NiEW’s Free “exPoP!!!!!” in September: Aldo Van Eyck, Niko, Pavilion, Cwondo, Kogare

NiEW’s free-entry music event exPoP!!!!! Vol.166 is set for September 27 (Friday) at Spotify O-nest in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Presented with support from PCI MUSIC’s streaming service “bazoo,” the event will showcase Aldo Van Eyck, Niko, Pavilion, Cwondo, and Kogare.

Aldo Van Eyck, a Fukuoka-based band formed in 2021, merges garage, post-punk, jazz, blues, and no-wave to craft a distinctive sound. Their debut album Nada (2022) and their second album dead shot dan (2023), which earned the CD Shop Awards 2024 Kyushu Block Award, have gained notable acclaim. Known for their dynamic and experimental performances, Aldo Van Eyck delivers a compelling live experience marked by unpredictable and groovy elements.

Niko is a band formed in 2023 by guitarist/vocalist Oosuka and bassist/chorist Manami Oogaki, who brought together their individual experiences. In June 2024, they released their debut album public melodies, featuring Cwondo, in both self-distributed and CD formats. They have performed at the ROOKIE A GO-GO stage at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL and at Nanoboro. They are also expanding their activities by organizing their own live events.

Pavilion, selected by PCI MUSIC, is a three-piece rock band formed in 2019 at a music circle in a university in Kanagawa Prefecture. Now based in Tokyo, they blend the enduring DNA of indie rock from both Japan and abroad, aiming to make their mark on the mainstream in the 2020s. They have released two EPs and one album to date, with their third EP, CUES, scheduled for release on September 25, 2024. The lead single “Kind of White” from this upcoming EP is already available for streaming, with a music video also released.

Cwondo is a solo project by Taisei Kondo, who is also the guitarist and vocalist for No Buses. In addition to his solo work, Cwondo has been active in producing for BIM and KMNZ, remixing tracks for Maika Loubté, yonige, and Hitsujibungaku, and collaborating with artists such as LISACHRIS, PAS TASTA, SATOH, uku kasai, bo en, and Niko. He has released four albums between 2021 and 2023 and is set to release a compilation of unreleased tracks, Cwondo Memo 2020-2024, in 2024. Currently, he is working on his fifth album and is producing new music at a rapid pace.

Kogare is a rock band that started its activities in Tokyo in 2024. The trio features a simple setup of guitar, bass, and drums, creating a powerful rock sound complemented by delicate, warm melodies. Their emotionally rich musical style is their main appeal. In 2024, Kogare released their first single Ibara / Urei no Tsuki in March, their second single Asa / Nozomi in May, and Ai no Kage in August. The music video for Ai no Kage was directed and filmed by khaki and Takumi Hashimoto.

Tickets for exPoP!!!!! Vol.166 are available for reservation on the official website (two-drink minimum required). The event will also be live-streamed on YouTube.