The Can Can kicks butt. Although we didn’t have the best experience with Seattle Goth clubs, Rose and I found a welcoming home on Saturday night — bursting with absinthe, burlesque, and a friendly LGBT/alternative crowd. Can Can Cabaret, we rate you a 10 out of 10!

Everyone who reads this blog knows I’m sort of obsessed with absinthe. (Type in “absinthe” in the search box on the right sidebar, and you’ll see.) We went to The Can Can two nights in a row to taste local varieties of the green fairy. Pacifique (made in Washington State) is creamy delicious, as was the last remaining bottle of Marteau (a superb label from Oregon). The bartender, Zach, impressed us with his class and skill.

The red walls and gold frames suited us very well.

We couldn’t stop smiling and cheering when The Castaways took over the stage. Their flirty, fun act defies categorization: there’s burlesque, circus acrobatics, humor, modern dance. For one song, choreographer Rainbow Fletcher stripped and bounced on this giant rocket. We loved the Siegfried and Roy parody, where a harmonic dance ends in a white tiger mauling.

The Castaways held my attention the entire time. Each act was creatively executed, with fierce costumes and a kicking soundtrack that included 1980s, electro, Dresden Dolls and Rasputina.

The Can Can Castaways bring in a breath of fresh air to stale burlesque. Watch out for this act.

Owner Chris Snell is a hyper, pink-wigged mastermind: aka the perfect host. The Can Can is truly a gem, from the open and friendly atmosphere to the absinthe and performances. We can’t wait to return!

Are you fond of burlesque? What are some of your favorite cabarets, troupes and performers?

PS: My Scottish Fold cat Basil Farrow was nominated for the 2010 meowing championship! Please VOTE for him — we must prevail! (All it takes is leaving a comment on this site; you can connect via Facebook.)

Japanese Word of the Day: Kosaji = Teaspoon
Song of the Day: Erasure – Always (The soundtrack to the Siegfried and Roy white tiger act.)

Dir en Grey is invading America! And guess what… you have a chance to WIN one of FIVE pairs of tickets to the Los Angeles concert, held on September 8th at Club Nokia. It’s easy to enter the giveaway — just comment on this post / spread the word. (See the full instructions below.) Ready, get set… let’s do it!

If you’re a Visual Kei / Jrock fan, you can’t go to Harajuku without hitting the merchandise shops. Hide and Gackt’s faces are plastered all over the walls.

I think everyone loves X-Japan’s 1980s look the best.

Who is your favorite Malice Mizer member? Typical of VK photography, everyone has white skin and a disappearing nose.

Hide is alive… do you remember my photos of the Hide Lemoned shop and anniversary memorabilia in Marui One Shinjuku?

In other Visual Kei news, X Japan has released its North American tour dates. Tickets are now available. Will you be at any of the shows?
† September 25, Wiltern Theatre (Los Angeles, CA)
† September 28, Fox Theatre (Oakland, CA)
† October 1, Paramount Theatre (Seattle, WA)
† October 3, Queen Elizabeth Theatre (Vancouver, BC Canada)
† October 6, Riviera (Chicago, IL)
† October 7, Massey Hall (Toronto, ON Canada)
† October 10, Roseland Ballroom (New York, NY)

How about the Dir en Grey concert in LA (Sept 8, Club Nokia in LA)? Well… here’s how to win 1 of 5 pairs of tickets to the show!

ENTER DIR EN GREY CONTEST
† What’s the best live music performance you’ve ever attended, and why? Please share your story in the comments. (If you are having trouble commenting, email me.)
† Please promote the contest in a blog or forum post, or link to it via Facebook, Twitter, Stumble or other social network. Include the link or username in your comment for verification. ALTERNATELY, you can subscribe to my mailing list (on the top right sidebar).

*** IMPORTANT *** You must fulfill BOTH requirements to be eligible. Many of you were disqualified from the Kanon Wakeshima contest because you forgot to spread the word…

Contest is open worldwide and ends Tuesday, August 24 at midnight Pacific Time. You may only enter once and must fulfill both requirements to be eligible. Winners MUST be able to attend the Los Angeles concert on Sept 8, 2010, and will be picked at random. Good luck!

PS: 6 mysterious monsters found around Asia, caught on video. Hoaxes, or is the truth out there? Come read my new CNNGo article.
PPS: Thank you for the birthday wishes — huge hugs!

Dearest La Carmina,
I’m hoping to attend Dir en Grey’s concert in New York. Except…well…it will be my first actual concert! I’m very excited, yet I’m rather nervous, because my friends and relatives have told me horror stories of their experiences, which included violent pits in the audience, being stepped on by some crazy fangirl, and some blood-shedding fight on line even before the concert! Are these even true? Not to mention, I don’t know how to get good tickets to a concert, what to wear, how to prepare, and whether or not to come alone! And because you have done so many concert reviews, I’ve decided to turn to you, you oh-so-wonderful Victorian doll blogger, you. So… PLEASE HELP!

Sincerely, A VERY troubled Visual Kei freakazoid

It’s J-rock concert season, my North American friends: D’espairsRay, Dir en Grey, and X Japan are making the rounds. I encourage all of you to go — your scene needs your support. And I can guarantee you’ll be blown away by the performances; these are Visual Kei legends, after all. (PS: stay tuned to this blog for a Dir en Grey ticket giveaway…)

It’s funny: in Japan, the process of buying concert tickets and attending a Visual Kei show is (in most cases) completely different. There are the dreaded Lawson ticket machines, mandatory drink tickets and assigned “numbers” that determine the order for going inside (meaning there’s no benefit in arriving early). True to the Japan stereotype, the concerts always start on time. And people are nice; they’ll step aside to let you move closer to the stage.

In the States and Canada, it’s not quite the same. Since J-rockers rarely embark on world tours, North American fans will go to great lengths to see them up close. Some will drive or fly out for one or more shows. If the venue is general admission (unassigned seats), hardcore fans will line up — sometimes camping out for 2-3 days — and run to the stage as soon as the doors open.

But you don’t have do this to have an awesome time watching your favorite Visual shockers live. Since J-rock is a relatively small, niche scene in North America, the tickets often won’t sell out (so you can still buy them last minute). Check out the band’s website; the tour dates should link to Ticketmaster or some other site to purchase tickets. If no tickets remain, try Craigslist. When the venue is seated, try to buy tickets as soon as they’re released to get the best pick. If you’re prepared to pay big for a good one, search for a reputable ticket seller. The last resort is trying your luck with scalpers outside the concert, but I don’t recommend this since you could get ripped off.

Determine when the “doors open” and when the “show starts.” If the concert is seated, arrive any time before the start and locate your seat. (Although it’s fun to come early to see the tour merchandise and audience’s fashion.) General admission means everyone stands in a crowd before the stage, or seats are first-come-first-served. Ticket-holders line up outside, and when the “doors open” time arrives, they enter the venue in order. Since it’s your first concert and you’re not concerned about being right up against the stage, I’d suggest arriving an hour to 45 minutes before the “doors open.” (Be prepared for the weather, as you’ll usually be standing outside!) At most shows, even if you arrive right before it begins, you can still find a place to stand around the middle of the hall (which is just fine for seeing the performers).

The violent dancing and crowdsurfing typically happen at hardcore/punk concerts, not Jrock ones (so don’t be worried!). And the audience at these shows is not looking to pick a fight. Simply be respectful: don’t cut the line or try to squeeze in front of people who’ve waited outside all day. The potential for injury decreases the further away you are from center stage. Up there, you’ll certainly be jostled and squished, and a random arm gesture might hit you in the face. I personally am happy standing in the side-middle area, where I can still get an excellent view without getting roughed up. Bonus tips: wear comfortable but tall shoes, and stand behind people who are shorter than you. And bring earplugs, in case the bass boom is overwhelming.

As for preparations… a VK concert is a golden opportunity to dress up, so go for it! (But keep in mind that the venue will get hot, and your outfit can get smushed if you’re up front.) There’s no dress code: some people will wear tshirts and jeans; others will cosplay Mana-sama. If you dress vaguely Gothic or J-rock, you’ll feel right at home.

I usually meet up with friends before or at the show. But don’t worry about going alone — nobody’s judging or will even notice (it’s not like being seated at a table for one). Concerts are some of the best places to meet new friends who share your passions for J-rock music and fashion. So I encourage you to rise to the challenge and go! I promise it will be a night to remember.

Dear La Carmina,
I start college this fall and I’m hoping I can find a spooky posse on campus. Where did you collect all your friends anyways? They’re all so hardcore awesome! Anyways, how did you get into Lolita and viz-kei style and get to be a part of it? You get to host shows introducing the world to this awesome subculture, how did that happen?

-Sunny

Congrats on starting college — it’s an exciting time for making new friends. My “spooky pals” are wonderful, and they often appear in photos because they share my love of J-Goth culture, fashion and music (and that’s the focus of my blog). However, they’re only one devilish cross-section of my friend pool. You may not see their faces on this site, but some of my closest friends are from high school, elementary and even preschool. And they’re the ones I turn to for advice, since it’s easy to get caught up in your own scene and lifestyle. Never take for granted your friends who think Versailles is a palace rather than an epic band.

However, it is amazing to have a group of friends that live each day as if it’s Halloween. The typical advice is “go out and join activities and smile” — but honestly, I think the most important thing you can do is build something to show for yourself. It could be a cosplay blog, a Steampunk jewelry company, J-rock promotions… When others observe your passion and creative contribution, they’ll naturally want to say hi, exchange emails, meet up, collaborate. Perhaps you could start with your campus Japan Club, or organize outings to J-rock/Goth events. Put up flyers, make an announcement on stage. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, which leads to next answer…

I started this blog for fun, to express my love of Japan subcultures and style — and the whole thing snowballed to today. I have zero family connections to anyone in TV/media, and have never hired a publicist or promoter. Every TV hosting opportunity (NHK Japan, CNN International, Travel Channel, Canal Plus France) arose because a producer found my blog and sent me an email. The TV people looked at my writing work, press, bio, photos, videos etc, and that helped them decide if I was someone worth contacting.

My dear ones, do the best work you can — whether it’s writing, videos, art, music — and share it without qualms. Know and be proud of your abilities. The bottom line is, if I took the path of self-effacement, nobody would know what I could offer, and I wouldn’t have had these tremendous TV adventures in Tokyo.

Now let me ask the rest of you: what would you advise these two readers? Got tips for making it through your first rock concert, or ways to meet alternative-minded friends?

If you have a question for La Carmina, email me (gothiccarmina {at} gmail) and I’ll answer it in a blog post. You can read my previous responses to Reader Questions here. (All the above images are from the music store and magazine stand in Laforet Harajuku.)

PS: last chance to win Kanon Wakeshima autographed Gothic Lolita postcards! Spread the word and enter here.

Japanese Word of the Day: Tsutomeru = Industrious, diligent
Song of the Day: Edith Piaf – Non, Je ne regrette rien (Have you seen Inception yet? A magnificent film.)

It’s a Jrock / Visual Kei announcement day! First, Kanon Wakeshima’s new album, Lolitawork Libretto, is finally out (pick it up here). To celebrate, I’m holding a giveaway contest with her record label Maru Music. Meaning you can win Kanon Wakeshima postcards autographed by the Gothic Lolita doll herself! Read on for details, and for exciting updates on the X Japan and D’espairsRay tours.

Kanon Wakeshima sings and plays Baroque cello, and is the prodigy-protegee of Visual Kei god Mana (Malice Mizer / Moi dix Mois). Above is the PV of her new single, Lolitawork Libretto, with French storytelling by Solita. Both her classical songwriting and Gothic Lolita princess dress are entrancing.

Here’s your chance to enter her lovely Lolita world — you can win an autographed 4-piece Kanon Wakeshima postcard set! Three of the postcards are photos of the adorable artist; one showcases an original artwork by her. And one of the cards is signed by Kanon Wakeshima herself.

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST…
† Amazingly, Kanon began playing cello at age 3. How about you: what was your earliest encounter with a musical instrument? Please leave a comment in this blog post, sharing your story. If you don’t play any instruments, let me know what you’d like to learn and why.
† Please promote the contest in a blog or forum post, or link to it via Facebook, Twitter, Stumble or other social network. Include the link or username in your comment for verification.

Contest is open worldwide and ends Tues, August 3 at midnight Pacific Time. You may only enter once and must fulfill both requirements to be eligible. Winner will be picked at random. Email Carmina if you have questions.

I previously shared the news that Visual Kei legends X Japan will be touring North America in the fall. Here’s another exciting update: the band’s former bassist Taiji Sawada will join X Japan on stage as a special guest! He’ll appear for two concerts, held August 14 and 15 at Nissan Stadium in Tokyo.

It’s been 18.5 years since Taiji and X Japan last played together. Don’t you love the band’s hair-raising look in the 1980s? It seems like the increasing interest in Visual Kei outside of Japan is encouraging bands to reunite. And if the Kozi-Mana-Yuki love at the July concert was any indication, Malice Mizer is next… fingers crossed!

Finally, Askew Magazine has teamed up with D’espairsRay to create a special tour booklet. I’ve seen a preview, and it’s ultra-professional and made with love. The booklet contains entirely original photography and an in-depth look behind the creation of Monsters and the “Death Point” music video. This special edition item is only available via the merchandise table at D’espairsRay concerts in North America and possibly Europe — so head out to a show! And good news for fans who bought tickets to the cancelled shows (Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta) — Askew will send you a booklet for FREE (if you have proof of purchase and cover the shipping/handling). Head over to Askew Magazine’s site for more Visual Kei goodies.

Anyone pumped to see D’espairsRay live? Come enter the Kanon Wakeshima contest by commenting about your first musical experience and spreading the word on the giveaway. (I’ll get the ball rolling.)

Japanese Word of the Day: Zetsubou = Despair
Song of the Day: TAIJI with HEAVEN’S (from “The Birthday Eve” show in Tokyo on March 26, 2010).

How about a run-down of Osaka’s best Visual Kei joints? There’s a large Jrock / VK music store in Shinsaibashi’s Big Step building (it’s the Visual dot on my Osaka shopping map). At the entrance, you can pick up free flyers plastered with the faces of your favorite Visual rockers.

Last May, Deluhi and Mix Speaker’s Inc were well-ranked in the Top Ten. Their Tokyo concert proved that they could deliver live as well (you can read my full show review here).

The Vambie demonstrate two cute new Asian poses.

Kansai is also home to several head-banging bars that blast Visual Kei music. In my new CNNGo article, I write: “When bands tour Osaka, they frequently stop by Territory, DJ Taiki’s occult shop in Shinsaibashi. Then they might walk around the corner to Moonwalk, a bar that pumps Marilyn Manson and Japanese glam metal to a young, heavily pierced crowd.”

Yukiro and I randomly found Bar Moonwalk after we left DJ Taiki’s haunt. We saw a sign that said “All drinks 200 yen” — and then glimpsed the eyeliner-smeared bartender above (named Kouta) – and that sealed the deal. Kouta is the bassist in a new Visual Kei act, which also has a Swedish member. Even though the band hasn’t even started rehearsing, he’s got the look down. And just like Fu-ki, he brought over free drinks… three shots, for all of us!

Osaka’s most famous hard rock / heavy metal hangout is Bar Rock Rock; Alice Cooper and Motley Crue are among the celeb customers. And don’t forget Midian, run by the ex-member of BLOOD: “Like a Goth Elvis, vocalist Fu-ki is alive and ominously wielding an ice pick behind the counter of his Bar Midian.” (You can see photos and in-depth directions to Fu-ki’s bar here).

Come read the rest of my CNNGo article about Osaka’s rock bars here. Please rate and “Like” it so that CNN will publish more articles about Visual Kei and boy-on-boy antics.

Wahh, my Scottish Fold’s fancy outdoor playpen featured on the Catio Showcase blog! “This isn’t the kind of catio for rambunctious cats, but Basil Farrow is quite well-mannered (no jumping or escaping), plus he is always supervised on his catio, I’m assuming by his bodyguards.” That’s about right…

Have you been to any of Osaka’s Visual Kei bars or record stores? Which bands would YOU rank in your top ten? Thanks for supporting my CNNGo article with a Like.

Japanese Word of the Day: Goumon = Torture
Song of the Day: Malice Mizer – Beast of Blood

Last Saturday, Malice Mizer’s three founding members (Mana, Kozi, Yuki) reunited on stage for the first time in almost a decade. The Deep Sanctuary II concert was a profoundly moving experience -– not only for the audience, but for the band members as well. The trio performed Beast of Blood. They hugged. Mana cried. And Yukiro and Count de Sang were right smack in the front row, witnessing it all. Let’s hear their story. (All photos by Yukiro.)

COUNT DE SANG: The brilliance of the July sunlight added a dreamlike quality to the Akasaka Blitz venue. In spite of the bright rays shining down around it, a kind of dark energy seemed to be gathering force as black-clad figures swarmed toward the building where history was about to be made.

YUKIRO: It was great to see so many wonderfully dressed up fans, even though the weather was hot and the wind messed up our hair and make-up. I was wearing a classic Dravarious look, and Count de Sang was of course wearing only Moi-meme-Moitie: we counted and it was about 10-12 items. He bought a Dark Sanctuary II shirt for 4000 yen.

COUNT: My fellow darklings and I found our way to the front row, directly in front of the platform where Mana was to stand in all of his darkly effulgent majesty. But first, Közi was determined to get the party started with one Hell of a performance.

YUKIRO: After we waited almost an hour and a half in the heat, Kozi’s band went on stage. Drummer Cha-ji had extremely sick make-up and his energy was beyond comprehensible. He gave 200% all the time even in the slow songs — and the guitarist played barefoot! Kozi looked fresh and younger, and had a cool hairstyle: a teased, forward-bended brown Mohawk, and he had fashionable black and red garments wrapped around him.

COUNT: While last year’s Deep Sanctuary left me with the distinct feeling that Közi had somehow lost his musical edge, this year I was blown away by the high-energy, nonstop onslaught of pure delight as only he can deliver it. Közi brought the venue to a fever pitch as he mentioned the day’s special guest…Yu~ki!

YUKIRO: Kozi called him “Hakushaku” so we had to scream HAKUSHAKU! They were referring to the vampire movie they did.

COUNT: The next song was announced as the piece that Yu~ki composed for Közi’s album. It was a beautiful performance, filled with power and emotion, and it left everyone breathless as Moi dix Mois prepared to take the stage.

YUKIRO: They switched the background to a Dix-pentagram and we waited, hot and smushed from every direction. When Mana entered, everyone screamed MANA-SAMA and went crazy. Mana was wearing a scandalously short skirt with a black and blue transparent fabric over it so you could see his gorgeous legs. He had, of course, everything in black and blue and a shining blue cross on his stylish black guitar (he switched to one with a red shining cross for the last song). K and Seth and the other two were all in black and red as always, but their clothes were awesome. They’d put a lot more effort in their outfits this year.

COUNT: The tight lineup gave a solid performance that skillfully blended classics, such as “Ange” and “La dix croix,” along with standard Seth-era pieces like “exclude” and “Metaphysical.” The ritual song “dispell bound” and “Immortal Madness” served to bring the entire audience together as one with the band. The set list also included two unreleased songs and one all new piece, which are set to appear on the new album (slated for early October of this year). Whetting the audience’s appetite even more, Seth informed us that “the Count” would not be resurrected unless we called for him loudly enough. And so, with shouts of “hakushaku!!” the long-missing bassist of the legendary Malice Mizer was called forth from the darkness.

YUKIRO: Of course they did the DIX ritual with the audience, and Mana gave a lot of energy, headbanging and spinning like crazy. It was wonderful to observe from up close.

COUNT: As the curtain closed on Moi dix Mois’ final song, the anticipation was nearly tangible as the entire audience stood with bated breath. The stillness was broken with only a few tones, soon followed by countless shouts of delight as the haunting melody of “Saikai no chi to bara” reached our ears. The curtains opened, and I saw a sight that I had never expected to see in my lifetime…Mana, Közi, and Yu~ki, on stage together for the first time in nearly ten years.

YUKIRO: Yuki to the right, Mana on the left and Kozi in the middle, each one with a red rose in his hand. Yuki wore a hat and his nostalgic Malice Mizer make-up. This sight was too much for me: the audience and I screamed my lungs out. When Kozi started to speak, we screamed so much that he wasn’t able to. It was so supreme and divine, it was like GOD himself had appeared in front of you and you just never wanted it to end. Pure ecstasy. There are no words to describe the feelings I had. It was too much; I could die happy now.

Mana started to cry and that was too much for me and I burst into tears again. But they suddenly got a hold of themselves and started to play a normal rock song, a bit Motley Crue-ish. Kozi’s singing is really amazing. They don’t need Gackt or Klaha; they could work as the three legends.

COUNT: The friendship and camaraderie between the three simply radiated from the stage. I was dumbstruck, and could only be carried along by the force and emotion of the music.

YUKIRO: After that song the most amazing thing in my life (so far) happened. They announced they were to play “Beast of Blood.” The audience held their breath for a nanosecond to comprehend what Kozi just had told us – and then we screamed more than we ever did! It was amazing; everything I’ve ever wanted it to be. Kozi could sing it as well as Klaha, and they had an air fog cannon bomb in the last chorus. The audience screamed “Malice Mizer” which felt magical. All we had been longing for, for the last 8-9 years, was right in front of us.

YUKIRO: When they were supposed to go off stage, everyone screamed and screamed so they changed their minds and went back and did a GROUP hug. Mana jumped on Yuki and Kozi; it was heavenly to see. We all started to scream “encore” and they went out one more time, but Kozi sad that they didn’t had any more songs to do — so they just thanked us and did one more group hug — and you can see that they were really feeling it themselves. I was speechless and in a shock, and about to faint, emotion overflowing. I couldn’t have dreamt of a live this good.

COUNT: The curtain closed on what was certainly an all-too-short reunion, but as the three gentlemen of Malice Mizer left the stage with their arms around each other, I think everyone present sensed a certain amount of hope for the future. According to Mana and Közi, malice and misery are the very essence of this life itself, and as long as we live on, the darkly beautiful spark of Gothic romance that Malice Mizer inspired in all of us will never die.

Thank you to both of you for the heartfelt reports! Did you get chills up your spine as you read about the powerful moments? What do you portend for the future of Malice Mizer?

Japanese Word of the Day: Eda = Branch (of a tree)
Song of the Day: Malice Mizer – Bara ni Irodorareta – Saikai no Chi to Bara (“Because here they stand like they did yesterday at the concert.”)

Who loves kawaii Japanese nail art? I gave myself a cute manicure, inspired by these Giles Deacon nail art photos. I think the googly-eyed faces look a bit like Moomin, the Swedish hippo-like character. Using Daiso nail art polish, I painted white ovals and a black dot on top to create the eyes. Don’t forget to let the layers fully dry and apply a sealing top coat.

Blasting, flowing news: Yukiro Dravarious will be making a scandalous musical debut at Midnight Mess (Tokyo’s longest running Goth/Industrial club party) on July 31!

Tell me all about your project: how would you describe the concept and experience?
I would describe Dravarious as an art form that lets the audience get a taste of variation in music, visuals and of course elegance. Classical goth, Extravagant, Fashion-forward, Visual Kei, opera, tragedy, misfortune and scandalousness! I’ve always been a big Visual Kei fan so naturally I wanted to do something similar but with my own touch to it. The music I’m going to play is mostly covers, but also 1-2 original songs. Of course I’ve re-done the covers to make them more fascinating. I’m thrilled about finally entering the stage with my own project and it feels absolutely Freaking Fabulous.

Not everyone knows you write and perform music. How did you get started?
In my teen-days I had a dream of becoming a singer. I went to different auditions around the country but I was immature and didnt know how to sing. So I started to take lessons and even went to a musical school, then started making my own music. Lyrics and poems have I also written for a long time. But since I moved to Japan I put the songs on a shelf and focused on my model career, which seemed more appealing at that time. This year I started to take vocal training again and I’ve been so much happier since. I can’t really play any instrument (except piano) so I make it all by computer, with help from my dear friend Sebastien who’s been supporting me all the way.

Tell me about how you worked with Sebastian.
I told him what kind of feeling and atmosphere I wanted with the songs, and together we tried 10000 of different sounds until I was satisfied haha. He is very good to work with. Whenever we had technical issues he did quick research and fixed them smoothly.

Like Lady Gaga, fashion must be an important part of your performance. How do you integrate style into your performance? What can the audience expect?
Fashion is very important to keep the audience interested in watching you. You can’t just wear some old T-shirt or whatever. I think that its almost an insult to the audience who paid for their tickets to not dress up; if they wanted to just hear the music they’d might as well listen to it on their computer. A live show is really important if you wanna be successful. Lady Gaga knows this and that’s why she always puts 100% energy and effort into it. I can’t deny that I’m taking inspiration from her. I’ve designed some of the outfits I’m gonna wear for the show myself, and the result is stunning.

The promotional photos are stunning. SO Visual Kei, with the blue-black roses and disappearing nose. Who is the photographer, and what was it like working with her?
Thank you, I think they really captured the essence of DRAVARIOUS. They were taken in the notorious “Studio-Violet” in Shinjuku (same place were most Host/VK-boys take their promo photos for magazines) by the legendary host photographer Alice. She’s extremely talented and the photo-session went by ghastly fast. She’s a friend of mine and also designs the Tokyo Decadance flyers, so I’m so glad she had time to shoot us before the live.

The lady in the photo, Maria – what is her role in the performance?
She’s my dancer and partner in crime. She’s an official member of the band and hopefully I’ll get one more dancer for the show. I did her make-up for the photoshoot and it suits her supremely.

What are your next goals? How would you like to take this project further?
If the live goes as well as I want, I’ll try to get more gigs and we are in negotiation with a film-team to shoot our first music video. Also Sebastien said that he would help me with the music again, so I can start doing more original songs. My true goal is of course world domination. Mohahahhaaa!

I can also reveal that I’m scheming to perform a vulgar act never done before on stage. And it will be a one-time-only act because I don’t think I’ll ever do it again. It will be a great show and people will not be disappointed if they come.

So come to Mistress Maya’s Midnight Mess at Shinjuku Club Marz on July 31, and see Yukiro in all his glory! Seileen (DJ SiSEN and Selia’s group) is celebrating their album release, and Roge from Bar Tram will be doling out Skull Absinthe at a special booth. For prices, directions, a map and more, check out my Tokyo Goth club guide.

Will you be there, in person or in spirit? If you have questions for Yukiro about his music and concept, please feel free to leave a comment!

Japanese Word of the Day: Kimon = Demon gate
Song of the Day: Seileen – Yokubaku

Japanese teenagers wearing “I ♥ Satan” t-shirts? V-fingers for the Devil? This ain’t no gathering for devil-worshippers, but at a Darkest Labyrinth Visual Kei concert headlined by SaTaN. (Or as they pronounce it, Sah-tah-nu.) GPKISM, Calmando Qual, LIX and Omega Dripp also performed, and I documented everything on video — so scroll on down for the story.

SaTaN has devoted following that showed up in band t-shirts and head-whirled like windmills. Ironically, instead of blood-dripping black roses, a fan left the band pretty pastel flowers and balloons.

Meguro Rockmaykan in Tokyo is a tiny venue; we could hardly squeeze past the merchandise tables. Wish you could get your hands on these CDs? HearJapan now stocks MP3s and releases from Darkest Labyrinth and Starwave Records! Come get your J-Goth-Rock fix from their online store.

Visual Kei is a small scene in Japan, as you can tell from the size and dumpiness of this venue. 90% of the concert-goers were — as usual — teenage girls. Not many were dressed up; the cosplayers and Lolitas really only come out for Gackt, Moi dix Mois and Versailles…

However, there were some cute Gothic Lolitas and a glorious Versailles poster. To see photos of our outfits that evening, click here.

Ok, shall we watch ze video? La Carmina and Yukiro wear scandalous clothing and run into walls as they report on the Darkest Labyrinth concert. (What drugs were we on that night?) The live concert footage includes GPKISM (Gothic Prince Ken and Kiwamu), Calmando Qual, LIX and the bloody SaTaN dressed as Alice in Wonderland. Hooray for horror J-rock!

We missed Omega Dripp but arrived in time for LIX. The band was pure raw energy, smashing into equipment and flailing their guitars around like a Japanese Nirvana. Calmando Qual (above) wore spooky carnival clothes and performed adequate Visual Kei songs. Nothing spectacular, unlike…

GPKISM, who swept us away to a haunted, romantic world. Gothic Prince Ken wore a princess Lolita dress and crown, and his voice resonated over Kiwamu’s electronic programming and guitars. What an experience: the concert footage speaks for itself. We went backstage to say hello afterwards, but GPK was a sleeping beauty… so we let him stay in dreamland!

We watched about 40 minutes of the animated Alice in Wonderland movie, which was broadcast over the curtains. Then SaTaN laughing spread his wings… and what an art performance! The spooky rock band dressed as an undead Alice, Black Rabbit and Mad Hatter. They waltzed. Spat blood. Tortured a baby doll. Put us through aerobic para-para moves. At the end, everyone was exhausted but dying for more.

Words can’t describe the experience, so please come view live footage from the spooky show! If you liked it, I invite you to subscribe to my channel.

Which was your favorite band in the video? Did you laugh at our silly antics? Yukiro’s short dress was red-hot…

Japanese Word of the Day: Mikan = Tangerine
Song of the Day: Marvel at GPK’s performance in the concert video.

Excellent news for you Visual Kei headbangers! Digital music label HearJapan has teamed up with Visual Kei / Japanese Goth music labels, Darkest Labyrinth and Starwave Records. Which means you can now get your hands on releases from bands such as Luzmelt, Suicide Ali, Calmando Qual, GPKISM, Seileen (SiSEN and Selia), Takuya Angel… has your head exploded yet? Come check out the compilation CDs and digital downloads on HearJapan!

HearJapan generously gave us passes to see the darkest and glammest of these bands perform at Meguro Rockmaykan in Tokyo. We were allowed to shoot videos of the performances — and boy, were they ever bloody. Check back tomorrow for a video of GPKISM, SaTaN, Lix, Calmando Qual, Omega Tripp and more.

Before the concert, Yukiro caused scandal and drama in the convenience store. He’s wearing the ridiculously short dress he got at the ridiculous Ridiculous store in Osaka.

The floppy hat is DIY-decorated with flowers and ribbons. Yukiro’s claws are always ready to scratch young boys.

Lolita dress: Moi-meme-Moitie… in my dreams! It’s Metamorphose temps de fille; got it for great price at Closet Child Harajuku. You may recall that this was on my Classical Lolita wishlist.
Jacket with trailing sleeves: Marble, from Marui One Shinjuku
Gyaru “bunny ears” headband: from Odakaya in Shinjuku. You see these “ears” all over Tokyo.
Tights: Vivienne Westwood, from Marui Shinjuku
Epic boots are epic: Alice and the Pirates, from Closet Child Harajuku

Makeup is simple because we had to rush out the door… blue eyeliner, false eyelashes on top, nude lipstick, a gem at the corner of the eye.

But there’s always time to pose for photos! In the next post, we’ll bring you inside the Satanic concert with quality videos and a review.

14-year-old Amy sent me the gorgeous fanart on the right. It’s inspired by the Gothic Lolita outfit I wore on the CNN International shoot. I love the hime hair and kawaii eyes — you’re all so talented! If you’d like to see your Carmina/Basil artwork up here, send me an email.

Reiko Arashi also sent me a personalized trading card for Oshare Curry, her Visual Kei / Jpop social networking community. You can redeem it if you set up a profile on the site.

Have you ever been… Xperienced? (Sorry, couldn’t resist.) JrockRevolution presents a new webpage dedicated to X JAPAN’s performance at Lollapalooza. Come read the latest news, share stories on the forums, and plan meet-ups at the concert. You can also purchase an exclusive fan package with a T-shirt, thundersticks, DVD and more.

Finally, some sad news… Daisuke, vocalist of Visual Kei band The Studs and Kagerou, was laid to rest today. The cause of death has not been released. You may leave condolences on the band’s website.

Stay tuned for videos of Gothic Prince Ken and SaTaN dressed as Alice in Wonderland. Which are your favorite Starwave/Darkest Labyrinth bands?

Japanese Word of the Day: Maou = Satan
Song of the Day: GPKISM – Atheos (you can buy the single on HearJapan)

X Japan has announced a NORTH AMERICAN concert tour! As you may already know, the legendary Visual Kei band will be at Otakon convention in Baltimore (July 30-Aug 1) and Chicago’s Lollapalooza (Aug 6-8). Now, they’ve announced a full tour across the US and Canada, starting in California on October 1. The cities will include Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, San Francisco, and Boston. (Source)

X Japan has been around since the dark ages (ok, they formed in 1982). Guitarist Hide (pronounced Hee-deh) tragically passed away in 1998 — thirteen years ago! But the band lives on, and is now finding new fans outside Japan. This spring, Marui One Shinjuku set up a special Lemoned Shop to commemorate Hide.

In addition to selling Hide merchandise, the store displayed the legend’s guitars such as the one played in Endless Rain.

While this was only a month-long special exhibit, you can always visit Hide’s Lemoned Shop in Harajuku, which sells goodies with a slightly worn or malformed aspect (hence the name “lemoned”). The boutique was also once Hide’s headquarters for his radio station, record label and tireless creative enterprises.

The logo — a bright, juicy lemon sliced in half — perfectly reflects Hide’s electric hair and showmanship.

Break out the… yen, if you want one of these rare Hide vinyls.

Fortunately, there are also affordable and cute little goodies for sale. Hoodies, t-shirts, pins, accessories, notebooks and kawaii bears. Perfect souvenirs.

Hide is alive… and on a t-shirt. Pick one up from the Harajuku shop if you find yourself in Tokyo.

We saw Kaya’s manly look… now let’s marvel at Yukiro’s! He was the model for Sembl’s new collection of Japanese deconstructed high-end mens clothing. (You can see the photos here.) The artsy video above was shot at Mt Fuji; poor Yukiro had to stumble around in icy water while chased by a shinigami (death god).

Are you looking forward to X Japan’s first “new” album in 14 years, to be released later this year? Will you be seeing them live?

Japanese Word of the Day: Higeki = Tragedy
Song of the Day: Kanon Wakeshima – Lolitawork Libretto (New PV from Mana’s cello-playing protege. What do you think of the music video and her Lolita clothing?)