AN CAFE

An Cafe (or Antic Cafe) (アンティック－珈琲店－（カフェ）, Antique Cafe) is a Japanese dance/rock band formed in 2003 and signed to the independent label Loop Ash. They have been described as an oshare kei band, a subset of visual kei; however, they refer themselves to Visual Kei. As of their formation, the group has released four full-length albums and two EPs.

HISTORY
An Cafe was formed in May 2003 with Miku, Kanon and Bou who would later be joined by Teruki after leaving his former band, Feathers-Blue. The band played live shows for their first year, without any releases.
In 2004, After their PMC failed to gain a strong foothold, An Cafe released their first demos and signed a record deal with Loop Ash. Their first release, "Candyholic" was released in March and reached the second spot on the Oricon indies single chart. The band continued touring and releasing, including their first album, Shikisai Moment in 2005. The band released even more singles in 2006 until their second studio album, Magnya Carta (a play on "Magna Carta").
In 2007, the band announced their first overseas appearance at Project A-Kon. The announcement of this was followed shortly by the departure of guitarist, Bou. The last performance with Bou was on April 30, 2007, and was featured in a DVD titled Hibiya On ☆The☆ 0 New Sekai. After Bou left the band, two new members were announced: Takuya was to replace Bou as the guitarist and Yuuki was to join An Cafe as a keyboardist. The first single with their new lineup was announced as "Kakusei Heroism" followed by "Ryuusei Rocket". In the end of 2007, An Cafe announced their first overseas tour, taking place in Europe in 2008.
In the opening weeks of 2008, An Cafe announced their upcoming single, "Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" in February, as well as their next studio album, Gokutama Rock Cafe, which was released on April 9, 2008.
An Cafe's latest EP, Harajuku Dance Rock, was released on March 13, 2009.
They have also announced an upcoming 4th album, entitled ""BB Parallel World", which is set to be released in Japan on September 9, 2009, and in Europe on October 2, 2009. It will contain the title tracks of singles "Aroma", "Summer Dive" and "Natsu Koi ★ Natsu GAME", as well as eight other songs.
In 2010, it has been confirmed that An Cafe will be taking a break from activities. It is yet unknown as to how long they will be on hiatus for, but they have not stated they will be disbanding. The message, issued on their official homepage, claims that "after the Budokan show, each member will concentrate on their own activity to be prepared for the band to restart in the future." The aformentioned Nippon Budokan show takes place on January 4th, 2010.

MEMBERS
Miku (みく) – Vocals (2003-Present)
Takuya (たくや)– Guitar (2007-Present)
Kanon (カノン) – Bass (2003-Present)
Yuki (ゆうき) – Keyboard (2007-Present)
Teruki (輝喜) – Drums (2003-Present)

FORMER MEMBER
Bou (坊) - Guitar (2003–2007)

EQUIPMENT
Yuuki (keyboards) uses a Korg X50 and a Yamaha MO6 in a firm Ultimate AX48B rack. His speaker is a Roland Jazz-Chorus 120 and he has a Mackie 1202-VLZ PRO mixing panel as well. A lot of functions are used, for instance the excessive use of pitch bend in Respect Mommy on the Yamaha MO6 and the use of his arpeggiator (on the Yamaha MO6 as well) in Cherry Saku Yuuki!!.
Takuya (guitar) uses a White-brown Fender, a Paul Reed Smith, a G&L Telecaster, a Dean and some stompboxes, including the Boss Super Chorus and MXR/Phase 90.
Kanon (bass) uses two kinds of Fender Jazz Bass'es, a EBS/Multi Comp and a Basson speaker.
Teruki (drums) has the following setup: one Splash Cymbal (Paiste 10"), two Crash Cymbals (Paiste 16" and 18") Cymbals, one China Cymbal (Paiste 18"), one Ride Cymbal (Zild jan 20"), one Hi-Hat (Zild jan 14"), one Hi-Hat stand (Pearl), a Bass Drum (Pearl 22" x 16"), a Snare (Pearl 14" x 5,5"), one Mid Tom (Pearl 12" x 8"), one Floor Tom (Pearl 16" x 16"), two Pedals (Pearl) and Behringer amplification

ENDORSEMENTS

An Cafe has been a long time supporter and endorser of popular Japanese fashion label Sex Pot Revenge, and they are frequently seen wearing clothing from that label. They have appeared on the cover of Sex Pot Revenge free company magazine, V!nyl Syndicate.
In 2008, An Cafe vocalist Miku hosted Volume 2 of Visual Kei DVD Magazine alongside the magazine's mascot, Biju.
[edit] International recognition
An Cafe has gained great success in Japan. It has also gained moderate success in Europe, mainland Asia (Korea, China), Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the United States.
In 2008, the band visited Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, Spain, the US and Korea on their first overseas tour, 「Live Cafe-Tour '08 - Nyappy Go Around World」. They played a total of twelve concerts in the eight countries.
As of November 2008, An Cafe confirmed an overseas tour, 「LIVE CAFE TOUR'09 NYAPPY GO AROUND THE WORLD Ⅱ -Harajuku Dance Rock Night-」 which encompassed twelve countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and the USA. This tour took place over March and April, playing a total of 17 dates.[5]

ALBUMS
Shikisai Moment (色彩モーメント, November 9, 2005)
Magnya Carta (マグニャカルタ, November 29, 2006)
Gokutama Rock Cafe (極魂ROCK CAFE, April 9, 2008)
BB Parallel World (September 9, 2009)
EPs
Amedama Rock (飴玉ロック, February 23, 2005)
Ko Akuma Usagi no Koibumi to Machine Gun EP (小悪魔USAGIの恋文とマシンガンe.p., October 29, 2008)
Harajuku Dance Rock (March 13, 2009)
SHINGLES

"Candyholic" (キャンデーホリック, March 24, 2004)
"√69" (June 6, 2004)
"Komou Cosmos" (孤妄, November 24, 2004)
"Karakuri Hitei" (カラクリ否定, March 30, 2005)
"Tekesuta Kousen" (テケスタ光線, July 20, 2005)
"Escapism" (エスカピズム, August 24, 2005)
"Merrymaking" (メリメイキング, September 21, 2005)
"10’s Collection March" (10's コレクション マァチ, March 1, 2006)
"Bonds ~Kizuna~" (BondS ～絆～, May 17, 2006)
"Smile Ichiban Ii Onna" (スマイル一番 イイ♀, September 20, 2006)
"Snow Scene" (スノーシ一ン, October 18, 2006)
"Kakusei Heroism ~The Hero Without a "Name"~" (覚醒ヒロイズム～THE HERO WITHOUT A "NAME"～, August 22, 2007)
"Ryuusei Rocket" (流星ロケット, November 7, 2007)
"Cherry Saku Yuuki!!" (Cherry咲く勇気!!, February 27, 2008)
"Summer Dive" (August 30, 2008, live distribution only)
"Aroma" (March 11, 2009)
"Natsu Koi ★ Natsu GAME" (夏恋★夏GAME, August 12, 2009)
DVDs
"Like an cafe" (ライカ・カフェ, October 10, 2004)
"20051203 Shikisai A On" (20051203色彩亜音, December 3, 2005)
"Yagai de nyappy" (野外でニャッピー, December 17, 2006)
"Hibiya on ★the★ o New World" (HIBIYA ON★ザ★御NEW世界, July 2, 2007)
"Nyappy Go Around Fever" (April 25, 2008)
"AnCafesta '08 Summer Dive" (December 24, 2008)
"Live Cafe - Tour '08 Nyappy Go Around the World" (March 11, 2009)