Kichijoji's Mandala club is not a large place. The stage is small and only a foot high, making it so intimate that it almost feels like the bands are performing in your lap. Tokyo's Happy Dispatch, however, don't sit down much. The frenetic quintet spent more of their time jumping, dancing and waving spasmodically to the beat.
I'm mainly referring to Yo-Screamer, HD's vocalist and easily the center of attention. He flails about, barking and bleating over angular riffs and casiotone trill. Names like Talking Heads, Velvet Underground and Arto Lindsay get bandied about when talking about Happy Dispatch, and I can hear faint echos of each, but the juxtaposition of synthesizers and clanging guitars reveals hints of Devo, as well. Even their look - big, clunky plastic sunglasses and combat boots - shares the same goofy nihilism of Mark Mothersbaugh and crew in their heyday.
And it's all just as danceable. After a sweet boy-girl duet intro between bassist and guitarist (Moe Tucker would've been proud), a pounding beat slowly gains momentum, propelling the lead guitarist's hooks as they interweave with a keyboard playing upward scales. Wearing something akin to aviator goggles, Yo-Screamer takes the stage and belts out a chant, all the while fiddling with knobs on a box thrown over his shoulder, turning his voice into a deafening crush of echoing squeals.This builds and builds, with everyone becoming more and more animated, and as soon as the crowd has hit their stride, it's over. Alas, HD share this bill with 4 other bands on a short schedule, so their 20-odd minute set felt like 5. Just means I'll need to check them out again at Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou (where these photos come from). GREAT bill on April 16th. |
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The photos are from their show @ Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou onthe 25th Mar. '07. report by jinki and photos by hanasan |
 mag files : Happy Dispatch  Guilty as Synth (07/04/06 @ Kichijoji Mandara ) : review by jinki, photos by hanasanphoto report (07/03/25 @ Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou ) : photos by hanasanphoto report (07/02/21 @ Shimokitazawa Basement Bar ) : photos by terumiphoto report (06/08/29 @ Daikanyama Haretara Sorani Mame Maite ) : photos by naoakiphoto report (06/07/01 @ Aoyama Red Shoes ) : photos by terumi転げていくのなら (05/12/03 @ Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou) : review by toddy,photos by saya38photo report (05/12/03 @ Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou) : photos by saya38爆裂ロマンチック (05/05/07 @ Aoyama Red Shoes) : review by yuka, photos by saya38photo report (05/05/07 @ Aoyama Red Shoes) : photos by saya38 |
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The official site Happy Dispatch http://happydispatch.nobody.jp/ Happy Dispatch : Live Schedule
04/06 (Fri) Kichijoji Mandara 04/12 (Thu) Higashi Koenji UFO Club 04/16 (Mon) Aoyama Tsuki Miru Kimi Omou 04/17 (Tue) Daikanyama Haretara Sorani Mame Maite 04/23 (Mon) Sangenjaya Heaven's Door 04/29 (Fri) Fussa Chicken Shack and more!!! |
check the albums? |
 2006Sufi Cool: Mercan Dede Sends Us Spinning : Mercan Dede & Secret Tribe (4th Oct. @ Tokyu Bunkamura2003CD review : Last Heaven's Bootleg : Thee Michell Gun Elephant (26th Dec.)2002interview : Have Guitar... Will Travel : Melissa Ferrick (5th Jul.)interview : Hate Machine: The Parkinsons Come Out Swinging : The Parkinsons (5th Jun.)The Fat of the Land : FatBoy Slim Kicks Off : Fatboy Slim & Boom Boom Satelites (1st Jun. @ Makuhari Messe)Still "Perfect"... : Eddi reader (20th Mar. @ La Foret Musium Roppongi)interview : A Singing Angel Sings Free... : Eddi reader (20th Mar.)interview : 聞く人の心を揺さぶりたい... : Eddi reader (20th Mar.)Multi-ethnic Music-monsters, Ozomatli! : Ozomatli (14th Mar. @ Shinjuku Liquidroom)interview : Here come the people's music again! (JPN) : Ozomatli (24th Feb.)interview : Here come the people's music again! (ENG) : Ozomatli (24th Feb.)Ahh, Natalie, Natalie... : Natalie Merchant (6th Feb. @ Harajuku Laforet)Come on up, hipstars! : Katteni Shiyagare (3rd Feb. @ Shimokitazawa Basement Bar)2001The band to watch for in the future... : The 3peace (30th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)-->... and more |