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Top: An Cafe, Bottom: Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-
Two Japanese groups that have been finding success and popularity outside of Japan is the "dance rock kei" band, An Cafe and one of the most impressive visual kei bands since Lareine and Malice Mizer, Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet-.
In an attempt to help promote these bands' unique sounds and styles, Maru Music, based out of Los Angeles, California, has teamed up with select Hot Topic stores throughout the United States to sell official t-shirts in time for the holiday season. Maru Music has also aided in the promotion of Japanese superstar, Miyavi, Moi Dix Mois, Alice Nine, and fairly new band on the visual scene, SuG. The An Cafe t-shirt features their bunny mascot wearing pink sunglasses with the phrase "Harajuku Dance Rock" underneath. The Versailles t-shirt features a butterfly figure designed with red vines and roses with the band's name above in gold. Both shirts are available, most unfortunately, only in men's cuts, ranging in price from $20.00 to $22.00. These official pieces of merchandise are expected to go fast.
As stated in August, An Cafe has planned to go on hiatus after January 4, 2010, which will be their last live concert at Nippon Budokan. Dates concerning the band's revival are unknown, as the members have decided to concentrate on their own activity in order for An Cafe to reach the next level in the future. Their latest album, released on 9/09/09, is entitled BB Parallel World.
Due to the recent passing of Versailles' bass player, Jasmine You, the band had cancelled a performance and since August, had only performed at the V-Rock Festival '09 with a support bass player. Now, the first media publication since the tragedy will be featured in Japanese music magazine, SHOXX. The January edition will have an interview with vocalist, Kamijo, about the loss of Jasmine You. The band has finally finished their next album, Jubilee, which will become available on January 20, 2010. Despite the tough choices needed to be made about Versailles' future, the members have ultimately decided to continue on. Their 2010 world tour, 'Method of Inheritance' has released the dates of performances to be held in Japan with the promise of more locations in the future.
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