Live music venues in Tokyo?

August 3, 2009 2:34 AM

Can you recommend any live music venues in Tokyo? I'm interested in seeing local bands, particularly instrumental 'post-rock' and electronic music.

At the moment I'm not really into disco, trance, reggae, or j-pop.

Everyone I've asked so far has directed me to neighbourhoods like Shimokitazawa, or to Metropolis. While that helps, I'd really appreciate a couple of specific venue recommendations.

Also, I can speak and vaguely read Japanese, so if there is any Japanese-language street press/websites I should be checking on, I'd love to know about them too!

posted by carnival of animals to society & culture (4 comments total)

Many of my favorite bands in the 'post-rock' and electronic categories are from Tokyo. This page could be a useful resource, this is a video they put together (it starts with an example of the kind of music they don't do, so you need to be patient).
posted by idiopath at 4:23 AM on August 3 [1 favorite has favorites]

OK, there is much variety in the links on the artists page, here are a few I recommend checking out:
Keiji Haino
Melt Banana
Asuna (the one in the youtube link above)
Boris (kind of a J-metal version of God Speed You Black Emporer)
Conti (like Ruins but with sitar instead of bass)
d.v.d.
group


The page on Andersens in Koenji links to a live venue that specializes in jazz in the Zorn vein.

Most of the artists on the artists page for the Live From Tokyo page have links there to their myspace, which then has links to upcoming gigs (presumably mostly in Tokyo).
posted by idiopath at 4:52 AM on August 3 [1 favorite has favorites]

The best venue is one where a good band is playing. I've been to a couple of live shows in Japan and the venues mostly struck me as very utilitarian - smaller than you'd expect, with minimal decorations. The band, and the crowd, will make all the difference.

A few resources:
Tokyo Gig Guide has a list of upcoming shows and links to a huge number of venues in Tokyo.

Japan Live is a great blog by a frequent concert-goer in Tokyo, although his tastes lean more towards pop. His FAQs have a Live house guide that summarizes some of the main venues in Tokyo, which sounds like what you're looking for.
posted by Gortuk at 6:51 AM on August 3 [1 favorite has favorites]

Thanks so much! These links are very helpful.

idiopath, thanks also for the recommendations! I particularly like Asuna, GROUP, and Boris (which immediately reminded me of This Will Destroy You).
posted by carnival of animals at 6:29 PM on August 3