Hexstatic Rocks!!!!/NOVA is OK

Went to this gig last night; was so friggin AWESOME!!! It was in a crazy hi-tech venue; a massive 3-room arena (check these photos) which was perfect for the audio/visual behemoth that is Ninja Tune.

The first act I saw, and by far the best, was Hexstatic a VJ/DJ duo. I had heard their album and Solid Steel mix cd before which I thought were a bit medium; but their live act is INCREDIBLE!!! For their show the visuals are equally, if not more important than the music. All of the songs had a video to go with it (see here), and mixed the visuals like a dj in time with the music. They most creative application for this element was the remixing of old tracks and remixing the videos that accompany them (they did that Mylo mash up & the filmclip). So you get these beat-ed up versions of classics songs while the images of them are on screen singing and playing in-time with the music. They sampled artists such as Dusty Springfield, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC along with more hilarious versions of Cliff Richard, The Cookie Monster and Ren & Stimpy. They also use loads of amazing images and footage in the show. There is no DVD so you have to go see them live if you want to check em out and like movies the bigger the system the better; but to get the idea check out this filmclip to one of their Brazil sampling songs:



There were some great djs playing as well at the other stages; one Modular/Gang Bang type stuff and another guy who killed it with some wicked nujazz & broken beat. Other highlights of the night included Spank Rock at the outdoor bar by the pool who make/play this awesome booty electro music. They toured with M.I.A. if that gives you some idea. Also seeing Dj Kentaro kill it was a great end to the evening, playing some great drum & bass tunes and finishing with his DMC winning routine. Coldcut were crap so I didn't watch them.

It was a spur of the moment decision to go and I'm very glad I did, it's been too long since I've been to a proper gig which made it all the more sweet. Of course partying with the friendly and funny Japanese people is great and making friends with two English people (based in Hong Kong) here for the weekend made it much more enjoyable.

Since arriving back in Tokyo I have had training and my first full week of work at my new job. I am based in the Shibuya branch of the company which is very cool. So far the job has been going well, I really enjoy talking and getting to know the students, they are all lovely and sweet people which means you walk out of work feeling good most days which is nice.

I have also been making more effort to get to know the people I live with. Last weekend we went out to Roppongi which is where all the foreigners go to pick up Japanese girls. Lots of loose women; was very interesting. I got a few kisses on the cheek by some very sexy girls which was nice. We were at this bar called the Gaspanic where they play the most terrible music you've ever heard (techno remixes of pop songs etc) but because some of the girls are so cute and they have their little organised dance routines it's infectious and you find yourself dancing to music that you disdain... but its fun so who cares?

On an interesting note a Thai film crew has moved into the building for a few weeks to film a TV movie. So in the evenings there are a bunch of Thai dudes drinking in the common area. They are pretty nice, not so much english though, except for the actors who can speak it quite well. The actors and actresses are quite good looking as you might expect. I don't know how famous they are yet... one of them was in a magazine they showed me but I have to get their last names so I can google them. It's key intelligence!!! They will be a handy contact next time I visit Bangkok, but I want to know how handy!!!


Here is another Hexstatic clip. This time they match Astro Boy footage to a Japanese song.

(By the by, if you use MSN messenger add my contact: davetran66@hotmail.com - I have bought a shiny new laptop so now I am constantly online.)