Posting this somehow escaped me in the past, so let me just quickly say that this place is truly bizarre. They have a no-photo policy, which could only inspire me to stand artfully next to a display cabinet and take a panorama of the most important parts of the shop. This is the best vintage […]
music
Rimshot Guitars, Ochanomizu
This one’s a little out of completeness, but bear with me. Along with Woodman and Hobo’s, Rimshot forms the trio of extraordinary acoustic guitar stores in Ochanu (only Woodman has banjos, etc.). Any of the three could fairly be described as world-class in the slightly different spaces they inhabit. Rimshot is basically the Martin store […]
Ikebe Guitar Station, Shibuya (池部楽器店 ギターズステーション)
As part of my regular diversionary series, I’d like to say “I went to a great guitar store today.” [And I can say that, because this place is awesome. You thought I was leading up to a snide remark, didn’t you?]. The Ikebe complex in Shibuya is cool – more for sampling and playing the […]
Nolita House, New York
I’m sure you’ve noticed that I like me a little bluegrass music. I come by that honestly since Dad (not his real name) liked it before me. When I managed to convince him and Mom (not her real name) to come up to New York for a visit during my business trip, it seemed like […]
Rudy’s Music Stop, New York
Per usual policy, a quick note on a music store. No time to get to Mandolin Brothers on this trip, more’s the pity, but while we were leaving the SOLOMON museum, Dad was kind enough to ask the front desk to google-map some music stores for us. They came up with Music Row, which, if […]
Hobos Guitars, Ochanomizu
Even from a seasoned walker-around and inveterate observer, Tokyo manages to hide things. For instance, through this little doorway and down the stairs must be one of the best acoustic guitar shops I’ve ever seen, and it’s right around the corner from Woodman (which is possibly better, and includes banjers and mannolins and steel gitars […]
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Abbey Road, Roppongi
Seemed like months ago that Swannie and I planned this; in fact it was 6 weeks, which is a pretty good lead time. He’s an important guy though. Anyhoo, Abbey Road is Tokyo’s best Beatles live bar. I say this with no knowledge of what the other(s) are like; the only one I know is […]
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Swede’s Inn, Swedesboro
Well, this is it. The whole reason I went on this trip in September instead of May was to play this show. We had been working on a CD for the prior year+, and having completed it a few months before,scheduled a rockin’ good time for ourselves at the Swede’s – 4 bands featuring various […]
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Country House, Akasaka
After repeated success and enjoyment at Rocky Top, and really quite serious letdown at Nashville, I’ve been gun-shy about trying more country music live venues in Tokyo. Part of the problem is that, in so many ways, my economic mentality is mired in the 90’s (or so). I think a concert ticket should cost about […]
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Zemaitis Museum, Kanda
Note, no actual food content here. Lots of guitars though. Tony Zemaitis was a British guitar builder who may have been the first to throw a slab of metal on the front of a guitar (cf my friend Chris Larsen and Girl Grand Guitars for more modern and wacky stuff!). He retired in 2000 and […]