4/5
Punk Power
Austin, Texas, USA. Renowned as the Live Music Capital of the World. That's where TsuShiMaMiRe, the Japanese all-female rock trio, made their name Stateside at the South By Southwest music festival. Punctuating this with performances with the Suicide Girls and at anime events for these Japan girl's nights. The only other city in America, apart from the jazzy likes of New Orleans and New York's hip-hop, that has quite an effect on the world's soundstage is Music City itself, Nashville, Tennessee. Such an iconic landmark of country and western music, that even Detroit's own Rock and Roll Hall of Fame White Stripe, Jack White, had his first Third Man record store there.
Last March, TsuShiMaMiRe (abbreviated as TSMMR) supported White during the Tokyo set at Toyosu Pit of his brief but brilliant tour of Japan that also saw him make a surprise stop at the Shibuya store Hysteric Glamour, that just looks like an album cover. This gig, albeit getting in late because of the number roll call (I can only count to ten in Japanese...I'm just kidding...five), was my first introduction to Tokyo's perfect punk trio. Their bassist bending backwards with ease, pulling better faces than Haime's Este, whereas I pull my back out these days, even reaching into the fridge.
Originally hailing from Chiba Prefecture, these jets, not to be confused with the Tsushima island in Japan, are art punk all the way down to their nuanced name. A neologism of their bassist, Yayoi Tsushima's family name combined with "Ma" (for vocalist and guitarist Mari Kono, with a style and pixie cut Yayoi Kusama would be proud of) "Mi" (for original drummer Mizue Masuda) and "mamire", which means "mixed up". Well, now TSMMR can add Hokkaido's own Asami Suzuki to their iconic name. Their new drummer, who won her sticks and is absolutely amazing on the skins.
Influenced by the likes of Rage Against The Machine, this band have even had songs on Fortnite ('Break The Curse'). Now, sandwiched between last year's American tour, and this year's Ice Cream Punk Tour of Australia (starting at Shotkickers in Melbourne, February 19), they have just performed at Tokyo's Top Beat Club to start the working week. And this was one Monday you would have liked in one of the town's best hidden gems of a venue, serving drinks, music and damn good coffee. Their plectrum drink token (a 1,700 yen cover) being the perfect memento for those like me who don't drink (I still have my gold coin from Toyosu Pit), as all the acts stum the night away.
Getting there a little late for this battalion of bands, I caught the tail end of my own country's amazing Mika Bomb and their bold and brilliant, boundless energy. The same that carried over for the terrific TsuShiMaMiRe, who showed us their soy sauce and a jukebox of instant sing-a-long hits like 'Shot You', 'Look Back In Anger' and 'Absolutely OK'. Kono being a kinetic stage presence, having audience members hold the mic as she sang into it and kept her energy effervescent, just like Yayoi's eyes and Asami's hands. Recently, from Aimyon to Sakanaction, we’ve mentioned music in Japan, just like the latter's bassist Ami Kusakari linking up with fellow electronic artist Kyoka for MUTEK JP 10. It's their turn. It needs to be noticed and have its day outside of the Land of the Rising Sun, too. Anime is all over the world with its themes, and the neighbouring South Korea's K-Pop proved we don't have to be lost in translation. TsuShiMaMiRe are further proof that Japanese music rocks! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
