This made me laugh… a lot :-P

“This film looks good, it’s about some Japanese guy who is in love with a younger girl.“, my friend Matthew said.
“Never heard of it.” I replied.

He showed me the trailer.

The music, the Japanese man… as soon as I saw him sitting at the cold, clinical kitchen table eating that salad I thought… “Murakami!”.

Then a second later the credits announce: “Based on the story by acclaimed novelist Haruki Murakami”. Haha! I couldn’t believe I spotted the style so easily given I wasn’t expecting it or hadn’t heard of a film based on his work… I haven’t been in a Murakami mood recently (by which I mean I haven’t indulged in any of his books) so he wasn’t on my mind. I suppose the theme is easy to spot though, as is common in many of Murakami’s books; lonely single Japanese male, penchant for simple, clean food (often pasta or a light salad), overly clean apartment… and so on.

I can’t wait to get a chance to watch it, but I only hope that it really will capture the magic of Murakami!

Edit: You can view a selected set of photos, in higher quality, on my flickr account here.

Wahhh, I’m so happy! I just came back from London (just over 2 hours drive away from my home) having gone down there with my younger brother… and dad(!) to see Sek Loso play @ The Garage. It was awesome!! The band played really well :D

Last year Sek formed a new band, with guys from the UK - currently it’s Eric on drums, Chris on bass, and Bonehead (ex-Oasis) on rhythm guitar. Let’s hope it stays that way! My brother knows Eric, so we met up with him, his dad, Chris, and Chris’s gf and mother before the set for a drink and a chat :)

Pre-set photo with Sek and my brother Josh. My pic was pants, so it’s remaining hidden :P

It was nice to see quite a few Thai people turn up, smiling away, the girls screaming as Sek came on :P A lot of farang turned up too - also nice to see! Represent!

Eric, the Loso drummer.

Chris, the Loso bassist.

The one and only, Seksan Sook Pimay

More Sek

And more Sek

Video clip: Clicky click :)

It was Bonehead’s birthday, so they brought out a cake in the middle of the show and everyone sang happy birthday to him. They then played a cover of “Live Forever” (an old Oasis song) which was fantastic, running straight into a cover of “Voodoo Chile” by Jimi Hendrix. Awesome.

Video clip: Sek rocking out!

Bonehead, and Sek.

We love you Sek :P

Close up.

After an hour, they finished their set, and bid us goodnight, but everyone started chanting “Loso! Loso! Loso!” wanting more. They came out and played 3 more songs :D

Oh did the girls whoop when he took his top off!

Video clip: Ahh, nice song which I forget the title to now!

Everyone started dancing when they played Som Sarn!

A Thai guy decided to play “poster guitar” in front of Sek on stage haha :D

Thanks to my brother Josh, I’ve got a band to rave about - The Brilliant Green. They’re a Japanese alt-rock band, strongly influenced by american-alternative / brit-pop music, and to my suprise I found were rated in the 10 Ten Bands of All Time!

The first song I heard was “Ai no Ai no Hoshi” (listen), from their album Terra2001. It’s fantastic! I’d love to buy the album but at �22 on import it is a bit too pricey :(

So anyway I looked for a translation of the song lyrics and they didn’t disappoint :)

Ai no Ai no Hoshi (The Planet of Love):

Cold drops of water fall, a planet of love is born
I passed through the brilliant light
This world that’s connected to the bad dream I just had
I’ll wipe your excess tears

Just as the floating clouds
Suddenly change their shape
I soon lose sight of the answer I thought I’d found

Even if tomorrow’s sky is clear woo baby
If you fall into the darkness locked in your heart
I’ll bring you back yeah

If we throw away unnecessary feelings
Countless planets will unfold
The light filled with wind and happiness

I’ll break everything
That clouds up your uneasy sky
And soon show you
The landscape of hope

Even on a very rainy day
Woo baby tell me
And I’ll come soon and save you
From the cold threads of rain

Ah it passes
And we can’t turn back again
Like a white flower that blooms
Like the very subtle light

—
Source: Anime Lyrics

I’ve checked out some others and they’re really good! I highly recommend “I’m So Sorry Baby”, “Rainy Days Never Stays” and “The Angel Song”.

Check out a fantastic fansite here.