Jogja, Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta. Jogja. Whatever you choose to call it, I already like it here. It's the only region in Indonesia headed by a monarchy. Indra Menus meets up with me. He's an archival nerd after my own heart, compiling a backlog of recordings I know all too well.

This is another important hub of noise kids, building synths out of Nintendo's, found and made objects, whatever they can make work. We walk around the central market area, and end at a coffee shop ran by his friend. The amount of dark spaces here that house expertly crafted products amazes me. You just have to know where to look. I finally meet Lintang Radittya, who makes something he calls the "Javanese Modular". Great conversations. Heavy week coming. 

Anca Manimau : A life on the road

Anca Hcs Manimau. In a tour diary last year, 大担 said it best : "This is his life. He has no home, no job, nothing besides his bands, an iPhone and backpack full of tees. When he’s not on tour he stays with friends and screens shirts, but mostly he’s on tour. While hardcore has begun to be more commercialized in Indonesia with big companies looking to sponsor events and booking agents carving out profit margins, Anca stays in the underground, DIY to the end, shows in practice rooms and skateparks, living off merch sales and appreciation for his hard work. Think of a really nice version of GG Allin, that’s Anca."

A few days left in Surabaya, and we head to Yogyakarta to see Indra Menus and crew. After that, Anca will take us around, tour style, on our way to Jakarta.

Batu, East Java

Batu. East Java. Finally met the infamous Anca Hcs Manimau! He lives on the road. The endless tour. D.I.Y warrior. 2 hours on an intense bus, and a short motorbike ride, leaves you here. Beautiful as hell.

We head to a small cafe. In the back, a small recording, practice, and gig room. You can cram about 10 people in there, and the rest watch from the entrance. Every show here has like a dozen bands on the bill. Hardcore, grindcore, punk. 3 song sets. By the time you get your bearings, it's over. That's insane to me, but it makes sense. Cram in as much as you can, and make for a very communal experience. 3 sets with female vocalists, a nice surprise considering I was told there wouldn't be much of that here.

Thanks, Anca. 

"Ramadhan Attack"

"Ramadhan Attack" : The first of many all-day ragers I'll likely encounter in Indonesia. Something very surreal about seeing a 5 year old windmilling and spin-kicking alongside the big kids. I knew Indonesia loves their dozen band bills, but damn. What a day. I kept getting grabbed to do interviews at random. At one point, cramming into a car with a first-generation punk rock frontman who, no shit, stole the car we were sitting in. Tough shoot. High stage. Harsh angles, and quick sets. I think I pulled some good stuff. There's another one of these when we return to Surabaya in a month and a half. Stoked. Tomorrow : rest, for real this time.

A new generation of noise heads

How do you ensure a new generation of noise kids? Sit them down workshop style, and teach them how to create simple instruments out of pencils. Today was supposed to be a rest day, but Aoki Chan suggested we go to this, and we're really glad we did.

I did not expect to see a large group of young kids sitting around, super interested to learn about circuitry, soldering instruments together. We left after four hours, and they were still smiling, eager to learn. Oo Uncletwis, Helmi Hardian, and many others have a collective called Waft - Lab, doing this across Indonesia and Thailand. Inspiring. Time for bed. Tomorrow : 15 bands in one day.

Indonesia : Getting the kids involved

The kids, getting involved. Tommy Adam's son. Tommy is a photographer and videographer. He and his wife also just started a salad company called Good Salad. A delicious mix of apples, dragon fruit, yogurt, and more. It's great.

Tommy brought us back to neighboring Sidoarjo, showed us his home, which his wife also runs a dental clinic out of. Whole city blocks kept losing power, blacking out intermittently. He brought us to his favorite Warung, which is a small, family run business, and can vary in purpose. Warungs for food either serve one dish, or a mix plate.

Tommy told us his love for "Nasi Pecel", a fried rice with peanut sauce. Looking forward to an all-day punk rock rager tomorrow. Today, rest.

Klepto Opera in a Graveyard

Surabaya. Day one and we head to an old graveyard, tagging along with KLEPTO OPERA, a super unique psyche / grunge / noise act who've been going for over 15 years. They were shooting a video for a new song "Menggilas Dunia". Most of the graves dated back to the mid 1800's, and over 60% of them were dug up by looters. Though they're playing fierce for this band photo, they were ridiculously nice. Though it's Ramadan, obviously not everyone is fasting. A first warung meal next to a skate park that was ridiculously busy by the time we left. Tomorrow, a noise set on the streets. "Noise Bombing" : Round 1. Super glad to be here, Indonesia.

King Elephant, Magpies, and Dirty Birds in Missoula, Montana

I spent well over 2 years in Missoula, Montana.  What was supposed to be a 6 month stint away, turned into much more.  That's a damn fine way to sum up the town.  A beautiful, drunken haze of amazing people, great music, gorgeous surroundings, and some really shit food.  Not to say there weren't some culinary highlights, like a sometimes daily trip to the Dinosaur Cafe for "Gumbolaya" a mutant mix of the two for dirt cheap.  Biga Pizza.  Big Dipper Ice Cream.  It wasn't so bad, just could have used, you know, one great Indian place.

For months I was treated to some brow-raising shows.  First, it was King Elephant, and the Magpies.  The Magpies continued, and got better and better, with an addition of Hank Donovan on guitar.  King Elephant disbanded, and Joey Running Crane hopped into a few new projects.  Boss Fight.  Solo gigs.  He then assembled a super solid crew and called it "Joey Running Crane and the Dirty Birds."  This continued for half a year or so.

...and like that, they're gone. I suppose it's a fitting end for Joey Running Crane's newest endeavor, him and his "dirty birds". Haven't seen that level of energy out of Joey since King Elephant. Their final Ole Beck VFW residency show. The kick-off to a new festival, Camp Daze, in Missoula. As the clock struck midnight, it's nine days before I leave Montana after 2 years in what was really, supposed to only be 6 months. "I swear." Funny how things turn out sometimes. My time in this town ends how it began, Joey and Magpies, but in different forms. Extremely heated sets by folks I've been endlessly impressed with, and infinitely happy I've met. Cheers.

There's a lot more to it than that, of course.  That's where Episode 2 comes in.

...and so began Indonesia.

DOM Studio : The Final Frontier

Dom Studio is the final gig.  A sheer mess of noise.  Recalling a melting hot brain, as three different languages swirl around in my head, none of them really taking hold in any major way.

A messy, jilted trip, and I hope to make a film that can reflect just that.  Tour's are a shit-show from a base level, but when you open your throat and let three of the hardest drinking countries pour it all down...it's a blessing we got out alive.

We did what we set out to do, and that was to craft something unique, make a whole lot of noise with a ton of new friends, and wreck out brains for the power of the greater good.  Spreading noise clear across the back alleys, major sidewalks, and anywhere it could ooze its way in.

This film is currently in post production, shooting for a summer 2016 release.  I wrote another long-form piece on Impose Magazine about it.  Read it HERE.  Cheers.

Tokyo

Tokyo.  The booze takes hold, but Japan's deep gulp swallows you in.  Businesses stacked on one another towering over you, you wonder if you'll ever have a handle on a single percent of it. With this heavy drinking, booze soaked trip nearly behind us, we do what only real sensible idiots would do : schedule four shows in Tokyo in 2 days.  Why not?

First up, a show that was slated to begin at 10AM at Shinjuku Jam.  We barely drag ourselves up (at least, myself) at noon and head out.  Shinjuku jam is already lit.  We're talking red-eyed, heavy breathing drunk.  It's amazing.  There's a gigantic fellow yelling in a mic in the corner.  There's some sort of bald-cap wearing crazy shit happening, and everyone's laughing, but I'll never understand it.  Rock bands.  GUIGUISUISUI.  Noise Arcade.  Just another morning...or...afternoon, in Tokyo.  I'm not sure I even know what time it is anymore.  It doesn't matter, anyway.

Gamuso Chroma with Android Beach Party.  An expat led surf rock band with Korean players he guides and writes everything for.  They're fun.  Mana Hardcore.  There's a baby running around during GUIGUISUISUI, and I have to wonder what is going on in this little kid's head.  Must feel like a bad acid trip to the little fellow.  Noise Arcade seeps into my brain more and more with every set.  I'll have some sort of David Lynch style nightmare about it some day, I'm sure.

A last minute show at Moon Palace sets us in an alley, waiting for the thing to open.  It's some sort of whiskey bar, and in the mean-while, I start bothering a J-Pop star who's been stuck inside with a legion of fans eagerly waiting in the alley, merely a few mortal feet away.  He comes out, and I act like I'm interviewing him.  Really I'm just hungover, and all the girls are laughing, taking photos.  I asked around to the people hanging on, but nobody could give me a clear answer except "he's famous."  How do I get on that tip, Japan?  Suntory, give me a ring.

Tomorrow : DOM Studio.  The final act.

El Puente in the outskirts of Tokyo

Yokohama, Japan. El Puente. Another killer eclectic bill of musical stylings from noise, jam-psych.  A highlight of the night was Elephant Noiz Kashimashi.  Wild noise.  The venue, a tapas style spanish-influenced live house owned by ShigeruThe Shig Sato. One of the most lively bar owners I've met in a long time. He fed us beers and good food the whole night. He's super stoked on what he's doing. He lived in Los Angeles for a long time before moving back. He wanted to bring the DIY, non pay-to-play spirit back to Yokohama, a place he says has no proper venues. If you tour Japan, definitely stop by here on your way to Tokyo.

This is PUNK DISCO. They call themselves "hyper digi-punk". Killer skate-punk with all members going bonkers, especially the front-man. Dude running around getting everyone geeked out the whole show, mixed with some really colorful locals, made for some of the best mix of bands of this whole tour. Add in Shigeru's overwhelmingly wonderful hospitality, and you have yourself a killer night of noise.  Do yourself a favor and take the hour trip to El Puente in Yokohama. You'll be happy you did. Onward, Tokyo!!

When someone rolls up with a vacuum cleaner...

"Now we will clean." Osaka, Japan. DIY improv noise night at FIGYA. Mizutama Araki's great space in an art warehouse district neighborhood. As 大担 said...off the hook. Yuko Tomino and Kozue bang around with contact mics and water, pans. Kozue has gadgets hooked up to a vacuum cleaner. All sorts of shit I will never understand. Speaker play. Psychedelic jams from the nicest fellow ever. A wholly original, stellar night. Osaka, you rule. So much hospitality, such great people. Yokohama tomorrow. The final show before a 4 gig stint in Tokyo.

FIGYA, Osaka

Back in Osaka. Returned to Mizutama Araki's space FIGYA. Relaxing, playing with noise gadgets. Megumi, Mizutama's wife breaks out a few dozen of these small motion sensor birds. Satoshi, a musician who will play tonight, shows up and starts playing guitar.

Megumi finds a small insect she bought in Taiwan that makes noise when you spin it. I joke we should start a noise band called "Bird Rock", our first EP to be released now. We all start messing around. I film a bit, then take out my sound recorder and join in. 13 minutes. "Bird Rock" has formed, chirps and guitar plucking and synth soundscapes. I suppose you could call it my 2nd improv noise set in Asia. EP release this fall.

Tonight should be great. Onward, Osaka!

Blond New Half

Kobe, Japan. Blond New Half. You can probably guess what that means. Bowie meets Jesus Lizard spazz punk. Awesome licks. Nice guys. One of them had a Jesus Lizard shirt on. It kind of sounded like that, too.  Deep, dark bass lines.  Noise that'd make any Brainiac fan smile.  Really original.  Japan has a tendency to be wholly on top of their shit, talent wise, because they have to.  This band is no different, but no attitude either.  Nice dudes.  They also love Silkworm and Bottomless Pit. A great show. One hour on a train from Osaka. Tonight, FIGYA, a small DIY style space in an artist warehouse district.

A haven in Osaka

We speed through Oita, where Dann and Michael punch out noise to one of the most unique crowds yet.  Osaka, Japan. A travel day. We meet Mizutama, our host who runs an art space and DIY show spot in an art district of the city. Super nice fellow. He brings us to his exhibition, a mix of photos, tofu sitting in water, films, and a few rooms of his own crazy creations.

Today we sleep above the venue in traditional style sleeping arrangements. Wonderful. Tomorrow, we head to a show in Kobe, and then back to Osaka for a show in his space. Japan rules. The cities we've been in are smaller, but even Osaka, it's got a relaxed vibe to the whole thing. It's all as meticulously clean as everyone says. The food is killer. The fast trains, unreal.

After today, the Guiguisuisui[鬼鬼祟祟] and Noise Arcade goes full speed and ends with 4 shows in 3 days setting on Tokyo. Let's roll.

Nice Legs, MACMANAMAN...Hello, Japan!

Seoul ended well.  Nice Legs are a trippy, heated three piece led by Lauren Walker, who just so happened to be the cousin of an old friend from High School.  I can't make this stuff up.  Many thanks to Ollie and Shai for hosting us, and helping along the way.  We ended in Busan at a bar called "Basement", and local GENIUS blew me away.  Look them up.  Excellent.  

Fukuoka, Japan kicks things off with a seriously stacked 6 band bill.  Everything from Hendrix style stoner licks, to this bat-shit crazy math rock band called MACMANAMAN.  Cheers, Japan.  

Johny Q and the Space Moon

Seoul, South Korea. Space Moon.

This filmed turned a corner last night, for a number of reasons. First off, the singer of Nice Legs is my old friend from high school's COUSIN,Lindsey Simard. If you needed a reminder of how small of a world it is, there you go. The venue : Space Moon.

Aside from Nice Legs - Gonguri 공구리, Guiguisuisui[鬼鬼祟祟], and Noise Arcade rip the place apart. Johny Q was a fellow 大担 told me was a vehemently top pick for someone he NEEDED to be a part of this. He agreed, and now I see why. Most fun I've had filming a guitarist in a long time. You are going to love this. The best interviews of the trip, followed by some great noisy busking on the streets. Today, a day off.

Tomorrow, Daegu. 

Makgeolli Man

大担 told a story about when he lived here, how there's a “Makgeolli Man”. A wild-eyed joyful fellow who would tow around dozens of bottles of this delicious rice wine elixir, and if he came up to you, you'd play rock-paper-scissors. If you won, a free bottle for you. If you lost, you had to buy one. It's super cheap anyway so it's supposedly a win win either way just to interact with the guy. Right before Yamagata Tweakster is set to tear the place apart, in comes Makgeolli Man. Dann's eyes light up, I turn my camera on and film what I can of this maniacally joyful fellow yelling “MAKGEOLLI! I LOVE YOU!”, and he was gone with a flash. Dann said he had the exact same clothes on as the last time he saw him, four years ago.

Yamagata Tweakster

Seoul, South Korea. yamagata tweakster. Really down the rabbit hole now. Korea is as amazing as I thought it would be. The venue was Yogiga, a medium sized basement style DIY art space in the middle of a trendy neighborhood. Some cool openers, but Yamagata Tweakster stole the show, running around making everyone do high kicks to some noisy disco style weirdness. Unexplainable, really.

He ran outside with a train of cute girls, circling in the streets, belting it out on a mic that was only hearable in the venue meters away....finally coming back for more drop-kicking melt-down. That's gonna be some killer video. Great people here, and some ridiculous shows coming up. Obviously, more to come. Tomorrow, Jeonju.

East Guinness Crew : Korea

Jeonju, South Korea. Spreading the word. Guiguisuisui[鬼鬼祟祟] and Noise Arcade play to 5 people in a "small city". I crowdsurf twice during Noise Arcade. 大担 kills it. He lived in South Korea for nearly two years and has never been here. They finish up, and a dozen kids roll in from a local breakdancing crew. We make one of them go up on stage, and he spits out some rhymes with ease. 

I grab Dann and have the kid on stage do an interview outside. Not sure what was said, but it seemed good. We end with some video of him spinning on one hand, and "sleep" in a "bath-house" They're holding TWU mix CD's I handed out.  Love it.