Grass Arcade

Songs: 1Anime-Übersicht: 1
Description
Grass Arcade was a Japanese rock band active for a brief period from 1998 to 1999 under the Giza Studio label, with their management handled by Ading. The group originated in Osaka when high school classmates and founding members, vocalist Seri Kamimine and drummer Keishi Sanada, began performing together on the streets of the Shinsaibashi and Namba districts. Guitarist Kouji Ueno joined them in the summer of 1998, completing the initial lineup that would attract the attention of a Yomiuri Television executive, leading to a significant opportunity before their official debut.

The band is best known for their debut single, Brave, released on February 10, 1999. This song served as the fourth opening theme for the anime television series The File of Young Kindaichi, specifically for episodes 70 through 83. The single was notable for being released in two formats, the traditional 8cm CD and the then-newer 12cm maxi single, and it achieved a rank of number 36 on the Weekly Oricon charts, selling over 10,000 copies. The single included the B-side tracks So Long and Kimi no Iru Fuukei. For the title track Brave, the lyrics were written by Keishi Sanada, the music was composed by Seri Kamimine, and the arrangement was handled by Hirohito Furui.

Following their major debut, the band released their first and only mini album, titled!, on February 16, 1999, under the independent label Garage Indies Zapping Association. This release contained demo versions of their songs, including an early version of Brave, as well as cover songs by the bands Happy End and The Spiders. In June 1999, they released their second and final single, Butterfly, which was used as a theme song for the NNS television program Tokoroteki Dazoku Kousa. Shortly after this release, bassist Hiroyuki Wakita joined the group.

Plans were made for a full-length debut album titled Sing-a-horic, scheduled for release in July 1999. However, during the recording process, the band disbanded. Hiroyuki Wakita left the band in August 1999, and Grass Arcade subsequently broke up, leaving Sing-a-horic as an unreleased album. Wakita would later join the band New Cinema Tokage as their bassist in June 2000.

Despite their short career, Grass Arcade holds a place in the history of the Giza Studio label as one of its first artists, debuting on the same day as label-mates Sweet Velvet and New Cinema Tokage. Their musical identity was rooted in a rock and pop rock sound, with reviewers noting the powerful vocals and hard, layered guitar work that gave their music a seasoned quality. On the fifteenth anniversary of their debut in 2014, Seri Kamimine and Keishi Sanada performed a one-off live session under the Grass Arcade name as guest members of the band Robo&Peace, performing songs including Brave and Butterfly.
Songs
  • Brave
    : 1