Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Two weeks ago, on August 10, I had the chance to see what I believe was the first show by Club Aloe, a new band by 5 ex-members of Modern Choki Chokies, a collective that used to feature several dozens of members, one of my favorite bands of all time from the early/mid-90's.

The new band features Nullpyon (vocals), Isoda Osamu (guitar), Kajino Hideki (bass), Yoshigaki Yasuhiro (drums), and Inoue Kōichi on "electric taishō-goto". While describing themselves as "beauty and health punk band", they're actually a mix of many genres. Formerly in Modern Choki Chokies, I believe Nullpyon used to be a sort of dancer/entertainer, with some vocal parts.

All the band members were just way too good for the tiny venue, Mandala 2 in Kichijoji, making me feel very spoiled! Isoda Osamu's crazy guitar solos were awesome, and the bass and drums really tight. I was also amazed by the taishō-goto, a rare instrument I hadn't seen before, actually a 100-year old type of koto, here in an electric variation.

On Friday August 6, I went to mona records in Shimokitazawa for an event called "Rehabilitation", featuring a show by mid-90's indies band "yes, mama ok?". 5 years ago leader Kongōchi Takeshi suddenly started showing up on variety TV programs in Japan, acclaimed for representing Japan and getting a 4th place in an air guitar contest in Finland (watch on YouTube). This prompted for a brief comeback, and the release of boxed set "Incomplete Questions" (2008) reissuing of their now rare CDs. This time was their first show in 4 years, and hopefully the band might be caught on stage more regularly! This time the show sold out in a day, and needless to say mona records' small 3rd floor space was packed!

Recently I got to go to an interesting event held in a café called Slow Comedy Factory in Shimokitazawa. Limited to some 30 people, as many seats as there were, the event featured electro artists Fujimura Tohru and Yasuda Toshiyuki (MySpace) (ex-member of Fantastic Plastic Machine).

The music made its way to everyone's ears through headphones, brought by each, connected to serial-linked hubs dispersed around the room. I had heard of this sort of event before, such as the worldwide Le Placard festival, which was also held in Tokyo until 2008.