Koenji 20000v

First 2 bands were a bit tame, surprisingly for this place, but the last one finished on a high.

Actually, the first band was a guy playing 45-minutes of feedback.

A few random heads were nodding, but not everyone's cup of tea.

A quick break in between bands and it's a quick trip to the store to stock up on alcohol around the corner.
GEAR is also in the same building and people sometimes share their time between the two venues.
No loitering outside. They seem quite determined to not let you either drink or generally hang around the place during or after the shows.

Mission's Live Music Bar

Turn right out of North exit of Koenji station and follow the street past the police box and Tokyu supermarket. Keep walking for 1-2 minutes, passing Family Mart on the way, and here is Mission livehouse.
Wash Club is next door, which isn't a club, just a launderette...nice name though.

http://www.live-missions.com/

They happen to have a shit load of bottled liquor.
1 drink is 500 yen, but they do 3 drinks for 1000 yen later in the night.
They serve a generous helping of whiskey, which is nice.

高円寺20000V (Koenji 20000 volt)

Bands playing pretty much every night.
The photo at the top of this blog came from there.
Website in Japanese, map in English. Take the South exit, turn right from the station and head down PAL arcade.

http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~k_20000v/

Quick note that GEAR is located in the same building.