May | 2013 | Stuart O'Connor

0 Return to Varit, my home from home :) 3/12/12

Varit is my Kansai home venue!

Ever since I first played here in 2009 I have always returned with every stop in Japan. It was even my home for a week as I slept on it`s hardened concrete ground to save funds whilst in town.

It was also during that time that I wrote the song `Varit` in the middle of the wee hours.

The night organised was a part of an event with a difference hatched by venue manager Wax. When he had toured the UK with his music he had seen how things were done in the UK and so decided to divert from the Japanese system and make the entry cheaper with the hope of encouraging folks to visit the venue and to make up the difference on drinks.

The quality fo the bands on the night was exceptional and I was drawn especially to the skills of Trumper player for a band called the Gypsies. Her name`s Mio and she was bold enough to join me for 2 songs during my set.

I opened the set with `My Pet Junkie` song `Breathing Without Living`. and managed to break a string almost instantly 😦 However the vibe was a true joy to be a part of and so the momentum was not lost whilst I chatted in broken Japanese/English and changed it.

All in all a great evening to be on the road. So pleased to be in the abyss during times like this 🙂

0 First Netherlands Dates Announced Plus Extra Japan Date Added!!!

It gives me great pleasure to announce that following on from my tour in Japan I will be flying from Tokyo to Amsterdam to begin a run of shows in the Netherlands.

Please check the shows page for the first announced dates.

More to come.

Also it give me great pleasure to add yet another show to the already hectic tour schedule in Japan.

My show that was cancelled on the 31st May in Tokyo has been replaced with another booking at the Venue of Maplehouse.

As always I`m happy to be busy instead of bored 🙂

0 New Music Video – Bright Scenic

The Album was released physically as a Tape Cassette Limited to 44 copies.

A new music video has been created to one of my songs by a student studying at Oaklands College in Welwyn Garden City, England.

Filmed, Directed and Edited by Steffan Maile this video was created as a part of his Video and Media Coursework.

Stefan took an interesting approach to making this video when he contacted me requesting the original seperate Audio files to the song. With them he sued the changes of the song to influence the style and pace of some of the visuals directly.

Kudos where it`s due 🙂

My thanks go to him for all the hard work and time he put into making this.

You can watch the video on You Tube by clicking HERE:

0 1 Tokyo Show cancelled and 1 added :)

Onstage in Orvieto - Photo Taken by Riccardo Bianchi

Unfortunately due to reasons not put forward in English my show on the 31st of May has been cancelled.

It was due to take place in Ikebukuro.

Fortunately another show has been booked for Sunday 26th May in Shimokitazawa at Heavens Door from 8pm.

Ce la Vie (or something like that)

0 I`m an Englishman in an English Pub…In Japan – 2/12/12 – Nara

Once again I return to the English themed pub in the Traditional and quaint town of Nara. Also once again I am sharing the billing with the fantastic `NolenNiu-de-Ossi`

We alternate the show with 3 song sets each taking it in turns. The moment of the evening for me was the chance to perform the darkly twisted `1-2-Seppuku`. This song has a Japanese influence not just lyrically but also as a part of the instrumentation as Yasushi Kita & Toruko Nolen of http://www.de-ossi.com guest on Shimisen & Accordion respectively.

This for me was a wonderful and rare moment to play a song I had never played before. Also the pub does surprisingly good shepherds pie 🙂

0 New Music Video – Compromise

A new music video has been created to one of my songs by students studying at Oaklands College in Welwyn Garden City, England.

Edited by Amelia Breen the video was created as a part of their Video and Media Coursework.

My thanks go to them for all the hard work and time they put into making this.

You can watch the video on You Tube by clicking HERE:

0 Go Forth Bright Scenic Reviewed again

Another review of my multi-album release ‘Go Forth Bright Scenic’

Which may I jump to remind you can be heard in it’s entirety from this sight and bought for as little as 1 pound.

Anyway promo over:

Yes a very honest review by the website Grumpy Rocker. It’s only a shame that the PR company decided to send them a Promo for Radio mix of songs rather than a solid album. As the review was as confused as I would be.

Still all publicity has it’s place.

You can read the full review here:

http://www.grumpyrocker.co.uk/stuart-o-connor-go-forth

0 30/11/12 – Mersey Beat, Kobe, Japan

Soooo many bands shared the billing with me on this show.

It was one of those nights where simply being something different (English) made the night a worth while experience for me.

The bands did not really support each other when performing and instead opted to stay in the bar area on the floor above. That was until I was due to grace the stage. Then suddently the venue was packed. Not because they knew of my music but because it was a rare chance for them to hear a real professional musician from England (the home of the Beatles and the stones ect…)

So my novelty presented me with the opportunity and I siezed the moment with both hands. A mix of crazy, mellow and loopy enabled me to push the crowd into about as much of a frenzy as anyone can get from what is always a subdued crowd in Japan.

`Note That Says` had a rare outing opening the show whilst `You Know The Score` Closed it with equal velocity.

Thank you Kobe….Next Stop Erm….Kobe

0 Photo`s From New Zealand Show taken by Marylène Coutret

Marylène Coutret is a wandering artist taking shots in locations far and wide and making no sacrifice too small to capture the perfect image.

Her specialty is landscape shots but here she went outside of her comfort zone when she attended my show in Mapua, New Zealand and captured my folk psychedelia in full swing.

You can catch her beautiful work here on her website here:

http://www.marylenecoutret.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MaryleneCoutretPhotography

0 First Kansai Show – Back Beat, Kobe, Japan – 29/11/12

Prior to this show in Kobe I was scheduled to play in Osaka. However just a day before my departure I was struck down with food poisoning. This took performing out of the picture for a couple of days as I was forced to cancel the show and stay in and watch episodes of the Walking Dead.

30977_4481847477711_1205713970_n[1] — Sick Stu 😦

So when it came to this evenings show in Kobe I had a long distance to cover to be there involving many trains, one bus and a shinkansen. It was a pleasure to be on the super fast shinkansen which raced through the Japanese countryside passing rice fiends and industrial areas at high speed.

Eventually I reached my destination city and after missioning it through the Kobe streets I found the venue. I had not eaten in many days and so was feeling a little weak but I was just happy to be returning to normality.

28051_129533373864408_1654489088_n — Poster for the Show

The show was supporting a popular kansai performer called Nanako Minami. Arriving at the venue I found she was a wonderful talent and very friendly and supportive.

The show was a joy to do and I chose to keep it just to 4 songs as I was worried about over running. The place was a totaly sit down vibe and I had a great time playing. I was a little weak after the show but the atmosphere of playing was amazing and the whole place was truley supportive.

Finally after the delay my Kansai tour was off the blocks. Next stop would be a second show in Kobe.