1 First New Zealand Shows Announced

Kia Ora Folks.

Nip over to my bookings page to find out the latest in my `Good Times With Evil` World tour schedule. I`m nearly at the end of my time in Japan and next on the Geographical Calender will be  Aotearoa. 

Stoo

0 Japan tour (So Far) in Photos

0 Japn tour Blog (Part 3)

Well the Rambles conitinue with my final run of shows in the Kansai Area. As mentioned in my previous blog I had been sleeping in one of the Kobe livehouses and I have developed a routine of playing a show, Sleeping in the venue and then heading to the nearest Intenet cafe to shower. (Yes they have showers in these things, That kinda indicates how some people pretty much live in these places).        Usually the next thing I`d have to do would be to try and work out a way to get to my next show.   This would often involve various net serches and when making the trip many almost sharades-esque physical gestures to try and communicate my dilemma. Plus with all my effect padals I`d be missioning hard to get myself and my equipment from a to b.     However: On this given day my good friend Wax offered to hire a car and drive me to Osaka where my next show was due to take place. And thank fate he did as the place was really tough to find. Even for Wax (who is Japanese).

The show was with a wonderful Duo called `NolenNiu-de-Ossi`. I shared a stage with them at the Kansai Music Conference where they played on my tune `You Know the Score` and I played on their tune `The Funeral of the Fox and the Racoon Dog`. Their music is really diverse and they play traditional Japanese instruments and sing songs about Stories of Japanese folklore.  They are great players great people and have toured Japan America and will come to the UK next year.

Here`s their website: http://www.de-ossi.com/

The show ended ok but at one point I felt cursed as two leads were stopping working, A power supply stopped powering and I broke a string. However I kept my head up and with a bit of help and a warm local  crowd I came through unscathed.

The following night I had a real treat. As mentioned in a earlier Japan tour blog. I was able to share a billing with `Haco` who I am a geeky fan of. We seemed to get on well and when I quipped that it`d be great to share a stage with her one day I was surprised to hear that she was up for the idea. So my final Kansai show became a duo show with `Haco`. The show was predominantly improvisation but we did play a version of one of `Haco`s compositions `Less than Lovers, More Than Friends` as a part of the half hour set. This night was a true honour and a joy and I have felt a great connection with `Haco as an artist for along time.   However I now feel I can also say I feel the connection with her as a friend.

Thanks `Haco` http://hacohaco.net/haco/home.html and thanks again`Wax` (From the Ventz) http://sites.google.com/site/theventzjapan/ and Akane.

0 Dreams of Dave Grohl Spur New Material Debut in Japan

So like many musicians roughing it on the road we have to get some shut eye where ever we can. I for the last week have been sleeping next to the bar (No I haven`t been drinking myself to sleep – Everyday) in the Kobe Music venue Varit.

On one perticular evening I was having a dream I was watching You tube. The Video was Dave Grohl playing some song I seemed to belive was for some reason a really obscure Foo Fighter rarity. It was the same line over and over looping like an annoying ethereal melody line of pure ingrained catchyness. Suddenly logic hit me. *Stu`s internal monologue* “Wait a second…I`m not really a big enough Foo Fighters fan to warrent watching this video, Infact if I am watching this video then why is it just one line repeating for ages?, And where am I watching it……..”

Suddenly I awoke to find myself in the darkness of the empty music venue. The melody was still in my head and seeing as I was in a music venue I knew I could make as much noise as I liked. So out came the guitar and the annoying melody became the chorus to my new song. The rest of the song built immediatly around that and seeing as I was playing that same music venue later that night. I made sure to hammer the tune into my brian through intense rehearsals throughout the day.

The tune (working title `Varit`) was my set opener and the show was recorded to ensure I don`t forget it over time.

Although lets be honest…If I do forget; It couldn`t be that catchy could it.

Stoo

1 Japan Tour Extended

More shows have been added to my Japan tour – starting with a last minute gig tonight (Sept 26th) at Faces in Kobe.

There will also be a show in Nagoya. A new City for me 🙂

Please check it all out on the shows page!

Plus it gives me massive pride to say my 30th Sept show will be an improvisation Duo show With Haco. Any one who has read my last blog will know how much of an honour this will be for me.

All the best,

Stoo

1 Japan tour Blog (Part 2)

OK so I hit Osaka to Launch the new album at the Kansai Music Conference.

However I discover my festival is not the only one going on. This traditional (And Totally mantal festival is also in town)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uihvpi7qFG8

Fortunatly I keep well out the way of dodge and get down to some intense gigging. Again I meet a few familier faces along the way and owe thanks to Ceri of Shinsaibashi Socio for putting on such a great night for working around my crazy time table.

The Festival goes for 3 days and players from all over the world are there to showcase there talents.

My main set was in the Museam of Japanese History and I literally played as hard and loud as I could to not get lost in the massive auditorium space. Loops are in overdrive. I was joined by guests including drummer Usk who is just one of the most incredible drummers I`ve ever met. So fluent yet striking and unpredictable in his style we played `You Know the Score` in a way I`ve never imagined.

Then came the show that I had been anticipating for sometime. My Good friend Wax (The Ventz) toured in the UK last year and I helped him to get some shows and a place to stay (Thanks Mum). To return the favour he not only got me a show at my favourite Live house in Japan (Bar Varit). But he also got me a show with my favourite Japanese artist. A lady called `Haco`.

http://www.japanimprov.com/haco/index.html

Her music is a very unique blend of avant guard and original pop. One of her songs is the most played track on my Ipod by quite a long way and I had a period of about 2 years where I couldn`t stop listening to her album `Riska`.  In short, I think she is a true artist.

So I stepped off stage from my soundcheck to find her waiting to take to the stage. She is a very petite and well mannered lady who was polite and gracious to me as I struggled to overcome the fact that I was meeting the creator of the music I had grown to love so much.

As the evening progressed we both played our sets and I came to a point where my sickofantic ways had been tamed a little and we were conversing on a more mutual level. She was a little taken aback I think to discover how much of her music I knew, and when I gave her my three records as a gift she offered me a trade only to discover I owned everything already. At which point I reminded her `I really am a big fan`. She responded  with, “Yes you must be my biggest fan in the world.” However she then reached into her bag and gave me a promo CD that had never been released. “This is a gift for you that you will never find anywhere. I hope you enjoy.”

We then (With members of the Ventz – Who Rocked!!!) had post show sake and sushi. A wonderful evening I will never forget.

Thank you Wax 🙂

I now have my first day off where I will relax and be a tourist.

I love this country.

Stoo

2 Japan Tour Blog (Part 1)

OK so after a crazy final few gig filled days in the UK, I step off the flight alarmingly refreshed for my 3rd tour in Japan.

30 shows in all over 5 weeks.

Priorities set in – and I head straight for sushi.

Then onto my first show the same night at Anga in Chiba. A nervy but wonderful start to the evening and return faces are keen for the new record. Which is the most awesome reaction I can hope to meet.

Next day is my only day off so far and I stock up on essentials (pics, strings, leads, Rare Vinyl of Supergrass and Radiohead ((must have been in an oxford mood)) before hitting the sake.

Then comes my return to the fold with a show at Chiba. At this point a guy who bought the record on the first night (Eiji) turns up with a Keyboard under his arm and the infomation that he has learnt to play 3 songs from the new record. So we rock it Duo style for `Cage is Rattling`, `Map of Shibuya` and `Watching paint`. Before being joined by a great English tenor Sax player (Graham)for improntu versions of `You know the Score` and `Sleep Tight`

Then I head to Tokyo where I play a show everynight before taking the overnight bus to Kobe where the daily gigs continue.  At Cafe Mignon I had the surprise and pleasure to discover that one of my audience members is the daughter to Japanese Film Score Composer `Ryuichi Sakamoto`. He is most famous for his work on the David Bowie/Takeshi Kitano Film `Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence`. She was real cool as were all the staff. If a show a day wasn`t enough then the addition of 3 shows in Osaka in one day add massively to the pace. No time for being tired in Japan. Just ask the locals.

The Japanese audiences have been simply amazing to play to so far with 12 shows in 10 days to say things have been mental doesn`t quite cut it.

Thanks must go to Folks who have housed me. Hiroto and his family and to Daisuke. Also to Naomi Hirata who has been moral and language support throughout this whole start.

More to follow……

Stoo

🙂