Fantasy's Core

SXSW's Japanese showcase are always filled with one wildcard act after the next, and Fantasy's Core is no exception. The Nagasaki City band plays campy, corny blues rock that plays like an odd hybrid of Delta 72 and The Commitments .

- Austin American-Statesman

Nagasaki's "Fantasy's Core" also had a penchant for R&B-scented punk rock, but the quintet's allure was heightened by the application of slapstick antics straight outta Airplane! To start with, the singer was a bald guy wearing sunglasses with a thin white streak running neatly down the center of his face. His excellent dance moves seemed to be a fusion of kabuki and New Wave. When he wasn't feigning hara-kiri with a toy light saber, he pretended to play guitar using a racquetball racquet. "Fantasy's Core" switched tempos frequently from "John Lee Hooker"-style blues to Sixties soul to metal rap (!) as the singer smiled and wooed the crowd with a stage persona somewhere in between "Screamin' Jay Hawkins" and "Robin Williams" on a talk show. At set's end, he fell to the floor like Jack Palance at the Oscars and did several one-armed push-ups as the crowd cheered. All in all, a two-for-one Rising Sun Spectacle of E-Ticket caliber.

- THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE

Is this quintet Japan’s answer to England’s Sex Pistols or America’s Ramones? Only time and you will tell. Singing in Japanese, they delved into an intro that sounded like Iron Maiden playing covers of Slowdive. But then again, you thought The Boredoms were hard and wild. Actually, if your domestic partner appreciates you , (s)he’d take you to see those wizards next time they’re in town. Fantasy’s Core stopped in Houston on their way to South by Southwest. They bring on their own type of punk that is turned inside out with poppy elements. The guitar solo’s were double-fold at times going slow to fast maintaining vast harmony delivered by this quintet of quasi-freaks. At others, they sounded like The White Stripes meet The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. Japanese vocal psychosis closed ‘Stone Age Bug’ and then another rumbled through. All this I witness while I couldn’t believe it was happening. I asked Mau after the show about singing in Japanese and their translator comes back with the very convincing answer, "growing up, I saw The Rolling Stones and many other bands, and they sang in English. We didn't understand what they sang but we loved them much the same. So, I think singing in Japanese shouldn't matter." The emperor has spoken the truth.-ea01/march 2003

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- REWIREVIEWS

Where from : Nagasaki, Japan
Series of word meant to convey their sound : Punk, R&B, R&R, metal, and more...Fun Fact : Well-traveled in Austin, with gigs at both the 2001 and 2002 SXSW, Fantasy's Core is this close to having to apply for Texas driver's licenses. Bottom Line : Among the most theatric shows around, it includes blues stylings suddenly upshifted to punk, antics ranging on slapstic, and one-armed pushups. Sounds like rock'n' roll to us. - Austin 360

Fantasy's Core (http://www.fantasyscore.jp) is a cult rock band from Nagasaki.
I wanted to see at least one of the Japanese bands in the showcase because I knew it would be what it had been heavier pop rock tunes thrown out by superstar looking band members draped in. Is that Gucci? The lead-singer, who had painted a white streak from forehead to chin, danced around like the pied piper ?opposite knees and index fingers shooting alternately up towards the sky. They sang tribute, in their best English, to The Dead Kennedy?s, They Might Be Giants and even SXSW. If there?s ever a showcase of Japanese rockers nearby, definitely attend. I?d prefer to hear them playing an aoba-no-fue or something made of bamboo though but I?m wrong for that.

- achael K LeValley

It was great to see you guys at Room 710 during the SXSW. I wasn't able to see your show at the Elysium, as I was out of town on a gig in Galveston, Texas. You guys took the stage and kicked b*tt!! I have been playing your CD for all friends and they ask why I didn't call them up so they could see your show. Maybe next year. Hope to stay in touch. Peace and keep rockin'!!


- Scott L. French...Administrative Associate Urban Issues Program The University of Texas.

Fantasy's Core (Nagasaki City, Japan) - SXSW has a great selection of Japanese bands ever year, and this was to be no exception. First up, a four piece with a lead singer that can only be described as Peter Gabriel in the "Shock the Monkey" video. He had more energy that all the bands that I had seen up to this point put together. His props included tennis rackets, tambourines, colored balls, and a lightsabor. His band members could best be described as John Taylor on bass, Elvis on Guitar, and Lars Ulrich (Metallica) on Drums.
- nubrecords (Austin,TX)

Hi, I saw your band at this years SXSW and was impressed with what I saw. Very Cool! I wanted to let you know that we, LethalSports.com, are looking for bands to spotlight on our online publication.We are looking for bands interested in showcasing their talent to our audience. Please come into contact with us. Cheers! - Lethal Sports.com/F. Larkins

Fantasy's Core: Nagasaki's Fantasy's Core are a zany troupe that flip-flops between punk, blues, metal, and soul. The quintet's 2001 SXSW set blew several minds with the antics of Mao Karisu, a rocabidly charismatic vocalist who feigned hara-kiri with a toy light saber, did Jack Palance-style one-armed push-ups, and sang an ode to Pachinko. (Elysium, 8pm) --
- THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE

The Peak Show... Holland Greco
Hello!
Just wanted to drop a note to let you know that I LOVED Fantasy's Core's live performance!!! Please come to Los Angeles, California VERY SOON!!
- Holland Greco