Hartfield at Shibuya Yaneura

Hartfield at Yaneura.

This must be the 4th time I’ve seen Hartfield live. Tonight’s venue is the Shibuya club Yaneura, which means ‘attic’, even though it’s in a basement.

I never tire of seeing Hartfield. Their music is distortion-heavy but also catchy and melodic. They are a musical descendent of so-called shoe-gazing bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Ride.

But unlike shoe-gazer bands, who apparently got that name because they had zero stage presence and stared at the floor as they played, Hartfield rocks. Guitarist Yukari is especially exuberant, hopping and spinning around as she strums her cream-colored Gibson Flying V guitar.

They will do their first-ever solo show, a big deal for Japanese rock bands, on October 14, and will be playing at the Shimokitazawa Shelter. I’ll be there – it should be a blast.


Another view of Hartfield.