Hello Tokyo – The Fire, Philadelphia Pa.

Brooklyn pop rockers Hello Tokyo kicked off a tour in support of their new album Sell The Stars in Philadelphia at The Fire on Friday night and totally owned the place. The band arrived not long before their scheduled set time, but managed to change, talk with friends and family, greet me, and set up all with time to spare.

Normally a trio, Hello Tokyo added two more for the live show and played a high-energy set, showcasing the great material from the new record. They opened with Sell The Stars‘ closer “I Spy,” asking, “Do you think you want me?” atop Vince‘s driving guitar riffs and a thumping bass line from John. The poppy “Run To You” and “Midnight Snack” found their way into the middle of the set as Kat pumped her fist in the air or dancing around the stage to Sam‘s beats and Eavvon‘s melodic keys.

Hello Tokyo ended their night with the bouncy and infectious single “Radio.” Kat kicked into high gear, jumping around the stage, interacting with her band and amping up their energy just by being near them. If Hello Tokyo is east coasting near you, get yourself to the venue and dance around to their delicious brand of upbeat pop dance rock. Be sure to chat up the band, as well — Kat is toothache sweet and Sam kept everyone laughing. Hello Tokyo is a great group of musicians making great music that is definitely worth your time.

more @ flickr

Tour Dates:
Apr 30 – New Brookland Tavern/West Columbia, South Carolina
May 01 – Smith’s Olde Bar/Atlanta, Georgia
May 03 – Indy500 Festival/Indianapolis, Indiana (SOLD OUT!)
May 04 – Dirty Jack’s/Cincinnati, Ohio
May 07 – Club Cafe/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 08 – Brother Bean Coffee House/Seneca, Pennsylvania
May 12 – Oasis/New London, Connecticut
May 16 – Dr. Watson’s Pub/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 28 – Stranded In Stereo Presents../New York, New York
Jun 14 – Memories Lounge/Richland, New Jersey

Hello Tokyo: website | myspace | Sell The Stars review

[where: Girard Ave, Philadelphia PA 19124]

New Music Tuesday!

Out Today!!

Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell review
Negative Space Storylines review
Hello Tokyo Sell The Stars review
Goldfinger Hello Destiny review
Young Knives Superabundance review
Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords
Magnetic Morning Magnetic Morning EP
Nas N—-r
El Perro Del Mar, From the Valley to the Stars
Atmosphere When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold
Billy Bragg Mr. Love & Justice
Night Marchers See You In Magic

Hello Tokyo – Sell The Stars

Be it a band from Brooklyn, by way of Washington DC, to make waves with their music on both MTV and Animal Planet. Power-poppers Hello Tokyo has done just that, in addition to receiving love from Stomp magazine, NBC, the Austinist, Free Indie and, now, PopWreck(oning), among many others. The trio’s newest album, a self-release entitled Sell The Stars, is sure to turn those waves into tsunamis. Fronted by the beautiful and vivacious Kat with John on guitar and bass and Sam on drums, Hello Tokyo brings the rock, the pop and the dance all in a catchy little package.
Sell The Stars begins slow with Kat’s sweet vocals before picking up into driving riffs. On the same track, Kat sheds the sweet for loud and powerful over John’s funky riffs and Sam’s pounding beats. First track “Alert the Authority” also features a great effect of layering Kat’s lead vocals over her own backing vocals. Track 2 is the disc’s title track and is super bouncy and chock full of catchy guitar hooks with a great driving tempo that gets you moving. The lyrical content isn’t as happy as the music behind it would insist, “Tell me you love me / After you hurt me / You took what you wanted / I’m still wondering why you got it.”

Echoing vocal effects, funky guitar riffs, driving beats and catchy synth parts are Sell The Star‘s M.O. The hook heavy “Steady the Gun” immediately incites a dance party while “Hands to Hold” slows things down as Kat sings with marbles in her mouth in a song rather reminiscent of No Doubt‘s “The Climb.” The band delves into a more adult side on the darkly sweet and ambient “The Affair,” an almost narrative about an affair gone wrong: “You’ve become the air I breathe / How did you know what I was thinking? / I never wanted to fall in love with you.”

Further proving Hello Tokyo’s No Doubt influence is “Midnight Snack,” a much poppier song than “Hands to Hold,” though it features a haunting drum beat that would fit in perfectly on a Denali album. The album ends with “I Spy,” in which Kat channels Gwen Stefani circa Tragic Kingdom over top a funky guitar riff in a song about a one night stand to alleviate loneliness: “Far from home / Far from anyone that loves me / Assuming I have no one / Not even anyone above me. / Tell me, do you think you want me? / Just for the day, / Until we feel empty? / Filthy / Empty / Then you can go.” It’s less sexy and dirty than it is haunting and sad, with an almost self-destructive vibe.

If you’re into female-fronted, driving, melodic pop rock, look no further than Hello Tokyo’s Sell The Stars. Bringing back mid-90s No Doubt, but giving it their own unique and refreshing spin, Hello Tokyo is sure to please. You can check the band out on tour (dates below), promoting their new album, which hits April 22nd.

Tracklisting: Alert The Authority, Sell The Stars, Intimidate Me, Steady The Gun, Hands to Hold, The Affair, Midnight Snack, Run To You, Your Majesty, We Are Running, I Spy

Tour Dates:
Apr 25 – The Fire/Philadelphia, Pa. (CD Release show!)
Apr 26 – Rock & Roll Hotel/Washington Dc. (All Ages!)
Apr 27 – GW University Radio/Washington Dc.
Apr 28 – Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar/Charlottesville, Va.
Apr 29 – The Raven/Burlington, Nc.
Apr 30 – New Brookland Tavern/West Columbia, Sc.
May 01 – Smith’s Olde Bar/Atlanta, Ga.
May 03 – Indy500 Festival/Indianapolis, In. (SOLD OUT!)
May 04 – Dirty Jack’s/Cincinnati, Oh.
May 06 – 123 Pleasant Street/Morgantown, Wv.
May 07 – Club Café/Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 08 - Brother Bean Coffee House/Seneca, Pa.
May 12 – Oasis/New London, Ct. (w/ The Gypsy West)
May 16 – Dr. Watson’s Pub/Philadelphia, Pa. (w/ Life Slides Down)
May 28 – Stranded In Stereo Presents../New York, Ny.
Jun 14 – Memories Lounge/Richland, Nj.

Hello Tokyo: website | myspace