Gigs in August, 2015

Hikashu at Chicken George in Kobe on May 18, 2015

Hikashu has two gigs this month, one is the first full-length show in Tokyo since April, and the other is with a series of interesting acts.

The full show is be held at Star Pine's Cafe in Kichijoji, Tokyo on August 24. The venue has been a sort of a home ground for the band for years - Very relaxed and nice atmosphere. Also, a lot of selection from the new album is to be performed. Highly Recommended.

THe other gig is held at Hearts Plus of Otsuka, Tokyo on August 28. The other acts are Tentenko, Uminote, and Thropus.

August 24, 2015
@ Star Pine's Cafe
Kichijoji, Tokyo
open 18:30 - start 19:30
adv 3,900 yen - at door 4,300 yen
www.mandala.gr.jp

Star Pine's Cafe, Kichijoji, Tokyo


August 28, 2015
"New Mongoloid"
@ Hearts+
Otsuka, Tokyo
other acts: Tentenko, Uminote, Thropus
open 18:00 - start 18:30
adv 2,800 yen - at door 3,300 yen

Hearts+, Otsuka, Tokyo

"Mita Freeman at 60" Concert on July 22-23, 2015

Mita Freeman, Hikashu's guitarist, turns 60 this month and the special concerts will be held at La Mama, Shibuya, on July 22 and 23.

In Japanese culture, there is a tradition celebrating one's 60th birthday as "Kanreki." As the oldest member of the band, Mita is the first to reach that age.

And this one is really special. First of all, Hikashu does appear, and this time it is announced that Makigami won't take lead vocals. Therefore, we all could experience Hikashu without Makigami's singing at last.

And there's a lot of interesting bands as well. Freeman Alley is a duo of Mita and Shimizu Kazuto, Hikashu's pianist. As we all know, Mita is a big fan of American jazz and standards, and Freeman Alley is a realization of his long-time dreams - singing his old favorites, like Mona Lisa (a famous song by Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke, and others), with a piano accompaniment. And this time, Reichi (vocals) will be appeared as a special guest.

Lipnitz 21 is a resurrection of the band with the same name. Lipnitz is a guitar trio playing improvised music, had been active thoughout the 80s. The members were Mita (guitar), Sakaide Masami (bass), and various drummers. And this time the line-up is completely renewed - and that's very interesting one. Both Hayakawa Takeharu (bass) and Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums) are first-call musicians for jazz and avant-pop scene in Tokyo, and they play together in public for the first time.

And Lu-inch is the Mita's first band, formed in late 70s and still (very occasionally though) active, and all the important members are included in the line-up.

Adachi Sendensha is a company of publicity in Fukuoka. Their main attraction is a traditional chin-don music, and they show their expertise as a special guest.

As noted before, this event is one-time only and never to be repeated. Experience the sheer absurdity of this phenomental guitarist.

(Mita Freeman threw a pitch for the concert while Sakaide Masami and Sato Masaharu, both appear the concert, showing some mischief in the background.)


July 23 and 24, 2015
"Mita Freeman at 60"
@ La Mama
Shibuya, Tokyo
July 23: Lipnitz 21 - Mita Freeman (guitar), Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums), Hayakawa Takeharu (bass)
Freeman Alley - Mita Freeman (vocals), Shimizu Kazuto (piano), Reichi (vocals)
Adachi Sendensha
July 24: Hikashu Special - Makigami Koichi (theremin, cornet, shakuhachi), Mita Freeman (guitar, vocals), Sakaide Masami (bass), Sato Masaharu (drums) and guests
Lu Inch - Mita Freeman (guitar, vocals), Sensui Toshiro (drums), Iwah (guitar, vocals), Sakaide Masami (bass)
open 19:30 (July 23) 19:00 (July 24)
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen each
Tickets available at the venue's box office, Lawson Ticket (L-76369), and eplus
lamama.net

La Mama, Shibuya, Tokyo

Two Hokkaido gigs in July 2015

Hikashu will perform two gigs in Hokkaido next month. Fukushima-cho on July 4 and Sapporo on July 5.

According to the band, this is the first time for them to play the northern island in the 22 years.

July 4, 2015
"the 20th Kagaribi concert"
@ Fukushima Daijingu
Fukushima-cho
open 17:00 - start 17:30
admission 2,000 yen (500 yen under 18)
www.town.fukushima.hokkaido.jp

Fukushima Daijingu, Fukushima-cho



July 5, 2015
@ Coo
Sapporo
adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
open 18:30 - start 19:00
www.sapporo-coo.com

Coo, Sapporo

Jazz Art Sengawa 2015 announced

The 8th Jazz Art Sengawa, one of the most prominent events for improvised and creative music in Japan, is held on September 9 and 10 this year. The venue is Sengawa Theatre which is located in Chofu of west Tokyo.

Jazz Art Sengawa is an artist-led event and its producers are Makigami Koichi (voice performer, multi-instrumentalist), Fujiwara Kiyoto (double-bass player and music educator), and Sakamoto Hiromichi (cellist and improviser).

The line-up is as follows.


September 9 Saturday

13:30-15:00
NOTALIN'S (Endo Michiro, Ishizuka Toshiaki, Sakamoto Hiromichi)
Meguro Yosuke
Ten Ten Ko
directed by Sakamoto Hiromichi

16:30-18:00
Oki Itaru - Ayumi Tanaka
Fujiwara Kiyoto - Yaji Michiyo
directed by Fujiwara Kiyoto

19:30-21:00
N/Y (Niigaki Takashi, Yoshida Ryuichi)
Hikashu with Koketsu Masayo
directed by Makigami Koichi


September 10 Sunday

13:30-15:00
Art Hirahara - Murakami Hiroshi - Fujiwara Kiyoto
Ota Keisuke - Miyazaki Hirofumi - Tomikawa Masatsugu
directed by Fujiwara Kiyoto

16:30-18:00
Carmen Maki, Kawakami Mieko - songs and poetry
accompanied by Saito Tetsuya, Suzuki Masato, Senju Muneomi, Sakamoto Hiromichi
directed by Sakamoto Hiromichi

19:30-21:00
Pre-Cambria Clarinet Quartet
[Shimizu Kazuto, Umezu Kazutoki, Tada Yoko, Kondo Tatsuro]
Time is A Blind Guide
　[Haakon Åse、Lucy Railton、Kit Downes、Conor Chaplin、Thomas Strønen]
directed by Makigami Koichi


Jazz Art Sengawa on YouTube

Jazz Art Sengawa on Sengawa Gekijo website

Jazz Art Sengawa on Facebook


September 9 and 10, 2015
Jazz Art Sengawa
@ Sengawa Theatre
Chofu, Tokyo
Tickets available at the box office of the venue on June 27, 2015.

Sengawa Theatre, Chofu, Tokyo

Latest Promotional Event in Osaka

ヒカシューさんインストアライブはじまりました！ヒカシュー史上関西インストアライブは初！37年前の下北から近年の渋谷タワレコに続く3回目！ pic.twitter.com/e421ZgCZtU

— タワーレコード難波店 (@TOWER_Namba) 2015, 5月 16

Right now Hikashu has been touring in Kansai region, and yesterday they did a promotional stint for the new album at Tower Records Namba, Osaka.

Two years ago the band did the same at Tower Records Shibuya, Tokyo. But at that time, drummer Sato Masaharu was not there - unfortunately, it seemed that he had other obligation.

Of course, this time the band was full line-up. According to the tweets from the audience, Sato had to play an electric kit, a kind he played for the first time. But the veteran drummer played it with ease - even he took a solo in "Naruhodo," which was just terrific.

The performance's duration was about a half hour - all consisted of the selection from "Ikitekoi Chinmoku."

The band has been playing the selections from the new album for just several months, but, as usual with them, the new songs have already started to transform. Many numbers have extended with improvisations and arranged differently. So it's nice for regular attendees of their gigs to witness how the songs gradually "grow" in person.

Their show never be same. Even they have abandoned pre-configured set-list long time ago. And they do a lot of improvisation. Therefore each performance gives different, unique experience.

Tonight the band plays at Rag, a jazz club in Kyoto.

Naruhodo video

Makigami Koichi just released a video of "Naruhodo," a cut from their new album Ikitekoi Chinmoku [Silence Be Alive] on YouTube.

It contains footage of the band's recent tours in Altai Republic and Okinawa.

New Album Tour, May 2015

For supporting the new album, Hikashu will tour chubu and kansai regions this month. The dates are as follows:


May 13 - Freakyshow, Shizuoka
May 14 - Tokuzo, Nagoya
May 15 - Compass, Namba, Osaka
May 16 - Tower Records, Namba, Osaka
May 17 - Rag, Kyoto
May 18 - Chicken George, Kobe
May 19 - Old Time, Wakayama


There's a lot of new merchantise available as well. Collect'em all!

May 13, 2015
@ Freakyshow
Shizuoka
open 19:00 - start 19:30
other acts: steteko, daichu
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
freakyshow.net

Freakyshow, Shizuoka



May 14, 2015
@ Tokuzo
Nagoya
open 18:30 - start 19:30
adv 3,600 yen - at door 4,000 yen
tokuzo.com

Tokuzo, Nagoya



May 15, 2015
@ Conpass
Namba, Osaka
open 18:00 - start 19:00
adv 4,000 yen
conpass.jp

Conpass, Namba, Osaka



May 16, 2015
"autograph signing session + live performance"
@Tower Records Namba
Namba, Osaka
start 15:00
admission free
buy the new album and get it autographed.

Tower Record Namba, Osaka



May 17, 2015
@ Rag
Kyoto
open 18:00 - start 19:00
adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
ragnet.co.jp

Rag, Kyoto



May 18, 2015
@ Chicken George
Kobe
open 19:00 - start 19:30
adv 4,000 yen - at door 4,500 yen
chicken-george.co.jp

Chicken George, Kobe



May 19, 2015
@ Old Time
Wakayama
open 19:00 - start 19:30
other act: Teramachi Street Band
adv 3,000 yen - at door 3,500 yen
first-take.co.jp/oldtime

Old Time, Wakayama