Japan / Guitar Wolf (5/8/16)

Jilian and I just returned from our 2 week vacation in Japan. (Actually we got back a week ago, but I think we are both still recovering to some degree.) We got to hang out in Tokyo with with old friends, meet some new ones, pet owls, ride bullet trains, visit temples, etc. At the Imperial Palace in Kyoto we stumbled across the Shirakumo Shrine to Benten, the goddess of music, so naturally we asked for her blessing because we sure as shit could use it.

Back in Tokyo, the gods of Rock & Roll smiled on us for sure, in the form of us getting to see the legendary Guitar Wolf at this little rock club called Basement Bar. 

As we walked into the venue the first opening band was already playing - these kids called ​THEロック大臣ズ (which I've seen Google translate as both "The Rock Ministers" and "The Lock Ministers," but they themselves seem to go with the translation "The Boys Wonder"). And these guys played a great set and were really fun to watch as it sank in that we were at a punk rock show on the other side of the world. So we bought their CD and t-shirt and totally hope to open up for them one day, either around here or in Japan. 

The next band that played was this more hardcore punk band called The Guays. They had this inconspicuous little girl drummer who just went nuts on the drum kit with the precision of a machine. I think she was a big inspiration for Jil to watch. And their set was so damn loud that I wasn't sure if my ears would survive or how Guitar Wolf would be able to top it.

Yet they did.

The first thing that happened- after Guitar Wolf took too the stage but before playing a single note- Seiji the singer cracked open a beer, put it to his lips and put his head back and didn't move until he killed the whole thing. And then they started playing music and going nuts for the next hour and a half.

There were mosh pits, crowd surfing, impromptu wrestling matches on stage, and people totally losing their minds.. high-energy madness of the likes I haven't seen at a show in the US since at least the early 2000s (if ever). My jaw dropped at least twice in amazement at the spectacle. And my general conclusion watching the whole thing unfold was that Guitar Wolf singer/guitarist Seiji is simply an insane person. I have no clue how someone could expend that amount of energy even 1 night a year, much less night after night. 

Must be the power of Rock & Roll.

The show was noisy, chaotic, ferocious- and even though no fire shot out of the microphones the whole experience totally lived up to the hype.

So if you ever tell me something, and I just give you a blank stare like I have no idea what you're talking about- I'm not trying to be rude. It's just my hearing damage from seeing Guitar Wolf live on Tokyo. -curtis