I’ll be playing chindon again with the Japanese gypsy rock band Kagero. No cover with a two drink minimum. Come join the fun!
Caffe Vivaldi
32 Jones Street
Off Bleecker Street near Seventh Ave.
7:30 to 9:00 pm
Update: Thanks to the taiko crowd (Teddy, Tamiko, and Karl) for coming out to see the show! Eric from NYU showed up as well and it was great catching up with the globe trotter!
Soh Daiko will be playing a short piece in front of the Shinran Shonin statue at the New York Buddhist Church as a part of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Memorial.
New York Buddhist Church
332 Riverside Drive between 105/106th streets
HAPPYFUNSMILE will be embarking on its first California Obon Tour from July 19-27, 2008. Performing an irresistible blend of Japanese street music (chindon), Okinawan pop and folk songs, nostalgic ballads (enka), and Obon tunes, the group will be featured at the San Francisco Obon Festival, the Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Obon Festival, Senshin Buddhist Temple, Nikkei senior homes, and live music venues.
I hope you will spread the word to California friends and family!
HFS California Obon Tour
The New York Buddhist Church Obon Festival will be held at Bryant Park (6th Ave between 41/42st) this Sunday, 7/13 from 1-5pm. If you arrive a bit early, you’ll be able to see Hoh Daiko, a taiko group from Seabrook, NJ. Then HAPPYFUNSMILE will do a quick set before the bon-odori starts up. The Tachibana dance group and Soh Daiko will also be performing in the afternoon. Dig out your yukata or happi and come on out!
Wynn at NY Obon, 2008
We’re starting to get some press for the upcoming HAPPYFUNSMILE California Obon Tour! Check out the articles in Asians in America by Erika Usui and Hokubei Online.
I recently met and jammed with this awesome band called Kagero, a Brooklyn-based Japanese gypsy band. Seriously. These guys have an amazing sound, with vocals, guitar, violin, and bass. They’re going to add my chindon into the mix for these two gigs and we’ll see how it goes!
Wed July 9, 7:30-9pm
Caffe Vivaldi
32 Jones St, New York, NY
No cover, two drink minimum
Fri July 11, 9pm
Black Potatoe Music Festival
The Red Mill Musem
56 Main St, Clinton, NJ
