Japan's Chatmonchy To Make US Live Debut

Playing raw, energy-infused melodic rock music, Eriko (guitar and vocals), Akiko (bass), and Kumiko (drums) have been making a buzz all across Japan since their 2005 major label debut. Now, with their latest Oricon chart-topping album "Kokuhaku" (Confession), they're ready to infect North American fans with their catchy take on girl-rock power.

On March 2, 2010 SIN/Sony Music Independent Network will release three of the band's full-lengths in a digital only format, including 2009's "Kokuhaku" (Confession), "Miminari" (Ear Ringing), and "Seimeiryoku" (Life Force).

Chatmonchy�whose name means absolutely nothing!�burst onto the scene without any label backing in 2004, quickly catching the ear of Sony Music Japan. The next year, Sony's Ki/oon Records released their debut EP, "chatmonchy has come," and the band set off on their first nation-wide tour of Japan in 2006.

Inspiring fans with their feistiness and fire, Chatmonchy released their first full-length album, "Miminari"(Ear Ringing), in July of the same year. The album garnered a Top 10 spot on the national Oricon chart, and the girls were invited to perform at Japan's most important summer festivals, including Summer Sonic, Rock In Japan Festival and the Nano-Mugen Festival.

After the success of their summer festival dates, Eriko, Akiko, and Kumiko did a national tour in the Fall of 2006, then headed back to the studio to finish "Seimeiryoku" (Life Force), the album they had started writing the year before. The album, released in late 2007, hit #2 on the Oricon charts, and Chatmonchy played sold-out shows all around Japan �including a two-night solo concert at the Budokan in the Spring of 2008 in front of more than 16,000 fans.

Following the first album, the rock-power girl trio released 4 singles that reached the Oricon Top 10, three that hit the Top 20, and 4 DVDs including music videos and passionate live performance footage. In addition, the single, "Dai Dai," was featured as the theme song on the anime series, "Bleach"�their first step toward connecting to a world-wide audience.

The 2010 SXSW Music Conference will be Chatmonchy's first North American live performance, and the beginning of the next important chapter for these accomplished musicians�these three girls from Japan who rock.