| "Where else would you rather be than here now?" Inspiring words for a world not always full of such from the lips of famed ex-NFL head coach Marv Levy of the 4-time consecutive Superbowl losing Buffalo Bills in his legendary tell-all book about his overcoming relentless potentially crushing disappointments. Unlike that cruel lasting reality facing Levy, this night within the spacious, high-ceilinged Stellar Ball is one replete with an expected free-flowing positive interdependence that if anything, surpasses any and all expectations in ensuring that this is the place to be in Tokyo this night, this moment unquestionably. |
 Producing almost Zen-like resonant sonic recipes of a spaghetti tomato based sauce, each increasingly tasty helping adds to a building communal enrichment. A sumptuous spread sprawling deeper and wider as an emotionally emaciated Tokyo populace waits inside that in itself is an unlikely mixture of young and old, hippie and preppie, punk and suited, surfer and poser. In short, it's a crowd you'd easily find at any popular beach in good weather. But will the good weather hold? |
Considering the savory stew to be melded between the ingredients onstage and off masterfully by two complimenting admiring chefs, the anticipating peace and joy duly evident across the faces of those inside come as no surprise. With respectively long histories in related veins anchored to the soul shared within and without, a superfluous stress-free ambience naturally proceeds to harvest upon the commencement of the collective, long honed skills of G. Love and Special Sauce into the closing lone servings of Jack Johnson.
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Well, with over 12 years of performing and 7 studio albums behind them, Philadelphia's G. Love (A.K.A. Garret Patton) on vocals, guitar and harmonica effortlessly leads his omnipresent Special Sauce (Jimi "Jazz" Prescott on upright bass and Jeffrey "Houseman" Clemens on drums and percussion) in coating our collective bellies with an assortment of their trademark hip-hop, funk, blues and soul-fused dishes that duly accords them a loyal following worldwide, accruing at-capacity sittings, standings, what not and a steadily growing one here in Japan as this restaurant of sorts continues to fill to capacity as they dispense a cavalcade of platters to please the most demanding palates, mine included and doing so since their 1997 tour back at the House Of Blues in Hollywood. And yes, just like any gracious host who also doubles as head chef, G. Love beautifully orchestrates his trusted assembled Sauce in dispensing a generous, yet balanced 10-course sampler over their 7 restaurant's fare to get this 3-hour shared feast off to a robust and salivating start. With so many entrees to possibly serve up from each menu, it's a dizzying decision to make yet he and his Sauce wisely trust their people instincts amongst an unusually divergent group and dole out a smorgasbord that's both satisfies, yet makes them yearn for more. Yes, this is exactly where you want to be. |
 G. Love, Jimi and Houseman deep dish it out amongst on an octave adjusted and the shuffling pride of "Baby's Got Sauce" as G. Love's microphone morphs into a slide that smoothly transitions into their anchoring bass feeler staple plate of "Cold Beverage." "Bootycall" rouses hands in the air to clap around the house into their final sunny driver "Love" that duly gets all inside reflecting on the good vibes budding inside, grooving side to side to the licks laid out amidst G. Love's meandering soothing delivery. -->part2
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No matter which menu each dish is served up from, the undeniable and immediate enjoyment of its dispersal onto the floor for all to enjoy is complete. Whether the walking emboldening found within the title track of 'The Hustle' (2004) complete with Jimi using a bow on his upright, the harmonica led "Back Of The Bus" or the finely-aged laid back schoolyard fun of "Shooting Hoops," this triumvirate relish their interplay of skills as any finely run kitchen where their smiles of satisfaction reign supreme and filter outside to all onto the floor.
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report by michael and photos by yusuke -->part2 |
 mag files : Jack Johnson 自分の席で観やがれ (05/06/02 @ Tokyo Kokusai Forum) : review by joe, photos by ikesanStapling it Together (05/06/02 @ Tokyo Kokusai Forum) : review by sean, photos by ikesanphoto report (05/06/02 @ Tokyo International Forum) : photos by ikesanphoto report (05/06/01 @ Yokohama Blitz) : photos by naoakiBringing It All Back Home (05/05/29 @ Osaka Zepp) : review by jab, photos by yeggphoto report (05/05/29 @ Osaka Zepp) : photos by yeggプライベートビーチへ行ってきました (05/05/25 @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball) : review by taiki, photos by yusukeShared Sauce...Jack 'N' G. Love's 7-Date Shared Kitchen Opens Briskly (05/05/25 @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball) : review by michael, photos by yusukephoto report (05/05/25 @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball) : photos by yusukephoto report (04/08/06 @ Shibuya AX) : photos by keco波の音が聞こえない (04/08/04 @ Namba Hatch) : review by ken, photos by ikesanphoto report (04/09/30 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : photos by ikesanphoto report (04/09/29 @ Shinjyuku Liquid Romm) : photos by maikokko夏はまだこれから... (04/09/29 @ Shinjyuku Liquid Romm) : review by chihiro, photos by maikokko |
| mag files : G.Love & Special Sauce自分の席で観やがれ (05/06/02 @ Tokyo Kokusai Forum) : review by joe, photos by ikesanStapling it Together (05/06/02 @ Tokyo Kokusai Forum) : review by sean, photos by ikesanphoto report (05/06/02 @ Tokyo International Forum) : photos by ikesanphoto report (05/06/01 @ Yokohama Blitz) : photos by NaoakiBringing It All Back Home (05/05/29 @ Osaka Zepp) : review by jab, photos by yeggphoto report (05/05/29 @ Osaka Zepp) : photos by yeggプライベートビーチへ行ってきました (05/05/25 @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball) : review by taiki, photos by yusukeShared Sauce...Jack 'N' G. Love's 7-Date Shared Kitchen Opens Briskly (05/05/25 @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball) : review by michael, photos by yusukephoto report (05/05/25 @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball) : photos by yusukephoto report : (04/11/18 @ Ebisu Liquid Room) : photos by kecophoto report : (04/11/17 @ Shibuya O-EAST : photos by mari心にも栄養を : (04/11/10 @ OSAKA BIG CAT) : review by yohsuke, photos by ikesanphoto report : (04/11/10 @ OSAKA BIG CAT) : photos by ikesanno title : (01/06/10 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : report by yohsukeno title : (01/06/10 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : report by Hiroko Yoshidaphoto report : (01/06/10 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : photos by ikesanゴージャスなステージ。 : (01/06/07 @ Akasaka Blitz) : report by nob |
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The official site
G.Love & Special Sauce http://www.philadelphonic.com/main.asp The latest album  "The Hustle" ( US import / 国内盤 / UK import ) |
previous works previous works : "Best Of" (US import / 国内盤) "Electric Mile" (US import / 国内盤) "Philadelphonic" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "Yeah, It'S That Easy" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "Coast To Coast Motel" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "G. Love And Special Sauce" (US import / 国内盤 / UK import) "The September Sessions" (US import / 国内盤) "SUNDAY"( 国内盤 - compilation) "トロピカライズ"( 国内盤 - compilation) check the albums? |
 2005A Final Episode More Than Satisfying... Boom Boom Satellites' Latest Reality Of Elevating Pleasures : Boom Boom Satellites (19th May. '05 @ Shibuya AX)A Global-A-Go-Go Tune-Up In Effervescence For A Slightly Slimmed Down 26-Piece Shibusa Shirazu : Shibusa Shirazu (13th Apr. '05 @ Kichijoji Star Pine's Cafe)An Ongoing 8 Year-Old Reality Of Superfluous Elevating Pleasures... Boom Boom Satellites Christen Their Latest Most Welcomed Hedonistic Chapter : Boom Boom Satelites (7th Apr. '05 @ Ebisu Liquidroom)A 10 Plus Year Gestation Of International Minor Threats Collectively Hit Tokyo : The Dillinger Escape Plan with Melt-Banana and EMOK (10th Mar. '05 @ Shinjuku Loft) Filthy, Gorgeous And Utterly Magnifique In An Most Aptly Titled Venue... : Scissor Sisters (25th Feb. '05 @ Daikanyama Unit)An Inaugural Tokyo Come Together For Now And Forever... : The Delgados with Autour de Lucie(16th Feb. '05 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Another Day, Another Earned... : Hatebreed (12th Feb. '05 @ Daikanyama Unit)You Can't Stop Thinking About Her...
: Rachael Yamagata (31st Jan. '05 @ Shibuya Club Quattro)2004Third Time More Than The Charm Elvis & His Imposters Walk Freely As A Local City-Smashing Legend Would : Elvis Costello (14th Dec. '04 @ Tokyo Koseinenkin Kaikan)FREEWHEELIN' IN THE EAST : Cat Power and Women & Children (2nd Jun. '04 @ Shinjuku Loft)Breaking From The Mold Of Bouncing Souls amp; Goldfinger : MEST and GOB (20th Jan. '04 @ Shibuya AX)2003An Easy Peaceful Feeling Made Possible In Central Tokyo : String Cheese Incident (13th Apr @ Shibuya AX)True Seafarers: Vast, Vibrant And Everpresent As Their Name Befits Are The Coral : The Coral (20th Apr @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)Far From Lost Is This Enchanted Wizard Of Rhythm : BECK (1st Apr @ Nihon Budokan)no title : Johnny Marr amp; The Healers (1st Mar @ Shinjuku Liquid Room)no title : Sonic Youth with Metalchicks (18th Feb @ Akasaka Blitz)no title : The Parkinsons with Beehive, Wakusei, and Jig Head (20th Jan @ Shinjuku Loft)no title : The Jeevas (14th Jan @ Shibuya AX) |