Watchlords

Be it known that Nemophila busted into the #8 slot for *US* metal radio last week. This is perhaps meaningful only to those of my generation that grew addicted to’60s and ‘70s hard rock and spent the intervening decades wasting our time mourning our loss and avoiding C&W, bubblegum Pop and the like.

https://youtu.be/rD3VMAm-9iA

Those chics rock

They had an interesting idea for expanding past the Japanese market in a hurry: start a YouTube channel and make the first post a cover. In English. Of Iron Maiden. The “Soft and fuzzy band from hell” description doesn’t work though. They’re about as soft and fuzzy as a runaway locomotive.

How it started:
https://youtu.be/4qkLz0N_L6c

How it’s going:
https://youtu.be/LL82EEeX8Fg


No doubt a crushing disappointment to anyone thinking they were going to be viewing K-Pop.

Music to my eyes, by golly.

The Japanese rock and metal scene is so strong.

I'll be in Yokohama in November for BAND-MAID's 10th year anniversary final concert. Any chance of seeing you there Hawk?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvuqmSQEnaA

bedlam wrote: ↑

April 30th 2023, 4:38am

The Japanese rock and metal scene is so strong.

I'll be in Yokohama in November for BAND-MAID's 10th year anniversary final concert. Any chance of seeing you there Hawk?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvuqmSQEnaA

I wish. But no travel for me until late this year. Next trip to Thailand I intend to take the long way around - maybe extend the Japan layover by a week or so.

It’s a good time for the remaining boomer metal heads though I never could have predicted we’d be rescued by Japanese hard rock.

Hawk wrote: ↑

April 30th 2023, 6:45am

bedlam wrote: ↑

April 30th 2023, 4:38am

The Japanese rock and metal scene is so strong.

I'll be in Yokohama in November for BAND-MAID's 10th year anniversary final concert. Any chance of seeing you there Hawk?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvuqmSQEnaA

I wish. But no travel for me until late this year. Next trip to Thailand I intend to take the long way around - maybe extend the Japan layover by a week or so.

It’s a good time for the remaining boomer metal heads though I never could have predicted we’d be rescued by Japanese hard rock.

Agreed. Though western media seems to be paying the rescue effort no heed whatsoever

Well, #8 on the US Metal charts is something. One guy at work said he recognized “Rise” from his morning commute.

But you’re right. I learned of Nemophila from Kanami posting support for Saki on Twitter. Then it only takes a couple of YouTube searches while logged in for the confirmation bias algorithm to kick in. At that point a lot explains itself - like being a Japanese super group formed by veterans of other groups westerners never heard of like Mary’s Blood, Destrose and several others. Hence partially explaining the relatively fast impact. Though 3 million views in 3 years would never impress BlackPink who racked up those numbers in a couple hours.

We’re a minority in a pop world but I’m pleased with the representation nonetheless.