Top 3 Indies Videos 12/21/17 - Starcrawler, Spitfires, StarBenders, Minnesota Voodoo Men (Jpn)

It's time once again for this week's Top 3 Indies Video Countdown for the week of Dec. 21, 2017... 

First off, I have to say sorry for missing last week's countdown. I think that was the first countdown I missed since Sept. 2014 when was in the hospital! Last week, I was in Russia and I couldn't access the regular page where I post these countdowns. I thought there was something wrong with my Wi-Fi in Russia, but it seems the site had been down since at least last Saturday. They are trying to fix it now. So, very sorry about that.

First up are three guys from Watford, England who were first introduced to us by the Biscuit Boys, Gabbie and Chris (thanks guys!) the band is known as the Spitfires. Their bio says: "Taking influences from The Clash, Billy Bragg, The Jam through to Soul, Reggae and Ska - the band have released 2 albums since 2015... Their work ethic and powerful song-writing mixed with their acute social commentary and lack of mainstream industry support has made this fiercely independent band one of the most popular underground success stories in the UK today. This DIY attitude and independent spirit has earned them a dedicated following and sold out shows across the whole of the UK and Europe."

Dig it! Here's their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheSpitfiresUk/

#3) The Spitfires - Over And Over Again  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZuN17MwMzs&sns=fb

At #2 is a song that is performed by Starbenders which is one of the most exciting new acts of 2017! This is their second time on our countdown! Their bio states: "Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Starbenders are the half way home for misunderstood misfits, fringers and glam punks. Front-woman, Kimi Shelter and her gang have concocted a perfect alchemic blend of androgynous rock and roll power with "stuck in your brain" pop melodies. Imagine David Bowie playing 7 minutes in heaven with Debbie Harry."

Here's their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/starbenders/

#2) StarBenders - Blood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQyAmR2GFeE

At this week's #1 is a band that I debuted on Japanese FM radio a LONG time ago, Starcrawler! This is their 4th or 5th time on our countdown! Their bio says, "We will kill you." So what more could you ask? 

Starcrawler are coming to Japan 3/7 (Wed) O-nest in Shibuya, 3/8 (Thu) Nagoya @ Huck Finn, 3/9 (Fri) Osaka @ Conpass, 3/10(Sat) Kyoto @ Metro. Tickets are available here: WWW.BEATINK.COM

Here's Starcralwer's Facebook page. Go Like it: https://www.facebook.com/starcrawlertheband/

#1) Starcrawler - Used To Know  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXPhANmnAdM

Spotlight Artist!  Today’s spotlight artists are a "Wild 60's Beat" trio from Tokyo, Japan named, The Minnesota Voodoo Men. They were introduced to us by rock star, Mario Cuzic in the legendary movie about Japanese Garage Rock: Garage Rockin' Craze (see trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNukfLBvALc)
Their bio says: "The Minnesota Voodoo Men formed in Tachikawa Near Fussa ( The capital of garage rock/group sound in Japan ) in 1998. Typical story, Ringo met Fabian while playing live at his art school. Fabian was the local guitar Madman & since Ringo played bass and had similar tastes in music they decided to form a band and got onboard, another wild man, Bamboo on drums. They started by honoring their idols samurai style and mostly did covers of 60's garage, surf & British beat with a few originals playing the tokyo/fussa underground garage scene while getting profusely inebriated and getting what “all” rockers start bands for: PUSSY. 

Of course, The Minnesota Voodoo Men have a Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/The-Minnesota-Voodoo-Men-246602626236/

Spotlight Artist! Minnesota Voodoo Men - I Want You to Get Excited  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDSBHuQi8FM

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock n Roll Ghost Story world premiered in London on Sept. 25 and was completely SOLD OUT! The movie is now on a Road Show in Japan and at a theater near you. You can find details here:  https://www.facebook.com/Japaneserocknrollghost/

日本語の情報は：http://ghostroads.jp/

Here’s the Japanese trailer (It has English subtitles!) Check it! Oh, and we have a really cool webpage: http://ghostroads.jp/

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock n Roll Ghost Story – Theatrical Release in Hiroshima and Yokokawa decided! Jan 13 ~ Jan. 19, 2018!
【広島・横川シネマ上映決定！】
横浜シネマリンさんでの上映後少し間が空きましたが『ゴーストロード』の広島での上映が年明け1/13(土)～19(金)に横川シネマさんで決定いたしました！映画公開の前の週1/5(金)には広島クラブクアトロでTHE NEATBEATSのライブもございますので年明け早々、気分を上げていきましょう！追加！2/9(金)｜シネマート心斎橋

That’s all for today! See you next week when we return to the Top 3 Indies Artist Videos Countdown. See ya! – Mike in Tokyo Rogers

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About Mike in Tokyo Rogers: Mike has been a professional music/TV/radio/anime-related program producer in Japan since the eighties. He is a founding member and International Director of the Mt. Fuji - Atami Film & VR Festival. He began in the music business in 1977 as lead vocalist with the legendary Los Angeles Punk Band, “The Rotters” (Sit on My Face Stevie Nix.). As a university student, he was assistant to the legendary Rodney Bingenheimer (Rodney on the ROQ – KROQ Los Angeles from 1980 ~ 1981.) Mike was the first and only foreigner in Japanese history to become the General Manager of a major Japanese broadcasting station (TV Tokyo owned InterFM). Has produced a few smash hit programs (some real losers, too!) and several of Tokyo’s highest rated and most famous radio programs. He is currently producing and hosting “The Mike Rogers Show” every Sunday live on InterFM 89.7  in Tokyo and Radio Neo in Nagoya 79.5 and nationally broadcast on Radiko.jp (Internet radio).  And his life’s dream is his just completed full-length motion picture, “Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock and Roll Ghost Story”which was released by a major Japanese motion picture company and in theaters all across Japan in Autumn 2017.

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock and Roll Ghost Story Japanese Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxwJ4AfzOwM&t

Ghostroads – A Japanese Rock and Roll Ghost Story Foreign trailer: https://vimeo.com/210533272)

… Oh, and he likes to write about himself in the third person!

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PAST ISSUES OF THE TOP 3 VIDEOS:

LAST WEEK:

Top 3 Indies Videos 12/7/17 – Starcrawler, Blondie, Monsieurs, The 50 Kaitenz (Jpn)  robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-12717-starcrawler-blondie-monsieurs-the-50-kaitenz-jpn/

Top 3 Indies Videos 12/01/17 – Five Fab Japanese Indies and Garage Bands! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-120117-five-fab-japanese-indies-and-garage-bands/

Top 3 Indies Videos 11/25/17 – 50 Kaitenz (Jpn), Pale Lips, Pip Blom, Dirty Fences! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-112517-50-kaitenz-jpn-pale-lips-pip-blom-dirty-fences/

Top 3 Indies Artist Video 11/17/17 – Dream Wife, Cabbage, Starcrawler, Boris (Jpn) robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-artist-video-111717-dream-wife-cabbage-starcrawler-boris-jpn/

Top 3 Indies Artist Video 11/11/17 – Van T’s, Nervous Twitch, Eux Autres, Daikaiju! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-artist-video-111117-van-ts-nervous-twitch-eux-autres-daikaiju/

Top 3 Indies Videos 11/04/17! Starbenders, ED WOODS, the Routes (Jpn), Luxury Death! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-110417-starbenders-edwoods-the-routes-jpn-luxury-death/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/28/17! Touts, Peter118, Rews, Van T’s, Cabbage, Vivian Boys (Jpn)! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-102817-touts-peter118-rews-van-ts-cabbage-vivian-boys-jpn/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/23/17! Japanese Garage Bands and Amyl & the Sniffers! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-102317-japanese-garage-bands-and-amyl-the-sniffers/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/14/17! Femme Krawall (Ger.), Neatbeats (Jpn), Fazerdaze, Pale Waves! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-indies-videos-101417-femme-krawall-ger-neatbeats-jpn-fazerdaze-pale-waves/

Top 3 Indies Videos 10/08/17! Crazy Squeeze, Su凸ko D凹koi (すっとこどっこい), The Beverleys!
robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-100817/

Top 3 Videos 9/30/17! The Neatbeats (Jpn!), Lola Pistola, The Jacques, MeMe Detroit! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-92317-the-neatbeats-jpn-lola-pistola-the-jacques-meme-detroit/

Top 3 Videos 9/16/17! Amyl & the Sniffers, Cambodian Space Project, Mackshow (Jpn), Shame! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-91617-amyl-the-sniffers-cambodian-space-project-mackshow-jpn-shame/

Top 3 Videos 9/9/17! The 50 Kaitenz (Jpn), Lisa Mychols, The Sold! & Bones!, Ya Freshness! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-9217-the-50-kaitenz-jpn-lisa-mychols-the-sold-and-bones-ya-freshness/

Top 3 Videos 9/2/17! Twinkles, Neatbeats, Peter118, Mr. Diagonal! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-9217-twinkles-neatbeats-peter118-mr-diagonal/

Top 3 Videos 8/25/17! The Neatbeats, Darts, Estrons, Honeychain, Creepshow, Homeless Gospel Choir! robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-82517-the-neatbeats-darts-estrons-honeychain-creepshow-homeless-gospel-choir/

Top 3 Videos 8/18/17! Amyl & the Sniffers, Aimee Lay, Holy Moly & The Crackers, The Soap (Jpn) robot55.jp/blog/top-3-videos-81817-amyl-the-sniffers-aimee-lay-holy-moly-the-crackers-the-soap-jpn/

MORE TOP 3 VIDEOS SEARCH: http://robot55.jp/?s=Top+3+videos

If you like this countdown every week, please come “Like” our Robot55 Facebook page (or friend us on Twitter or subscribe to our Youtube page). Thanks!

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Cool and Strange Music Countdown – April 4, 2015 – Coldcut and Hexstatic, Tom Lehrer, Sweden Heaven and Hell!

We’re back to Cool & Strange Music for April 4, 2016! This is THEE Cool and Strange Music chart! 

The only one that matters (probably the only one that exists, actually...) Here is this week’s chart of the most out of this world musical bizarreness!

On last week's Cool and Strange Music Countdown I got thousands and thousands of emails from folks who just went crazy over the Hexstatic version of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking." People wrote that they want to see more! (Okay, well, maybe "thousands" is a bit of a stretch! This is Coldcut and Hexstatic. Awesome!

#3) Coldcut and Hexstatic - Timber https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8-QDCKdVO4

It's Springtime in Japan! And what song always reminds me of Spring? It's Tom Lehrer! Thomas Lehrer is an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician. He has lectured on mathematics and musical theater. He is best known for the pithy, humorous songs he recorded in the 1950s and '60s.

This song is hilarious! Check out the lyrics of Tom Lehrer's "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park":

Spring is here, spring is here,
Life is skittles and life is beer,
I think the loveliest time of the year
Is the spring, I do, don't you? Course you do
But there's one thing that makes spring complete for me
And makes every Sunday a treat for me

All the world seems in tune on a spring afternoon
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park
Every Sunday you'll see my sweetheart and me
As we poison the pigeons in the park

When they see us coming
The birdies all try and hide
But they still go for peanuts
When coated with cyanide
The sun's shining bright
Everything seems all right
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park

We've gained notoriety
And caused much anxiety
In the Audobon Society
With our games

They call it impiety
And lack of propriety
And quite a variety of unpleasant names
But it's not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon

So if Sunday you're free
Why don't you come with me
And we'll poison the pigeons in the park
And maybe we'll do in a squirrel or two
While we're poisoning pigeons in the park

We'll murder them amid laughter and merriment
Except for the few we take home to experiment
My pulse will be quickenin'
With each drop of strychnine
We feed to a pigeon
It just takes a smidgin
To poison a pigeon in the park

#2) Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons In The Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhuMLpdnOjY

 At #1 is something that is very Cool and Strange. It's Sweden Heaven and Hell, 

Here's what Wikipedia says: "Sweden: Heaven and Hell (Italian: Svezia, inferno e paradiso) is an Italian mondo film from 1968 directed by Luigi Scattini. The film which is made up of nine segments that focus on different aspects of sexuality in Sweden such as lesbian nightclubs, porn films, swinging lifestyle of married couples and sex education of teenagers." ("...lesbian nightclubs, porn films, swinging lifestyle of married couples and sex education of teenagers"!? I'm in!- Mike). The film also examines drug addiction, alcoholism and suicides in Sweden (Been there. Done that. - Mike) The film also featured the debut of the song "Mah Nà Mah Nà" by Piero Umiliani.

#1) Sweden Heaven And Hell (Svezia Inferno E Paradiso) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj_jaAsTpHg

Well that’s it for Cool & Strange Music for this week. As Mr. Spock would say, "Live well and prosper!" Have a great week! – Mike in Tokyo Rogers

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Past issues of:
Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Mar. 21, 2015 – Mr. Diagonal, Hexstatic, Messer Chups, Messer Fur Frau Muller! robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-feb-21-2015-mr-diagonal-hexstatic-messer-chups-messer-fur-frau-muller/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Feb. 13, 2015 – Star Wars Mah Na Mah Na, Dj Trotsky, Messer Chups! robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-feb-13-2015-star-wars-mah-na-mah-na-dj-trotsky-messer-chups/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Feb. 13, 2015 – Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper, Hexstatic, Great David Bowie & John Lennon Imitator! robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-feb-13-2015-mojo-nixon-skid-roper-hexstatic-great-david-bowie-john-lennon-imitator/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Jan. 29, 2015 – Oleg Kostrow, Jimmy Bo Horne & Kim Jung Un, Milky Edwards & the Chamberlings robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-jan-29-2015-oleg-kostrow-jimmy-bo-horne-kim-jung-un-milky-edwards-the-chamberlings/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Jan. 14, 2015 – David Bowie Tribute! robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-jan-14-2015-david-bowie-tribute/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 29, 2015 – Eddie Murphy, Messer Chups, Vladimir Putin! robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-dec-29-2015-eddie-murphy-messer-chups-vladimir-putin/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 21, 2015 – Bennie Melwin, Cambodian Space Project, The Rebel Scumbagsrobot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-dec-21-2015-bennie-melwin-cambodian-space-project-the-rebel-scumbags/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 15, 2015 – Hexstatic, Stan Freberg, Mary Schneider, The Fancs Brothers!robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-dec-15-2015-hexstatic-stan-freberg-mary-schneider-the-fanc-brothers/

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 8, 2015 robot55.jp/blog/cool-and-strange-music-countdown-dec-8-2015/ (Messer Fur Frau Muller, Eliert Pilarm, Zlad)

Cool and Strange Music Countdown – Dec. 1, 2015 robot55.jp/blog/cool-strange-music-dec-1-2015/ (Mrs. Miller, Ray Stevens, Barnes & Barnes)

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ALTERNATIVE/INDIES ROCK MUSIC? TRY THE PAST ISSUES OF THE TOP 3 VIDEOS:

TOP 3 VIDEOS SEARCH: http://robot55.jp/?s=Top+3+videos

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Cool & Strange Music, Cool & Strange Music Countdown, Cool and Strange Music, ROBOT55, Rock & Roll, Top 3 Indies Artist Videos, Top 3 Indies Artist’s Videos, Top 3 New Artist Videos, Top 3 videos, video, video production tokyo, ビジネスビデオ制作, ビデオ, ビデオ制作, ビデオ編集, ロ ボット・ゴー・ゴー, ロボット・ゴー・ゴー, 動画, 動画制作, 動画制作　東京, 動画制作、格安動画制作、ビデオ制作, 動画広告, 広告動画, 撮影, 映像, 東京, 格安, 紹介動画, Mike Rogers, Mike in Tokyo Rogers

The Ventures, The 60s Surf Band, Still Big in Japan!

(That's me holding the poster for the "Ventures Final Show in Japan." I did drink with Don Wilson - the guy who is second from right - the one that looks like Rock N Roll Santa Claus. How could I forget that face? Nice guy.)

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This is a short post about some guys who really inspire me. You know them as "The Ventures." They were huge in the sixties all over the western world.
They are still big in Japan...

Here's what Wikipedia says about the Ventures: 

"The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling instrumental band of all time. In 2008, the Ventures were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their instrumental virtuosity, experimentation with guitar effects, and unique sound laid the groundwork for innumerable groups, earning them the moniker "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands".

While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. "

It's true. The Ventures are still big in Japan.

May I brag? I have drank with Don Wilson at a rip-off bar in Roppongi before...  I think that must have been in about 1988 or 1989. I have a photo around here someplace... If I can find it, I'll put it into this blogpost. Don was a nice guy and the boss of the bar was kissing his ass the entire time I was there and Don put me on the guest list for the show... (So, how could I forget, no matter how drunk I was? And I mean, how many people look like Burl Ives or a a Surfer Santa Claus?)

And don't really remember too much from that night excepting that Don was a nice guy, soft spoken, and I drank too much.

We drank Dom Perignon and it was outrageously expensive (I remember that). And I didn't have to pay anything, they paid. I was blown away that they would pay for some shitty DJ in Japan's drinks....

I vaguely remember the bar's name (I think it was "Chalace" or "Chantay" or something like that) and I have been by there in the last few years but it is now gone.

Good riddance.

I think it was like ¥90,000 (almost a thousand US dollars) for a few bottles of Dom Perignon and some snacks. What a rip off! Thank God my girlfriend and I didn't have to pay!

Anyway, like it says, the Ventures are still big (sort of) in Japan to this day. So big that they are actually having a "Final Show." Well, what the hell? I guess so, I thought all the original members were dead?

Anyway, a Final Live, they have!

It's kind of like my Punk Band when I was a youngster: every show we played was our "Final Show" (or "Last Final" or "Totally Final" or "Really, We're Not Joking This Time, Final" or "Seriously, the Final Final.")

But this just goes to show that if you have a brand and a name and an image, you gotta stick with it and live the dream.

The Ventures are playing Japan (again!) and the tickets are ¥6000 each! Holy Holy! That's $50 (USD) a pop! And the venue they are playing at The Mozart Hall at Katsushika Symphony Hills Mozart Hall and that place holds about 1300 people! You do the math: $50 x 1300 = $65,000 to go to Japan and play one night? Why not?

And that's not to mention what they get selling merchandise and a bunch of money from sponsors.

Is that cool or what?

So, well, the point is that:

1) Ventures are still big in Japan.

2) The Ventures can still come here and get paid to play and have fun.

3) They must all be in their late 60s or early 70s yet they can still tour the world and be treated like Rock Gods in Japan.

4) They probably still get to go out drinking in Japan and spend $1000 a night yet some rich Japanese person picks up the tab.

Scoff all you want... But you won't find me disrespecting these people.

They rock! They have lived the true "Rock and Roll Dream."

I wish I can do the same when I'm 80 years old! Don't you?

NOTE: Holy Shit! I just found out that Don Wilson was born in Feb. 1933! That makes him 82 years old as of the writing of this article! Wow! What a wonderful life! And he is on his final tour of Japan! You rock Don!!!! You are a hero!

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This article reprinted from Robot55 ロボット・ゴー・ゴー (http://robot55.jp/blog/the-60s-surf-band-the-ventures-still-big-in-japan/)