Now-Again Records

Photos: Tokyo, Japan with Madlib, J.Rocc, Jeff Jank, Records, Fish.

This much time in Japan without an update? Can mean only one thing: a sold-out show with Madlib and J.Rocc in Tokyo, Stone Coal White-vibes in a smokey basement lounge, congratulatory cakes served up at the United Arrows/Stones Throw Pop-Up Shop by a Japanese Don Draper looking sommelier while Nigerian psych resonated through posh loudspeakers, an acetate of the Mighty Riders (sic) solitary album, a $4000 UK issue of Leaf Hound’s hard-rock opus, an hour in line amongst Chinese tourists in 90+ degree heat at 7.30 am in Tsukiji Fish Market for sushi at Daiwa, boutiques named after arcane jazz bassists, and, of course, Ghetto Dining.

Sorry, that’s more than one thing….Photos from Osaka later.

Photos: No Fish, No Money – Japan, Day Zero

16 hours in transit to Narita Airport from LAX, 3 hours to Shibuya from Narita, good fish, a beer and a shot of sake and it’s off ’till tomorrow: records at Fillmore, the Stones Throw pop up shop at United Arrows, J.Rocc arriving, and more.

Where: Japan. Who: Madlib, J.Rocc, Jeff Jank, Egon. When: Now

null

Today, Egon departs Los Angeles towards Japan with Madlib and Stones Throw art director Jeff Jank to meet J.Rocc, already on his way there from New York City. The goal? The grand-opening of the Stones Throw “pop up” shop at United Arrows, a Now-Again special on J-Wave radio, and a couple DJ gigs in Tokyo and Osaka. Sound familiar? If so, maybe you’re thinking of last year’s tour with Cut Chemist. If you missed those dispatches, follow the links below. And stay tuned for updates from the far East this coming week.

Link: Egon and Cut Chemist in Japan, 2009, Day One. .
Link: Egon and Cut Chemist in Japan, 2009. Day One and a Half.
Link: Egon and Cut Chemist in Japan, 2009. Day Two.
Link: Egon and Cut Chemist in Japan, 2009. Days Three and Four.

Photos: Seu Jorge and Almaz Onstage in LA. Review: LA Times

Seu Jorge and Almaz final performance at Club Nokia was hailed by the LA Times as show in which “….a charismatic pop chameleon and his band subtly but decisively transform cover tunes….. (Seu Jorge) wasn’t indulging in nostalgic reveries. He was demonstrating how songs forever locked in our mental jukeboxes can be subtly but decisively transformed by a suggestive bass line, a spooky dub makeover, a shotgun blast of anguished emotion.”

See photos from the show by Kiwamu Omae, below, and read about the LA Times review in full. We’d like to close this tour diary by shouting out everyone who made this tour such a success: Seu Jorge and Almaz, Mariana Jorge, Gustavo da Lua, Francisco Hernandez, Pierre Chenne, Raquel Jorge and everyone at Cafune, Brazil, Pedja and Julien, Christian Bernhardt and The Agency Group, Havana Joe, KCRW, KEXP and all of the radio stations that helped out along the way and all of the promoters who made these shows possible. Thanks y’all!

Photos: Seu Jorge and Almaz Onstage at Club Nokia, LA.
Review: Seu Jorge and Almaz Live At Club Nokia In The LA Times.

More Photos: Seu Jorge and Almaz Backstage at Club Nokia, LA.

Seu Jorge and Almaz wrapped their North American tour this past Saturday at Downtown L.A.’s Club Nokia. Before the show, the band and members of tour’s production crew – and a host of friends and family – gathered backstage as Seu Jorge waxed poetic on the three-week journey. Photos from the show coming tomorrow.

Photos: Seu Jorge and Almaz Backstage at Club Nokia, LA.