
One of the goals of my trip was to see an indie pop/guitar pop/shibuya-kei-ish group live, all the better if in an appropriate environment astray from the common dingy, rock'nroll tinged live house venue. Though I wasn't seeing anyone I knew that night except

I was a bit worried with the small map I had for Strobe Cafe but I winded through the streets from Yoyogi station and eventually found it. Yoyogi park came to mind, a venue famous for cosplayers, bands, and the like, accessible from the popular Harajuku neighborhood. It was nowhere in sight, but Yoyogi was opting to be a fairly peaceful neighborhood and I liked it a lot.


The view was pretty bad to take pictures from where I was sitting so I moved to the side to sit on the bench built into the wall. Alongside Natsuko was someone else who was also setting up, which piqued my curiosity.
Yeye was accompanied by the guitarist of trademark, a band I had heard a couple times. Specifically, I was familiar with them from the catch one's breadth compilation CD I had come to own. Incidentally, I had planned to see them in April 2011, before heading to Okayama but due to the earthquake and tsunami that happened before my departure my plans abruptly changed to a journey through Osaka. It was rather curious that I finally got to "see" a part of trademark now as I made my way back to Guam. Also, because I changed my itinerary from Tokyo to Osaka, I was able to see YeYe, whereas if my plans to Tokyo were never disturbed I would have seen trademark. It's funny how things eventually work themselves out one way or another.
YeYe played her usual repertoire of songs, similar to what she played when I saw her a few months back in Osaka. The cool, loungy, atmosphere of Strobe Cafe fit her profile much better than when I saw her at Fireloop, which was much more like a live house, the stage far too big for single performers, which is who Strobe Cafe's setup seemed especially to cater to. Negishi, the guitarist of trademark, (the aforementioned other person setting up) made the biggest effect on YeYe's set, playing accompanying effects on his electric guitar. Her study recordings are adorned with guitars, bass, drums, xylophone, and other instruments, but seeing her live feels a bit more empty with just an acoustic guitar. The accompaniment was ample for giving her music the boost it needed and made it feel closer to her desired sound, or at least what was evident on her recordings. It was highly enjoyable. She also did a small portion of "Gee", by K-pop sensations Girls Generation, on her guitar that gave the audience and I a good kick.


Sadly, none of the groups were selling goods or anything; I'm sure this venue was too small to warrant something like that. But afterwards people walked around and purchased goods from Strobe Cafe's small shop, got some more drinks, and chatted with the bands in a relaxed, smokeless(!!!), and well lit(!!!!!) atmosphere that was definitely a departure from a scene at local live houses. At my request, YeYe was able to give me her band's(she plays bass and sings for concentrate on popping) demo and I chatted with her and Negishi from trademark about the coincidence between seeing them and planning to see trademark that I mentioned earlier. The manager was also surprised I had come from overseas(I'm not sure if he was with YeYe or on staff with Strobe Cafe), and apologized for earlier for being stern about not video taping the event(many other people were, as well, but I can't figure out why I was the only one scolded). After my conversation I headed back to catch my train headed for Fukaya station. As I walked up and out of the cafe some of the musicians from early were having a smoke by the side walk. I nodded to them and walked back to Yoyogi station, grabbing a simple dinner at a takeout place to eat while waiting for the train.
Thankfully, and unknowingly, I was able to cross of my concert bucket list: See an indie pop show in Japan. It was great, and I can't wait to be back in the basement of strobe cafe, sitting back and relaxing to the sweet vocals of another great artists.
Here is a video I compiled of a "digest" of the three acts, with some very short footage of each. If a picture is worth a thousand words, than what would a video be? Hopefully you can place my writings in check with what you see in the recording !
~hideki~
No comments:
Post a Comment