KAIJU CRESCENDO HEADS TO CHICAGO! Get Your Tickets Today!

For Godzilla fans in Chicago, the event to attend this July is Kaiju Crescendo. What's it all about? Here is what you need to know:

An incredible evening of symphonic music from Toho’s Godzilla Series and Special Effects films featuring composer MICHIRU OSHIMA conducting her works from GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRAS (2000), GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002), and GODZILLA TOKYO SOS (2003). Michiru Oshima is a multi-award winning composer of film, television, and video games. In addition to selections from those films, Ms. Oshima will also be premiering a brand new composition expressly for this occasion. All performed live by large orchestra! 

But the rare treats do not stop there. John DeSentis (conductor and musical director/producer of the IFUKUBE 100: A LEGACY OF MONSTER MUSIC and SYMPHONIC FURY: THE MUSIC OF JAPANESE MONSTERS concerts) will be presenting works by legendary composer AKIRA IFUKUBE. Along with selections from his scores to RODAN (1956) and THE MYSTERIANS (1957), his incredibly rare score from THE THREE TREASURES (aka Birth of Japan 1959) will be performed. A sonic treat for kaiju fans! 

Another legend of Japanese film music, MASARU SATO, best known as the longtime composer for Akira Kurosawa, will have selections from his scores to “SON OF GODZILLA (1967)” and GODZILLA VS MECHAGODZILLA (1974) performed.

In addition to the above, several special guests from Japan will be on hand especially for Kaiju Crescendo. I won't spoil the fun, so to find out who the VIPs are, just follow this link.

Michiru Oshima in June 2012. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Kaiju Crescendo goes down on Saturday, July 13, at 9:00 p.m. at the Center Theatre. Kaiju Crescendo is shaping up to be the best Godzilla-related concert in North American history. With a beefed up orchestra and improved organization, it's a surefire hit. 

Be there on July 13 for Kaiju Crescendo -- the North American kaiju event of the year!

SYMPHONIC FURY! The Music of Japanese Monsters!

The Symphonic Fury CD set has been released, and thanks to conductor John DeSentis, I have received a copy. Symphonic Fury was an enormously successful concert held in Chicago's Pickwick Theater in July 2015. The first part of the concert featured a live performance of Kow Otani's music from all three of the Heisei Gamera series films as well as GMK (2001). Kow Otani himself was in the audience for this performance. The second half of the concert focused on Akira Ifukube's works, specifically Kishi Mai (1943) and Symphonic Fantasias No. 1-3 (1983). The CD set also contains a booklet that features John DeSentis' full-length interview with Kow Otani.

Want some Symphonic Fury stuff? Here's how to get it!

Just like the Ifukube 100 concert in 2014, this is another amazing performance. John DeSentis once again worked tirelessly to hire, organize, and lead a full orchestra to perform some classic kaiju compositions. Erik Homenick of AkiraIfukube.org was instrumental (no pun intended) in providing information and material to the effort. These concerts are the first of their kind in the U.S., and it's easy to see why they have quickly become a fan favorite.

Symphonic Fury/Ifukube 100 CDs and swag are available, and if you're interested in supporting a fan-oriented group that offers professional services and a product worthy of support (trust me, there aren't many around), please consider purchasing some items. 

John DeSentis knocks it out of the park again. Full marks!

GODZILLA VS. GAMERA! How You Can Make the Long-Awaited Showdown Happen!

John DeSentis and friends (including the late Koichi Kawakita) at G-FEST last summer. Photo by Brett Homenick.

Composer/Godzilla fan John DeSentis plans to do it again, and in true kaiju eiga spirit, his plans are even bigger than before! John has launched a new Kickstarter campaign to bring Godzilla and Gamera music to the Pickwick Theater this July!

John DeSentis, Erik Homenick, and Chris Oglio celebrate after a successful concert in 2014.

Entitled "Symphonic Fury! The Music of Japanese Monsters," Akira Ifukube's classic Symphonic Fantasia will join the first-ever live concert of Ko Otani's Gamera trilogy score. If enough funds are raised, Otani-san himself plans to attend the concert live and in person!

Donate to the Kickstarter and help make music (and kaiju) history!

IFUKUBE AND GODZILLA: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION! How You Can Make It Happen

A Kickstarter campaign has been in the works for several weeks, and it's one of which all G-fans should take note. John DeSentis and Chris Oglio are pushing for a concert (with 50-piece orchestra) of Maestro Ifukube's music at G-FEST XXI this summer, July 11-13, in Chicago.

This concert can happen, but it needs your support. Follow this link for all the details about how to get involved, but as the organizers of this campaign like to stress, no donation is too small. This is truly a by-the-fans effort, and even if you have no plans to attend G-FEST, there are several perks being offered for your involvement.

When fans pull together, everyone wins. This is a perfect example of what can happen when like-minded folks pitch in for the benefit of others, not just themselves. Spread the word, offer a donation, get involved. That's what fandom should be about.