Discover All I Clacks: An Emerging Band from Japan (JGIG Interview)
TL;DR
- Kobe/Osaka live houses are where Japan’s new bands break through.
- All I Clacks (AIC) play POP PUNK, shaped by Sum 41 and New Found Glory.
- Start with a live house; they recommend Kobe Taiyo to Tora (plus nearby ramen at Daiichi Asahi).
- Keep it free, follow basic Japanese manners, and just show up.
Outline
Table of contents
- Intro
- Quick Interview: All I Clacks (AIC)
- Q1: What genre do you feel your music is closest to?
- Q2: How would you describe your music to people outside Japan?
- Q3: Which overseas artist has influenced you the most, and in what way?
- Q4: Where do you think someone should go first if they want to experience indie music in Japan?
- Q5: What live houses do you recommend? And are there any good nearby shops or spots?
- Q6: What should first-time visitors to Japanese live houses know?
- Q7: Do you have a message for people who are listening to Japanese indie music for the first time?
- Ready to Experience the Scene in Person?
Intro
Japan’s next wave of young bands isn’t happening in stadiums—it’s being built night after night in small, loud, intimate live houses across Tokyo and Osaka. If you’re visiting Japan and want to experience the scene up close, interviews are one of the fastest ways to discover what’s new, what’s real, and what’s worth catching live.
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Quick Interview: All I Clacks (AIC)
Q1: What genre do you feel your music is closest to?
A1: POP PUNK!!
Q2: How would you describe your music to people outside Japan?
A2: It’s music made by four people who are influenced by New Found Glory and Sum 41, and who also love Japan’s unique culture!
Q3: Which overseas artist has influenced you the most, and in what way?
A3: I’d say the core of the four of us in AIC is definitely Sum 41…! We’ve been influenced by things like their guitar riffs and the fast, driving feel of the two-beat parts in their songs.
Q4: Where do you think someone should go first if they want to experience indie music in Japan?
A4: A live house!!!!!! (a live music venue)
Q5: What live houses do you recommend? And are there any good nearby shops or spots?
A5: Kobe Taiyo to Tora! It’s seriously fun no matter when you go! It’s a live house that totally welcomes people from overseas too!! There’s a place nearby called Daiichi Asahi where you can eat an insanely huge bowl of Japanese ramen—you’ve gotta go!
Q6: What should first-time visitors to Japanese live houses know?
A6: Maybe nothing in particular! A live house is all about freedom. There aren’t really rules, but Japanese manners are probably important.
Q7: Do you have a message for people who are listening to Japanese indie music for the first time?
A7: A lot of it makes sense once you actually go, so for now just come hang out at a Japanese live house!! We’ll make sure you have an awesome time! Come on!!
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Ready to Experience the Scene in Person?
If All I Clacks’s story made you want to step into a live house, you’re already doing it the right way: discover the sound → pick a venue → show up prepared. Japan’s underground moves fast, and the best nights are often the ones you didn’t plan months in advance.
To keep exploring with JGIG, jump to the pages that match your trip plan:
* Live Houses (Tokyo & Osaka): find small venues by area and vibe, and build your own venue list * Gig Schedule: check what’s on while you’re in town and save shows you don’t want to miss * Culture & Etiquette: quick tips for first-timers (so you can focus on the music, not the rules) * Japanese Phrases for Gigs: simple lines to use at the door, at the bar, and after the set
And if you want more discoveries like this, browse our latest JGIG Interviews—we’re continuously spotlighting Japan’s most exciting young bands, one live house night at a time.
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