Losing It.

Hair that is. I popped into Shaft yesterday after a coffee with Dave and he invited me to watch some of the new ALTs get their heads shaved for a charity to help Cancer-kids. They called the event St. Baldricks (sort of a cross between St. Patrick's & the word "bald") and several brave souls got themselves sheared live. The Hairy Shearer was ex-Echo DJ Kyo and my occasional stylist and he had a blast doing it. I made sure that his shop (One Nation 022-224-7836) was given a heads up and I shall do the same.


I have not been impressed with the last few lots of ALTs but these guys & gals were surprisingly friendly and fun. Though I was not impressed that no one seemed to know who the actual Baldrick is. Then again, they are just a bunch of younguns.



Here are a few pics of the festivities.




































Afterwards, I wandered over to the new incarnation of 305. They've taken over a Hostess bar (FRIENDS) and open up from 1am daily. They can also use it on Sundays or Holidays such as yesterday and open at 8pm. I had a blast singing some new tunes (I Got Yuko Under My Skin, HoneyDrippers, etc.) and would like to have an event there. It is more spacious than Liga and cheaper too I'm sure.

A Swinging Saturday!

I've been remiss in reviewing last weekend's Jazz fest, mainly because I have about 150 photos to sift through!

Let me start off by saying that it was the BEST FEST in years. I actually heard Jazz emanating from the various venues as opposed to the Hippety-Hoppity-Heavily-Metalled-J-Poppy tripe of the last few years. That's not to say that this music wasn't played, it was just not as prominent.




I started off by meeting an old Soma pal, Shoko, whom I haven't seen since last Halloween.







We met up with Alex & Kaede to watch his school band, Tokiwagi, play a swinging set and they ended up being interviewed.







Dave & his much better half, Miwa also joined in the fun and as you can see, they are really enjoying themselves.







En route to Nishi Park for some food at the World Kitchen, I was interviewed as well. He also interviewed Dave who was understandably interpreted by Miwa but he ended up on the cutting room floor. My 5 minutes of jabbering in fractured Japanese also ended up on the floor, but my quote of "I like Jazz and beer!" aired on the 6 o'clock news. I've gained a modicum of celebrity status among my students who viewed me in my マリワナ甚平 (MaryJane-Jimbei)



During our trek to World's End, we came across several booths selling homemade goodies such as Cherry branch toothpick holders, little frog keychains





and some honking big but cool paintings that were too large for anyone to carry home.










At the end of the World, we encountered a wacky mix of music, including several アカペラ (A cappella) groups singing the collective works of Sister Act I&II.






They had to compete with a truly awful Motley Crew of dreadful singers who drowned them out with their caterwauling. Yet somehow, Miwa and I fit right in!






There were also a few other groups of freaks in attendance, but we unfortunately (er-fortunately) missed their set.







Surprisingly amongst the madness, there was a very conservative and melodic koto and other strings-ensemble who were largely ignored by the public.







A couple of Hawaiian bum-jigglers entertained us during our meal. I had an excellent tandoori chicken, some jambalaya and some horrid fries at various food booths.






Of course the day would not be complete without me getting in on the Hula-Hoopla.







On the way back to the main drag, we encountered a massive poodle.







We also heard the worst band of the weekend and ...








...one of the best within minutes of each other.








A bunch of younguns got up on stage and boogied with them (though I suspect this was all prearranged.)







While the gang relaxed and soaked in the sounds of the singers,








I enjoyed a Smirnoff Twist of Plum & Ume











and a Calpis Sour, an odd mix of Vodka and Milkspirits!











After checking out a bit of Blues in Kododai-Koen...








we wondered over to a neighbouring park where we listened to a Gospel group...







...and a trio playing an Irish jig that mysteriously lifted this Riverdancer into the air!







Will wonders never cease, I had to make some time with the ladies, under the pretense of advertising for our next Echophonyk, of course.






In a vain hope that this year the finale at the main stage would be worth listening to, we awaited the crooners with anticipation. I passed the time with a kebab of various meats.









We were not disappointed in our expectations of being disappointed for we heard a Barbershop Quartet that brought new meaning to the words tediosity & boredom. Though their tunes were technically titillating, they were snoresville and to add to the dullness, they had to yatter on & on as though people were actually interested in what they had to say.



Far better and worth the wait was the main attraction, Sonya Pinçon and her very large pianist, Philippe Souplet. She was great but we were so annoyed by the previous act, we rummaged our way through the crowd for a sit-down beer.





We heard a bit more music at Mediatheque and on the main drag...









...before winded down at 305 for a few prior to catching my last bus home.







Stay tuned for Sunday's action, tomorrow!

The Hostess with the Mostest.

While chowing away on a few munchies at 305, a very pretty young lassie bumped into us in an effort to get some ice from the proprietor. (It's fairly spartan when it comes to space so it's easy to bump into one another.) She filled up two ice buckets and before she departed, I snagged a cube and popped it down her top (it seemed like the proper thing to do after having been drinking for 10 hours straight and she did present her cleavage for all to ogle.) She wasn't at all fazed, smiled and exchanged pleasantries with us. When lo & behold, what should I find, but her cell phone which she had left behind.

So I wandered up a few flights in the elevator to find her bar and much to my surprise (not), there was a room full of guys being entertained by similarly endowed young ladies! I returned the phone, got a pleasant hug, she gave me her phone number(!) and I wandered back to the speak-easy. After finishing up our brews, we pooled our meagre shekels together and wandered back upstairs.

Well, we were greeted with great flourish & fanfare and were escorted to a table in the corner. Miho cuddled up next to me and we all had a beer and sang a few tunes on the ever-handy Karaoke machine. All was going swimmingly until it came time to pay the piper. Our one beer each amounted to 9,600￥ for the three of us. Alas, Mark had to bear the brunt of the cost, and we got out of there with our dignity intact. Before we departed, Miho and I had made tentative plans to meet on her day off...

Mark and I knew very well from the beginning what kind of place we were entering (a HOSTESS BAR, ooooh!) But poor Michael, a very naive and very married and very chaste scientist from the South of France was very taken aback by the type of establishment we had entered. He got on his high horse and was ready to burn the heathen edifice to the ground. We calmed him down and all crashed at his place for a few hours.

I got an email from dear Miho a few hours later, inviting me back. I still haven't responded to it...

Strikes, Spares and Misses.

One of the bars that I frequent in the wee hours of the morning is called 305. It's this little hole-in-the-wall place that calls itself a Speakeasy and is very casual and relatively cheap. Periodically, they have a mini-bowling tournament amongst its patrons and it's a fun way to kill a few hours on a Sunday.

A moderate amount of beers is consumed and the events' proceedings include a bizarre Cos-play portion. After the first match, the winners then adorn various costumes and parade around, humiliating themselves and partaking in the next game in Fancy dress. I was fortunate enough to win and got to wear a ballerina tutu with a long-necked Swan extending from my nether regions. Other costumes included, Wrestling masks, Nurse outfits, Baby garb...you get the idea. A Swan-shaped extension to ones privates does lead to some goosing and other practical jokes. Well, much jocularity ensued.

I am in no way a prude, but it behooves me to accept horseplay accompanied with large bowling balls. Fortunately no ones' feet were crushed in the pranks where balls were thrown at each other.

Unfortunately, I had to catch a bus so I couldn't attend the post-bowling party but they'll be saving me my First-place prize. I scored much better when I wore a prosthesis. If only real life weren't like that.