Thursday March 28th 2024

Destroi / Productive Member / CAC

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Destroi / Productive Member / CAC
Koto, Salem, Japan          4/23/17

 

So I’m back at Koto, back in Salem, Japan. At a sushi restaurant that seems to be geared towards Americans visiting their quaint and beautiful country. I say this because every time I’ve visited they’re had American punk bands playing and tonight is no exception.

And most of the people who frequent Koto appear to be Americans like myself! It’s so nice to visit a foreign country and to feel so at home. It almost feels as if I’m still in New England.

CAC or C.A.C. is the first band to play. I thought it might stand for Christians Against Common Sense but, in fact, stands for Crime Alley Cretins.

I was very interested in seeing this band as Alecks, the female singer in one of my favorite bands, Rictus Grin, also sings in this one. And this brand new band just had their first release, which I heard about a week ago and I thought it was great! (The review of that recording went on-line the same day as this review.)

They’re a punk/Oi band with a dash of hardcore that completely captures the feel and spirit of early punk to my ears.

Ferocious jungle beats, simple but effective guitar, interesting groovin’ bass lines and passionate, punk vocals spat out by Alecks.

This is actually my first time seeing her and she has a formidable stage presence. Some singers effect with their wild gyrations and others with an intense, powerful stance- she is of the later.

Their set last a mere fifteen minutes , which they apologize to the audience for, noting that this is all the material they have. But here, every second is exciting, potent and fun.

As I tell Alecks after the set, I’d rather see a great fifteen minute set than a forty five minute set that I long for it to end.

Not only do I think this will be the best set of the night, I’m thinking, this is probably the best set I’ve seen all year- I’m that impressed. All I could ask for is a little more of it, but really, I couldn’t ask for anything better.

Productive Member is up next and they’re a hardcore/punk band from New London, Connecticut which is a trio of musicians backing up a female singer just like the previous band. Though more hardcore in style than CAC, there’s a lot of punk influence as well and I like their style a lot.

And when their singer, Audrey, gets worked up in a frenzy, her excellent vocals recall Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill at times, high praise for sure.

The drummer wears an “anonymous” mask for awhile, the guitar player, with his low voice, makes droll comments throughout the set including promises/threats to play covers of Rancid/ Bouncing Souls/ Bad Religion.

This might be a new band as well and if they are, they show a lot of promise. They play a fun set I enjoy and I would like to catch them again sometime soon.

DestrOi is the last band to play and they’re one of my favorite bands we cover. They’re a young band full of Mohawks and studded jackets and hail from Salem though they hardly look Japanese at all.

Their style is Oi, but with an irreverent take on it, and a lot of hardcore energy that works to create their own unique style, along with a sound and feel that fully embodies the punk spirit.

The singer, Nate, grimaces with a maniacal look every time he spits out a line.

Luis, the guitarist, says lots of humorous asides in-between songs concerning Rick James autopsy and other topical topics.

But the funniest line comes form the crowd, when someone gives Luis a beer, someone else yells out “It’s a beer-a-cle.” Instead of miracle.

My favorite song they play is still “Fuck The Upper Class” but they play a couple of great new tunes during their always great set, too.

As I head outside back to my car to drive the long distance, but surprisingly only hour drive, back to my homeland. I notice how peaceful and tranquil it is in this meditative, spiritual land which is quite unlike the wild and crazy fun that just took place inside.

And I can’t wait to once again travel across the seas, or at least over The Tobin Bridge, to visit once again.

(Slimedog)

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