A Japanese blues band. The roots music of contemporary pop.
One of the roots musics, the blues, was born among African peoples who immigrated to America and was brought to Japan via the UK.
The prototype of the blues evolved into jazz and rock, and it has had a major impact on popular music as well.
Its emotionally charged singing is captivating, and in a band setting it comes across even more passionately—especially with the guitar’s wailing, crying phrases!
Given the cultural background, many of Japan’s leading blues bands include members from the Kansai region.
Please enjoy this wellspring of soulful sound—the source that also gave rise to the familiar music we listen to every day.
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Japanese blues bands. Roots music of contemporary pop (21–30)
Lonely HeartCREATION
Creation is a band formed in 1972, centered around guitarist Kazuo Takeda.
They were active from the mid-1970s until disbanding in 1984.
The band later resumed activities as Creation in 2005, and they continue to perform live as Creation today.
Seoul SubwaySOOO BAAD REVUE
A bona fide blues band formed in 1975 around guitarist Nagao Ishida, with Junshi Yamagishi, Ichi Peking, Charles Shimizu, Tadashi Nagamoto, Masakazu Doi, Baker Doi, Masakazu Sunagawa, and Teruyuki Kokubu.
Among the Kansai blues acts that emerged in the ’70s, they leaned especially toward a Western-style sound, and recorded their studio album in Los Angeles, USA.
Their performances brim with soul, funk, and R&B feeling and are undeniably cool, and their lyrics—Kansai dialect set to the blues—are another draw.
Later on, Nagao Ishida also found success as half of the duo BAHO with Char.
Japanese blues bands. Roots music of contemporary pop (31–40)
I’M GETTIN’ BLUEZIGGY
ZIGGY is a rock band formed in Tokyo in 1984, centered around Jiki Morishige, focusing mainly on blues rock and hard rock.
After making their major debut in 1987, they were highly active until going on hiatus in 2008.
In 2017, after ten years, they released a new song and held a nationwide tour.
budgerigarJIGHEAD
A band formed in 1995, led primarily by Mr.
Ogawara, who had been a member of THE POGO.
They have continued to be highly active up to the present.
As a three-piece band without a bassist, the new release they put out in 2013, featuring a guest bassist, is a unique work for JIGHEAD.
INCREDIBLEDENIMS
DENIMS is a four-piece band from Osaka that lays down feel-good sounds! Their music is rooted in funk and blues, yet it’s characterized by a delightful mash-up that pulls in hip-hop and city pop as well.
Since releasing their first nationally distributed mini-album “Daily use” in 2015, they’ve been on a remarkable roll.
In 2020, their track “I’m” was chosen for FM802’s heavy rotation, and in 2019 they provided a song for Coming Century—proof of their solid credentials.
They’ve even drawn 800 people to their own festival, ODD SAFARI.
Their sound somehow feels loose and earthy yet stylish, and it might be perfect if you’re looking for music that gently fits into your everyday life.
drink-and-wet dollSon House
Sunhouse is a blues band formed in 1970 by university students in Fukuoka.
They made their record debut in 1975 with Teichiku Records, released their major-label debut album Uchoten, and toured nationwide, actively performing until they disbanded in 1978.
They have since reunited intermittently and are still active today.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Hakata rock started here.
Song For My LadyTOO MUCH
TOO MUCH was a band that existed around 1970.
They began performing in 1969 and remained active until they disbanded in 1971 after releasing the album “TOO MUCH.” Coincidentally, they were active in the Kansai region during the same period as Murahachibu.