Posted in Whathaveyou on January 21st, 2022 by JJ Koczan
Man, people are gonna be stealing this band’s shit forever. Like, 40 years from now there will be white-boy psych-prog bands playing in plagued-out bombshelters hiding from post-climate-apocalypse cannibal marauders looking for water and flesh upon which to cruelly feast, and those bands will sound like Kikagaku Moyo. I’m dead serious. These guys were never huge, never the most popular kind of act, but their sound is set up for a slow-burner influence that might really resonate for decades. They’re going to be the kind of band who, if you’ve seen them, you’ll be glad you did.
One last album in May on Guruguru Brain, a veritable buttload of tour dates — a Fall run on the West Coast still TBA — and then they’re done. I know we never say never when it comes to bands breaking up and reuniting and whatnot, but you can’t argue with the ethic of wanting to go out while they’re still having a good time. Seems like a killer way to spend a decade.
From social media:
Happy New Year, everyone!
We hope you all had great holidays despite the ongoing pandemic.
Today, we have important news to share with you.
After much discussion between the five of us at the end of last year, we have decided to go on an indefinite hiatus after 2022. This means 2022 will be our last year as Kikagaku Moyo.
We have come to the conclusion that because we have truly achieved our core mission as a band, we would love to end this project on the highest note possible. Since first starting as a music collective on the streets of Tokyo in 2012, we never, ever imagined being able to play all over the world for our amazing audiences. It is all because of you that this was ever possible…and to this we are eternally grateful.
With this in mind, our very last album will be released by Guruguru Brain on May 2022.
We enjoyed making this album so much and are incredibly excited to finally release it this spring for you.
Following our last album release, we will do our very last tours this spring and fall.
Tickets for the spring tours will go on sale on Jan 21st, and will be available for purchase on our new website.
Please do not miss this chance to get your tickets, because there will be no next time
We sincerely thank all of you for your continuous support and cannot wait to see you all at our shows one last time.
SPRING TOUR 2022 -East Coast N.America- May 11 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace May 12 Montreal, QC – La Tulip May 13 Winooski, VT – Waking Windows May 14 Boston, MA – Royale May 17 Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere May 18 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer May 19 Asheville, NC – Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre May 20 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse May 21 Nashville, TN – The Basement East May 23 Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre May 24 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall May 25 Detroit. MI – El Club May 27 Napa, CA – Bottle Rock Festival
-EU & UK- June 6 Paris, FR – Trabendo June 9 Oslo, NO – Loaded Festival June 11 Beekse Bergen, NL – Best Kept Secret June 12 Tourcoing, FR – Le Grand Mix June 13 Brussels, BE – Botanique Orangerie June 14 Cologne, DE – Gebaude 9 June 15 Copenhagen, DK – Punpehuset June 16 Berlin, DE – Festsaal Kreuzberg June 17 Prague, CZ – Futurum June 18 Vienna, AT – Flex June 20 Lausanne, CH – Les Docks June 21 Zurich, CH – Mascotte June 22 Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso June 26 London. UK – Clapham Grand
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 16th, 2020 by JJ Koczan
Right on. Live Kikagaku Moyo recorded at Austin, Texas’ Levitation Fest in 2014 (when it was still Austin Psych Fest) and 2019. Hey that’s awesome. Guruguru Brain puts out wild shit, the band is rad, and preorders are up. There’s a video and that’s a good time too. If you’re turned onto these cats, that’s its own best argument in favor of digging in. I’m not really cool enough for the Kikagaku Moyo, their label — the band put out a reissue of 2014’s Mammatus Clouds, in August and I didn’t get to hear it — or Levitation Fest, so I doubt I’ll be high on the list of reviews they’re seeking, but whatever. Still looks like something worth your time, so I figured the least I could do was post the release info.
And you know I’m all about doing the least. Ha.
Here’s PR wire info:
Kikagaku Moyo – Live at Levitation Out January 15
The Reverberation Appreciation Society Launches New Album Series: Live at LEVITATION
The Reverberation Appreciation Society is proud to launch a brand new live series, Live at LEVITATION. Recorded over the history of the world-renowned event, the series captures key moments in psychedelic rock history, and live music in Austin, Texas. The artists and sets showcased here have been chosen from over a decade of recordings, and captures key artists in the scene performing for a crowd of their peers and fans who gather at Levitation annually from all over the world.
The first LP in this series features Japanese psych heavyweights Kikagaku Moyo. This particular record is as strong sonically as it is meaningful in the band’s history. It showcases one of the band’s very first US shows in 2014 on the A-side, and their triumphant return in 2019 on the B-side with them firing on all cylinders amid a sold out US tour.
“Playing Austin Psych Fest / Levitation was always a goal from our earliest days of the band – to join the psychedelic community for a weekend of music and present our live performance. This show in 2014 was a landmark for us. To return years later in 2019 and find the same welcome, the dream was still very much alive and well.” – Kikagaku Moyo
Kikagaku Moyo have come a long way – both literally and metaphorically– since their humble beginnings busking on the streets of Tokyo back in 2012. A tight-knit group of five friends who bonded over the desire to play freely, and explore psychedelic music. The band’s progressive, folk-influenced take on psychedelia marked them out from their peers, helped revive Japan’s psych rock scene, and soon brought them international acclaim. Fast forward a few years, and you find the band crushing headline sets at festivals, embarking on sprawling international tours, and with a dedicated fanbase for their music and record label Guruguru Brain – all while steadfastly maintaining their creative freedom and DIY ethos.
Kikagaku Moyo are the real deal: masterful musicians, a powerful creative force, and one of key bands in the psychedelic rock movement. The Reverberation Appreciation Society is thrilled to have them kick off the Live at Levitation Series with this incredible record.
Kikagaku Moyo Live at Levitation has been given deluxe treatment, with two eye-popping vinyl options available exclusively through the Levitation webstore + an Indie Store exclusive audiophile version, available at your favorite record store. A t-shirt and tie dye t-shirt is also available, featuring the artwork from their 2019 appearance at Levitation by South African artist Simon Berndt.
Side A: 1: Elevation Jam 2: Streets of Calcutta 3: Tree Smoke 4: Smoke and Mirrors
Side B: 5: Dripping Sun 6: Gatherings 7: Nazo Nazo
Credits:
All Music by Kikagaku Moyo
Side A – recorded at Carson Creek Ranch, APF 2014 Recorded and mixed by Craig Lawrence
Side B – recorded at Barracuda, LEVITATION 2019 Recorded by Alexander Dubois, mixed by Craig Lawrence
Mastering and Lacquers Cut by Nick Townsend Track Sequencing by Harry Portnof Layout by Rob Fitzpatrick Photos by Daniel Cavazos (front) and Alicia Santiago (back) All Rights Reserved 2021, The Reverberation Appreciation Society
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 30th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Desertfest Berlin 2019, Desertfest London 2019 and the first-ever Desertfest New York have all had lineup announcements this week. That’s by no means a little bit of Desertfest, but of course the Berlin lineup remains a beast unto itself. Along with sharing the likes of headliners Om and Wovenhand and Mondo Generator, etc., Berlin welcomes Wino back to Europe with an acoustic set as well as Kakagaku Moyo from Japan — who’ll just happen to be in the same building as Earthless, with whom they’ve jammed live before and might well again. With Naxatras fulfilling the great Greek psychedelic prophecy and Long Distance Calling rounding out this second announcement, Desertfest Berlin 2019 remains a landmark that, like its London counterpart, has only continued to become more expansive and encompassing.
To wit:
OM ++ WOVENHAND ++ LONG DISTANCE CALLING ++ KIKAGAKU MOYO ++ MONDO GENERATOR ++ WINO ++ NICK OLIVERI ++ NAXATRAS confirmed for Desertfest Berlin 2019!!!
Desert rockers, we are psyched to reveal new names for our 8th edition in the capitol of Germany, Berlin. While our annual festival already unveiled highclass acts such as J Mascis’ Witch, Colour Haze, All Them Witches, Earthless and many more, today DesertFest Berlin pursues the announcements of 8 further and more than exciting bands which have been added to the eclectic 2019 line-up!
Formed by the rhythm section of our all beloved Sleep, legendary OM will make their return to Europe! It’s been a long time since the band released their last album ‘Advaitic Songs’ back in 2012, but your wait and hunger to experience the band live is finally over: OM are going to hypnotize the entire ARENA with their unique, one and only omvibrating sounds!
Bringing you the probably best Americana and Alternative Country tunes you can get, DESERTFEST BERLIN is thrilled to welcome Wovenhand (official) in 2019! Led by former 16 Horsepower frontman David Eugene, WOVENHAND gave the real birth to mix folk, gospel and rock ‘n roll. Expect a unique and very special live show!
Long Distance Calling have always roamed on unexplored territory. Their timeless, atmospheric instrumental rock not only inspires traditionalists with a penchant for guitars, vinyl and compact discs, but without their epic records even no serious streaming playlist is complete. At DESERTFEST BERLIN 2019, the band will make us forget about the digital world. They will transfer us into the real world of finest instrumental rock sounds, only an act like LONG DISTANCE CALLING could ever create!
DESERTFEST BERLIN will also bring back Scott “Wino” Weinrich to Europe! The St. Vitus frontman will be performing a very special acoustic set at the 8th festival edition in Berlin. With his solo project of the dark rock till Outlaw Country tunes alongside rare cover versions, you may never know what WINO will be playing live on stage, but you can be sure: This legend will provide a live appearance we won’t forget too fast!
Punk and metal hybrid unit from Los Angeles, Mondo Generator, fronted and formed by Nick Oliveri (QOTSA, Dwarves, Bloodclot, Kyuss) is going to break loose with the DESERTFEST BERLIN crowd next year. Since the band is no stranger to the Desertfest’s family, you know what to expect, sweaty T-shirts in crazy pits included!
And while we got him in Berlin already, the DESERTFEST BERLIN crew invited Mr. Nick Oliveri to put on his infamous DEATH ACOUSTIC set! Double-action by the one & only NICK OLIVERI, who not only released his critically acclaimed ‘N.O. Hits At All’-series with HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS over the past few months, but will be also bringing his N.O Hits At All live and in death acoustic manners on stage! Get ready for some fun, desert rockers!
Last but not least, DESERTFEST BERLIN is proud to welcome two of the hottest irons the current underground rock scene has to offer: Japanese up & coming Kikagaku Moyo as well as Naxatras round up today’s second band announcement! They balance heavy, crushing jams with softer, more contemplative moments: Tokyo-based KIKAGAKU MOYO, your new favorite psychedelic rock band, perfectly incorporates the elements of Krautrock, Indian ragas and acid folk, currently and well-deserved selling out one venue after the next! The Greek power trio NAXATRAS delivers a trippy journey to the very roots of the psychedelic sound, paying tribute to rock titans such as Pink Floyd and Hawkwind, doom rock overlords Black Sabbath, as well as funk pioneers Funkadelic or legendary guitar-hero Jimi Hendrix. The relentless touring activity of the band, with recent sold out shows all over Europe, put NAXATRAS once and for all on the map as one of the biggest hopes of European psychedelic music!
Friends, we hope you dig this new killer announcement as much as we do! Desertfest Berlin 2019 will take place between May 3rd – 5th 2019 at the riverside in the heart of Berlin, the ARENA BERLIN. The festival will not only provide a new sound-and payment-system on the ground, but also more space PLUS a chillout- and live zone on the ‘Hoppetosse’ boat! Better be quick to start your trip to Berlin, as you don’t want to miss this amazing line-up and witness one of the best festival editions you have ever been to!
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 6th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Pretty rad to find out that Earthless‘ recently announced position as artists-in-residence for Roadburn 2018 will come at the end of a full round of European touring alongside Comet Control — fingers crossed they get added to the bill of the Tilburg, Netherlands-based fest as well — and that indeed that run itself will follow a cross-country US tour in the company of Kikagaku Moyo and JJUUJUU as the San Diego trio begin to support their impending Nuclear Blast label debut, which they recently finished tracking with Dave Catching at the helm and is due out March 16. And yes, I mean all of that is pretty rad. That whole frickin’ run-on sentence. If you’re not into longform righteousness, then this probably isn’t the band for you anyway.
Up there with 2018’s most anticipated among the most anticipated? Yeah. From where I stand, 2018 is Earthless‘ for the taking.
From the PR wire:
EARTHLESS announce North American and European tour dates
Seminal psychedelic rock trio, EARTHLESS, have announced world-wide tour dates in support of their upcoming Nuclear Blast Entertainment debut.
Commented drummer Mario Rubalcaba:
“We are beyond chuffed to finally have a new album to go out and support and we can’t wait to play the new tunes for everyone- they are blastin’! We are also excited to have some killer support bands going out with us when we tour the US and Canada and when we head out to Europe/UK in April. On our North American run, KIKAGAKU MOYO from Japan and JJUUJUU will swirl minds, add diversity and still keep things “heady” for all. In April, we’ll be hitting Europe and the UK with our buds in COMET CONTROL. They will keep you all warm and fuzzy on the inside while shakin yr brains from the outside. That tour also ends up at the mighty Roadburn Festival, where we are honored to be the official Artist In Residence over all 3 nights- each different and special. We look forward to seeing you all out there. Cheers!”
EARTHLESS–Isaiah Mitchell (vocals/guitar), Mike Eginton (bass) and Mario Rubalcaba (drums)–recently finished recording their new album with Dave Catching (EAGLES OF DEATH METAL) at Rancho de la Luna in Joshua Tree, CA, The band will release the 4th full-length record on March 16th. More details to be announced shortly. Confirmed tour dates are as follows:
EARTHLESS, KIKAGAKU MOYO, JJUUJUU Feb 28 – San Rafael @ Terrapin Crossroads Mar 1 – San Francisco @ Great American Music Hall Mar 2 – San Diego @ Casbah Mar 3 – San Diego @ Casbah Mar 4 – Los Angeles @ Teragram Ballroom Mar 5 – Santa Cruz @ The Atrium Mar 7 – Las Vegas @ Beauty Bar Mar 8 – Pioneertown CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s Mar 13 – Cleveland @ Grog Shop Mar 14 – Toronto @ Lee’s Palace Mar 15 – Montreal @ L’Astral Mar 16 – Brooklyn @ Market Hotel Mar 17 – Boston @ The Sinclair Mar 18 – Philadelphia @ Underground Arts Mar 20 – Washington DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel Mar 21 – Richmond @ The Broadberry Mar 22 – Nashville @ Mercy Lounge Mar 23 – St. Louis @ Blueberry Hill Mar 24 – Chicago @ Empty Bottle Mar 25 – Chicago @ Empty Bottle
EARTHLESS, COMET CONTROL Apr 3 – Kortrijk, BE @ De Kreun Apr 4 – Bristol, UK @ The Fleece Apr 5 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute Apr 6 – London, UK @ Islington Assembly Hall Apr 7 – Paris, FR @ Petit Bain Apr 8 – Frankfurt, DE @ Zoom Apr 10 – Munich, DE @ Feierwerk Apr 11 – Berlin, DE @ Bi Nuu Apr 12 – Copenhagen, DK @ Pumpehuset Apr 13 – Oslo, NO @ BLA Apr 14 – Gothenberg, SE @ Truckstop Alaska Apr 16 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Apr 19 – Tilburg, NE @ ROADBURN 2018 Apr 20 – Tilburg, NE @ ROADBURN 2018 Apr 21 – Tilburg, NE @ ROADBURN 2018
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 15th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
This invariably happens every year. Roadburn hits a point where the festival loses its damn mind and delivers a completely overwhelming onslaught of lineup additions, greatly affirming the overall character of the event as well as its ongoing utter creative dominance of the Spring festival scene in Europe. I knew it was coming. I guess I just didn’t expect it so soon.
More the fool I. Today, Roadburn 2018 confirms Earthless will serve as Artist-in-Residence, and in addition to playing a set on their own, they’ll jam out with krautrock legend Damo Suzuki of Can as well as lead the charge of a ‘San Diego Takeover’ featuring the likes of Harsh Toke, Joy, Petyr and Sacri Monti. Not only that, but Crowbar will play Odd Fellows Rest in full at Jacob Bannon‘s curated event, and another takeover — this time by Japanese psychedelia — brings confirmation of Kikagaku Moyo, Minami Deutsch and Dhidalah. Oh, and there’s a shit ton of others added as well, including Mutoid Man, Jarboe and Ruins of Beverast.
If you can get your head around it, you’ve got one up on me, though it’s certainly fun to try. I got to write the Earthless announcement, so make sure you read that one. Here’s all of it from the PR wire:
Roadburn Festival 2018 Artist in Residence announced; plus more lineup confirmations
– Earthless confirmed as 2018 Artist in Residence – Huge San Diego Takeover project announced feat. collaborations and jam sessions. – Japanese Psych Experience courtesy of Kikagaku Moyo, Minami Deutsch and Dhidalah – Crowbar & Zola Jesus confirmed for Jacob Bannon’s curated stages
Artistic Director, Walter Hoeijmakers commented: “To be Roadburn’s Artist in Residence is quite a prestigious position; it really gives bands a chance to open up and explore different facets of their collective personalities. Earthless are – to me – the perfect fit for this next year; their bond with Roadburn is strong and we’re thrilled to have seen them grow and develop over the years since they first played Roadburn. In fact, it will be a full decade since their first performance on a Roadburn stage – and what a way to mark the occasion.
“The whole San Diego Takeover has been over a year in the planning, and we’re still working on even more ways to enhance what is already going to be such an incredibly special part of Roadburn 2018.”
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE: EARTHLESS
Roadburn is proud to welcome back our benevolent cosmic instrumentalist overlords in 2018! Earthless will perform three sets as our Artist in Residence, including some incredibly special, Roadburn-exclusive jams.
It’s been a decade since the San Diego three-piece of guitarist Isaiah Mitchell, bassist Mike Eginton and drummer Mario Rubalcaba set a standard for epic with the performance that became their landmark Live at Roadburn 2LP in 2008. Since then, Earthless have become the standard-bearers of a heavy psychedelic boom in California, inspiring countless acts around them.
As our Artist in Residence they will take the stage three times. For the first set, they’ll play in their standard three-piece incarnation, showcasing material from their upcoming 2018 album. The second set unites Earthless with progressive rock and improvisational legend Damo Suzuki, a set that is bound to be an occurrence of galaxy-shaking significance. If that’s not enough, Earthless will also take part in an ‘East Meets West’ psych jam with other members of the San Diego scene and members of Kikagaku Moyo from Japan.
Steeped in psychedelia and inspired by Earthless – who played a pivotal role in sparking this particular fire – the new breed of San Diego psych-rock bands is gearing up to launch themselves on Tilburg next April. Stand by; the San Diego circus is coming to town.
A veritable gang of musicians will be leaving behind the Pacific Ocean and making their way to the slightly less sun soaked – although no less open minded – vistas of Tilburg.
Each participating band will perform over the course of the weekend as part of the main festival programme at the 013, but a movement this influential deserves it’s own space to spread out, bloom, and indeed envelope us all. So, with that in mind, there will be a Californian takeover at the Hall of Fame on both Friday and Saturday; welcome to the San Diego Clubhouse!
When you count professional skaters among your ranks, it would seem remiss to not factor a skate expo into proceedings. Plus there will be visual exhibitions by the likes of JT Rhoades, Lannie Rhodes and BB Bastidas (the man responsible for the incredible poster below), there will also be stalls featuring Vol.4 Clothing and Psockadelic. We didn’t know we needed Roadburn branded socks until just now, but now we really need them…
More details will unfurl over the next couple of months, but for now, it’s time to get stoked: California is coming. Performing as part of the Roadburn 2018 San Diego takeover will be: Harsh Toke Sacri Monti Joy Petyr
JAPANESE PSYCH: KIKAGAKA MOYO, MINAMI DEUTSCH, DHIDALAH
In conjunction with the San Diego Takeover, Roadburn 2018 will also host a Japanese psych experience! Steeped in ’60s and ’70s tradition, these bands are exploring psychedelia in a transportive and meditative way. Emphasis is put on the past, but they’re pushing the envelope, and it’s their forward-looking vision that’s prompted us to bring them to Roadburn 2018.
Please brace yourself to explore the sonic spectrum with these new champions of Japanese psych!
Centered around cult-label GuruGuruBrain, the following bands will perform as the Japanese counterparts of The San Diego Takeover: Kikagaku Moyo Minami Deutsch Dhidalah
JACOB BANNON’S CURATION: CROWBAR
Crowbar have been at the forefront of heavy music for nearly three decades, and in 1998 released the album Odd Fellows Rest. This incredible album merged their existing heaviness with a refined melodic sensibility, creating one of the most powerful metal albums of the era.
Jacob Bannon comments: “In 1991 I was introduced to Crowbar when I bought a tape of their Obedience Thru Suffering album. The sheer heaviness of the band floored me and I was hooked ever since. For me personally, their 1998 album Odd Fellows Rest is a high watermark of creativity. It is an incredible collection of songs that have been daily listens for me for nearly two decades. It’s an honor to have the band perform this record live at Roadburn Festival 2018.”
Zola Jesus is the stage name of Russian American musician Nika Roza Danilova. Under the name Zola Jesus, she has released a number of genre bending EPs and albums. Her approach is a cross pollination of electronic/industrial, classical, and gothic sounds; all of it coming together as a dark and emotional artistic experience.
Jacob Bannon comments: “I first heard Nika’s work on the Stridulum EP. Every aspect of the release connected with me and it soon became a daily listen. The record (and all of her work) was relatable and infectious. I’ve been an avid listener ever since. Watching her artistry grow and deepen over time has been inspiring. Okovi, the latest from Zola Jesus is such a powerful album. I am truly honored to have Nika and Company at Roadburn 2018 as part of my curation.”
Jarboe has always made collaboration an essential part of her work, and her work with Italian duo Father Murphy has so far been incredibly fruitful. When they perform together at Roadburn, Father Murphy will take to the stage first and set the mood with heir creepy and enveloping aural tapestries, after which Jarboe, in all her glory, will join them to perform those songs. After that, the trio will perform a selection of some of the most powerful moments of the singer’s career so far.
BIG BRAVE invite us to peek further into the shadows. Read more DAWN RAY’D will be initiated into the Roadburn family. Read more. HÄLLAS carry the heart and soul of the seventies. Read more. KÆLAN MIKLA soundtrack the apocalypse with threatening darkwave rumblings beneath ominous monologues. Read more. MUTOID MAN shake off the “super group” shackles and re-write the rules. Read more. PLANNING FOR BURIAL are set to defy description and capture our hearts.Read more. THE RUINS OF BEVERAST will reprise their 2013 show-stealing performance, this time with added Exuvia; they’ll play their latest album in full. Read more. UNE MISÈRE are an explosive combination of elongated atmospherics and insanely meaty riffs. Read more. WIEGEDOOD: furious catharsis, raging obscurity and fiery destruction from the Church of Ra Read more. WRECK AND REFERENCE shall devour genres and resist categorisation. Read more. YELLOW EYES… With burning intention and a sight without limits, BLACK METAL AS SPIRITUAL WAR. Read more.
TICKET ONSALE INFORMATION Roadburn 2018 tickets are on sale now. 3 and 4 day tickets are currently available, with day tickets going on sale at a later date.
4-day-tickets €198,40 (including €3,40 service fees) 3-day-tickets €175,40 (including €3,40 service fees)
Camping tickets are also available to purchase, with additional options (such as Festipis and camper vans) also possible. This year the urban campsite will be in a new location – but still within walking distance to the 013 venue – providing a comfortable and affordable option for Roadburn attendees.
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 31st, 2017 by JJ Koczan
If you had a two-band festival, and those two bands were Colour Haze and Acid King — and that’s it — no one else — I’d still call it an awesome time. Accordingly, kudos to SonicBlast Moledo 2017 for signing up both acts and setting my mind immediately adrift on a daydreaming course of Portuguese wonders that could be had. Of course, Colour Haze and Acid King aren’t the only bands playing — see also Elder, Sasquatch, The Machine, Monolord, Death Alley, Blaak Heat, Orange Goblin, Kadavar, and so on — but yeah, that’s a special couple days right there when you can get those groups together. “Kudos” is probably an understatement.
The PR wire has the latest:
SonicBlast Moledo 2017 | Haze of acid in sight!
With the dates settled for August 11th and 12th, the seventh edition of SonicBlast Moledo closes the two-day lineup with Colour Haze, Acid King, Black Bombaim, Stone Dead, It Was the Elf, Ana Paris and Bar de Monjas !
They’ll be joining the previously confirmed Orange Goblin, Kadavar, Elder, Sasquatch, Kikagaku Moyo/?????, Dead Witches, Monolord, The Machine, Yuri Gagarin, The Well, Death Alley, Blaak Heat, Toxic Shock, Löbo, Vinnum Sabbathi and Holy Mushroom!
Now heading to its seventh edition, the festival located at the small beach village of Moledo, North of Portugal, includes two stages (the smaller one with a pool), free camping (to ticket holders) right by the beach and an amazing ambient for any heavy rock, psych, doom or stoner fan.
Colour Haze
With more than twenty years on the road, almost twenty studio records and a relentless will to keep going, it’s more than comprehensible that Colour Haze are easily considered one of the highest exponents within the European Psychedelic Stoner culture. On their course, they count with innumerable presences throughout all Europe and also on USA, although, they never had the chance to debut on Lusitanian territory. Following the release of their newest full-length album “In Her Garden”, the German trio embraces themselves to descend upon Portuguese lands for the first time ever in their career, received with all the enthusiasm for this seventh edition of SonicBlast Moledo.
Acid King
Formed by the charismatic Lori S. during the year of 1993, Acid King are, without any doubt, one of the classic acts of the Stoner Doom’s genre. Their intense and powerful sound, turn them into one of the most influential band within this musical circuit, only having passed through Portugal once. On 2017, they make their debut on Moledo and we can only wait for a triumphant presence.
Bar de Monjas
The Mexican / German duo Bar de Monjas promises a thunderous discharge of agitated rhythms, always heavy and filled with fuzz. On the road since 2010, they already count with one full-length studio record, two EP’s and an amazing split, released in collaboration with the already confirmed Vinnum Sabbathi.
Black Bombaim
After being obliged to cancel their presence at the last edition, Black Bombaim are ready to return to Moledo to spread their contagious psychotropic Rock.
We also receive the fresh Rock n Roll of Stone Dead, as well as the energetic Stoner Metal of It was the Elf and the return of Ana Parisw ith their characteristic Stoner Rock force.
Tickets Price: 2nd pre-sale : 42€ | From 01/03/17 to 30/06/17 3rd pre-sale : 48€ | From 01/07/17 to 31/07/17 4th pre-sale: 55€ | From 01/08/17 to the event’s final
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 14th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Tokyo psychedelic mavens Kikagaku Moyo are coming to the US for a tour starting in scenic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — really, I mean that; I love Philly — on May 2. The adventurous lysergic rockers released their third album last year and will have a new EP titled Stone Garden out April 21 on Guruguru Brain ahead of the tour, the rather extensive reach of which you can find below.
It goes coast-to-coast and finds them paired with Holy Sons, which of course is Emil Amos from Grails and Om, as well as Mono. Routing-wise, it’s a little all over the place — Philly, D.C., Brooklyn, Vermont, Montreal; Oregon, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon — but no doubt it’ll get them in front of open eyes and open minds along the way, and of course that’s the whole idea.
Wanna see what the PR wire has to say about it? Well, here you go:
Kikagaku Moyo Announce North American Tour Kicking Off In May
New EP ‘Stone Garden’ Out April 21st
Today, Kikagaku Moyo announce their spring North American tour, to follow the release of their new EP ‘Stone Garden,’ out April 21st via Guruguru Brain. The tour will kick off in Philadelphia on May 2nd, and will take the band from the East to the West Coast.
‘Stone Garden’ started in a basement studio in Prague with a nearly continuous session over several days and nights. The original concept was influenced by the raw and seemingly endless jams of psychedelic pioneers. The freeform songs that emerged from those sessions were refined over several months at the band’s home in Tokyo where each song was sculpted into an uncommon form.
Compared to their relatively song based previous LP ‘House in the Tall Grass,’ ‘Stone Garden’ is a window into Kikagaku Moyo’s experimental side. While improvisation is essential to their songwriting process it can take on many forms. This record enabled the band to experiment not only with instrumentation but also atonality and a playful approach to mixing. The unexpected results have become five unique songs each woven together through the same process.
Kikagaku Moyo (Japanese for Geometric Patterns) is the musical union between five free spirits. Go Kurosawa (drums, Vocals) and Tomo Katsurada (Guitar, Vocals) formed the band in 2012 as a free artist’s collective. They met Kotsuguy (Bass) while he was recording noise from vending machines and Akira (Guitar) through their university. Ryu Kurosawa had been studying Sitar in India, upon returning home he found the perfect outlet for his practice.
TOUR DATES 5/2 – Johnny Brenda’s – Philadelphia, PA * 5/3 – Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington DC * 5/4 – Rough Trade – Brooklyn, NY 5/5 – Waking Windows Music & Arts Fest – Winooski, VT 5/6 – Bar Le “Ritz” P.D.B. – Montreal, QC 5/7 – Great Scott – Allston, MA 5/9 – Mahall’s – Cleveland, OH 5/10 – Spirit – Pittsburgh, PA 5/11 – Marble Bar – Detroit, MI 5/12 – The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL 5/13 – Company Brewing – Milwaukee, WI 5/14 – 7th St. Entry – Minneapolis, MN 5/17 – Doug Fir Lounge – Portland, OR ^ 5/18 – The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC ^ 5/19 – Sunset Tavern – Seattle, WA ^ 5/20 – Hi-Fi Music Hall – Eugene, OR ^ 5/21 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA ^ 5/22 – The Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA ^ 5/23 – The Hideout – San Diego, CA ^ 5/24 – The Flycatcher – Tucson, AZ ^ 5/26 – Scottish Rite Theater – Austin, TX 5/27 – Foundry Beer Garden – Dallas, TX 5/28 – Growler’s – Memphis, TN 5/29 – Mothlight – Asheville, NC 5/30 – High Watt – Nashville, TN 5/31 – The Earl – Atlanta, GA * w/ MONO, Holy Sons ^ w/ Sugar Candy Mountain
Stone Garden EP – TRACKLISTING 01. Backlash 02. Nobakitani 03. Trilobites 04. In a Coil 05. Floating Leaf
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 13th, 2016 by JJ Koczan
Seems early yet for an event taking place next August, but even as Europe’s well-populated Spring festival scene is shoring up its various lineups for April and May, Portugal-based SonicBlast Moledo 2017 is getting the jump on the Summer set by announcing a trio of heavy hitters who will take part in the form of Elder, Kikagaku Moyo and Monolord.
No doubt the fest was looking to start out with a pretty sonically diverse range of bands, and I’d say they got there between these three. With Elder‘s progressive sprawl, the expansive psychedelia of Kikagaku Moyo and Monolord‘s riff-crush-skull lumbering doom largesse, SonicBlast Moledo 2017 gives itself a number of different avenues along which to continue to develop as it moves forward with the rest of its lineup and finding out where that balance ultimately will work out to be is part of the fun of this whole thing.
Here’s the announcement from the festival:
SonicBlast Moledo 2017 – First bands announcement!
With the dates already settled for August 11th and 12th, the seventh edition of SonicBlast Moledo starts to take shape with its first confirmations. To begin with the revelations, we will be welcoming the Bay Staters Elder, the Tokyoites Kikagaku Moyo and the Gothenburgers Monolord!
Coming directly from the East Coast of United States of America, we proudly announce the long-awaited first visit of Elder to Portugal’s lands, bringing with them the ultimate blend of Progressive Heavy Rock, Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Doom Metal, who are always pushing themselves further in the fields of musical creation. This unique sound signature, took them to major stages, like Keep it Low Festival, Roadburn Festival (which resulted in the album Live at Roadburn 2013), DesertFest Belgium or Freak Valley Festival. Their most recent album, the extraordinary “Lore”, was considered by many ,as a truly transcendental work of art, a masterpiece which we can’t wait to experience live.
Kikagaku Moyo, which is literally translated to “Geometric Patterns”, will be returning to Portugal to deliver a righteous dose of “feeling good music”, clearly the finest sounds of Japanese psychedelic world. Passing through festivals like Eindhoven Psych Lab, Duna Jam or Austin Psych Fest, it is now time to live the sitar folk psych right by Moledo’s beach. Close your eyes, clear your mind and prepare to embrace the cosmic acid folk universe, with the supreme jams of Geometric Patterns.
We gladly welcome back to Portugal the Swedish Doomers Monolord, who after performing at Barroselas Metal Fest 2016, return to spread the colossal heaviness, always worshipping the almighty riff, keeping the sounds fuzzy and haunted, as we like them. It goes without saying that their shows are completely demolishers and mesmerizing, so we all know what to expect.
