| Buying Christmas presents can often be a gut-wrenching, nerve-wracking experience. Trying to find gifts that those close to you will cherish forever is tough. When you throw in things like searching for the right size, shape, and colour it can often be damn near impossible. To avoid all of these nuisances Shonen Knife decided to give the perfect present this year - live music. It's fun, it's memorable, and you never have to worry about returning or exchanging anything. With this in mind, Osaka's finest invited Electric Eel Shock, Polysics, and as many friends as they could ram into Unit as possible to take part in Shonen Knife's Space Xmas 04. |
 Having gained a good understanding of the English language from the insane amount of overseas touring they've done (the band have played in over 20 countries since releasing their debut album, Maybe... I think We Can Beat Nirvana, in 1997), Morimoto chose to address the audience primarily in English. Hands down the best line of the night came when the guitarist repeatedly growled at the audience "We are Electric Eel Shock. Who are you?" After asking several times he finally provided his own answer, "I know who you are, you are awesome." |
Electric Eel Shock used their 45 minute set to profess their love for all things metal. Along with frontman Aki Morimoto's countless adoring rants the Japanese trio also managed to play a few well received songs as well. Morimoto and bassist Kazuto Maekawa bombarded the crowd with power chords and arena poses as they combined hard rock and punk with a bit of old school metal and a whole lot of fun.
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If Morimoto was to ask the Polysics the same question, the answer above would have definitely applied to them. Coming out in matching orange coveralls and over-sized black sunglasses, the quartet instantly began to churn out their fantastic Devo-influenced new-wave sounds. Speaking through her vocorder, Kayo turned to the crowd and with a robotic voice wished everyone a Merry Christmas while her bandmates thrashed around on stage. Definitely one of the focal points of the show, she kept a very serious, deadpan persona while playing her keyboard and synthesizers. Grabbing a pair of gold pom-poms from under her instruments, she jumped up and shook them in a very calculated manner, keeping time with certain beats in the band's second song. With a large pool of strong material to draw from, the group's antics and awesome electronic-infused punk numbers were met with cheers and applause from the dancing audience. Lead by Yano's frantic drumming, guitarist Hayashi waved his guitar over the heads of the bouncing bodies up front as he sang the group's anthems. Aside from pausing briefly for Hayashi to deliver his own a-cappella versions of several Christmas carols, the Polysics kept the near-capacity venue moving with a rapid-fire delivery of musical gems. Near the end of their show, Hayashi put down his guitar and picked up a giant, plastic yellow hammer that had a small electronic device strapped to it. Shaking it violently, the toy omitted a loud buzzing noise that blended in nicely with the quirky music being created by the rest of the band. Running around on stage, he bopped as many fans as he could reach on the head with each hit adding to the overall sound filling the room. -->part2
report by shawn and photo by yegg the photos were taken in Osaka on the 17th of December at Juso Fandango. |
 mag files : Electric Eel Shock And to all A Good Night : review by shawn, photo by yegg (04/12/19 @ Daikanyama Unit)photo report : photo by yegg (04/12/17 @ Osaka Jyusan Fandango)本気なロックンロール＋アホと笑い : report and photo by dak (03/05/19 @ white chapel arts cafe, London)Shonen KnifeAnd to all A Good Night : review by shawn, photo by yegg (04/12/19 @ Daikanyama Unit)photo report : photo by yegg (04/12/17 @ Osaka Jyusan Fandango)photo report : photo by izumikuma (04/07/11 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)illustration : illustration by chika (04/07/09 @ Nagoya Club Quattro)唯一無二 : report by kami, photo by yegg (04/02/22 @ Juso Fandango)ロッケンロール裏番長！！ : report by kami, photo by yegg (04/02/22 @ Juso Fandango)photo report : photo by yegg (04/02/22 @ Juso Fandango)Getting Knifed in Tokyo : review by shawn, photo by ryota (03/07/12 @ Shibya Quattro)photo report : photo by ryota (03/07/12 @ Shibya Quattro)photo report : photo by q_ta (03/07/06 @ Sapporo Bessie Hall)楽器を弾く女と単車に乗る女はかっこいい : review by aya, photo by mari (01/12/11 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)photo report : photo by mari (01/12/11 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)photo report : photo by ikesan (01/07/12 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) |
shawn's works-->2005 2004CD review : "Christmas" : Old Man Gloom (28th Dec)Music Soothes the Savage Beast
: eastern youth (20th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)And to all A Good Night : Shonen Knife (19th Dec @ Daikanyama Unit)Exciting Music for Exciting People : illreme (6th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)It's In Their Hands Now : Franz Ferdinand (29th Nov @ Shibuya AX)Lights, Camera, Action : Brahman (15th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Mostly Business : The Stills (8th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Scare The Rock Right Outta Ya : Halloween Ball 2004 feat . The 5,6,7,8's, Gasoline, The Woggles (30th Oct @ Shiomkitazawa Shelter)Three More, Two More, and Take it to the Left : Hawaiian6/ Idol Punch (11th Oct @ Shinjuku Loft)Busting Eardrums : Mogwai (5th Oct @ Ebisu Liquidroom AX )Medical Breakthrough : The Most Notorious Vol. 18 feat. Melt Banana and K.K. Null (25th Sept @ Shimokitazawa Shelter )Grey Skies Are Going To Clear Up... : HUSKING BEE (5th Sept @ Shibuya AX )no title : V∞REDOMS (8th Aug @ Ebisu Liquidroom )CD review : Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes : Andre Ethier2003Cause Music Must Be Magic : Mayor McCa (21st Dec @ The Casbah,Hamilton, Ontario )Make It a Double : EVANESCENCE (28th Jul @ Shinjuku AX)Getting Knifed in Tokyo : Shonen Knife / bloodthirsty butchers(12th Jul @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Hail Hail! Some of Japan's best come together to pay tribute to San Diego's finest : TRIBUTE TO ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT feat. John Speedo with Jet Boys, Retro Gretion, and KEMURI, (21st June '03 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Canucks are Coming! The Canucks are Coming! : Simple Plan & GOB (26th Apr @ Akasaka Blitz)no title : Banda Bassotti with Doberman, Oi Skall Mates & Rude Bones (12th May @ Kawasaki Club Citta)The Enchanting Sounds of Summer : KEMURI (31st May @ Shinjuku ACB Hall)Absolutely F**king Brilliant!! : The Coral (21st Apr @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Short Circuit w/ Asparagus (24th Mar @ Shibuya AX) |