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See Love Psychedelico before they Return to Japan!
Love Psychedelico, who have been rocking out Tokyo since 1997, recently released their US debut, This Is Love Psychedelico, on HackTone Records. This week they will be bringing the thunder to the Troubadour will their full band, then bringing it on down low for an acoustic set at The Apple Store in Santa Monica.
Here is a photo essay from August, when Love Psychedelico played the Royal/T, Culver City's new "maid cafe". The acoustic set was a little more "70s singer/songwriter" than their recorded stuff, but the crowd ate it up. The singer, Kumi, kept making cute little remarks while Naoki, the male guitar player giggled adorably at her jokes. He only spoke once, to lean into the microphone and intone carefully, "I am Japanese." The crowd went wild.
The easiest thing to do upon hearing a new band is to try to relate them to familiar artists. Listening to a few of their hit songs (MySpace), you might think, "That sounds like Nico singing the Beatles" or "60s garage psychedelic punk played by the Bangles". They have been likened to everything from Mott the Hoople to Carole King. But comparisons are useless; each of their songs has such a different vibe to it. Let's just say that Love Psychedelico has taken cues from of all manner of Western rock and pop through the years to come out with a melodic sound that is extremely easy on the ears.
Love Psychedelico has been sweeping Japan, and their American MySpace page has over 41,000 views. They are considered to be on the crest of the "Japanese Invasion". Like the Anglophiles and Francophiles before them, Tokyophiles have been cropping up all over. Love for everything Japanese, from harajuku girls to cute little lunchboxes covered with smiling strawberries is at an all-time high, so Japanese pop is the predictable next step. Prepare yourselves for catchy tunes and hip adorability.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9
THE TROUBADOUR
9081 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
All ages
9pm
Only $5 in advance!!!!
Hint: The Troubadour will let you buy tix via fax, which saves on fees!
Kumi & Naoki will be joined onstage by Makoto Izumitani, who is Gwen Stefani's touring drummer, as well as Dean Thomas from LA's own The Cousin Lovers.
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11
APPLE STORE - Third Street Promenade
1248 Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
All ages
6pm
Free
This will be a short acoustic performance from Kumi and Naoki.
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