Back-On is a rock band that wears many musical hats. The Band was originally comprised of (left to right) guitarist SHU, Drummist ICCHAN, vocalist/guitarist MC KENJI03, MC TEEDA, and BASSIST GORI. Their unique blend of metal, hip-hop, rock-rap, post grunge, and alternative rock is really popular among the American Otaku, especially considering that Back-On's 2006 release, "Chain" was chosen to be the opening theme song to TV Tokyo's anime "Air Gear." That particular track featured TEEDA's rapping and a chorus sung by KENJI03. This track was also performed at Anime USA 2007 during their live concert.

The Captains are a "Group Sounds" band coming out of Sendai, Japan. Dressed in matching military uniforms and throwing roses to their young lovers, The Captains have been known to drive audiences crazy with their comedic performances, love declarations, and fast, loud guitar playing.

The Captains debuted on Toshiba EMI in 2005 with the album “Shishin Tengoku –

Koe wo Shiyo yo” and quickly became one of the most popular acts in Japan. Their immense following is largely due to their live performances, which resemble an anime program come to life.

Be prepared to fall in love with this wild and energetic band, but just make sure that you don't faint!

You can check them out on Myspace or http://tokyonorecords.com.

GPKISM is the manifestation of baroque essence fused with electro/industrial sound, creating a unique world both decadent and sublime.

Vocals: Ryoko
Keyboard: Tony
Guitar: Tomo
Drums (electric): CJ
Drums (acoustic): Jen




Missed them on air?
Read our interview with echostream at NekoCon here!

You can check them out on Myspace

Photo Courtesy of Mistress Mu.

Born in 1972 in Tokyo, Japan, Kobun Shizuno studied at the Yoyogi Animation School and made his debut in the anime world as the Assistant Director of Giant Robo: The Animation. He has since served as Director or Co-Director of many of America's biggest anime series including Burst Angel and Elfen Lied as well as fan favorites such as Case Closed, Peacemaker, Princess Nine, and Final Fantasy: Unlimited. Fans of Saturday morning cartoons will recognize Mr. Shizuno as the Director of GI Joe: Sigma 6. His largest projects, though, are his current ones, as Mr. Shizuno is directing an upcoming Fist of the North Star motion picture and serving as Co-Director for the new Neon Genesis Evangelion feature films, the first of which - Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone - premiered in September in theatres in Japan. Mr. Shizuno's appearance at the New York Anime Festival is presented by TenBu Productions.

Peelander-Z is an Action Comic Punk band made up of three aliens from the planet Peelander Area Z who have come to earth to eat our smiles. These three brightly colored aliens (they claim that their costumes are their skin) are Peelander-Yellow, the guitarist and the vocalist, Peelander-Red, who is the bassist and also sings vocals, and last, but certainly not least, Peelander-Blue who is the drummer for this odd little group. There is one more mysterious character that you might see, but I was told that you have to be very lucky to see her. However, since she is very difficult to see, Peelander-Pink can just be considered an Urban Myth. At least this is what Peelander-Yellow has said. As for their shows, it is filled with wild stunts that involve many different props, including a big prop drumming sticks, Mexican wrestling masks, and bowling pins. One of the favorite acts during the show is Peelander-Bowling. The title of the act should explain everything, but if it doesn't, you should go to one of their concerts to witness it. It is too funny to describe fully.

PEELANDER-Z, the Japanese Action Comic Punk Entertainment Band, was formed by Peelander-Yellow, Peelander-Blue, and Peelander-Red, who claim that they are from the Area Z of the Planet Peelander, in 1998 in New York City.

You can visit the website at www.peelander-z.com.

Psychic Lover is a J-pop band comprised of vocalist Yoffy (Yoshiyuki Wada) and guitarist Imajo (Tatsuhiro Imajo). Much of their work has been featured as opening and closing themes of Japanese anime such as the anime Transformers: Armada (Super Robot Lifeform Transformer: Micron Legend), Gaiking, and Witchblade, and the tokusatsu series Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger and GoGo Sentai Boukenger. Yoffy has also worked with Eizo Sakamoto (vocalist of Anthem and Animetal), Masaaki Endoh, Sakura Nogawa, Ai Tokunaga, Ryoko Shintani, Mayumi Gojyou, Sister MAYO, and Yukari Fukui on other projects. Psychic Lover performed for the first time in the United State at the Akiba Fest Jpop Halloween Concert Ball at the Jaxx Nightclub in Springfield, Virginia on October 27, 2007!

You can check them out on www.afxakibafest.com for more information of their event!!

Salia is the talented lead songstress of the duo Unicorn Table, who are known in the Otaku Community for their hit songs "Fly Away," "To be Free," and "Earth." These songs were used as themes for the 2005 Japanese hit Anime “Jinki EXTEND” (now released in the US under ADV Films). Salia got her break into the Anime and J-POP world by singing the theme for the Japanese anime, "Cutie Honey Flash." Her fame grew as she when she became the singer of the ending theme song of the Sentai show GeoRanger and the opening theme song "Trust" from the anime "Vandred." You can check out Salia at Myspace, unicorntable.com, and afxakibafest.com.

Takuya Angel is a well known Tokyo based designer of cybergoth fashion. In addition, he is an active DJ in the Japanese club scene.

Check him out at his OHP or on Myspace.

Read our interview with him at Anime Matsuri here.

Thee 50's High Teens are the best dressed vampire band in Japan as well as one of the indie scene’s biggest draws. Check them out on Myspace.

Unicorn Table is a J-Rock band that has a unique and interesting sound that they love to share with the American J-Rock and J-Rock audience as much as they can. First, coming over to perform in December 2006 at the Akiba Fest J-POP Halloween Concert Ball, their popularity with the American audience has skyrocketed. Not only are they becoming popular in the J-Rock and J-POP scene, they have also gained attention from the American Otaku crowd with popular songs "Fly Away," "To Be Free," and "Earth" used in the 2005 Japanese Anime Hit series Jinki: Extend (now released in the US by ADV). They performed live at New York Anime Festival at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on December 7th-9th, 2007.