Spotify O-East

Post-rock quartet Cinema Staff are putting on a party that looks like a dream for fans of Japanese alternative rock, emo, math rock, indie and shoegaze. The line-up traverses nearly 20 years of underground music culture, bringing together multiple generations of artists from legendary bands of the early ’00s to newer acts defining the current scene.  Cinema Staff, who recently wrapped up a national tour for their latest album Plastic Youth, are perhaps best known for their singles ‘Great Escape’ and ‘Name of Love’, both ending tracks for the anime series Attack on Titan. They’re joined by The Cabs, another legendary act in local heavy music circles, who reformed last year after a 12-year hiatus and dropped a new single recently, much to the delight of long-time fans. Younger bands on the bill include Texas 300, who have earned a name for themselves since the release of their debut single ‘Uma Ga Suki’ in 2022, as well as Yubiori and Anorak.

Tokyo instrumental rock outfit Mono are kicking off a world tour for their new album with this July gig. Having lost a longtime creative partner in Steve Albini last year, the new release, Snowdrop, is in part dedicated to the late producer and his contributions to the band over the past two decades. Following the kick-off at Tokyo’s Spotify O-East, the first leg of the tour will take them to Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore before they return to play the inaugural edition of their new inner-city festival, The Argument, in October. With Mono’s last run of domestic shows selling out, tickets aren’t likely to last long.