I haven't seen a gig in Japan since seeing the excellent Joanna Newsome in Kyoto during February, partly because its so expensive and partly because we live so far away from these things. So it made an especially nice change to fork out the hard cash and head on over to Zepp Osaka, and even better that I get to see Underworld, Simian mobile disco and Andrew Weatherall all on one bill.
Whenever you see bands or clubs on TV in Japan you notice a few things; a distinct lack of moshing or general dancing (or what ever these young folks do nowadays) being the main one unless, that is, its synchronized arm raising throughout the crowd, I think the reason for this might be the crash barriers situated throughout the crowd very 2 metres that prevent crushing (and gives you something to lean on if you fancy it) , or just the fact that this is Japan and these things never happen. Sadly Zepp seems to have a no camera's policy and those brave enough to brandish them have a torch (thats a flash light for you Americans thinking somesort of flamming branch thing) shone at them so no actual photo's to show you. I did try to sneakily (because I'm wearing sneakers shhh!) leave my camera in my bag and try to record some audio but playing it back today it sounds more like, well like a camera that's been left in a bag. So feel free to use your imagination, or youtube as its apparently better known.
It's kind of difficult to describe dance sets at the best of times, you usually end up saying "the bit where it went duh duh duh duhhh, or the other bit where it went du du du duh" Oh no wait that's the theme tune from Emerdale. Anyway it's especially difficult for someone like Andrew Weatherall, he of fine suits and someone who specialises in whats probably best described as math dance. He produced a fine array of beeps and sounds, into a set split into before and after Simian Mobile disco, the first part of his set ending on what sounded like a kettle boiling but was probably the sound of a right angle.
Simian Mobile disco may look like a rounder faced Edward Scissor hands and Garath from the office but they proved to be far better than I could have imagined, the two of them surrounded by a ring of flashing lights, really getting the crowd up and dancing, something very usual in most Japanese gigs, arm waving and hand holding aplenty seen throughout.
I haven't actually got Underworlds new album yet, as hopefully it will be a Christmas treat (thanks mum and dad) but it appears a lot of people in Osaka have, judging by the amount of people singing along with the opening track. Actually reminiscing about the years as a man of my many well 28 years does (I think I might need a pipe and slippers to do this fully) Underworld are actually responsible for one of my top ten live moments (yes I am the type of person to have one of those lists) involving Norwich, Jumbo, lots of lights and ......anyway enough of that. Following the mass arm waving that greeted the first track the other 3 or 4 new tracks appeared to be somewhat hit and miss with the crowd or rather taking possibly too long to build up to a danceable beat; although thankfully when it did arrive things got moving nicely (aided by some fine blow up stage props and lighting) Also Underworld has a fine array of great back catalogue to employ most of which you can hear on the awesome (well in my opinion anyway) live album Everything everything, so the likes of Rez and Pearls girls just propelled everything back up. I kind of like the idea that I had to leave the gig while Karl Hyde was prowling the stage with a sea of people moving to the final throes of Born slippy the last thing I see before racing for the, almost missed train, well I keep telling myself that anyway
Buy Simian Mobile Disco here
Andrew Weatherall here
Underworld website here
Buy Everything Everything here.
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