For those of you looking to usher in the new year to a homegrown sound, Yebisu 06 New Year's Party at Ebisu Garden Hall might be your thing. Playing live will be Pe'z, who may or may not explain where their superfluous apostrophe comes from, but who will certainly be rocking some pop-jazz chic embellished with wow-inducing technical virtuosity. After their start busking on the streets of Shibuya, the band have gained a larger following with well-received performances at Fuji Rock.
Soil & "Pimp" Sessions (pictured above), who have even gained plaudits from BBC Radio 1, will bring their more bop-inspired take on high-bpm post-millennial jazz to the live stage as well. Maybe they'll have a good explanation for their unconventional use of quotation marks and its connection to their reputation as the suavely dressed wild men of the Japanese youth.
As for DJs, probably the best-known act of the night is DJ Krush, a well-respected hip-hop producer and an innovative solo artist with a strong connection to the London-based Mo' Wax label. Crowds and critics have praised Krush for his mixing of sampling and breakbeats with jazz and R&B, although his recent work has tended more toward abstract soundscapes. Nevertheless, he is still renowned as one of Japan's top turntablists, and his live reputation seems to be untroubled by whatever new musical direction he chooses for himself.
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