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Austin American-Statesman
SXSW's Japanese showcase are always filled with one wildcard act after the next,
and Fantasy's Core is no exception. The Nagasaki City band plays campy, corny blues rock that
plays like an odd hybrid of Delta 72 and The Commitments .
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THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE
-Live Shots- Fantasy's Core The Limelight, March15(Thu)
Nagasaki's "Fantasy's Core" also had a penchant for R&B-scented punk rock, but the quintet's
allure was heightened by the application of slapstick antics straight outta Airplane! To start
with, the singer was a bald guy wearing sunglasses with a thin white streak running neatly
down the center of his face. His excellent dance moves seemed to be a fusion of kabuki and
New Wave. When he wasn't feigning hara-kiri with a toy light saber, he pretended to play guitar
using a racquetball racquet.
"Fantasy's Core" switched tempos frequently from "John Lee Hooker"-style blues toSixties soul
to metal rap (!) as the singer smiled and wooed the crowd with a stage persona somewhere in
between"Screamin' Jay Hawkins" and "Robin Williams" on a talk show. At set's end, he fell to
the floor like Jack Palance at the Oscars and did several one-armed push-ups as the crowd che
ered. All in all, a two-for-one Rising Sun Spectacle of E-Ticket caliber.
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THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE
Fantasy's Core: Nagasaki's Fantasy's Core are a zany troupe that flip-flops between punk, blues,
metal, and soul. The quintet's 2001 SXSW set blew several minds with the antics of Mao Karisu,
a rocabidly charismatic vocalist who feigned hara-kiri with a toy light saber, did Jack Palance
-style one-armed push-ups, and sang an ode to Pachinko. (Elysium, 8pm) --
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nubrecords (Austin,TX)
Fantasy's Core (Nagasaki City, Japan) - SXSW has a great selection of Japanese bands ever year,
and this was to be no exception. First up, a four piece with a lead singer that can only be descri
bed as Peter Gabriel in the "Shock the Monkey" video. He had more energy that all the bands that
I had seen up to this point put together. His props included tennis rackets, tambourines, colored
balls, and a lightsabor. His band members could best be described as John Taylor on bass, Elvis
on Guitar, and Lars Ulrich (Metallica) on Drums.
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Rachael K LeValley
Fantasy's Core (http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~hodenz/) is a cult rock band from Nagasaki. I wanted to
see at least one of the Japanese bands in the showcase because I knew it would be what it had
been heavier pop rock tunes thrown out by superstar looking band members draped in.
Is that Gucci? The lead-singer, who had painted a white streak from forehead to chin, danced
around like the pied piper ﾐopposite knees and index fingers shooting alternately up towards
the sky. They sang tribute, in their best English, to The Dead Kennedyﾕs, They Might Be Giants
and even SXSW. If thereﾕs ever a showcase of Japanese rockers nearby, definitely attend.
Iﾕd prefer to hear them playing an aoba-no-fue or something made of bamboo though but Iﾕm
wrong for that.
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Lethal Sports.com/F. Larkins
Hi, I saw your band at this years SXSW and was impressed with what I saw. Very Cool!
I wanted to let you know that we, LethalSports.com, are looking for bands to spotlight on our
online publication.We are looking for bands interested in showcasing their talent to our audie
nce. Please come into contact with us. Cheers!
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Chad Beck/Jacky Fly(AUSTIN, TX)
Golly gee we've been busy lately!!! Not only did we have two shows this past week,
but we also attended SXSW, at which we all got severely burned out on the idea of being
awake. I can't speak for everyone, but I had one of the greatest times of my life at this
year's festival!! Besides seeing incredible acts like Clinic, Spoon, Girls Against Boys,
The Pattern, Selby Tigers, The Eyeliners, The Sunshine Fix, The New Duncan Imperials,
Original Sinners, The Frames, Clem Snide and Daniel Johnston...I got to meet several
wonderful people. Namely two acts from Japan and one from Auckland, New Zealand.
Bonkin' Clapper were an astounding rap/rock/RHCP amaglam with an incredibly energetic
and contagious 95lb woman up front!!! BC were pretty dang amazing, but Fantasys Core
(that's right, no apostrophe) were even better. Mixing rockabilly into metal and then back
through a punk rock funnel, Fantasys Core were more intense than a migraine and more
flammable than high-grade saki. This was my 2nd time seeing Fantasys Core and I was
just impressed this time as last. These guys are half performance art, half balls-out
rock show. It's like no American band you've ever seen, yet their western musical
influences usually shine through. The lead singer, Mao Karisu, is an absolute maniac.
He contorts his body, throws himself about recklessly and bats dozens of plastic balls
into the crowd with a tennis racket. At one point during the show he commits hara-kiri
with a Stars Wars-like light-saber. Incredible stuff. These guys have got more passion
for rock and roll than 99% of any American rock act I've seen in years... Maybe they aren't
as jaded as we are to how great we have it here in America (as far as the "History Of
Rock & Roll" is concerned), I don't know....but, Fantasys Core are incredible. I strongly
suggest tracking them down. Anyway, I consider it a great honor to have met them and
will remember their set as one of the best this year at SXSW.
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Kerri /Sexy Finger Champs
Hello, cool rock Fantasy's Core!!!
I was not able to see your show, but my husband, who is a music critic here in Texas, did see
you and wrote a great review about you in The Austin Chronicle---did you get to read it?
If not, I will try to locate the site address for you so you can have it. He said you were AWESOME!
I watched a small part of your show on the Quick Time video portion of the SXSW website----
you look so cool! The lead singer is fabulous, really a lot of personality and everyone playing had
fantastic concentration and energy---cool action, fun, wild, wonderful. If you return to Austin,
please always feel welcome to stay at any of our homes and we could play shows together, too!
Keep the rock and roll fires burning bright. Keep on rock'n roll!
SXSW website →(http://www.sxsw.com/video_archive/index.php/)
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CHEPO /Sexy Finger Champs
It was great to meet Fantasys Core. I wanted to see Fantasys Core at ELysium, but could not get in.
There was too many people. Good luck and see you soon.
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Paul Wheeler/Rock of Japan!
FANTASY'S CORE opened up the night. The five piece band, with two guitarists and a lead singer
with a racing stripe of war-paint down the center of his face are a rockin' beat band.
They've got some nice songs, and the singer puts on a show and was obviously having a great
time. There was some goofiness with a toy light sabor, and twenty or so plastic balls slapped
out into the audience with a racquetball racket, but frankly, this band doesn't need the goofball
schtick. The blues based rock they bash out is tight and mean. Sure, you've heard these riffs
before, but the rhythm guitarist was dead on, the lead guitarist cranked, and the singer's
vocals outshone any of his stage antics.
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DJ.PORSCHE
Hi friend J.!!Thaaanx!! i reiceved your CDs last week! listen a lot in these days! Great and some
crazy songs! wow! Im veeery veeerysurprised with the excellents japanese bands!! I loved your
band Fantasys Core! but all of your bands is simply amazing, Porto Label is one's already in my
favorite list for this year. Salve Japanese rock'n'roll!! Long live to Porto Label! Congratulations
to you, to your label and your bands, and keep up with this level of excellency. I'd love to get
more news about your bands! Good lucky! Iﾕm curious...try answer me....Do you make success in
Japan? Many show, many girls....this things of rockstar... hehehe...What bands do you listen?
Do you know bands like Olivia Tremor Control, Gorky's Zygotic Mincy, Super Furry Animals,
psychedelic bands...or american underground groups, post rock, electronic? I ike electronic
sounds too, like Boards of Canada, DJ Spooky, Clifford Gilberto, Squarepusher...Do you know
some about brazilian bands? A hug, good day and good sounds. porsche
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JAPANSKA ALTAN 47 (02-05-02)
DJ/Dr.Gunni
My guest in the radio show picked your band and we played one song. My guest is called Omar and
is in the group Quarashi. He saw you in Texas, I think. dr. Gunni
Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki
Pink Lady - Sos
The Cupieds - Bazazz tengoku
The Cracknuts - Yes no Yes
Sadistic Mika band - (af Best of Mika) #12
Yellow magic orchestra - Behind the mask
Aunt Sally - Nowhere to go
The Plastics - Copy
Pizzicato 5 - Groovy is my name
Miniflex - Till I die
Cornelius - Point of view point
Quarashi - Weirdo
Fantasy's Core - 69 Carmen rock
Bonkin' Clapper - Warp!!
Petty Booka - Whippin' Piccadilly
Shizuko Kasagi - Tokyo boogie woogie
The Go-Bangs - Tokyo boogie woogie
The Go-Bangs - (af The TV) # 7
00100 - Righthand
Yuko Nexus6 - N.S.K.K. coming soo
Rappagariya - Straight outta Nippon
Audio Active - Free the Marijuana
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Austin 360
Where from : Nagasaki, Japan
Series of word meant to convey their sound : Punk, R&B, R&R, metal, and more...
Fun Fact : Well-traveled in Austin, with gigs at both the 2001 and 2002 SXSW, Fantasy's Core is
this close to having to apply for Texas driver's licenses.Bottom Line : Among the most theatric
shows around, it includes blues stylings suddenly upshifted to punk, antics ranging on slapstic,
and one-armed pushups. Sounds like rock'n' roll to us.
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cam2266
I'm from Houston and saw you guys play Monday. It was awesome, its good seeing that are some
really good rockers some where in the world. Hopefully people in the U.S.A can get some pointers
from such a great live performance. I've been listening to it for a week now. Thanks and good luck
to Fantasys Core
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The Hanger...San Angelo, TX...Patrick
Last night's show with Fantasy's Core was both hilarious and excellent. Fantasy's Core is from Japan,
and yes they sing in Japanese; however, they arrived late so the crowd was pretty small, which is
why THEY'RE PLAYING AGAIN TODAY, THE 14TH!! I urge you not to miss this show. If you do, you have
no idea what you are missing out on. These guys go crazy on stage, and for we members of the audience,
the fact that they are Japanese makes it even more fun. DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW!!
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rewireviews
Is this quintet Japan’s answer to England’s Sex Pistols or America’s Ramones?
Only time and you will tell. Singing in Japanese, they delved into an intro that sounded like Iron Maiden
playing covers of Slowdive. But then again, you thought The Boredoms were hard and wild. Actually,
if your domestic partner appreciates you , (s)he’d take you to see those wizards next time they’re in
town. Fantasy’s Core stopped in Houston on their way to South by Southwest. They bring on their own
type of punk that is turned inside out with poppy elements. The guitar solo’s were double-fold at times
oing slow to fast maintaining vast harmony delivered by this quintet of quasi-freaks. At others, they
sounded like The White Stripes meet The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. Japanese vocal
psychosis closed ‘Stone Age Bug’ and then another rumbled through. All this I witness while I couldn't
believe it was happening. I asked Mau after the show about singing in Japanese and their translator comes
back with the very convincing answer, "growing up, I saw The Rolling Stones and many other bands, and
they sang in English. We didn't understand what they sang but we loved them much the same. So, I think
singing in Japanese shouldn't matter." The emperor has spoken the truth.-ea01/march 2003
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