Kirsty Evans

Last Night: Miyavi at Slim's

Dir en grey, Black Friday, Toys for Tots and Bazaar Bizarre: Your Monday Morning Hangover

Weekend wrap-up by Janine KahnSorry to shake you out of tryptophan-induced slothfulness, but it's Cyber Monday, kids. And that means you're supposed to blow what's left of the shopping dough you didn't honestly have last week on marginally-cheaper memory cards and online escorts or something. It's ... More >>

Interview: Dir en grey's Shinya

By Kirsty Evans Late on a cold November afternoon I had the opportunity to sit down with Dir en grey drummer Shinya (pictured) for a quick interview a few hours before their show at The Regency Center. Since I had been told to expect the guitar duo rather than the usually reclusive drummer the foll ... More >>

Last Night: Vamps at the Grand

​ VAMPSJuly 25, 2009Regency CenterReview by Kirsty EvansBetter Than: A weekend vampire movie marathon. It was hard to tell what to expect from VAMPS before Saturday's show, as singer/guitarist Hyde (L'Arc en Ciel) and guitarist K.A.Z (Oblivion Dust) come from such different backgrounds. Wh ... More >>

Sunday Night: Japan Nite Special Girls Rock Explosion

Kirsty EvansOMODAKA​Japan Nite Special Girls Rock Explosion! 
 August 16, 2009  at Yoshi's 
Better Than: The previous day's outdoor performance by the same bands. By a long shot. 
 Sunday night's invasion by the The Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion tour brought both a crowd an ... More >>

Saturday Opening: Japantown's New People World Center

Kirsty Evans​The New People World center, which just opened with much fanfare in Japantown this last weekend, is a monument to the increasing American interest in Japanese pop culture. This modernistic glass and steel structure houses two clothing boutiques, a shoe store, a gallery, a store sellin ... More >>

X Japan's Yoshiki on Touring the U.S., the Loss of Hide, and the Future of the Band

Kirsty EvansYoshiki behind the piano.​ Shortly after X Japan's historic show at the Fox Theater last Tuesday, we got the chance to sit down with drummer, pianist, and band leader Yoshiki as he relaxed in his dressing room. A genuinely charming man, Yoshiki was friendly and remarkably frank about h ... More >>