OSAKA VISUAL KEI BARS, LIVE CONCERTS & MUSIC STORES. BAR ROCK ROCK, CUTE JROCK HEAVY METAL BOYS AT BAR MOONWALK.
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
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46 Comments
the catio always makes me the lulz. Basil is so cute! ^_^
Oh boy… something arrived in the mail today for him that’s even more ridiculous…
Awesome review!! :) ♥
the catio always makes me the lulz. Basil is so cute! ^_^
sdfsdfsf *droool*
Love that type of Visual Kei music!
Love both of your outfits, especially Yukiro~ He always makes me laugh!
Awesome review!! :) ♥
Cat tea! What’s in it? :O
10 bands…hmm…Malice Mizer, X Japan, Kaya, Luci’fer Luscious Violenoue, P-Model, Soft Ballet, Guniw Tools, Velvet Eden, Psycho le Cemu…and recently, D’espairsRay! I wouldn’t mind adding Snail Ramp or Thee Michelle Gun Elephant either, though.
Ahaha it was just water… ;)
NICE list! Can’t wait for D’espairsRay!
Mm! I’m hoping I’ll be able to go, but I should be able to find a way <3
A few of those aren't visual, sorry I wasn't paying much attention to the question!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way ;)
You mean the ID Pilot in Big Step? It’s actually loosely associated with Zeal Link in Tokyo. In other words, bands that are not associated with undercode or loopash have their events and signings there. The Like An Edison is next to Big Step (look for the men’s clothing shop and then go to the second floor) and all other events are there. There is also Sound First across the street if you can’t afford the new stuff in Like an Edison or ID Pilot.
Wahh I can’t remember the name of this store… I think it might be the Like An? It was on an upper level, and there were Gothloli clothes in the boutiques around it…
Haha, no…I was telling you that in the Big Step it’s ID Pilot, and next door to Big Step is the Like An Edison :P
It’s on the 3rd floor, as I recall. Big Cat is on 5…I think.
By the way, top 10 VK bands:
Malice Mizer
Psycho Le Cemu
Suicide Ali (you know why….but actually they were always high on my list :P)
Alice Nine
Gazette
An Cafe (I literally own EVERYTHING they have ever produced. EVERYTHING….Including the damn Nappy track suit)
Versailles
Vidoll (Jui has a bloodclot, so they are ceasing activity from September….Sadness)
Nega
BLOOD
Is that 10…?
BLOOD! Fu-ki, my soulmate ahahah. I just realized that if his English is good enough, he’ll know I’ve been blogging about him being my soulmate… oops >_<
Suicide Ali!!!
Haha, yes, Suicide Ali. They are quite possibly a little TOO excited for my arrival. Especially one member in particular, hahaha. And I plan on making a stop to Fu-ki’s bar when I finally get my big butt to Kansai from Hokkaido >.<
I'll have to update you on some things, yeah? ^-^
Yes, I do think so! <3
ho ho ho, say hi to Fu-ki from me… he saw my blog and the CNN article and emailed a thank you. I wonder if he realizes I've been calling him my SOULMATE… ahhh!
Be prepared for an email tonight!
And hmmm…If he does, then he is either 1) a dense male who doesn’t realize the gravity of the word-use or 2) really doesn’t care or 3) is flattered!
my top 10:
1. The Gazette
2. SKULL
3. Naitomea
4. QUAFF
5. NoGod
6. Girugamesh
7. -OZ-
8. ScReW
9. Alice Nine
10. Phantasmagoria
Wonderful! <3
My top ten:
Malice Mizer
Versailles
Kozi Solo
D’espairsray
Moi Dix Mois
Psycho Le Cemu
Blood
Schwarz Stein
Shazna
Lareine
The top two are my favorites too!
My 10-
Kozi (solo)
Malice Mizer
Moi Dix Mois
BLOOD
BUCK-TICK
Oyuugi Wagamama
Versailles
D’espairsray
Gackt
Ossu
sdfsdfsf *droool*
Love that type of Visual Kei music!
Love both of your outfits, especially Yukiro~ He always makes me laugh!
Cat tea! What's in it? :O
10 bands…hmm…Malice Mizer, X Japan, Kaya, Luci'fer Luscious Violenoue, P-Model, Soft Ballet, Guniw Tools, Velvet Eden, Psycho le Cemu…and recently, D'espairsRay! I wouldn't mind adding Snail Ramp or Thee Michelle Gun Elephant either, though.
You mean the ID Pilot in Big Step? It's actually loosely associated with Zeal Link in Tokyo. In other words, bands that are not associated with undercode or loopash have their events and signings there. The Like An Edison is next to Big Step (look for the men's clothing shop and then go to the second floor) and all other events are there. There is also Sound First across the street if you can't afford the new stuff in Like an Edison or ID Pilot.
Wahh I can't remember the name of this store… I think it might be the Like An? It was on an upper level, and there were Gothloli clothes in the boutiques around it…
Oh boy… something arrived in the mail today for him that's even more ridiculous…
Ahaha it was just water… ;)
NICE list! Can't wait for D'espairsRay!
Haha, no…I was telling you that in the Big Step it's ID Pilot, and next door to Big Step is the Like An Edison :P
It's on the 3rd floor, as I recall. Big Cat is on 5…I think.
By the way, top 10 VK bands:
Malice Mizer
Psycho Le Cemu
Suicide Ali (you know why….but actually they were always high on my list :P)
Alice Nine
Gazette
An Cafe (I literally own EVERYTHING they have ever produced. EVERYTHING….Including the damn Nappy track suit)
Versailles
Vidoll (Jui has a bloodclot, so they are ceasing activity from September….Sadness)
Nega
BLOOD
Is that 10…?
my top 10:
1. The Gazette
2. SKULL
3. Naitomea
4. QUAFF
5. NoGod
6. Girugamesh
7. -OZ-
8. ScReW
9. Alice Nine
10. Phantasmagoria
My top ten:
Malice Mizer
Versailles
Kozi Solo
D'espairsray
Moi Dix Mois
Psycho Le Cemu
Blood
Schwarz Stein
Shazna
Lareine
My 10-
Kozi (solo)
Malice Mizer
Moi Dix Mois
BLOOD
BUCK-TICK
Oyuugi Wagamama
Versailles
D'espairsray
Gackt
Ossu
Mm! I'm hoping I'll be able to go, but I should be able to find a way <3
A few of those aren't visual, sorry I wasn't paying much attention to the question!
BLOOD! Fu-ki, my soulmate ahahah. I just realized that if his English is good enough, he'll know I've been blogging about him being my soulmate… oops >_<
Suicide Ali!!!
Wonderful! <3
The top two are my favorites too!
Where there's a will, there's a way ;)
Haha, yes, Suicide Ali. They are quite possibly a little TOO excited for my arrival. Especially one member in particular, hahaha. And I plan on making a stop to Fu-ki's bar when I finally get my big butt to Kansai from Hokkaido >.<
I'll have to update you on some things, yeah? ^-^
Yes, I do think so! <3
ho ho ho, say hi to Fu-ki from me… he saw my blog and the CNN article and emailed a thank you. I wonder if he realizes I've been calling him my SOULMATE… ahhh!
Be prepared for an email tonight!
And hmmm…If he does, then he is either 1) a dense male who doesn't realize the gravity of the word-use or 2) really doesn't care or 3) is flattered!
1.The GazettE
2.Alice Nine
3.Deluhi
4.UnsraW
5.Megamasso
6.D’espairsRay
7.Sadie
8.Vamps
9.Eccentric Agent
10.Girugamesh
Gah that was hard to decide (>~<)
I need to go to those 3 places now! Especially Midian. >< Whenever I get my butt to Japan, that visual kei shop is probably the first place I'm going. xD
Oh, gosh… This required effort.
1: Lamiel / BAISER (Those two are tied for first. I can't for the life of me decide which to pick.)
2: Dué le quartz
3: Madeth gray'll
4: Lumi/Ere
5: Dir en grey
6: Blast
7: BLAM HONEY
8: 愛狂います。
9: BLOOD
10: LAREINE