Here is the latest musical offering from the multi talented gentlemen that go by the names of Charles Billard, Jerry Gordon and Takezo "Tabo" Aoki.

Thanks for the contribution guys! Posted by Alex.

29 October 2006 is Mundo Popular 3 @ La Brasserie (de l'Institut Franco-Japonais) which is part of Machitobi Festa this year. The event starts at 4:30 p.m. and ends at around 9:00 p.m. Please see Mundo Popular 2 for more links. Posted by Rob.

Shhh! Jet Jaguar needs to be played loud and you need to pay attention or you might miss something in this subtly delicious tune from Mr. Understatement himself. After you've listened to this track, check out the award-winning video Now Serving which I hope he'll let us host soon. Posted by Rob.

Makiko is making a kind of receptacle for vegetable scraps out of old newspaper. Posted by Rob.

We don't set out to offend or appal anyone, honestly, but we often do. Don't listen if you don't like toilet bowl humor, oyaji gags (corny jokes) and obnoxious attempts at accents we have no business imitating. What did we talk about? We recorded so many 10-minute segments yesterday, that I don't remember. Listen at your own risk! Posted by Rob.

Recorded last year, 27 October 2005, by Alex. Alex, any comments?

Posted by Rob.

Subscribe to Alex's solo podcast, Prapatang Living, on iTunes

Greg, a.k.a. Jonny Heartbreaker, and Alex, took a trip down memory lane to the angst ridden streets of '90s Seattle & Grunge.  We also did our own tongue in cheek tribute. Enjoy. Posted by Alex.

NFTOS is planning an artshow for the spring of 2007. Everything is pretty much open and flexible at the moment, with nothing carved in stone. Here's the idea: Something similar to the previous 3 NFTOS artshows held in Insadong (SEOUL), Noda and Taisho (OSAKA), only this time will be in TOKYO. Here's where we're at in the planning process: 1. Location: Tokyo Here's what's next: 2. Select Venue and decide on cost(s), 3. Determine number of participants, 4. Set Dates, 5. Choose Theme, 6. Set deadlines: * 7. Invite participants, 8. Create flyer/brochure, 9. Set up show, 10. Have opening party. *There will be separate deadlines for receiving digital artwork or of photos of artwork for a flyer and/or brochure, creating the flyer, receiving artwork submissions, etc. Your input is welcome! Posted by Rob.

Tonight at the Nakatsu Recording Studios, Jonny Heartbreaker of The If Factor came in and did an acoustic rendition of his song "Baby". Jonny "Bad boy" Heartbreaker writes and sings all his music and has been one of the main exponents of The If Factor which started back in October 2005. Posted by Alex.
P.S. The If Factor's only live performance was during "Mind Mangle," 11 Dec 2006, at The Oasis Lounge in Sakurajima, Osaka. Fans are still waiting for an encore!

Makiko is making something. What will it become? We'll see when it's finished. If she doesn't end up keeping it, you'll see it for sale someday on Makikomo.com. She says "If you like to stitch and bitch, then come to The Pink Cow on Tuesday evening, 14 November." Posted by Rob.

I heard from a reliable source in Osaka that Wes will be DJ'ing at Cafe Barbes tonight. I'm not sure who else will be joining him, but when we started doing regular gigs there together about a year-and-a-half ago, we were often joined by lounge DJs like Jules, Hitomi Nova and Satoshi. Cafe Barbes is a popular hangout for some of Osaka's hippest artists, DJs, filmmakers, musicians, photographers, etc. Here's a short .mp3 featuring DJs Akio and Wes on a night during the Horie Music Festival, which was also Halloween weekend, 29 Oct 2005. The photo is from 22 Apr 2006. Posted by Rob.

Waste no time! Although he calls it his official mix debut, DJ D-Mac has been making me mix tapes and CDs for almost 10 years now. We've gone to clubs and shows together in the D.C. area, we've and driven around running errands that just gave us excuses to get out of the house to listen to more music and to talk about it uninterrupted. He's got an extensive collection of 7" singles covering all genres of music, especially funk, soul and quirky unclassifiable rarities. This man is a primal hunter and collector. "Bouncing along from soul to disco to hip-hop to funky breaks and back again, this is a collection of long-time favorites, brand-new bangers and a few signature mash-ups." Enjoy! Posted by Rob

Here's another one from Noisivelvet (Joe Baldwin) in Chicago. I'll ask him if we can add this one to iTunes. Posted by Rob.

It's a lovely day, Indian Summer? I have most of the day off, and don't work until 6:00 p.m. this evening, so it was about time for another solo podcast from the couch out on my veranda. Found a interesting book on gnosticism on the discarded books shelf at work, so that means all the other books I've been trying to finish have been put on hold yet again. Today's recommended link is a friend's homepage, Seaholm.com, created by someone who might be collaborating with us in the near future. There you'll find interesting artwork, music, photography and writing by the author. Check it out! Posted by Rob.

This is another song by Osaka resident poet, writer and musician Jerry Gordon. More links coming soon. Posted by Rob.

Joe Baldwin watches the media who watch the Chicago Latino community who rally in support of one Elvira Arellano who was supposed to surrender to 'immigration' for deportation, but who chose instead to seek refuge in a church. I helped with the translation (which appears only partially). Posted by Rob.

I'm uploading an .mp3 file that I recorded with Haqq last week. (We didn't have storage space, or I would've uploaded it before the show--sorry about that Haqq!). Several more segments will follow, maybe one every other day--wouldn't want to spoil the fun by giving it all away at once! In the meantime, here's a link to Underground Resistance label. Posted by Rob.

Osaka photographer, musician and all-around artist John Harte has a show entitled "Wetdream Idols" running at the Littlemore Chika Gallery in Sendagaya, Tokyo, through 22 October. The nearest station is JR Harajuku Station. Exit the station near the Harajuku shopping street, on the "inside" of the Yamanote line and walk along the tracks until the road narrows and begins to veer away from the tracks a little (see map). If you get to the "Belle Epoque Beaty College," you've gone to far. They're open from noon until 7:00 p.m. Phone: 03-3401-1042. Posted by Rob.

I have a few audio files to upload, but not storage space, so for now, I'll just say please come out to Studio Cube 326 from 23:00 on 7 October for DJs and live painting. Suburban Knight (UR) will DJ and Abdul Qadim Haqq (above photo with sushi chef--I'll have the shop's name translated soon!) will be having an art show and a live painting session. Thanks to the folks at "elements lifeline" for the great evening! Posted by Rob.

The undisputed #1: ALT Rap video. Up one place to #2: ALT Rap Improv with live drums! Down one place to #3: Alex & Rob's excellent bicycle adventure, the Loop Line #1 video. Holding steady at #4: Nabe Party at David M's. Holding at #5: Loop Line #2. Still at #6: Loop Line #4. Up one to #7: How to Pick Up Girls. Dropping one to #8: J-League soccer: Frontale vs Cerezo. Holding at #9: 24 Hours in Nakatsu. Steady at #10: Don't Panic Danyk & crew @ Tin's Hall. Surging up 8 places to #11: Discobeans. Slipping one to #12: Postcard from Tokyo. Losing one place to #13: Who is Rob?. Down one to #14: What's Your Favorite Word in Japanese? Steady at #15: Loop Line #3. Down two pegs to #16: Watching the World Cup at Bar Grain. Down one to #17: Panorama. Hopping up 6 rungs to #18: Alex & Rob's Talk Show #1. Up one to #19: Icitte les Oeufs... Dropping three to #20: Postcard from China. Down 3 to #21: News From The Tub #1 (Censored). Down one to #22: Postcard from Fiji. Minus one to #23: Cafe Barbes. Down one to #24: Prologue. Rounding out the top quarter at #25: Quest's ALT Re-Rap mp3. This is podcast #104. Posted by Rob.

This is another song by Osaka resident Jerry Gordon. More links coming soon. Posted by Rob.

On Saturday night, there's Abdul Qadim Haqq's artshow opening party and live painting event at Studio Cube 326. Then, on Sunday evening, it's John Harte's photography exhibit and opening party at the Littlemore Chika Gallery. I'll be DJ'ing for Haqq's opening party on Saturday night. Details coming soon! Photo by John Harte. Posted by Rob.