"."You want one more?!" The guy was shocked. Funny. Needless to say that I'm going to see them again, twice in fact, when their doing their Kanto tour in November.

myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sokabe
website: http://www.sokabekeiichi.com/

I had heard that nhhmbase was an awesome live band, and I wanted to see them live for some time. Especially after watching the youtube video they have on their myspace site were one of the band members ends up in an ambulance. Unfortunately though I had to leave early to catch the last train home, so I only got to see the first 15-20 minutes. It was 15-20 good minutes though. nhhmbase released their first album "hamon cross" (波紋クロス) this year, which I bought before I left the venue, but similarly to the self-titled ep I think they're interesting to listen to, but I rarely listen to the cd for some reason. They have a really interesting and slightly strange sound. At the gig they played a lot of songs from the first record, and I enjoyed it a lot. I'm seeing them again on Sunday. They'e playing at Nest Fest where lots of bands I like are playing. Hopefully I get to see their whole set this time around.

myspace: http://www.myspace.com/nhhmbase

website: http://www.nhhmbase.com/ja/