My friend on stage at Cream Soda Night 2015

My rock-n-roll friend was playing with his band again at this years Cream Soda Night, so again I went to see him. Last year he ended up going up on stage at around 2 a.m. on a weekday, which meant not many of his friends with normal jobs were there to see him. This year, his band was on stage at 19:00, which is also problematic for people with normal jobs in Japan (you can rarely leave work that early). The performance was quite nice, though.

The event was held in two different live houses, so you got a stamp on your hand to show that you were allowed back in when you ran back and forth between them.

Apart from my friend's band, I saw about 10 other bands too. They were all good. I also ran into a girl who knew me from having seen me perform magic somewhere. I also met a guy I know from the bar Ropossa, and some friends I have in common with my friend who was on stage. I was most surprised by having a fairly old Japanese man come up to me and ask: "Where you dressed as a zombie in the park four years ago?" I said I was, and he said that he had also participated in the Sapporo Zombie Walk in 2011 (the only year we had a zombie walk) and he remembered me from there. I was impressed that he even recognized me without zombie makeup.

My friend and his band

My friend plays the guitar and sings pretty well, but he is not so good at English. He had placed papers with the English lyrics all over the floor, but still managed to lose his way in the lyrics at a few times, haha.

I liked this band

This band had a female lead guitar player who was good

My friend with his eyes closed (and some girls he knows)

My friend with his eyes open

This saxophone player is famous, I was told.

My friend and one of his friends with similarly colorful hair

This band, the Apollos, was probably the best band I saw.

This guy and I were zombies together in 2011, apparently.

This band managed to get people to stage dive.

This band played rock on violin, accordion, and bagpipe!

I remembered this band from last year, and they were good this year too.

My friend with his rock-n-roll leather jacket.

And with his rock-n-roll sunglasses.

When I left (since I had to get up early the next morning for work), people were fighting outside. Probably play-fighting.

Some friends at Cream Soda Nite in Sapporo 2014

Two guys I know in the same shot

June 9 can be read "rokku", "roku" is 6, which is the Japanese name of June, and "ku" is one way to say 9. "Rokku" is also how you say "rock" as in rock'n'roll. Every year there is a rock'n'roll/rockabilly/punk event here in Sapporo on June 9 called "Cream Soda Nite" [sic!]. This year, some of my friends made a band called "One Star Club Band" and they where playing, so I went there to listen to them. I also saw a lot of other bands, and all were very good.

My friend, looking much cooler than usual (because of the sunglasses?)

Guitar solo, also cool!

The whole four man band

Shaking hands with the audience

My friend is famous for (claiming to) not having a girlfriend for 10 years. He says he is sure that now that he has been on stage as a rock guitarist again (he played in a band when he was young and still had girlfriends), he will be swamped in female fans and groupies. One woman ran up to my friend after their performance and pretended to swoon at him, almost but not quite falling to the floor.

Woman swooning

Cream Soda Nite [sic!] in Sapporo 2014

セコハントリオ (Secohantorio)

June 9 can be read "rokku", "roku" is 6, which is the Japanese name of June, and "ku" is one way to say 9. "Rokku" is also how you say "rock" as in rock'n'roll. Every year there is a rock'n'roll/rockabilly/punk event here in Sapporo on June 9 called "Cream Soda Nite" [sic!]. This year, some of my friends where playing, so I went there mainly to listen to them.

Greasy

I also saw a lot of other bands. All of the ones I saw were very good. There were two stages at two different clubs a few minutes walk apart, so there were generally two bands playing and you could only catch half the acts of the event.

The Bootlegs, with a pianist.

Pistol Boogie Vincent, a punk band in suits.

ハイカロリーズ (High Calories), with a female lead guitarist

My entrance stamp

スカメムシ (Sukamemushi) all the way from Nayoro. Great drive in the music, and lots of brass instruments.

One Star Club Band, with two of my friends.

若葉 (Wakaba), with electric violin, accordion, and a bag pipe!