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HERE BE LOTSA OKAMOTO'S
Q: How many Okamotos does it take to make a band?
A: 4 talented kids and one dead artist.
It’s kind of a trick question, actually. Okamoto’s, a group of young Shinjuku guys, have been rocketing forth with their psychedelic garage rock music since 2007. In the past 4 years they’ve managed to release 2 full length albums, have toured the US, made plans to tour Australia and have landed a gig at Fuji Rock. Impressed? You should be. When I say young, I mean it: they’re living the dream at the fresh-faced, rosy-cheeked age of 19.
Who feels old now? Raise your hand.
The band name is, interestingly enough, very much on topic of what I was writing about the other week in What’s in a Name? These guys have taken a page from The Ramones’ book and have all taken the stage name “Okamoto” as their last names.
The name “Okamoto” itself was inspired by Taro Okamoto, an influential and internationally acclaimed artist and creator of Tower of the Sun, that funky Expo Memorial Park icon in Osaka.
As for their music, they’re reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s psychedelic rock that they take their inspiration from. I had a bit of a The Doors flashback when listening to one of their tracks, which is never a bad thing.
Although I have to say that genre’s not usually my thing (bad haircuts and tight pants, ugh), they’re a sure bet for my “must-see at Fuji” list. The question is, will they make yours?
Check out their MySpace for more music goodness, read a bit more about what makes them special over at Metropolis, or take a peek at their New York gig goodness over at Smashing Mag.
*Photo by Miyuki “Sam” Samata and used with the permission of Smashing Mag.
