Yesterday afternoon I received an email from Senor Citizen asking me if I would like to go with he and some other of the Klown army to Empty Bottle for the Japan Night show. Since it had been awhile since I got to go anywhere, and he generously offered to cover my admission and a few serums, I graciously accepted the invitation. I had not heard of any of the bands prior to seeing them play but I heard it was a pretty good lineup and that the show like this they did last year was really good.
After meeting up with Lady of 2 and her friends at a bar nearby, we hung out for a drink while waiting for the Bottle to open. We met some old timer punk dude who used to work at O’Banions named Willy who told us all kinds of crazy tales. Sadly he did not have a copy of the DV8 7″ for me, but he did say he knew someone who was in the band.
Rodeo Carburettor
Rodeo Carburettor
Rodeo Carburettor
When we got to the Empty Bottle, the first band was just starting, so that was some pretty good timing on our parts. The Rodeo Carburettor were first. They were a three-piece punk outfit full of energy. I really liked them and had I the funds, I would have bought their CD for sure. A few songs in and I was already glad I decided to come along and check the show out, though that could have been the serums kicking in, I don’t know. Either way, they were pretty excellent.
PE’Z
PE’Z
PE’Z
PE’Z were second and they were like a free form jazz type of outfit. They had a dude with a cool stand-up bass, some horns, keyboards and drums. The first 15 or so minutes were pretty entertaining but after that it seemed to just drag on and felt like one too-long song. In small doses it would have been fine but I felt they just played a little too long.
Stance Punks
Stance Punks
Stance Punks
Stance Punks were next and Senor probably summed it up best when he said they sounded like US Bombs. From what I have heard of US Bombs, I’d say that is fairly accurate. They were pretty entertaining and I wouldn’t mind seeing them again either.
Elle Garden
Elle Garden
Elle Garden
Elle Garden followed and they were kind of like a Good Charlotte ripoff, which is in no way a good thing. There wasn’t a person among our group that found them remotely entertaining, and we all just conversed in the back of the bar while drinking some more. This band kind of took the wind out of my sails and there was still two more to go. Six bands on a bill is never a good idea, it is just too much.
The Emeralds
The Emeralds
The Emeralds
The Emeralds were next and I don’t recall that much about them. They were decent enough but I think that I was so soured on Elle Garden, and the fact I was starting to get tired that I sort of tuned them out while my mind started to wander. I do recall them playing up to the crowd a lot between songs.
TsuShiMaMiRe
TsuShiMaMiRe
TsuShiMaMiRe
Finally TsuShiMaMiRe took the stage and it seemed that many in the crowd were familiar with them. They were a three-piece, all female outfit and played some really kick ass hard-edged pop with some indie rock elements thrown in for good measure. If it wasn’t for the fatigue of sitting through five bands and being tired, I would have enjoyed them even more. I can say for certain that I would go see them again given the chance and that I wish I could have bought their CDs.
TsuShiMaMiRe
TsuShiMaMiRe
TsuShiMaMiRe
TsuShiMaMiRe
TsuShiMaMiRe
All in all it was a fun evening out and a neat way to see some new bands. Thanks again to Senor Citizen for not only the invite, but the required funding!
I’ll be the first to give my two cents on this highly entertaining evening; GOD DAMN IT! TsuShiMaMiRe ROCKS!!! Especially that bassist and drummer, HOLY CRAP! If you eer get a chance to see them live DO IT!
Overall, definitely a show worth seeing. It is too bad that Ellegarden had to suck so bad and, I agree, 6 bands is just too much.
I’d also like to say that Stance Punks, while sounding a bit like U.S. Bombs, put on a great show and we’re definitely a high point. Another pick to click!
Thanks for the review. The show is coming to LA next week, and I think I’ll check it out.
really awesome pictures. i’m totally in love with the dude in Rodeo Carburettor. good lord. but yeah, these are great. you take the best show pictures of anyone i’ve seen. good stuff 🙂
totally irrelevant here but i woke up this morning with only thing on my mind: what happened to mr. potato head?
Mr. Potatohead hasn’t sent me any photo lately. I hope he is doing alright. Maybe he’ll read this and start sending me the photographic documents of his travels again. I sure do miss them!
Hey MXV what’s up? There’s a show in Pilsen this weekend. 9bands for $5. Byob. Contact me for the info if interested. I’m guessing that the Willy you meet is “Mohawk” Willy. Haven’t seen that dude in few years. I almost drummed for his band Piehole, but they were flakey and never practiced.Cool guy though. See later bro
dats kool rock band i really like there muzik
Interesting… your mention of the old O’Banion’s guy… Willy is still around? I’ll be damned… Willy had the distinction of being photographically immortalized on the insert of the “Busted at OZ” album:
[img]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f366/MarieKanger-Born/Willy.jpg[/img]
Actually at the time, some of the OZ regulars were a bit POed by his inclusion because he was more of an O’Banion’s regular. It was a distinction in those days… Now of course, it no longer matters.. we’re just happy to hear of any living geezers– be they of the OB or OZ persuasion… ha ha. I’m on that insert too, almost invisible in the crowd though…
Ok… the photo didn’t come up… Here’s the url if you want to see the picture:
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f366/MarieKanger-Born/Willy.jpg
Dude,
I enjoy your blog and your take on shows and releases, but can you PLEASE stop crying about not having any money? If you spent half the amount of time of securing ANY type of job that you spend writing about it, I think you’d do fine. At least go on the dole or something. I can’t believe there isn’t a fast food place around you looking for work, or is that not good enough?! Don’t mean to be harsh, but it gets old after a while.
You got to see some great bands there. 6 on a bill is too much, but with bands like these, it is always better to book/travel/play en masse. Japan’s scene is pretty fun, although it gets to be rather cookie cutter.
The Emeralds are prtty spectacular. Check out their myspace page- you’ll want to see them again.