They are not maternal. They are PUNK AS F*CK.
May 24, 2024 5:27 PM Subscribe
Otoboke Beaver: A quartet from Kyoto with an unusually complex and original stye of punk rock, played with great precision, energy, and attitude. Their songs tend to stop, start, and change tempo unpredictably, but they make it look deceptively easy and natural.
The name is taken from a cheap love hotel in Osaka. "Otoboke" describes one clowning around in a buffoonish manner. Which they often do, but sometimes it makes you wonder if the buffoon they're mocking is you.
Their lyrics are peppered with Kansai-ben (lingo and wordplay unique to the regional dialect of Kansai), often with crude sexual references that are hilarious if you're in on the joke. And the bits of English they put in their lyrics remain unabashedly Japanese. “I was irritated by the comment, ‘If you can’t pronounce it properly, don’t use English,’ in response to my katakana English in ‘Don’t Light My Fire,’” a song from the group’s 2019 debut album, explains Accorinrin. “So I deliberately use English a lot.”
Lead singer Accorinrin is pissed off and in-your-face. The lyrics seem to demand that you answer their questions and fuck off at the same time. Guitarist Yoyoyoshie cheerfully bangs out barre chords interspersed with all kinds of chaotic fretwork, while having the time of her life on every song. Bassist Hiro casually lays down ridiculously complicated bass lines and chord progressions so effortlessly that it's hard to comprehend how she's doing it while looking so relaxed. And drummer Kahokiss generates super-tight, crazy-fast, machine-gun style beats what would make an ordinary drummer's arms fall off.
They're seemingly full of contradictions. The music is both inaccessible and catchy. Both kowai (scary) and kawaii (cute) -- albeit in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, although not necessarily (one is never sure). It somehow seems appropriate that this radical, cutting edge band hails from Kyoto, which is known for its traditional character, and seen by tourists as the land of geiko and maiko.
Whatever they are, their live shows are powerful, explosive performances. Dave Grohl summed it all up as follows: "It’ll blow your mind, dude. It’s the most fucking intense shit you’ve ever seen.”
The name is taken from a cheap love hotel in Osaka. "Otoboke" describes one clowning around in a buffoonish manner. Which they often do, but sometimes it makes you wonder if the buffoon they're mocking is you.
Their lyrics are peppered with Kansai-ben (lingo and wordplay unique to the regional dialect of Kansai), often with crude sexual references that are hilarious if you're in on the joke. And the bits of English they put in their lyrics remain unabashedly Japanese. “I was irritated by the comment, ‘If you can’t pronounce it properly, don’t use English,’ in response to my katakana English in ‘Don’t Light My Fire,’” a song from the group’s 2019 debut album, explains Accorinrin. “So I deliberately use English a lot.”
Lead singer Accorinrin is pissed off and in-your-face. The lyrics seem to demand that you answer their questions and fuck off at the same time. Guitarist Yoyoyoshie cheerfully bangs out barre chords interspersed with all kinds of chaotic fretwork, while having the time of her life on every song. Bassist Hiro casually lays down ridiculously complicated bass lines and chord progressions so effortlessly that it's hard to comprehend how she's doing it while looking so relaxed. And drummer Kahokiss generates super-tight, crazy-fast, machine-gun style beats what would make an ordinary drummer's arms fall off.
They're seemingly full of contradictions. The music is both inaccessible and catchy. Both kowai (scary) and kawaii (cute) -- albeit in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, although not necessarily (one is never sure). It somehow seems appropriate that this radical, cutting edge band hails from Kyoto, which is known for its traditional character, and seen by tourists as the land of geiko and maiko.
Whatever they are, their live shows are powerful, explosive performances. Dave Grohl summed it all up as follows: "It’ll blow your mind, dude. It’s the most fucking intense shit you’ve ever seen.”
Thanks for this.
I came across them on YouTube last year and have been a fan ever since.
No Vancouver dates, yet. I generally stopped going to gigs some years ago but I imagine I would go see them; their live shows shows look absolutely insane.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 6:29 PM on May 24
I came across them on YouTube last year and have been a fan ever since.
No Vancouver dates, yet. I generally stopped going to gigs some years ago but I imagine I would go see them; their live shows shows look absolutely insane.
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 6:29 PM on May 24
Curious. I am interested in seeing them play live if they venture to southern Ontario.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:42 PM on May 24
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 6:42 PM on May 24
killer band. great post!
posted by j_curiouser at 7:44 PM on May 24
posted by j_curiouser at 7:44 PM on May 24
>their live shows shows look absolutely insane.
I saw them for the first time in April. It was jaw-dropping. Like, they don't count in -- every song just starts! How do they pull that off??
It's hard to decide who's more impressive, but the sheer level of abandoned joy the guitarist displays is a thing to behold. I've literally never seen another musician having so much fun playing in a band.
posted by mikeand1 at 7:45 PM on May 24 [7 favorites]
I saw them for the first time in April. It was jaw-dropping. Like, they don't count in -- every song just starts! How do they pull that off??
It's hard to decide who's more impressive, but the sheer level of abandoned joy the guitarist displays is a thing to behold. I've literally never seen another musician having so much fun playing in a band.
posted by mikeand1 at 7:45 PM on May 24 [7 favorites]
They do make The Plastics seem weirdly sedate.
posted by Droll Lord at 7:48 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
posted by Droll Lord at 7:48 PM on May 24 [1 favorite]
Holy crap. They are the best.
Tiny Desk two weeks ago!
posted by gwint at 8:44 PM on May 24 [5 favorites]
Tiny Desk two weeks ago!
posted by gwint at 8:44 PM on May 24 [5 favorites]
>I saw them for the first time in April. It was jaw-dropping. Like, they don't count in -- every song just starts! How do they pull that off??
Wow, that's so cool!
Also, I get a Nomeansno vibe from their music, does anyone else here get that?
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 9:19 PM on May 24 [2 favorites]
Wow, that's so cool!
Also, I get a Nomeansno vibe from their music, does anyone else here get that?
posted by Phlegmco(tm) at 9:19 PM on May 24 [2 favorites]
Great to see them on here! Even just watching the videos you can feel how great their live shows would be.
posted by crossswords at 9:29 PM on May 24
posted by crossswords at 9:29 PM on May 24
Wow!, they're a breath of fresh air, some Pistol-y riiffs, as shouty as Benefits .. at least as whatever as Amyl [somewhat nsfw], and some 'interesting' graphics in their Don't Light My Fire with the lips:gladwrap thing. Lots of infleunces but all comes together nicely. Shows look quire wild with a Japanese flavour but still energetic and yes some happy silliness.
posted by unearthed at 1:07 AM on May 25
posted by unearthed at 1:07 AM on May 25
Cool stuff. I suspect I would not survive one of their live shows, but maybe all the more reason to go.
posted by maxwelton at 1:14 AM on May 25
posted by maxwelton at 1:14 AM on May 25
7am on a quiet Saturday morning, and you throw this noise in my face???
THANK YOU!!!!
Holy fuck, they’re amazing! What a blast! Now I’m dreaming of them playing a double bill with Band Maid! What a night of glorious noise that would be!
posted by Thorzdad at 5:07 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
THANK YOU!!!!
Holy fuck, they’re amazing! What a blast! Now I’m dreaming of them playing a double bill with Band Maid! What a night of glorious noise that would be!
posted by Thorzdad at 5:07 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
They’re on Damnably, a label that specializes in bands from Japan and Korea. I like them a lot, but for my money the best band on Damnably—and possibly the world—is Say Sue Me, a jangly surf pop/shoegaze band from Busan. My favorite songs by Say Sue Me are My Problem and No Real Place.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:30 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
posted by pxe2000 at 6:30 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
Wow, this was a really happy start to my day. What a great band I’d never heard of before - thank you! That Tiny Desk show is awesome.
posted by glaucon at 6:33 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
posted by glaucon at 6:33 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
Saw them at the Crocodile here in Seattle, with two awesome support bands ( Drinking Boys and Girls Choir , Lemon Boy). They were incredible and had all the amazing energy you see in the video and more.
posted by Artw at 10:10 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 10:10 AM on May 25 [1 favorite]
Great stuff!
Artw, interesting you mention Seattle's Lemon Boy, I have been into their subversion ever since I saw this article about them on Real Change, and it seems that they just dropped their first full length album on Bandcamp.
posted by splitpeasoup at 4:37 PM on May 25 [1 favorite]
Artw, interesting you mention Seattle's Lemon Boy, I have been into their subversion ever since I saw this article about them on Real Change, and it seems that they just dropped their first full length album on Bandcamp.
posted by splitpeasoup at 4:37 PM on May 25 [1 favorite]
Niiiiice. Thank you for that info.
I find them a bit ungooglable because of the Cave Town song.
posted by Artw at 4:43 PM on May 25
I find them a bit ungooglable because of the Cave Town song.
posted by Artw at 4:43 PM on May 25
I feel like three tornadoes at once could hit the stage and Yoyoyoshie would bounce between them, still playing, and emerge grinning.
posted by delfin at 7:43 PM on May 25 [4 favorites]
posted by delfin at 7:43 PM on May 25 [4 favorites]
Also, I get a Nomeansno vibe from their music, does anyone else here get that?
Yeah, a bit. I guess from the frenetic style. I was thinking more of songs like Obsessed or No Fgcnuik, though.
Fun fact: I came home one afternoon and Bruno was in my living room. If I remember it right, he’d recently got out of jail.
Anyhow, will try to keep an eye out for any Otoboke Beaver shows.
posted by house-goblin at 9:49 PM on May 25 [1 favorite]
Yeah, a bit. I guess from the frenetic style. I was thinking more of songs like Obsessed or No Fgcnuik, though.
Fun fact: I came home one afternoon and Bruno was in my living room. If I remember it right, he’d recently got out of jail.
Anyhow, will try to keep an eye out for any Otoboke Beaver shows.
posted by house-goblin at 9:49 PM on May 25 [1 favorite]
More bands in this vein: Melt-Banana, Afrirampo
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 3:55 AM on May 26 [1 favorite]
posted by polytope subirb enby-of-piano-dice at 3:55 AM on May 26 [1 favorite]
Saw them in March at the legendary Cat's Cradle in Carrboro NC, and it was everything and then some! Featuring, among other things, crowd-surfing upon a large inflatable beaver :)
1000 percent recommend :)
posted by fikri at 7:42 AM on May 26 [2 favorites]
1000 percent recommend :)
posted by fikri at 7:42 AM on May 26 [2 favorites]
I was looking for something new to add to my Lightning Bolt/Melt-Banana/Fantomas bus-ride-to-work playlist. This is great!
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:27 AM on May 28
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 7:27 AM on May 28
Also, I get a Nomeansno vibe from their music, does anyone else here get that?
Yeah, was gonna comment that they sound like Nomeansno meets Shonen Knife to me.
posted by StacySeeWhy at 2:23 PM on May 28 [1 favorite]
Yeah, was gonna comment that they sound like Nomeansno meets Shonen Knife to me.
posted by StacySeeWhy at 2:23 PM on May 28 [1 favorite]
Mod note: This is an awesome post and we've added it to the sidebar and Best Of blog!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:38 AM on May 29
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:38 AM on May 29
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