Category Archive for Fims + Videos
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA GOTH STEAMPUNK CLOTHING SHOPS & INDUSTRIAL NIGHTCLUBS. TOKYO, JAPAN HALLOWEEN PARTIES.
Time for a “moriawase” or “meli-melo” post of odds and ends! My new Global Gothic column for Lip Service Webzine is up. This month, we go down under to Sydney, Australia — and explore its darkest and most fashionable spots. You can read it here.
Not long ago, Team Spooky took over an Ikebukuro izakaya. From left to right: Tatsu (of legendary hardcore punk band Gastunk, who plays in The Killing Red Addiction with ex-X Japan’s Taiji). Mistress Maya (of Goth/Industrial party Midnight Mess and Alanis Morissette karaoke fame). Cotton Bale (in gorgeous gold Dr. Martens). And Kana (the absinthe jelly genius). She’s dressed for a “Roman Funeral” Japanese TV show event!
We went to see our friends 101A perform at Ikebukuro Black Hole. The serial killer / cute bunny mascot is brilliant, don’t you think?
Japanese steampunk style icon, Kenny Creation, showed us his new cage necklace. On the left: my skull and gem rings from Closet Child. (I’m trying desperately to organize my jewelry… do you have any suggestions? Maybe I can arrange them in elegant teak boxes, like the ones at jewelryboxes123.com?)
“Voice is sheer and whimsical. Sound waves are like sucking in air. Various pieces remind you of shoegazer, grunge, industrial, Bristol sound.” An excellent performance by the rising band 101A.
Who’s excited for Halloween? Undead fashion model Yukiro Dravarious rises from the grave to inform you about Tokyo’s best Halloween parties this year. If you are in Japan, you should definitely check them out. Watch the video above, and check out my Tokyo Goth Nightlife guide for URLs, maps, photos and directions.
Drumroll please… announcing the winners of the Gloomth contest! Via random selection, the lucky pirates are HagumiW ($250), RoseBud ($100), and Pamela Quevedo ($50). Congratulations! I’m announcing another huge new giveaway next week, so please don’t despair… there are plenty more opportunities ahead.
Finally, shout-outs to RaSh Ro for the fan art above (I love seeing your artwork; email me and I’ll post it). Thank you also to Dominion Magazine for interviewing me about Harajuku Goth fashion and nightlife.
Anyone have exciting weekend plans? My list: X Japan concert, Takashi Miike film screening, photoshoot for a magazine cover, nightcrawling at a Goth EBM club, lavender lattes. And most importantly, squishing my cat.
Japanese Word of the Day: Gura gura = Wobbly
Song of the Day: Diamanda Galas – Gloomy Sunday (the Hungarian suicide song)
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JAPANESE ZOMBIE GIRL ATTACKS! RESIDENT EVIL AFTERLIFE IN SHIBUYA TOKYO. UPCOMING TOKYO GOTH DANCE PARTIES, YUKIRO'S PERFORMANCE.
If you’re a fan of 3D zombies — and even if you aren’t — there’s a movie in theaters right now that you can’t miss. Resident Evil: Afterlife. The cameras nose-dive into the famous Shibuya street crossing, where a delicate Japanese girl (Mika Nakashima) is caught in the pouring rain. Her eyes latch onto an oncoming businessman… brace yourself for the first zombie girl attack!
Interesting quote from the star, Milla Jovovich: “In Japan, literally 95 percent of the viewers are girls that go see these movies, and in America it’s the opposite. Girls in Tokyo really, really need these strong role models, where I think women in America think the films are too violent.” (Source: Reuters).
Resident Evil: Afterlife has slick style (Milla’s holster and corset!), high-kicking female characters and an electronica soundtrack. The direction has an artsy feel that separates this movie from typical blow-up blockbusters. And the fight scene in the showers with an overgrown zombie wielding the world’s biggest axe? Bloody brilliant. Have you seen the film yet? Go! (Thank you to Alliance Films for the advance screening passes.)
Speaking of Japanese zombies… I thought you might enjoy these photos of undead DJs and dancers from the most recent Gothic Bar Heaven club night in Tokyo.
The Goth / Industrial music begins around midnight at Shibuya Club Crawl. (Maps, directions and detailed reports are found in my Japan clubbing guide.)
The girls mix up the styles. DJ Tetra (right) is as emo-boy-weak as ever. Love it.
Do you recognize DJ Chihiro, without the white facepaint? He often plays at this club night, run by D’s Valentine.
Can’t say I enjoyed the live show very much… The guitarist on right was cutting herself and licking the blood!
Here are some images from July’s Midnight Mess. It was when Yukiro’s first live musical performance took place! DJ SiSEN wore horns and magical makeup for the occasion.
Yukiro was a “fashion-forward killer bitch Evil Queen.” You can read more about his musical mission here.
Sad that you missed his performance? Above is a video of Dravarious performing a cover of Moi dix Mois – Dialogue Symphonie! Yukiro also played several of his original songs. Stay tuned for news about his next concert…
Quite a few of my friends are having parties and performances next weekend:
† TOKYO, September 17: Lunatic Sabbath. Japanese Steampunk master Kenny Creation is performing with his band “I am still in the haze.” In addition,Yukiro will be dancing on-stage, and Goth groups Despair and Vanished Empire will play. (I will post an interview with DJ Chihiro soon.) The Industrial / DarkPsyche / EBM party is at Yoyogi Labo and begins at midnight. 2500 yen with flyer, 2000 with dresscode.
† LOS ANGELES, September 16: Do you remember the Jpop Purikura party I hosted in the spring? Organizers Tune in Tokyo are having a Japanese school uniform dance party, sponsored by X Japan North American Tour 2010 and Jrock Revolution! More info and RSVP on Facebook. There will be J-rock and pop dance music, prizes, screening of a rare documentary about X Japan, and a chance to meet fellow fans of the band. LA friends, don’t miss out.
† LOS ANGELES, September 16-30: Horror artist Dienzo (who painted a vampire portrait of me and gave us a tour of Cartoon Network headquarters) has a new art exhibit opening at Hyaena Galley (remember when we visited?). “I’ve partnered with Eric Pigors to celebrate our love of spooky monsters and creepy chicks. Basically he does pen and ink drawings and colors then digitally, then I use that as inspiration to create my own versions of his characters in my style.” Check out the exhibit at Hyaena Gallery in Burbank, which runs September 16-30. There is an Artist Reception: September 18th, 8pm-Midnight.
Okay, let’s hear your thoughts on the new Resident Evil and Yukiro’s musical performance!
Japanese Word of the Day: Juyouu = Demand
Song of the Day: Dir en Grey – Vinushka (Anyone seeing or seen the band on tour in USA? A report is coming up on my blog!)
LA CARMINA
