Tokyo's Coolest Sound

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!

The event also featured Yume to Cosme. I was especially excited to see them as it had been a while, and it was also the first time I saw them since they changed their name at the beginning of the year (they were previously known as solange et delphine). The band has two faces, sometimes performing as a DJ techno-pop unit in a house-y style, but this time they played with a full band in their original jazzy style with piano, violin, guitar, bass and drums.

They played the three songs from their latest release (single "zettai Love Motion"), some earlier ones, and a song they wrote for Akiba-kei maid idol unit mellow.

Set list: Yume to Cosme / deaigashira no ichibyōgo / taiyō no shoi ~ One More Love ~ / kono koi, kyūsekkin! (mellow) / mahō no Powderly / New York Walk on Fame / zettai Love Motion

Next up was yes, mama ok?. Kongōchi played guitar and sang, accompanied by bass, drums and chorus, and a guy who played occasional saxophone bits.

The set contained maybe some 20 songs, only a few that I knew, and despite some parts of the show sounding a bit like rehab wasn't quite over yet, I was really pleased to hear Kongōchi's great guitar playing (he's not only good at air guitar) and singing. Songs I recognized included "Coffee Cup de Rendez-vous" and "The Charm of English Muffin".

Larger sizes and more photos at Flickr

yes, mama ok? "Coffee Cup de Rendez-vous"

Yume to Cosme (then solange et delphine) "mahō no Powderly"