Lighting Up Nag's Music Scene
There's something electric happening in Nagoya's local music scene, and on March 2, it will all converge at Shinsakae's Live & Lounge Vio.
Local folk-punk turned indie songstress Darian Gore is celebrating her 33rd birthday and a decade of musical evolution in Japan with an ambitious double EP release that feels more like a love letter to the city's resilient music community.
From Texas Basements to Nag's Underground
Darian, a San Antonio native armed with raw talent and an acoustic guitar, finds her voice in the welcoming embrace of Nagoya's underground music scene. Gore cut her teeth in Texas punk basements and folk circles, but it was at Harmonium Parlor—the legendary open-mic night at the now-shuttered Plastic Factory—where her songwriting truly bloomed under the nurturing guidance of scene veterans Lesley Bartlett and Coleen Wickdahl.
Two EPs, Two Sides of the Same Coin
The night's main course, "Porchlight," isn't just an EP—it's a time capsule of raw confessions and hard-won wisdom distilled into six tracks that map Gore's twenties in Japan.
Tucked away in Gifu's misty mountains, Lesley and Coleen transformed their home studio, The Bird Bath, into a sonic laboratory. Between creek-dipping breaks and woodland wanderings, together they crafted an album that shape-shifts from whispered acoustic revelations to full-throated rock anthems.
The record moves like mercury through genres—one moment you're deep in folk territory with weeping violins and mandolin flourishes, the next you're riding waves of electric guitar on "Tigerstar," or swaying through the smoky piano lines of "Emergency."
Listen here for yourself:
But wait, there's more!
The companion "Ukulele EP," recorded with local legend Brian Cullen, shows Gore's playful side. It's the perfect counterweight to Porchlight's emotional depth—proving that even the most introspective artists know how to have fun!
"These songs grew up as I grew up in our little corner of the music scene," Gore reflects.
"From testing them out at Harmonium Parlor to recording them in the mountains, every track carries pieces of the community that shaped them."
A Community Reunion
The lineup reads like a who's who of Nagoya's international music scene. Opening acts include Yuki Angel and Yushi Yamazaki's fresh project, Rice Paddy Brothers. Gore's backing band features the dynamic duo of Bartlett and Wickdahl (of Semi On and Xandra Corpra Band fame), alongside drummer and HAMJAM founder Adam Demby and pianist Toko Iso. It's a testament to the connections forged through initiatives like Women's Showcase and Witches at GC Live—platforms Gore helped cultivate with female musicians in the city.
Y2K Events, headed by Kurt and Krissy Diggs, are helping to coordinate the event. (Krissy designed the album art for the Uke ep)
So folks...
Here's a piece of solid advice:
Don't sleep on this one. It's more than just a double EP release—it's a celebration of community, resilience, and the power of finding your artistic home halfway across the world. As the local scene reawakens, this night promises to be a milestone in the renaissance.
The Details
Date: Sun, Mar. 2
Venue: Live & Lounge Vio
Schedule:
Doors: 18:00
Live Music: 18:30-21:00
Dance Party: 21:00-22:00
Opening Acts:
Rice Paddy Brothers
Yuki Angel
Advance Tickets: ¥3,500
Purchase HERE
Includes:
One drink
Porchlight digital download
Access
Live & Lounge Vio
2-chome-1-9 Sakae
Naka Ward, Nagoya
Tel: (052) 737-7739
Website
By Subway:
Nearest Subway Station:
Shinsakae-machi Station on the Higashiyama Line (yellow line)
Click HERE for a Nagoya Subway Map
Get Off at Shinsakae-machi Station on the Higashiyama Line (yellow)
Take Exit 1 and walk west along Hirokoji Street
Turn left at the first major intersection
Walk straight for about 3 minutes
Live & Lounge Vio, is located in the FLEX Building B2F
MAP
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#名古屋ライブハウス #名古屋音楽シーン #ライブアンドラウンジヴィオ #インディーズ音楽 #外国人アーティスト #岐阜音楽
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