One thing that stood about tonight's gig was the venue itself. A stone's throw away from Yokohama Station, Thumbs Up is a medium-sized, American roadhouse style restaurant with a small stage. Along with it's regular bar and kitchen, it also had a table set up at the back selling drinks, nachos, and ready-made burgers for those in need of a mid-show snack. Were this room located overseas, it would most likely host top-40 cover bands each weekend. However, in Japan it showcases a vast array of musical concoctions, including the innovative, chaotic sounds of Shibusa Shirazu and Switzerland's Koch Schutz Studer. The open-minded, lively Japanese crowd relished the opportunity to witness the acts in an intimate setting. 
Koch Schutz Studer kicked things off with an amazing set that melded together noise, free jazz, electronica, and art-rock. Comprised of a drummer, cellist, and flutist, the trio began their set by clanging different things together for several minutes. Most audience members continued talking and eating, not realizing what was going on. Eventually everyone clued in and gave the band their full attention. Wasting little time, the guys spent the next 35 minutes creating remarkable instrumental journeys that were both challenging and entertaining. Drummer Fredy Studer quickly became a fan-favourite as attendees were taken aback by his awesome skills. He tapped away on various parts of his kit, repeatedly picked up and dropped his sticks on his drums, and continually toyed with various cymbals in an effort to make as many different sounds as possible. Our editor, Hanasan, summed it up best when he leaned over and whispered "he's like a magician." 
The same could be said about Shibusa Shirazu's Daisuke Fuwa. It's no easy task to lead a 21 person ensemble through a two-hour marathon of off the wall jams. It's even more difficult when the end result is as moving and utterly brilliant as Shibusa Shirazu are. Fuwa makes it look effortless though. Standing in the middle of the group of mad geniuses, pumping his fist with a smoke dangling from his lips, he looks like just another fan enjoying the sold-out show.
Utilizing the stage, the floor in front of it, and a few tables on the floor, the collective made their entrance amidst roars of approval from the audience. Opening with the always fun "P-Chan", the band had the entire restaurant in the palm of their hand from the get go. As the song progressed two lovely "groovedance" girls and Shinichi Watabe (clad in his trademark fundoshi) made their way to the performance space. The first of four butoh dancers followed, choosing to teeter along the narrow ledge above the sunken dance floor like a man on a tightrope. While the band ripped through a tight version of the song, Watabe and the ladies got the excited crowd even more riled up with their choreographed dance moves.From there, the night is a blur. There was just too much happening to possibly keep track of it all. Epic songs were turned out, hearts were on full display, and spirits were enlightened, raised, and ultimately bettered by the experience. The band played their joyous, eccentric compositions, filling the venue with positive vibes and energy. Solos erupted from various members, changing the musical landscape by introducing even more styles to the band's wonderful mish-mash of jazz, rock, pop, funk, blues, and folk sounds. Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi's harmonica solo half way through the concert was definitely a highlight. With the whole club clapping along, the group stopped playing to cheer and egg him on to keep going. 
After a beautiful, slowed down number a triumphant blast of music ushered in "Theme of Honda Koumuten". With Fuwa directing his orchestra and the dancers leading the crowd, the energy level quickly began to rise. Not able to resist himself, Studer joined the band on drums (having three drummers is always better than two) as the soaring anthem took off. Watabe ran around the club encouraging the crowd to sing along. Jumping up on tables and railings, he soon had the entire room dancing, waving their arms, and bellowing "la"s with him. A truly inspirational scene, it was one of those rare moments where you grasp how strong people are and how much good can be done when they join together.The horn section picked up the pace as the song faded out, playing one last jazzy interlude as they made their way out of Thumbs Up. The rest of their bandmates followed, walking through the crowd with beaming faces and offering their thanks to the patrons they passed. Enjoying the sudden abundance of space on stage, the dancers and one of the sax players grabbed a couple of the vacant chairs, sat down, and took a load off. They definitely earned it! |
report by shawn and photos by hanasan |
| photos : part1 | 2 |
 mag files : 渋さ知らズ (Shibusa Shirazu) Needs To Be Seen To Be Believed (05/10/16 @ Yokohama Thumbs Up) : review by shawn, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/10/16 @ Yokohama Thumbs Up) : photos by hanasanphoto report (05/10/08 @ Saitama Geijutsu Gekijo) : photos by nachiThe Sweet Sounds of Destruction (05/04/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by jinki, photos by hanasanOrganized Chaos (05/04/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : review by shawn, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/04/17 @ Shibuya Club Quattro) : photos by hanasanA Global-A-Go-Go Tune-Up In Effervescence For A Slightly Slimmed Down 26-Piece Shibusa Shirazu (05/04/13 @ Kichijoji Star Pine's Cafe) : review by michael, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/04/13 @ Kichijoji Star Pine's Cafe) : photos by hanasan湧き出すエネルギー (05/04/01 @ Shinjuku Pit Inn) : review by joe, photos by hanasanphoto report (05/04/01 @ Shinjuku Pit Inn) : photos by hanasanはたして戦後に生きているのか？ (05/03/12 @ Ueno Suijo Ongaku Do) : review and photos by hanasanphoto report (05/03/12 @ Ueno Suijo Ongaku Do) : photos by hanasan |
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The official site(JPN) Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra 渋さ知らズ The official site(ENG) Shibusa Shirazu http://www.shibusa.org/ The latest album  "渋星 (Shibu Boshi )" |
The latest DVD  "天幕 - 宇宙を駆ける - " previous album  "渋旗 (Shibu Hata)" 購入は地底商店にて可能です。 check the albums? |
 2005DVD review : RGB : sianspheric (17th Oct.)Something Old And Something New : Time Bomb Records 15th Aniversary Feat. Blind Beast (Thurston Moore+Jim O'Rourke+Yoshimi), The Evens (Ian MacKaye+Amy Farina) with Ruins alone, Tamio Inoue (18th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Half Hour Of Power : Punkrockers Bowl Vol.11 Feat. Razors Edge, Melt-Banana, Wrench (10th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)A Mind Is An Awesome Thing To Blow
: Fantomas & Zu (5th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)With A Little Sake Always Makes For A Good Night : Cubismo Grafico Five with Sakerock (27th Aug. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)Cool Sounds From The Underground : "What's That Sound?" Feat. Four Tet, Caribou, Mugison (20th Aug. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)Expect The Unexpected : Metalchicks with Kiiiiiii and Asa-Chang & Junrei (16th Jul. @ Shibuya Lush)All The Young Dudes : Jude (10th Jun. @ Yokohama Blitz)The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades : Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (6th Jun. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Life Aquatic With Yo La Tengo : Yo La Tengo (28th May. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)The Little Things : Boom Boom Satellites (29th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Insanely Brilliant : Les Savy Fav (30th Apr.)Organized Chaos : Shibusa Shirazu (17th Apr. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Socially Aware And Ready To Party : Asian Dub Foundation w/African Head Charge (10th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Nice And Simple : Jimmy Eat World (4th Apr. @ Shibuya O-East)Nothing A Few Sweets Couldn't Fix : Lemon Jelly (29th Mar. @ Shibuya AX)Groove Is In The Heart : Tabla Kwaiesa (6th Mar. @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan)Interview : Constantly Evolving : 90 Day Men (13th Mar)It's Party Time! : The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Benevento/Russo Duo (28th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Weekly Service : The Chemical Brothers (12th Feb @ Shibuya AX)Tattoos and a Whole Lotta Hair : EXTREME THE DOJO Vol.12 feat. Every time I Die, As I Lay Dying and Shadows Fall (7th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Geography At Its Best : ISIS (5th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)To The Extreme : The Shins (31st Jan @ Harajuku Astro Hall)CD review : "Panopticon" : Isis (27th Jan)Winter Be Damned : Ash (17th Jan @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Peaceful, But Far From Quiet : Mono (20th Jan)CD review : "The Nein" : The Nein (13th Jan)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)Expansive Rhythms : Tabla Kwaiesa (4th Dec @ Cozmo's Cafe and Bar)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 Ethier |