Kikagaku Moyo and the Guruguru Brain empire

Seattle show has been sold out for weeks, tickets going for $90 on Stubhub

got damn. thankful i got to see them a few years ago when they came to Atlanta.

I saw them two weeks ago in Atlanta and was surprised that they almost sold out a 600-capacity venue on a freezing Tuesday night. And it was a lot of younger people, which I didn't expect.

i played them on my WREK show relentlessly but idk if anyone actually listened to my show

i did!

y'all switched from talking about Minami Deutsch to Kikagaku Moyo and threw me off.

New KM single:

https://kikagakumoyoggb.bandcamp.com/album/gypsy-davey

whoa, a Fotheringay cover ... who's the vocalist?

Per their FB:

We are excited to announce that Sub Pop Records​ has just put out 2 songs for their 7-inch singles series 🍎

This is a limited release as a part of the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 4, and physical copies will only be available to subscribers of the series. As such, it won't be available at our shows or in stores...but you can listen now on streaming sites 👂🎶

The first song, Gypsy Davey, is a reworking of the traditional British folk song by the same name. We referenced Sandy Denny's arrangement from the 1971 album Fotheringay for our performance.
We recorded the track in London with guest vocalist Kandice Holmes, aka Bells.

The second song, Mushi No Uta, was written by Tomo and Go and recorded last summer in their living room.

Both of these were recorded in brief windows during our touring in 2019. We are very happy with opportunity hope you enjoy the songs.

sounds nice!

they're the best

They performed this with Kandice/Bells at their last London show

The thread revive got me into this band and by dumb luck they are playing in Melbourne tonight and I managed to snag a ticket.

Nice! They’re fantastic live

Very!

im in a guruguru exploration phase and all the lps of minami deutsche are super satisfying. I listened to them for 3 straight hrs from 8500ft to 13100ft on my mtb, at like 6mph, on the last day of summer, it was so perfect. Tangled Yarn!

Well here's a fine little thing:

The Reverberation Appreciation Society is proud to launch a brand new live series, Live at LEVITATION. Recorded over the history of the world-renowned event, the series captures key moments in psychedelic rock history, and live music in Austin, Texas. The artists and sets showcased here have been chosen from over a decade of recordings, and captures key artists in the scene performing for a crowd of their peers and fans who gather at Levitation annually from all over the world.

The first LP in this series features Japanese psych heavyweights Kikagaku Moyo. This particular record is as strong sonically as it is meaningful in the band’s history. It showcases one of the band’s very first US shows in 2014 on the A-side, and their triumphant return in 2019 on the B-side with them firing on all cylinders amid a sold out US tour.

“Playing Austin Psych Fest / Levitation was always a goal from our earliest days of the band - to join the psychedelic community for a weekend of music and present our live performance. This show in 2014 was a landmark for us. To return years later in 2019 and find the same welcome, the dream was still very much alive and well.”
- Kikagaku Moyo

Due out in January, here's a preorder link as such:

https://recordstoreday.com/UPC/195497401420

Upthread Elvis Telecom linked a YT of the 2014 show and talked about it so that gives you a sense of the goodness.

excellent

That 2014 show was magical.

And here's that live album

https://reverberationappreciation.bandcamp.com/album/kikagaku-moyo-live-at-levitation

Ah now we've got this as well.

This Friday Feb 5th On bandcamp day- Kikagaku Moyo + Me/Band “deep fried grandeur” is widely available. Grip the LP or press play on your phone. pic.twitter.com/y6QsRVcC6z

— Ryley walker (@ryleywalker) February 1, 2021

US tour announced:

Oct 30th Austin - Levitation
Oct 31st Dallas - Deep Ellum Art Company
Nov 2nd Tuscon - Hotel Congress
Nov 3rd Phoenix - Rebel Lounge
Nov 9th Big Sur - Fernwood Campground
Nov 10th San Fransisco - Castro Theatre
Nov 11th Arcata - Miniplex
Nov 12th Portland - Roseland Theatre
Nov 13th Seattle - Crocodile

The Big Sur date is with Ryley Walker should you be so inclined.

Wow, Roseland in Portland. That's bigger than I would've guessed.

They’ve built a rep and a serious fanbase; when they sold out the Fillmore last time I knew something was up.

kikagaku moyo going on indefinite hiatus, final album coming + tour

i enjoy this band but i think i like the 'associated' acts they helped bring to the fore. minami desutch was one of the best shows i've seen in years

Was just wondering the other day when they'd have a new one, bummed to hear it's the final one though.

Ah, that's a shame. Missed the November show -- it was shortly after my accident and I was already leery of shows regardless -- so hopefully the last tour will come through in a safer time.

And the final album is announced

https://kikagakumoyoggb.bandcamp.com/album/kumoyo-island

final??? indefinite hiatius!?

:(

Bummer but it happens! But I like the feeling that they've done what they've wanted to do for now.

and their show here is sold out. ah well

The SF show link at the venue site isn't working, which is...odd. I'm following up. (They're also playing Bottle Rock, which, no.)

While Kikagaku may be ending, Guruguru Brain continues, new release for the label here

https://dhidalahggb.bandcamp.com/album/sensoria

And one last set of US shows in fall before they wrap it up. SF date is on sale tomorrow

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kikagaku-moyo-castro-theatre-september-25-2022-tickets-349179514327

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jun/23/japanese-rockers-kikagaku-moyo-watching-people-board-a-train-thats-psychedelic

Separately: new Minami Deutsch en route.

https://minamideutschggb.bandcamp.com/album/fortune-goodies

Nice new looking back

https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/kikagaku-moyo-albums-guide

Ah, cool, I was just coming here to ask which album I should start with, since I've been hearing a lot about this band from very disparate sources (ie not only my usual psych freak friends)

House in the Tall Grass is all time for me

This is now the only one I've heard, but I'm crazy about it. Is their other stuff this good? I wasn't expecting to love the vocals as much as I do.

For me it's the standout, but it also where I started

Looks like I should have pulled the trigger on the vinyl sooner, for some reason the bandcamp page shows the "USA" option as sold out and the only remaining shipping option costs $27 for a $30 record. Cripes.

I knew it would be a great performance but man they are going out on an absolute high based on the SF show last night. If you still have a chance, absolutely do yourself a favor and go see them while you still can. Wish I'd've seen them more but three times is better than none.

spinning the ryley walker collabo, good stuff