James Iha

There's a 14-year gap separating James Iha's debut solo album, Let it Come Down, from this year's follow-up, Look to the Sky, but it's not like the former Smashing Pumpkins axeman has been living in a cave for all that time. After the critical response to the record, though – including a scathing 2.9 rating on Pitchfork – he might be tempted to retreat to one. Catch him on safe ground when he plays at Club Quattro this week, his third live date in Japan so far this year.