I’M HAPPY TO BE BACK!
Hmmm… “happy” is a little too strong. “Pleased”? “Oblivious”? “Not sad”? I got it!
I’M RESIGNED TO BE BACK!
That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.
WHAT’S GOT ME BUZZ’n: Jetlag
Over the summer holidays I crisscrossed time zones and the International Date Line so many times that I’ve lost all sense of my place in time and space. It would take a whole fleet of TARDIS to right me. What this means for the return of the Obvious Circus’ Events Calendar, Nagoya’s most-read source of happenings, is that readers should beware. The events below may have already happened, or, worse even, already not happened.
On to the calendar!
The Emporium in Sakae from 20:00
DJs Junk and PauloAtNight return to this exclusive club for another installment of their popular K-pop party. The recent surge in local love for that distinctly Korean pop sound has almost eclipsed my criticism that it is, in fact, terrible. However, at least on this night alone foreigners are allowed entry into Emporium, which seems more a punishment that a privilege. DOOR ¥2000 (1D)
Club Mago in Shinsake from 22:00
A “special long set” from this Belgian techno pioneer. But to be honest, all techno sets sound especially long to me. Is no genre safe from my sharp tongue? ADV ¥2500 / DOOR ¥3000
Club JB’s in Sakae from 22:00
This rowdy DJ duo from Tokyo is the cure to the mediocre that seems to have descended upon our club seen in my absence. ADV 3000 / DOOR ¥3500
Radix in Tsurumai from 21:00
Radix, the club under the tracks, has been in some desperate need of new blood for the last year or so. A special live performance from this almost-famous British-ragga musician is just the adrenaline their scene needs. Finnish DJ KOMPOSTI will also be there along with the usual suspects from the Radix roster. ADV ¥3000 / DOOR ¥3500
Sunhouse in Toyota from 18:00 | ¥1,500)
As a DJ, I don’t often get the opportunity to play outside of my comfort zone that is Nagoya proper. However, as I played my first international gig this summer (OK, so it was friend’s wedding in Vancouver… still counts!) I feel the need to expand my horizons. Which is why I am excited to be playing alongside a number of the best musicians in Toyota, a number of sexy dancers and a wet T-shirt contest. Yeah, that’s NOT going to get me in trouble or anything. DOOR ¥1500, but women can get a discount if you’re they wear a costume, or if anyone comes in a group.
Club Mago in Shinsakae from 22:00
Hallelujah! While I was away Nagoya’s most-loved International DJ, Babur (AKA Blue Wolf) came out of retirement and he’s brought his floor-stomping mix back from the dead. We can only hope his return is a sign of bigger and better parties to come. Not to detract from the talented DJ Ogawa and the rest of the SMASH crew, but DJ Babur has returned and you need no other reason to hit up Mago this Saturday. DOOR ¥2500
Club Zion in Kamimaezu from 17:30
I like this Australian punk/ska band. They may not write meaningful ballads that will last the ages, but it’s so much easier to dance in the shallow end of the pool. DOOR ¥2000
Apollo Theater, Rock’n’Roll, DayTrive Club, Sonset Strip from 12:30
40 bones gets you into 4 clubs with access to nearly 40 bands. Even if you haven’t heard of any of them, that’s still a helluva deal. DOOR ¥4000
Da Doo Ron Ron
Club Upset in Ikeshita from 23:30
Garage rock from The Phantasms and SKYLARKING with a number of rock’n’roll DJs. DOOR ¥2500
Plastic Factory in Imaike from 22:00
A special mix of music from the 60s to the 80s from DJ Sound Machine. DOOR ¥2000 (2D)
Save The Robot
X-Hall in Osu from 23:00
Trippy cosmic trance from Ari Linker AKA Alien Project DOOR ¥2500
Winter Garden Extravaganza
Winter Garden Dance Hall in Fushimi from 19:00
The Winter Garden Dance Hall represents a time when dancing meant more than gyrating your nethers on some hapless lady. Sadly, at year’s end this gorgeous ballroom will close its doors forever. In honor of this beacon of class, Nagoya Swings is hosting the big band sound of Ako and the Dark Blue Swingers and the rockabilly fury of Duck and the Billys. There will also be a special performance from the local line dance troupe, The Shooters Steppers. DOOR ¥3500 which includes food and 2 drinks
Huck Finn in Imaike from 19:00
A nice change of pace from the riotous acts that normally disgrace this stage, Austin-based Ringo Deathstarr brings some lovely indie pop that’s more akin to the Cure than their name would have you believe. DOOR ¥5000
|September 15||Aichi Vision @ Tsurumai Park|
|September 27||Wanna Be Child @ Club JB’s|
|September 30||Nagoya Players Auditions for Medea|
|October 27||The Sexy Halloween @ Club Mago|
|October 28||Dancing Evil @ Shooters|