Royal Bravada is a rock n roll band touring Tokyo, and we breakdown the Milan music scene compared to the Tokyo music scene. I learned a lot! These guys play balls to the wall rock, and that's why they are this week's guest. Co-Producer Credits go out to Apryl Peredo. She can book your tour. You are just one-click away from booking your Japan Tour.

In the introduction:I have seen and heard a lot of people talking about North Korea recentely, and possible military action. There are very complex social relationships between Japan and Korea. There are 100,000s of ethnic Koreans in Japan that fall into separate sub-groups. I break down some of these sub-groups as a way to raise awareness about how the complex social relationships between China, Japan, Korea, and Russia will probably override miltary action. A little history goes a long way. Chongryong on Wikipedia.

BTW -- I have music that you can buy.

In the podcast we talk about changes in the music industry, touring, magnets that talk, and why Led Zepplin stole all those songs -- and why that's perfectly awesome.  Alistair and Tosh founded the band Sunset Drive (YouTube Vid), where they recorded, toured & played countless shows. Alistair is back in town recording with Tosh for Sunset Drive. 

Co-Producer Credit goes out to Masa, who owns Second Drip Recording.

Max von Schuler-Kobayashi finishes off the show with indepth analysis about why we shouldn't care about North Korea's nuclear threats.  Max is an ex-marine, former spy, published author, and researches the historical relationship between Japan and Korea.

 In the intro I play Patriotic North Korean Music. Topics include:

Digital Ownership

Gozer Oatmeal Stout by Kaapse Brouwers

Google Home & Amazon Alexa (aka Normies) vs. the Kekistanti's Harnessing the Power of Autism & Meme Farming

AI products and definitions

This is a JAM PACKED episode.  Especially made to go with driving, walking, or drinking alone. 

This show was hosted, recorded, edited, engineered, uploaded, written and produced by Matt Bigelow

We travel to Shinjuku where Thailand-based band Count the Thief sat down in front of a punk venue with me and we talked about their Japan tour. They are also the music guest. Apryl Peredo receives co-producer credit for this segment.

Variety Galore in today's episode!In the intro I rant about what it's like to wake up to no coffee in the house while being threatened with nuclear war by our lovely neighbour -- North Korea.

After the interview I take a call from Japan-Korean relations analyst Max Von Schuler-Kobayashi where he gives the low-down on the current naval fleet heading to potentially bitch-slap North Korea.Finally astrological technician Stephen Deg delves into his star-knowledge that perhaps explains how our on-the-brink-of-war socio-economic position may in fact be MANDATED BY THE STARS!Like I said -- Variety Galore in today's Episode.Check out the links to broaden your horizon, and to spend time on other platforms besides FaceBook and Twitter.

LinksCount the thief (Thailand-based Indie Band)

Official Site;

Facebook ;

Youtube.

Apryl Peredo (Interldoru) (Music Manager, & Co-Producer of today's show

InterIdoru Artist Management; Fuchsia -- Overseas Bands In Japan

Max Von Schuler Kobayashi (Japan Korean Relations Analyst, Ex-Marine, Former Spy)Blog; Twitter.

Stephen Deg (Astrological Expert, Musician)Twitter; ReverbNation.

Matt Bigelow (host)Website

You could even... buy my music.

This podcast was hosted, recorded, uploaded, edited, written & produced by Matt Bigelow.

#varietyisourstrength

Saku is a comedian who spends his time writing in Tokyo and performing in Chicago. He stopped by the Ogikubo studio where we talked comedy.

Introduction topics include

types of Hanami,

music,

Jordan B. Peterson,

Cotton Club

Music Guest --> The Dirty T's 

 

Saku Yanagawa (instagram) (FaceBook)

Matt Bigelow (Website) (FaceBook)

 

This podcast was hosted, edited, recorded, uploaded, written & produced by Matt Bigelow

I reviewed a Mikkeller 20 IPA and a Vuur & Vlaam IPA and expanded on and introduced some Japan-related information, eh.

List of topics include:

Cleaning Noises; 

Prosecutors Apologize; 

Tech News: AI & Tracking; 

Kinlay Song (Website); 

Hanami; 

A rebuke regarding claims that I am homophobic; 

Japanese Cars for Womyn; 

Yukio Mishima & Philip Glass; 

Short History of Japanese Toilets; 

Japan Wanko Headline Reads (Website); 

Recommended to listen while walking. 

This podcast was recorded, edited, uploaded, hosted, written and produced by Matt Bigelow.

Jay and I sat down in a dodgy ... room let's call it. His band, Midnight Snakes, plays 70s inspired rock and sings lyrics about the nightlife and sketchy sides of living in Tokyo.

In the intro I ramble about solar panel roofs, YouTubers complaining about their free platform, and play a song from GhostRoads, the movie that was written by last week's guest, Mike Rogers. 

Check out the links below.

Jay Ken (Midnight Snakes FaceBook Contact)

Matt Bigelow (Official Website)

GhostRoads YouTube Trailer

This podcast was recorded, edited, uploaded, hosted, written and produced by Matt Bigelow.

I met up with Mike after he hosted his radio program. He is releasing a movie nation-wide titled "GHOSTROADS - a Japanese Rock 'n Roll Ghost Story" (YouTube Trailer). 

We talked about DJs, social media, pulling fast moves in the industry, in addition to how people spend money to make money. 

Matt Bigelow -- WEBSITE

It's been six years since the earthquake hit, the tsunami struck, and nuclear reactors exploded in Fukushima.  So I asked three people who lived through Tokyo's version of the nightmare to relive their experiences.  While Tokyo was not a deadly place to be, it was on the verge of falling apart. Tokyo survived, but it certainly dodged a nuclear-tipped bulled fuelled with the power of one of the most powerful earthquakes on record. Yikes!  We had to deal with government confusion, media lies, family pressure, and 900 aftershocks. 900! 

One thing that I've noticed is that time moves us on, and the way we think about the horror today is far different from how we were reacting to the disaster when it occurred. At the end of the podcast, I rail on about the strange events that arose out of the confusion and destruction.  Humans are strange creatures.  There's some gallows humour, but our thoughts are with the people who died, and the people who survived.

Today's Conversations...

Astrid (Tits Tats & Whiskers)

Rob 

Haru (FaceBook)

I was originally recording this as an intro for a guest. But, then I decided that the intros were getting too long, and they have now become their own show. So that's the new format! One week Intro with Expert Phone Calls, Next week Interview. That way I can still have a life and not burn through the well of potential interviewees available in Tokyo. So there!

In this episode of DABWM (Drink A Beer With Me) 7, I toss back a couple of beers, talk about tech in Japan... there's a horse, beer reivews, and take calls from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi (Max's Blog), PeeWee (FaceBook) and talk about astrology with Stephen Deg, who fronts Orangey (ReverbNation). 

Today's Musical Guest is the Mootekkis (YouTube), fronted by Mike Hannah, who was on the iconic 10 Years In Japan episode. 

Strap in!

Vera sings in the band Takashi Umemiya and the Comrades.  She studied opera singing in China before moving to Japan to study jewelry design.  We covered a wide range topics in this podcast, and she's got an amazing voice.

Besides music, I asked her about Chinese people eating monkeys, cheating on tests, and cat trains in Japan.

 

Vera (Instagram / Other Instagram)

 

Matt Bigelow (Official Homepage)

 

Opening Guests (Max Von Schuler-Kobayashi) (PeeWee)