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What' s the best way to break in a new band member? Take 'em on tour! The Zoobombs were originally planning to embark on a Canadian tour, their fourth in three years, this past summer. However, the departure of long-time drummer Pocky in June put those plans on hold. After a few warm-up gigs in Japan with new drummer Kim, the Tokyo quartet re-scheduled the dates and geared up for the 13-hour flight from Narita to Toronto. Bookmarked by appearances at music festivals Pop Montreal and Halifax Pop Explosion, the 14-gig jaunt sees Zoobombs playing their way across four Canadian provinces. Tonight' s gig in Waterloo marked the second night of a week' s worth of Ontario concerts. The major cities in Ontario are fairly close together, making the group' s longest drive between gigs only 4 hours. Next week' s 16-hour drive from Toronto to Moncton, New Brunswick will obviously be more challenging. Most international touring acts skip over this part of the country because of the distance, but The Zoobombs have proven, both at home and abroad, that they aren' t your typical rock n' roll band. A small, supportive audience of 35 eagerly paid the $8 cover charge (about 950 yen) and crowded around the stage as the group emerged shortly after 11 p.m. and kicked into their first song. One of the best things about a Zoobombs' gig is that you never know what direction they are going to take their music in. At the Starlight, it was evident early on that tonight was going to have a heavy bluesy feel. The band were tight as they turned each number into a 10-minute long jam session. The addition of Kim has taken nothing away from The Zoobombs' stellar live skills. This was most evident during "Way In/ Way Out" from 2004' s New San Francisco. A staple of the band' s live set since its release, watching the track unfold on stage is truly a spectacle that every music fan should experience at least once. A rolling rock song to start, front-man Don Matsuo raised his guitar overhead as it morphed into a slow burning, psychedelic-tinged freak out. Flinging his guitar over his shoulder, he turned towards wife Matta and intently watched her fingers moving across the keyboard before holding down as many of the keys as he could, blanketing the room is wave of noise for a dozen seconds. Matsuo and Matta' s five-year-old son and a few others started dancing at the back of the club as Kim and bassist Moostop joined in. Almost everyone else simply stared on in awe. Although Matsuo went all out during "Way In/ Way Out," on the whole, he was much more subdued than usual. First acknowledging the crowd prior to the encore he admitted this saying, "To tell you the truth, tonight is a bit weird for me." At this point, one of downtown Waterloo' s finer residents, an obviously intoxicated older gentleman who had just arrived, felt the need to scream back "I think you' re weird," causing Matsuo to turn away while Matta took over mic duties and thanked the audience for coming. Launching into their one-song encore, "Dolf," Matta added maracas to the mix as they dished out one last slice of improvisational goodness. As "Dolf" began to end an obviously frustrated Matuso put his guitar down and exited as the rest of the band closed things out. Talking with him afterwards he said that he was disappointed with the lack of promotion for the concert and that no other bands had been added to the bill. Also, despite sounding fantastic, I think all of The Zoobombs were a little nervous about their playing due to the personnel change. As the tour progresses hopefully they' ll begin to trust the overwhelmingly positive reactions from fans more and realize they have nothing to worry about. While saying my good-byes, both Matsuo and Matta commented that they were excited about visiting Hamilton, Ontario the next evening. The city has definitely provided Zoobombs with some memorable stories, all of which have helped make them an even stronger band in the process. Upon finishing their Canadian concerts, Zoobombs will be gigging throughout Japan in support of their new live album, Bears Banquet (which, interestingly was recorded in Toronto, Canada this past March). Tour dates are below. Zoobombs N.Z.B.G. Tour 2007 11/4 Okayama@ Crazy Mama 2nd Room 11/6 Kumamoto @ Drum Be-9 11/7 Oita @ T.O.P.S 11/9 Kagoshima @ SR Hall 11/10 Nagasaki @ Drum Be-7 11/17 Nagano @ Neonhall 11/23 Shimokitazawa @ Basement Bar 11/25 Iwaki @ Sonic 11/27 Nagoya @ Club Rock 'N' Roll 11/28 Osaka @ Fandango 11/29 Hiroshima @ Neopolis Hall 11/30 Kumamoto @ Django 12/1 Kurosaki @ Marcus 12/2 Fukuoka @ Decadant De Lux 12/4 Okayama @ Pepperland 12/5 Kyoto @ Mojo 12/6 Hamamatsu @ Lucrezia 12/7 Yokohama @ Club Lizard 12/21 Kashiwa @ Drunker' s Stadium 12/22 Shimokitazawa @ Basement Bar |
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report and photo by shawn
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 mag files : The Zoobombs The Blues (07/10/10 @ Starlight, Waterloo, Ontario : review by shawnCD review : B☆B☆B (06/11/23) : reviewed by sakamotoCD review : ウェイ・イン / ウェイ・アウト (06/08/10) : reviewed by sakamotoZoobombcrazy (06/05/06 @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo) : review and photos by shawnphoto report (05/10/23 @ Ueno Suijo Ongakudo) : photos by hanasan"Plenty Of Noisemakers, But Where's The Cake?" (05/05/22 @Shinjuku Loft) : review by sahwn, photos by saya38photo report (05/05/22 @ Shinjuku Loft) : photos by saya38photo report (05/05/04 @ Shinjuku Loft) : photos by saya38 |
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The official site Zoobombs http://www.thezoobombs.com/ check 'em? -->MySpace / iTunes The latest album  "B☆B☆B" (国内盤) |
previous works
"ウェイ・イン / ウェイ・アウト" (iTunes) "New San Francisco" (国内盤 / iTunes) "ラブ イズ ファンキー " "Dirty Bomb " (国内盤 / iTunes) "SUPER FUNCY OF " "Welcome Back,ズボンズ! " "Bomb Freak Exprress " (国内盤 / iTunes) " Bomb You Live " (iTunes) "Let it Bomb " check the albums? |
 2007Girls Just Want To Have Fun : The Pipettes (9th Aug. @ Harajuku Astro Hall)For Those About To Rock : Metalchicks (16th Jun. @ Shibuya O-Nest)Great Expectations : Asakusa Jinta (12th May @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)Interview : Everybody Dance Now : The Afet Collective (22nd May.)Thank You For Not Being White : Think About Life (3rd May @ Harajuku Astro Hall)Too Good To Resist : Bleach with Midori, Electric Eel Shock, Detroit7 (23rd Apr. @ Shimokitazawa Shelter)History Repeating : Flogging Molly (16th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)The Self-Proclaimed World's Third Best Punk Band : Converge (7th Apr. @ Shinkiba Studio Coast)Don't Forget Your Manners : Converge (16th Mar. @ Shimokitazawa Club 251)They Don't Build Them Like They Used To : Yo La Tengo (19th Feb. @ Shibuya O-East)Smoking Hot : Isis with These Arms Are Snakes, Boris (29th Jan. @ Shibuya Club QuattroHot In Herre : Calexico with Iron & Wine (27th Jan. @ Shibuya Club QuattroYou Can Always Come Back Home : Deerhoof (20th Jan. @ Shinjuku Loft)The Untouchables : The Roots (15th Jan. @ Shibuya O-East)Dream A Little Dream : The Album Leaf (13th Jan. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)2006Here Today ... Gone To Hell : Arab Strap (11th Dec. @ Shibuya O-Nest)Mo' Mo' Mo' Mo'some : Mo'some Tonebender (2nd Dec. @ Shibuya AX)Good Things Come In Threes : Bleach with Ni-Hao!, Watusi Zombie (5th Nov. @ Yoyogi Zher the Zoo)Glitter And Mop-tops : The Zutons (2nd Oct. @ Shibuya AX)Twisting Minds And Tanning Behinds : Asylum Street Spankers (17h Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)DVD review : I Know I'm Not Alone : Michael Franti & Spearhead (4th Oct.)Melodic Metal Monday : Dark Tranquility w/ Galneryus (1th Sept. @ Daikanyama Unit)Give Me Something I Can Dance To! : Fangsanalsatan Extra feat. The Stars, Boris, Guitar Wolf (22nd Jul. @ Shinjuku Loft)Melting Everything In Their Path : Melt-Banana (9th Jul. @ Yokohama Club 24)Never Too Old To Party : Shonen Knife (8th Jul. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)An Early Summer Night's Dream : Belle and Sebastian (3rd Jun. @ Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball)Zoobombcrazy : The Zoobombs (6th May. @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)F-U-N : Limited Express (Has Gone?) (2nd Apr. @ Yoyogi Zher The Zoo)Full CCCIIIRRRCCCLLLEEE : Cave In (25th Mar. @ Shibuya Club Asia)The Perfect Storm : Mono (18th Mar. @ Shibuya O-Nest)School Of Rock : The White Stripes (6th Mar. @ Zepp Tokyo)Far From Extinct : Dinosaur Jr. (27th Feb. @ Shibuya AX)Vintage Valentine : Showa Genroku Crazy Tangoku feat. Thee 50's High Teens, Salome no Kutibiru, The 50 Kaitens & The Captains (13th Feb. @ Shimokitazawa Club 251)Walk The Line : Afrirampo (29th Jan. @ Higashi Koenji UFO Club)Every Girl's Crazy About A Sharp Dressed Man : Kaiser Chiefs (23rd Jan. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)All That And Looks Too : Tristan Prettyman (22nd Jan. @ Shibuya AX)-->...and more |