Fujirockers: The official fansite of the Fuji Rock Festival

LIGHT RAIN DID INDEED DUST THE FESTIVAL AFTER KUGATSU HAS COME'S SET

Kugatsu Has Come (September Has Come) featured an impish woman who delivered haunting folk vocals to a decent crowd at the Mokudo Tei Stage, located along the boardwalk between the White Stage and the Field of Heaven. MONO and the Holy Ground Orchestra could be heard wafting through the leafy foliage in the distance, adding a surreal atmospheric touch to the mid-afternoon performance amongst the trees.

Kugatsu Has Come’s vocals were soft, never strained. Think songs for church, only backed up with some of the purest folk guitar you’ve probably ever heard. She held the attention of the watching crowd perfectly, allowing notes to hang in the air for what seemed like eternity before continuing with the song as if nothing had ever changed. Continue Reading…

MOFUNO TABI PERFORM ON THE BORDWALK

Mofuno Tabi performed on the Boardwalk today to a big crowd of children, adults, and to many of the trees and nature that surround this remarkable stage. To the English speaking world, he is also known as Morf’s trip, and he specializes in creating acoustic music using a variety of instruments. Many who seem him will have the immediate question of just what is he playing, is that a lute or what is that damn guitar looking think he is playing. Well, its actually a bouzouki a a musical instrument with Greek origins. It is slightly longer than a guitar and produces a similar sound, especially if put through an effects box.

Morf’s Trip can be described as “acoustic faily-tale jam band” music, and regardless of age or background, everybody loves his music and performance. Today he appeared with pedal steel guitarist, a musician playing a wooden box, and another playing the mouth harp. Its was a thrilling variety of sounds that caused a little bit of a traffic jam on the Boardwalk. And with many wearing these distinctive cone shaped hats that were for sale for 1,5000 yen, it looked sort of like a gathering of the gnomes, which may have been one reason why their was a traffic jam. I highly recommend this band as they easily transition from country music to bluegrass, folk, reggae, jam and traditional music from all over the world.

More photos are here http://fujirockexpress.net/12/12844.html
Photo credit:輪千　希美

Strummer approved

The Canadian country bar band Kensington Hillbillys played several shows at Fuji last year and they were invited to play three times on the smaller stages this year, ostensibly as part of the tenth anniversary memorial of the death of Joe Strummer, the patron saint of Fuji Rock. KH just received a CD of all Clash covers and so they’re playing the album here. I caught them at the Mokudotei stage on the boardwalk, where they played in front of a very receptive and sometimes even rowdy crowd. They opened with the only non-Clash cover, “Stagger Lee,” but segued it into “Wrong ‘em Boyo.” They weren’t slavishly faithful, thank God, and added lot of country touches, thanks mainly to their excellent pedal steel player. Leader Rebel Walt (well, that’s how he introduced himself) doesn’t have Joe Strummer’s phlegmy rasp but it was probably just as well he didn’t try to copy it. He got extremely jiggy on “Magnificent 7,” which was arranged as a train-a-comin’ burner outlaws like Johnny Cash used to play so well. “London Calling” could have been a Neil Young a Crazy Horse version, except when they dropped out an the end and nailed the chunky guitar ensemble effect that makes the original so indelible. “Spanish Bombs” was so tight an emotional I swore the woman next to me caught her breath every time Walt sang “Oh, my corazon.” But, of course, they are a professional bar band; every song was dedicated to someone, and they plugged the new CD every chance they had. “Don’t forget, it’s at the merch tent.” We won’t forget.

ALL HAIL THE HANDSOME FOREST NYMPHS ONDA VAGA

Caught chatting with vendors at FOH I was running late to the Mokudotei for Onda Vaga’s first official performance (via the official lineup), officially.

Thought about going all the way around to the proper entrance of the boardwalk (no chance, not with crowds at White Stage like that, and the strolling pace of half-drunk heat-stroking hippie kids smelling the pine needles a little too closely.

So, I exercise my STAFF shirt authority and duck in past a barricade the back way, slide under some Caution tape and am in the middle of a right proper forest freak-out. A few hoods follow my lead. My bad infrastructure.

The Boardwalk is buckling under the congestion as expected. Much to my appreciation, the septet seems to be in a darker tone than last night’s super sing-a-long opening show. Though, they have to please the crowd (and already have the katakana lyrics marked up on cardboard to help them sing along with their wildfire hit single “Mambeado” off their ‘Best album for Japan’ titled “Moshi Moshi.” And they made everyone stand up and pounce on pine needle carpet. Fun stuff.

The tromboner German Cohen is ratted out, wearing a “church” shirt holy enough to make a mothball grubbing Joe Strummer proud. It is a Ramones tank top (once T-shirt?) that looks more like Swiss cheese, one “sleeve” held together by a single safety pin and thread on its very last leg.

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The Kensington Hillbillys Live At FRF '11

“The anger in a song like Johnny Paycheck’s Take This Job And Shove It is not a million miles away from the frustration of The Clash’ Career Opportunities,” says Peter Lambert, drummer for the Kensington Hillbillies. “I think if it weren’t for Punk, I don’t think I ever would have understood Country. I think of the two genres as, if you will, White Blues.”

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In bed with Maradona

Remember Rafven from Fuji Rock 2009?

They came unknown, played every stage they could get their feet on, and left as arguably the festival’s highlight. This year, labelmates Onda Vaga will attempt the same feat. They’re scheduled for 6 shows, from the Orange Court to the tiny Naeba Shokudo. Chances are you’ll see them whether you want to or not.

They hail from Argentina, but they formed on a beach in Uruguay in 2007. The official story is that they grabbed whatever instruments were lying around, started jamming, and never really stopped. When a venue boss asked the boys their name, they made one up on the spot and kept it. It translates literally as vague wave, but I believe it means something more like free-and-easy style. Or it might not.

I emailed the band’s trumpeter, Marcelo Blanco, last week to pick his mind. Here’s what he said:

Most people string together half a dozen genres when they try to define your sound. How would you describe it?

Pop acoustic coral psycho party rumba reggae.
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SING-A-LONG TIME

havin’ a brew.

THE DEKITS.

Made up of KC from RIDDIM SAUNTER, MAURICE from YOUR SONG IS GOOD, TGMX from FRONTIER BACKYARD and TK from COMEBACK MY DAUGHTERS, together they make an excellent folk quartet.

All of them are pro’s to the bone and between them have countless years of experience and masses of talent, but today, at the Mokudotei stage, they give off a completely different vibe. They’re just four guys chilling on a cool Sunday afternoon, having a beer (and kanpaiing the audience) in the middle of the woods.

Now I’m a sucker for multiple vocalists in a band, and given that four out of four of the members of this one are just that, that alone is heaven. Add in the fact that they sing both good ol’ classics like “Lean On Me” and “You are My Sunshine” as well as their own original hits like “Thursday”, and some great conversation in between songs, you’ve got yourself the perfect way to spend the evening.

The only sad thing is that it didn’t last that long. Thankfully they’ll be playing in Tokyo in less than a month on the 25th of August at Sangenchaya Grapefruit Moon, so it won’t be too long until Tokyoites at least can hang out with them again.

Cheers to that!

Photo: 輪千希美

For more chillin’ with THE DEKITS, click here.

Whistle while you work

That was some smooth scheduling. Ren Takada took the tiny Mokudotei stage on the  boardwalk between the White Stage and the Field of Heaven about a minute-and-a-half after Dachambo finished their very loud set. Takada is singer-songwriter of the quiet, thoughtful school, and while his music is perfectly suited for the forest setting it was staged in, it wouldn’t have done at all for him to compete with Dachambo’s frantic jamming. As it was, there also wasn’t anyone on the White Stage, though occasionally the sound check floated over. Continue Reading…

Bunch of Hillbillies Entertaining Folks On The Boardwalk

The second of Kensington Hillbillys three FRF performances took place Saturday afternoon on the Mokudotei boardwalk stage.  The laidback forest surroundings were a perfect fit for the Canadian quintet’s country tunes.

Drawing a sizable crowd early on (that continued to grow with each song), the group sounded great on takes of Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin’” and a fantastic version of The Clash’s “Straight to Hell.”  Frontman Steve Ketchen’s twang-tinged vocals and slowed down drawl fit both wonderfully.

Several numbers included fiddle and stand up bass, both of which added an extra kick to the group’s old time anthems.  And Stew Crookes’ pedal steel guitar sounded fantastic throughout the 45-minute showing.  While the band’s covers proved to be popular, originals like “Dyin’ (is Just a Part of Livin’)” and “A Country Road” were just as well received with folks on the boardwalk clapping along and a few even kicking their feet up and doing a bit of two-stepping.

Photo by 中島たくみ
More photos here.

Hanggai took their first of three (official) sets at the Mokudotei (boardwalk) at 1:20pm on Friday. Though they didn’t start fast, they clearly know from power. Hurizha (the imposing looking fellow on the middle right here) came out with the rest of the group and treated us to a torrent of Mongolian, never pausing to care whether anyone understood. (I believe no one did). Bandleader Yiliqi (far left) provided a halting and brief English translation, which he didn’t seem particularly keen on doing, and then they launched into their first number, a menacing multi-harmonied ballad about, yes, Ghengis Khan.

It wasn’t dance music yet, but everyone was getting walloped just the same. They gave us the slow build, earth-scorching throat singing and multi-part harmonies, ballads about great warriors and lots and lots of blood (I assume), building to perfectly controlled crescendos. Hurizha takes the duties of front man, and it’s worth noting that he’s the only one who doesn’t play an instrument, his role being limited to singing and apparently vanquishing foes. (He carries a small whip, which he lashes about, and at one point mimed shooting an arrow into the air). Batubagen is their secret weapon, though, as he is Continue Reading…

Olde Worlde and Pal On The Boardwalk

Olde Worlde is the stage name of solo artist Sohhei Numata.  For his Mokudotei appareance on the FRF boardwalk, Numata brought along another guitarist to help him flesh out tracks from his newly released sophomore effort, “The Lemon Shark.”  The disc coincidently includes a cut called “Have You Seen the Rain,” something we’ve seen all day long today.

Around 60 people hung out in the forest to listen to Olde Worlde’s 45 minute folk set.  When he sings, Numata’s soft voice has a slight feminine edge to it that makes his vocals unique.  While I thought little stood out about his performance, he’s gigged at Summer Sonic and Rock in Japan in addition to FRF so he’s obviously doing something right.

Near the end of the concert, he launched into an arty acoustic rocker.  The song’s opening was peppered with a series of F-bombs.  And although I’m in no way against some good “olde” fashioned cussing, shouting out “fuck” several times seemed really out of place in Mokudotei’s lush, serene surroundings.

Photo by 府川展也.
More photos here.