10
Mar
Asakusa Jinta Playing the US
Topic: Japan 2007, TV, Movies, and Music
If I were living in Tokyo but was single with no kids, my website would probably be a lot like Japan Live. The author posts regularly about bands he sees in Tokyo. He recently wrote about the “hardcore marching brass” band Asakusa Jinta:
This septet takes old Japanese popular music, mixes in rock, rockabilly and a teaspoon of punk, and cooks up a sound that is both nostalgic and brand new. The ‘jinta’ in their name refers to brass bands that were active in the Meiji and Taisho eras (that is, 1868 to 1926), and horns and saxes, in addition to an accordion and a pumped-up double bass, are key ingredients in their songs. Their music sounds like modernized versions of old Japanese movie music (you can sample some of their tunes here).
Most Japanese bands borrow from western music styles like rock, blues and hip hop, but very few tap into Japan’s own home-grown musical traditions. Asakusa Jinta does, and succeeds brilliantly.
I haven’t heard their music beyond what’s on their MySpace profile, but they sound like an awful lot of fun.
I just came across the Japan Live site, so I’m writing this post now because Asakusa Jinta are starting a US tour. Relevant locations for friends who read this blog are: Boston, March 10; Philly, March 12 (or possibly the 13th - I saw two different dates posted); and San Francisco, March 19. Details are on their MySpace page. If I’m lucky they’ll play in Tokyo again before we head back to the US.
March 21st, 2007 at 12:02 am
Basically Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with the guitar switched to heavy distortion.