IMARi ToNES -The First Christian Heavy Metal from Japan-: March 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Bad News, Atlanta show cancelled

Hi this is Tak "Tone" from IMARi ToNES, Japan.
A bad news, really sorry to tell you this but our show in Atlanta, scheduled on April 11, was cancelled due to the venue closing down. Mmm... it looks like economy is really bad all around the world.

We are now looking for another venue but there is only little time left.
Anyway we will try our best.

Taking this opportunity,
Can I tell you one more thing we want you to know at this time?

Last year we recorded our first Christian theme album "Welcome To The School".
And earlier this year, we signed with Empty Vessel Music.
It's a cool Christian record label who is trying to do good causes in society.

We don't want to keep you waiting, and it's easy for us to release the record on iTunes and CDbaby, but please wait.
Because Empty Vessel Music is non profit label trying to make a difference and they have their plan.
They sure will release our music sooner or later.

We will notify you when it happens!

Thank you,
Hope my English is correct and....God Bless!

Tak / IMARi ToNES

Saturday, March 28, 2009

"Kodomo Metal" on iTunes!

Yes IMARi ToNES has its unknown history of recording many songs independently.
Even before the band member-lineup was completed.

So here we present "Kodomo Metal", which means, "Metal for kids"!

Recorded almost 10years ago, but every musician and music reviewer gets surprised with its totally unique metal/grunge/whatever sound with crazy ideas.

Songs you got to try: Sou, Kosei, Minorities, I'm fish.
Song we still/currently play live: Big World

Yes now we call ourselves a christian band, but this "Kodomo Metal" is purely a explosion of crazy creativity.
I'm afraid all the lyrics are in japanese but hope you enjoy!

Check "Kodomo Metal" on iTunes here.
http://www.songcastmusic.com/albums?zoom_query=34653

That's all for today!
Thank you and we love you, God bless,
May the Lord be with you and may the good sound be with you!!

Tak / IMARi ToNES (Japan)

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

One more show added! Little Rock AR

We are now practicing hard for the upcoming tour in US.
As we decide which direction to drive our car, one more show is added.

April 9th (Thursday)
Little Rock AR
Sticky Fingerz
http://www.stickyfingerz.com/
107 S COMMERCE ST LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201
$5

Yes, so there will be 4 shows in 4 days, in a row.
Oh my god we're gonna die!?
It seems like we like to push ourselves hard so much.
Yeah, harder the better.

Anyway, again, here is the detail so far.

"Rock, Faith, Anime Tour 2009"

April 5th (Sun)
International Christian Church, Dallas TX
(This is a Worship, not a gig. just 1 song worship.)
http://www.iccdallas.org/

April 6th (Mon)
Headhunters, Austin TX
http://www.headhuntersclub.com/
720 RED RIVER STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701
Details, TBA

April 8th (Wed)
Super Happy Fun Land, Houston
http://www.superhappyfunland.com/
$7, All ages show
3804 Polk Street, Houston TX 77003
w/ 10th Grade Cutie, Bows & Arrows

April 9th (Thursday)
Little Rock AR
Sticky Fingerz
http://www.stickyfingerz.com/
107 S COMMERCE ST LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201
$5

April 10th (Fri)
Music City Bar, Nashville TN
http://www.musiccitybar.com/
2416 Music valley Drive Nashville, TN 37214
IMARi ToNES 9:30-10:15PM
No cover
We open for Molding

April 11th (Sat)
East Atlanta Icehouse, Atlanta GA
http://www.eastatlantaicehouse.com/
543 Flat Shoals Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
$7
w/Besides Daniel, Mr.Citizen

April 14th (Tue)
Otto's Shrunken Head, NYC
http://www.ottosshrunkenhead.com/
538 East 14th St. NYC 10009
No Cover
IMARi ToNES 22:00-22:45
w/peter knoll, MAYDAY RADIO

April 17th (Fri)
The Mix, Seattle WA
http://www.myspace.com/mixseattle
6006 12th Ave S. 17, Seattle, WA 98108
$7
w/ Laguna!, Hardison

We really want to see you there!

Tak / IMARi ToNES

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Houston show confirmed again!!

Okay, so we have been trying to find other venue to fill the date cancelled by Scout Bar Houston.
And now we have found one and it's confirmed.

April 8th (Wed), Super Happy Fun Land, Houston
$7, All ages show
3804 Polk Street, Houston TX 77003
http://www.superhappyfunland.com/

Sounds fun! We are looking forward to it.

So here is the whole tour date so far.

"Rock, Faith, Anime Tour 2009"

April 5th (Sun)
International Christian Church, Dallas TX
(This is a Worship, not a gig.)
http://www.iccdallas.org/

April 6th (Mon)
Headhunters, Austin TX
http://www.headhuntersclub.com/
720 RED RIVER STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701

April 8th (Wed)
Super Happy Fun Land, Houston
http://www.superhappyfunland.com/
$7, All ages show
3804 Polk Street, Houston TX 77003

April 10th (Fri)
Music City Bar, Nashville TN
http://www.musiccitybar.com/
2416 Music valley Drive Nashville, TN 37214

April 11th (Sat)
East Atlanta Icehouse, Atlanta GA
http://www.eastatlantaicehouse.com/
543 Flat Shoals Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

April 14th (Tue)
Otto's Shrunken Head, NYC
http://www.ottosshrunkenhead.com/
538 East 14th St. NYC 10009
IMARi ToNES 22:00-22:45

April 17th (Fri)
The Mix, Seattle WA
http://www.myspace.com/mixseattle
6006 12th Ave S. 17, Seattle, WA 98108

Hope to see you soon!!

Tak / IMARi ToNES

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Bio, Bio, Bio...

IMARITONES BIO

Written by Phil Putnam

Of the long list of factors that make ImariTones stand out from the world around them, it is their drive, their reach that tops it all. An unapologetically Christian heavy metal band out of Japan, Tak, Hassy, and Jake have a passion to reach beyond their culture to make the music they love, and to reach beyond their music to bring Jesus into their culture. While drawing comparisons to legends like Van Halen, Rush, and Stryper with their hybrid of old school metal/glam/Brit/70's prog rock, they are one of very few bands in the world that can claim true originality. How so? They are the first Christian heavy metal band ever to come out of Japan.

"There are very few Japanese bands who say 'Hey, we're a Christian band.' A Christian band from Japan almost sounds like a joke, since most people in Japan are Buddhists, or Atheists," says Tak, founder, guitar/vocalist, and frontman of ImariTones. Things didn't start out Christian for Tak, though. Having started playing electric guitar at age 14 and joining his first band at 15, Tak gained local teen success in his hometown of Toyohashi and won awards for his songwriting. However, he quit the band at 17 to pursue a career as a lawyer. Music stayed with him, though, and while playing an acoustic show in Harajuku Tokyo in December of 2007, Tak was impressed by several Christian performers who were playing as well. Feeling that Jesus may be the larger meaning behind music that he always felt was there, his mind and heart opened to Christianity.

Breaking many written and unwritten rules of Japanese culture, Tak, Hassy on bass/background vocals, and Jake on drums/background vocals, are reaching upward and forward to see changes happen in the world. Currently based in Yokohama, their astonishing 15-album discography includes Hero of the Lights, Color of Hers, fireworks, Japanese Pop produced by metal legend Sascha Paeth (Angra, Edguy, Rhapsody of Fire, Avantasia, Kamelot), Welcome to the School, and their most recent release Victory in Christ. Not content to play the standard soft pop/rock of the major label Christian industry, their music is 100% heavy metal and 100% independently recorded and produced. Victory in Christ hit the street in October 2010 with the single "Faith Rider" leading the charge. Originally written as a parody of the big 80's metal of Judas Priest and Stryper, it quickly became a fan favorite and was put on Victory in Christ.

With both their commitment to making stellar heavy metal music and their driving passion to share Jesus with their native Japan and the rest of the world, ImariTones is always reaching to join these two primary goals together. "Since we are a Christian band, our goal is not business success," says Tak. "We are not chasing glory in this world. We are chasing the glory of God." Staying independent and record label-free is an important part of the process for them. "We don't believe in 'music business', especially in Japan, and have chosen to go independent, looking for our own way. We really want to change something about society and about what people think and believe. That's our ultimate goal."

That ultimate goal, to see their native Japan embrace Christianity, is what they reach for most of all, even while their sights are set on the USA and the rest of the world. Some think they're a joke, or a contradiction, that Christianity, Japan, and heavy metal just don't belong together. Some think they're ahead of their time. But if you ask Tak, Hassy, and Jake, they'll say they're doing exactly what they love at exactly the right time, and they're never going to stop reaching for more.