VIDEOS:

Horse The Band - Bunnies  ( YouTube Link )

BIO: (from allmusic.com ) 

California's HORSE the Band debuted in 2003 with R. Borlax, a noisy but undoubtedly leading light in the burgeoning post-hardcore subgenre of Nintendocore (wherein musicians use specific instruments to mimic the sounds of Nintendo games). They returned in 2005 with Mechanical Hand, which was produced by Matt Bayles (Isis, Norma Jean) and released through the Koch imprint Combat. Nathan Winneke (vocals), Erik Engstrom (keys), Eli Green (drums), David Isen (guitar), and Dashiell Arkenstone (bass) proved much tighter a unit, incorporating skewed melodies and real dynamics into their freaky sonic stew. However, besides the nods to recognizable structure, HORSE the Band were still mostly enamored of screamo breaks, unpredictable rhythms, Locust-like nonsense philosophy on the microphone, and blasts of squelch. They were also humorously unpredictable; when asked to cite a reason for dropping out of a summer tour in 2006, the band explained that they were in Chicago eating pizza, and the food was simply too good to leave. Later that year, HORSE the Band continued the joke by releasing the Pizza EP (comprised of five odes to the Italian food). 2007 saw the release of the band's third full-length, A Natural Death, which also featured replacement drummer Chris Prophet.

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Streetlight Manifesto - Would You Be Impressed?   ( YouTube Link )

BIO: (From allmusic.com ) 

The New Jersey ska-punk outfit Streetlight Manifesto grew out of two similar late-'90s groups from the region, One Cool Guy and Catch-22. Delivering a brassy, upbeat brand of third wave ska -- complete with punk-styled melodies courtesy of vocalist Tomas Kalnoky -- the band made its debut in 2003 with Everything Goes Numb. Two years of touring followed as Streetlight Manifesto played countless shows alongside Whole Wheat Bread, Mu330, Bedouin Soundclash, and Gym Class Heroes. However, personnel changes and equipment theft proved to be frequent setbacks. In October 2005, the band was robbed of nearly $80,000 worth of equipment and possessions from its van, only to suffer another robbery while on tour in Europe the very next month. Streetlight Manifesto ended 2005 by touring alongside the Tossers on the brief (and appropriately titled) Please Stop Robbing Us Tour.

Keasbey Nights, a re-recorded version of the 1998 Catch-22 album, was released in March 2006, and the band spent the summer opening for Reel Big Fish and MxPx on a national co-headlining tour. Streetlight Manifesto continued to tour with Reel Big Fish for much of the remaining year, as well as a large chunk of 2007. Frequent concert dates didn't preclude the band from returning to the studio, however, and Streetlight Manifesto released the full-length album Somewhere in the Between in November 2007.

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Morning Musume:

BIO: (from lastfm.com )

Morning Musume. is a Japanese all female j-pop group and the core group under the more expansive Hello! Project (H!P for short). Formed in 1997 when the producer of the band, Tsunku, challenged the 5 runner-ups of a TV competition, where they competed to become the lead singer of Sharan Q, to sell 50,000 copies of their demo single “Ai no Tane” in 5 days. They were successful and the reward was to be fully produced as their own act by producer Tsunku.

In a year, their popularity had surpassed the winner of the original competition (Michiyo Heike); in three they had surpassed the popularity of Sharan Q, who had broken up to become full time producers. The reach of MM and H!P extends to music, TV, radio, film, modeling, commercials, their own PS2 and GBA games, as well as their own indoor futsal and kickball, though their popularity has been waning in recent years. They also quickly became, and still remain one of Japan’s top all girl groups with a number of hit records and albums. They have sold over 16,379,822 copies in Japan only.

The members of Morning Musume change often. Every year or two, auditions were held to add new members. The last audition held for the group were in 2006. Morning Musume’s current lineup has 9 members, none of which are the original five or the three generations that followed. The current lineup has lasted the longest without any graduations or additions (June 1st, 2007 - present). Takahashi Ai is the current leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project and Niigaki Risa is the sub-leader.

Morning Musume Generations (bolded names are part of the current line-up):

First Generation (1997): Yuko Nakazawa, Aya Ishiguro, Kaori Iida, Natsumi Abe, Asuka Fukuda.

Second Generation (1998): Kei Yasuda, Mari Yaguchi, Sayaka Ichii.

Third Generation (1999): Maki Goto.

Fourth Generation (2000): Rika Ishikawa, Hitomi Yoshizawa, Nozomi Tsuji, Ai Kago.

Fifth Generation (2001): Ai Takahashi (current leader), Asami Konno, Makoto Ogawa, Risa Niigaki (current sub-leader)

Sixth Generation (2003): Miki Fujimoto, Eri Kamei, Sayumi Michishige, Reina Tanaka

Seventh Generation (2005): Koharu Kusumi

Eighth Generation (2006-2007): Aika Mitsui, JunJun, LinLin.

As the members grow and become better singers or feel that Morning Musume no longer suits their careers, they “graduate” to become solo artists. Some H!P members graduate to leave the idol world and are not part of H!P anymore. As of March 31st, 2009, members of Hello! Project’s Elder Club concert unit (also called the older sister group, including former Morning Musume members (“OG”), Aya Matsuura, Melon Kinenbi, Mai Satoda (Country Musume), Atsuko Inaba and Yuki Maeda) are not a part of Hello! Project anymore but remain under UFA management. モーニング娘。, Berryz工房, ℃-ute, Buono!, 真野恵里菜, Ice Creamusume, Hello! Project Eggs, and all sub-units associated with them.

Mini Moni:

Ai~n! Dance no Uta - YouTube Link

BIO: (from lastfm.com )

ミニモニ。(Mini Moni) was a Japanese pop group formed in 2000 by Mari Yaguchi (矢口真里). It was a subgroup under Morning Musume (morning musume) with the premise that it would consist of members under 150 cm (4’11”) tall.
Joining Yaguchi were Morning Musume members Ai Kago (加護亜依) and Nozomi Tsuji (辻希美). Before their debut, they added Mika Todd from Coconuts Musume (Coconuts Musume).

They released their first single in January 2001. Their songs were aimed towards a younger audience, but their popularity expanded beyond that thanks to the members having an existing fanbase from Morning Musume. The original four member lineup released four more singles and an album.

In 2002, leader Yaguchi left the group to head ZYX, and was replaced by Morning Musume member Ai Takahashi (高橋愛). Mika took Yaguchi’s place as leader. A transition song was made and released as a single with the original Mini Moni and Takahashi. There was also a farewell concert for Yaguchi to complete the shift. From then on, Mini Moni’s songs gained more of a mature feel. This was especially true with the 2003 release of Crazy About You, shocking some fans with the new R&B sound.

It was announced in 2004 that Mika would be leaving Hello! Project. Mini Moni released their last single in April of that year, with Mika leaving in May. This effectively put Mini Moni on a hiatus, but considering Kago and Tsuji have since graduated from Morning Musume (and Kago later from Hello! Project entirely), it is unlikely they will return. Takahashi is currently the leader of Morning Musume and busy with many other projects.

Mini Moni’s career included two animated TV shows, a movie, 12 singles, two albums (plus a soundtrack album for their movie), tie-ins with the anime series Hamtaro, and more.

W (Double You):

Robo Kiss - YouTube Link

BIO: (from wikipedia.com )

W (ダブルユー daburuyū?), also written as Double You or Double U, was a J-pop duo associated with Hello! Project. Nozomi Tsuji and Ai Kago, former fourth generation members of Morning Musume, were in the group.

2004
W's formation was announced not long after the "graduation" of Kago and Tsuji from Morning Musume was announced in early 2004. At the time, the duo—longtime best friends since they met at the auditions that landed them in Morning Musume in 2000—were simultaneously in both Morning Musume and one of its most popular subgroups (or side projects), Mini Moni. The latter group was about to be disbanded with the inevitable departure of Mika Todd (see Mini Moni's entry for details); with Kago and Tsuji almost at a complete loose end, the decision to pair the two best friends and lifelong bandmates together in a new group was made almost immediately.

As they were winding down their Mini Moni and Morning Musume duties, W released their debut three-song EP, Koi no Vacance, the title track being a rocked-up cover version of a 1960's hit by Showa period female duo The Peanuts. The EP was followed a few weeks later by their debut album as W, Duo U&U, which contained covers of other Showa period female duo songs exclusively. One of the other groups covered by W on the first album was Pink Lady, a 70's-era duo that was becoming active again as a performing (if not recording unit). Since Kago and Tsuji had done two Pink Lady songs ("Southpaw" and "Nagisa no Sinbad") on Duo U&U, Pink Lady were invited to perform with W on Japanese television as a one-time four-piece ensemble. Their joint performance of "Southpaw" became a trading favorite amongst American Hello! Project fans on VCD, DVD, and BitTorrent (Pink Lady also sat in with Kago, Tsuji, and their Morning Musume bandmates on "Nagisa no Sinbad" and a medley of the former act's "S.O.S." and the latter's "Love Machine" on the same show).

Kago and Tsuji performed their graduation concert (final performance as members of Morning Musume) in August 2004; a week later, their second single "Aa Ii na!" was released. Not only was it the duo's first release since they departed Morning Musume, it was also the first W single to feature an original composition by Hello! Project founder/producer/songwriter Tsunku. A third single of original material, "Robo Kiss", followed three months later.

In December 2004, W joined their fellow Hello! Project members on the 2004 shuffle unit single "All for One and One for All", credited to the H.P. All Stars. W also began joining Morning Musume onstage at concerts during this period to perform Kago and Tsuji's final Morning Musume single, "Joshi Kashimashi Monogatari" together with their former bandmates. These appearances served to dispel unsubstantiated Internet rumors that Kago and Tsuji's departure from the band was due to personal differences.

2005
Their second album, 2005's 2nd W, released not even ten months after their first album, contained an even balance of new W originals and more Showa period classic J-pop cover songs, many of them topically centering around the end of the duo's teenage years (Kago turned 17 a month before the album's release; Tsuji would turn 18 that June). Their prolific pace continued when a new non-LP single, the Devo-influenced "Ai no Imi o Oshiete! (Teach Me the Meaning of Love)", followed a few months afterwards.

In the Spring of 2005, W starred in their first concert musical, Cara & Mel, the Case of the Stolen Dangerous Violin, a stage show which was afterwards released on DVD.

In September 2005 the duo released their 6th single "Miss Love Tantei". The song and video feature a more mature Kago and Tsuji and actually earned them not only critical acclaim, but also some comparisons to Russian pop group t.A.T.u. because of the song intro's unintentional resemblance to "Not Gonna Get Us". The video, which features Kago and Tsuji playing multiple roles (including a reprisal of their stage musical roles of Cara & Mei), raised even more eyebrows when the duo were depicted adopting the controversial ganguro look in one scene.

In addition to their musical career, W continue to appear on Hello! Project's weekly TV show Hello! Morning, often in tandem with Morning Musume.

In videos and in concert appearances, W sometimes perform or co-headline with Berryz Kobo, the eight-member pre-teen girl group formed under Hello! Project. Berryz Kobo have appeared as dancers on W's "Aa Ii na!" and "Robo Kiss" videos.

2006
On January 11, 2006, the release of a new single, "Dou ni mo Tomaranai" on February 22, followed by their third full-length album, W3: Faithful on March 15, was announced. The title of both releases became known on February 7, 2006—coincidentally, Kago's 18th birthday.

On February 9, 2006 it was confirmed that the magazine Friday (the same one that provoked Mari Yaguchi's sudden departure from Morning Musume) would be publishing photos of Kago caught smoking. The legal age for smoking in Japan is 20, and Kago had just turned 18 two days prior. On February 10, 2006, Hello! Project issued a press statement saying that the singer had been suspended "indefinitely"; speculation as of that date is that the punishment may be brief. As of February 10 the forthcoming seventh single and third album releases by W, scheduled for March 8 and 15 respectively, as well as the promotional appearances for them, have been postponed indefinitely due to the scandal.

2007
In January 2007, Ai Kago returned to Tokyo and was working at the offices of Up-Front Works, the agency behind Hello! Project, while the company was making preparations for her, and presumably W's, return to the public eye.

On March 26, 2007 following a newly publicized scandal involving Kago dating a thirty-seven-year-old man as well as smoking again, it was announced by Up-Front Agency that her contract had been cancelled. An English translation of the announcement:

“To whom it may concern:
Regarding our client Kago Ai and the article in the weekly magazine that went on sale on March 26th, the information in the article has been verified with Kago herself, to our regret.
One year ago, when Kago was 17 and the smoking problem happened, we still considered her future in this company, and as punishment, she was imposed to house arrest in her parents' home. Seeing how she had progressed over that year, it was decided to start from scratch and start preparing for a comeback by bringing her to Tokyo and having her do clerical and other office duties, starting on January 23rd. Although this worked out well for two months, there was another incident and the comeback plan was abandoned. After consulting with the family, as she is a minor, it has been confirmed, and she has been released from her contract.
We're very sorry that it has come to this, and accept full responsibility.
We feel a renewed sense of responsibility for the future, especially when it comes to minors.
2007/3/26 Kawaguchi Yuukichi, Representative Director, Up Front Agency

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ANJ - Gorbachev

YouTube link.

BIO: (from squidoo.com)

They're dark and intense. Frontman is covered with tattoos. They play blistering heavy metal laced with throat-scalding vocals and string-shedding guitar. And they sing songs about : Gorbachev?

America has never seen a rock band quite like ANJ, which will be hitting U.S. shores imminently for a summer tour. Fronted by captivating frontman and mastermind Anatoly Zhuravlev (AKA ANJ), the band describes itself as "Megadeth after five bottles of Russian vodka" - and indeed, the group's sonic attack stands up to the most celebrated American metal.

But ANJ lacks the gloomy self-seriousness that characterizes much of the genre, citing "Slavic folklore" as an influence alongside Metallica; listeners accustomed to the cold-fish attitudes of mainstream metal-mongers will find ANJ a delicious blast of Russian caviar. Indeed, they're closer in spirit to the satirical animated band Dethklok from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim series Metalocalypse. This is largely due to Anatoly's Eastern charm, self-aware humor and flair for storytelling, which make ANJ's songs about as animated as live action can be. The indefatigable performer is also a filmmaker, and is currently preparing an action-suspense flick.

The band recently traveled to Los Angeles to record their song "Gorbachev" in English, assisted by producer John Travis (Kid Rock, Buckcherry), guitarist Levon Sultanian and drummer Roy Mayorga. The video was directed by comedy ace Tom Stern, known for his work on such series as Crank Yankers, The Man Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and That's My Bush.

In addition to its lead singer's cocky, compelling theatricality, ANJ features the frenetic fretwork of prodigy guitarist Oleg Izotov. The Moscow-born axeman began playing at 13; by 16 he was a busy session musician. He later took first prize at the all-Russian "Mnogolikaya Gitara" ("Multifaced Guitar") contest, as well as the "School of Rock" showdown organized by Russian MTV and the East-West company. In 2005, Oleg became Russia's first and only endorser of Schecter guitars.

Formed in 2003, ANJ gave its first performance at a local MTV studio - and though the network's producers expected pop-rock, the band quickly unleashed its amp-melting barrage. They soon gathered a rabid local following, fueled by the hit ballad "The First Night." Their debut disc, Under an Intent Target, followed in short order. In 2005 they mounted their first international tour, beginning at the MetalMania fest in Katowice, Poland, and concluding (after an eight-month, scorched-earth campaign) at Moscow's Luzhinski Arena. Eastern Europe quickly fell before their onslaught, and they've subsequently been welcomed as such metal and biker gatherings as Krasnogorsk Open Air, Friday 13th fest, Hail To Russia fest and Victory Fest.

ANJ represented Russia at 2006's Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki and at 2007's Download in the UK.

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Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage

Youtube link.

BIO: (from: allmusic.com)

Formerly known as the Wildbunch, the Detroit sextet Electric Six mix garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal into cleverly dumb, in-your-face songs like "Danger! High Voltage," which reached number two on the British charts early in 2003. Singer Dick Valentine, guitarists Rock and Roll Indian and Surge Joebot, bassist Disco, and drummer M. formed the Wildbunch in 1996 (keyboardist Tait Nucleus? joined the band later), releasing their debut single, "I Lost Control (Of My Rock & Roll)," and the eight-track An Evening with the Many Moods of the Wildbunch's Greatest Hits...Tonight! that year on Uchu Cult Records. They also released 1999's full-length on that imprint. The group switched to Flying Bomb for singles like 1997's "The Ballade of MC Sucka DJ," the Christmas single "Flying Bomb Surprise Package, Vol. 1," and 2001's "Danger! High Voltage," which became an underground hit, particularly in the U.K.

The following year the group signed to XL and re-recorded "Danger! High Voltage," this time adding backing vocals from the White Stripes' Jack White. After the re-release of the single in 2003, Electric Six issued their full-length debut album, Fire, later that spring. Just a few weeks after the album's release, Disco, Rock and Roll Indian, and Surge Joebot left the band and were replaced by Frank Lloyd Bonaventure, the Colonel, and 661453Johnny Na$hinal. In 2004, the band got a new record deal with Rushmore, a British Warner Bros. imprint, and lost Bonaventure and M., whose bass and drum duties were filled by John R. Dequindre and Percussion World, respectively. The second Electric Six album, Señor Smoke, arrived in the U.K. early in 2005. It took another year for the album to be released stateside, on Metropolis Records. Switzerland arrived in fall of 2006 and I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master followed in October of 2007. Early in 2008, Valentine embarked on his American Troubador solo tour, which included stops in Hamtramck, MI, and Portland, OR; that spring, Electric Six recorded their fifth album Flashy in the Colonel's studio. Metropolis released Flashy that fall. 

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