Don't spit on me

Don't spit on me

The award-winning British beatboxer Beardyman made his Japan debut (?) at the prefest shindig in the Red Marquee. His set was pretty short–less than 20 minutes–but in that brief time he proved that he is a very talented young man and should go very far in show business. Yessiree.

Obviously, if you’re looking for a way to impress girls, beatboxing is the way to go. There was no panty-tossing, but the squeals were almost deafening when Beardyman–real name Darren Foreman–mimicked what sounded like Buddy Miles drumming “Them Changes” in a thunderstorm. He opened his set by reading text messages off his iPhone in Japanese while making all sorts of cool percussion sounds with his tongue and lips and epiglottis (ew). Since beatboxing is mainly a kind of formalized showing-off, he sampled some hip-hop, complete with gangsta-rapper groan, ran through snippets of hits by everyone from Michael Jackson to New Order (or so someone I know said), and even managed to sing in a fashion; all while that rhythm machine in the back of his throat kept pumping.

For that second half of his performance he looped his voice and ran it through all sorts of cool equipment to produce a DJ show, which wasn’t necessarily more original or innovative than the next DJ show, but, you know, he’s doing it with his voice. Anyway, as they say, you have to see (not necessarily hear, if you know what I mean) it to believe it. You have at least two more chances during the festival.

photo by Ueda