Sony's Chatmonchy to perform at SXSW 2010

Successfully performing at the "Nippon Budokan" after their smash hit album "Seimeiryoku", Chatmonchy has already became one of the symbol of the Japanese rock scene.

And now, the band had just announced their appearance at the SXSW 2010, one of the biggest US music festival/showcase!

Chatmonchy are three girls from Japan who rock. Playing raw, energy-infused melodic rock music, Eriko (guitar and vocal), Akiko (bass), and Kumiko (drums) have been making a buzz all across Japan since their 2005 major label debut. Now, with their latest Oricon chart-topping album "Kokuhaku" (Confession), they're ready to infect North American fans with their catchy take on girl-rock power.

Chatmonchy-whose name means absolutely nothing!-burst onto the scene without any label backing in 2004, quickly catching the ear of Sony Music Japan. The next year, Sony's Ki/oon Records released their debut EP, "chatmonchy has come," and the band set off on their first nation-wide tour of Japan in 2006.

Inspiring fans with their feistiness and fire, Chatmonchy released their first full-length album, "Miminari" (Ear Ringing), in July of the same year. The album garnered a Top 10 spot on the national Oricon chart, and the girls were invited to perform at Japan's most important summer festivals, including Summer Sonic, Rock In Japan Festival and the Nano-Mugen Festival.

After the success of their summer festival dates, Eriko, Akiko, and Kumiko did a national tour in the Fall of 2006, then headed back to the studio to finish "Seimeiryoku" (Life Force), the album they had started writing the year before. The album, released in late 2007, hit #2 on the Oricon charts, and Chatmonchy played sold-out shows all around Japan -including a two-night solo concert at the Budokan in the Spring of 2008.

Following the first album, the rock-power girl trio released 4 singles that reached the Oricon Top 10, three that hit the Top 20, and 4 DVDs including music videos and passionate live performance footage. In addition, the single, "Dai Dai," was featured as the theme song on the anime series, "Bleach"- their first step toward connecting to a world-wide audience.

The next step, after adding another couple of DVDs to their catalogue on the home-front, is an attendance at the 2010 SXSW Music Conference. This will be Chatmonchy's first North American live performance, and the beginning of the next important chapter for these accomplished musicians-these three girls from Japan who rock.



Eriko Hashimoto: guitar and vocal

Akiko Fukuoka: bass

Kumiko Takahashi: drums


*And also check out their brand new Facebook & MySpace websites!

www.facebook.com/chatmonchy
www.myspace.com/chatmonchy

Kinokuniya To Send A Fan To Japan!

Kinokuniya Bookstore (1073 Ave of the Americas) has got one heck of a holiday gift for you. From now until December 19th, Kinokuniya Bookstore and American Airlines are raffling off one trip from anywhere in the continental USA to Tokyo. How do you enter? Just visit Kinokuniya Bookstore in Bryant Park to sign up.

The winner will be revealed at 5 PM on the 19th as part of the Kinokuniya and Samurai Beat Radio "J-Pop Christmas." Beginning at 1 PM on the 19th, Samurai Beat Radio will be playing a selection of the top-rated J-Pop songs as picked by Tokyo FM. Fans will be able to vote for their favorites, with their picks broadcast on samuraibeatradio.com. And, as I just said, the J-Pop Christmas will come to a close with the drawing of the free trip to Tokyo as well as a number of other prizes.

And, when you hit up Kinokuniya, be sure to check out their Domo Christmas Tree. Oh yes, I said Domo Christmas Tree. Curious? Well, now you gotta go to Kinokuniya to get a glimpse for yourself!