[geist]
Band
Baltimore, MD, USA
Biography:
"Visual kei and Japanese rock have swept America, and there is hardly better proof of its influence than [geist]: an American group devoted to the sound, look, and feel of visual style Japanese rock."
In 2007, [geist] acquired vocalist Kane, who moved back to Baltimore from Georgia to join the band. They played an impromptu "guerilla" show at Baltimore's Otakon, the largest Japanese culture convention on the East Coast, and the subsequent release of their debut single, "nevaeHell," triggered nearly 1,300 plays in just over a two-week period.
The following year, [geist]'s lineup gelled when Kazuya's longtime friend, Sai, joined on drums. [geist] performed alongside jpop darlings Mitsumassyu, played again at Otakon, and released their blistering yet lyrical second single, "The Brilliant Black." September saw the release of their first EP, Itsuwari. And in October, they opened for the acclaimed Zazen Boys in Baltimore. Soon after, [geist] expanded to include Kuni (ex-Ajipulse) on guitar.
[geist] then made their NY debut by playing at the CD release show of their good friends, Gelatine. They returned to New York twice, opened for Sony artist Kanon Wakeshima on Otakon's main stage, and went on a 5-date tour of the East Coast - all while working on their full-length debut, Grotesque. Grotesque, featuring 13 tracks of passionate, brutal music, was released in October 2009.
Convention Guest Appearances
- ShoryuCon 2011 - April 30 - May 1, 2011 in Princess Anne, MD, USA
- Omnicon 2010 - June 18-20, 2010 in Weslaco, TX, USA
- KotoriCon 2010 - January 16, 2010 in Sewell, NJ, USA
- Zenkaikon 2009 - November 7-8, 2009 in King of Prussia, PA, USA
- Tigercon 2009 - September 26, 2009 in Towson, MD, USA
- Tigercon 2008 - November 1, 2008 in Towson, MD, USA
- T-MODE 2008 - September 5-7, 2008 in Arlington, VA, USA