Whenever Japan Nite rolls into town, it feels like another Christmas; and this time I got some great presents! Held every year at T.T. the Bear's (this year on March 23), this year's Japan Nite (presented by BENTEN Label and SXSW Asia) had a wide variety of bands. FLiP, Omodaka, Sparta Locals, SA, detroit7 and the Emeralds.
Opening up the show with a great set was FLiP, who performed all the songs from their debut mini-album "Hahakara Umareta Hinekure no Uta," as well as a lively cover of the Cranberries song "Salvation." Watching lead singer/guitarist Sachiko onstage was like witnessing a female version of a young Kurt Cobain. I'm expecting a lot of good things in the future for this band.
母から生まれた捻くれの唄
Next up was the oddest one of the bunch: Omodaka. Wearing a Shinto priestess's gown and a white mask, Omodaka (whose real name is Soichi Terada) performed his entire set using a Game Boy Color, a Nintendo DS, a PSP, a synthesizer and a TV screen showing random images. Despite his weird appearance, the beats he would conjure up were worthy enough for a much bigger setting than the small Cambridge club. Let's hope he gets a gig opening for Daft Punk soon.
The band everyone was waiting for, Sparta Lo--
Okay, that was weird. Anyways, Sparta Locals came on next. I've heard many things about this band for the past few years, but it was only a week before when I first had a chance to listen to them. That being said, their live set was spectacular and energetic. Great energy, fun songs, and definitely worth the press and fanbase that they have accumulated these past 11 years.
Charging into battle next was SA (Samurai Attack), whose style was like a blend of Dropkick Murphys and the Clash. The leader singer was like a Japanese Al Barr, and about half the floor became a mosh pit. The crowd was chanting their name like crazy and singing along; even though most people couldn't understand what they were saying. They earned the ESH/B3 award for "Most Charismatic Live Act" that night.
detroit7 was a band I've been waiting all year to see live. They were at the event last year, but I missed them because they went on while I was interviewing Ketchup mania. (I also interviewed this band last year, and will one day post their interview on either ESH or B3 in the near-future.) Tomomi was awesome on guitars and vocals; Miyoko was a powerhouse on the drums; and Nobuaki was a monster on the bass. I’ve been in love with this band since I first got into Japanese music; and seeing them live was simply a sight I will never forget.
Finally, the Godfathers of Japan Nite closed the show: The Emeralds. Though half of the crowd left after Detroit7, they still rocked on and off-stage. I got onstage at the end and danced my ass off with the band. I'm really hoping that more people get a chance to see this band, as they're truly one of the best acts to see live and in person.
This was truly a memorable night, and one of the best Japan Nite shows in recent memory; perhaps since the year Stance Punks and Ellegarden rocked it in 2006. Much of the credit for this event goes to Benten Label founder Audrey Kimura. Every year she manages to find great acts that everyone seems to love. Each year the tour gets bigger and bigger, and I'm hoping that one day soon this small club tour can evolve into an arena tour. (I'm crossing my fingers that next year we'll see bands like monobright and chatmonchy on the roster.)
This is King Baby Duck: "Ain't born to lose, baby, I'm born to win. I'm so Goddamn slick, baby, it's a sin!"
Labels: Benten, Concert, detroit7, Emeralds, Flip, J-POP, J-PUNK, J-ROCK, Japan Nite, King Baby Duck, Live, Omodaka, SA, Sparta Locals, SXSW, Techno
