Off to Italy in a few days! Who would have thought that this little blog would turn international? Dreams do become reality — like Seba’s band, DNR, opening for Versailles tonight. (Keep reading for the story.)

While La Carmina blog has spread its wings, we’re staying true to our roots: firsthand reports from Japan’s Gothic underground. I’ll hope you will enjoy upcoming posts from my trusted friends, including a concert review of Moi dix Mois in Tokyo.

Perhaps you remember Cotton Bale’s Tokyo birthday party from last year (sushi, purikura and karaoke in Shinjuku). This year, she went to the event Death Disco Funeral: Tokyo Mutant Wave. Here’s her review.

Tokyo Decay is the Tokyo branch of Decay Promotions, the company that organizes the deathrock festival, Drop Dead. (The lovely lady is Miwa, who provided these photos. And I’m sure you recognize the infamous Kenzo-A.)

Death Disco Funeral was mainly a live music event, with DJ sets between the bands. Gothic trip-hop band *microscope* had a stand-out percussionist. She played a xylophone, a cymbal with saw, and a saw with a violin bow.

New Wave three piece Nu-coordinator totally rocked. They wore visor shades, and the singer had a vocoder. They reminded me a lot of the Talking Heads.

As always, 13th Moon put on an amusing show. I can never quite tell if they are being serious or not. Sometimes they seem like a death rock parody band. Their guitar player Amuck-A is super-adorable, though. (That’s charismatic frontman nAo12xu on the right.)

The Plasticzooms get better every time I see them. They have really started to develop their own sound in the last year or so, and the singer, Sho, is a sweetheart. He even gave me a triangle necklace he made as a birthday present.

As for the DJs, nAo12xu played an amazing set including White Ring, the Sixteens and the Soft Moon. EyescreaM also played a pretty good set with lots of New Wave classics. The guest DJ was Asami of Black Triangle Design.

Asami had a booth at the event, and I bought a black, shark skin, triangle necklace with gold pyramid studs from her. There was also digital art by Cre Izu. For my birthday, I also got a special hand made present, a black patent hexagram t-shirt to match my Docs.

Back to La Carmina’s voice… sighing because I wish I were there! Recently, several people have asked me if it’s safe to go to Tokyo alternative clubs alone. Readers, you can’t find a friendlier group of Goths than in Japan. I urge you to nightcrawl — many people speak English, and I’m certain you’ll have a great experience.

All the info you require is in my Tokyo club listing, which chronicles Japan’s best alt and Gothic nightlife.

Where’s Sebastiano Serafini right now? Traveling with Visual Kei legends Versailles, as their translator. Tonight, his band DNR will open for them in Italy — what an honor! Soon, he will share stories and photos with you on this blog.

I’ll be with Seba and DNR soon — being flown to the Luisa Via Roma event in Florence. The organizers put us in this spettacolare hotel near the Duomo… we’ll document every minute of the Italy trip for you!

Are you a deathrock fan? Would you have the courage to go to a Japanese Goth event like this alone? Trust us: the parties look scary, but in fact, they’re fun and accessible.

Song of the Day: The Plasticzooms – Witch