Some of the Best Bands are Japanese

If you're into the independent/alternative music scene, you may have come across some interesting bands from Japan. For example, there's eX-Girl, pictured above, who rock out in funky, spacesuit style outfits and place frogs, or kerokerokeros all over the stage. There's also the Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O, a psychedelic band that's undergone so many transformations yet still keeps pressing the envelope for greatness. There are also the more well-known Boredoms and Shonen Knife, who perhaps ushered in the wacky stylings of alternative Japanese music to the US. Then there's Guitar Wolf, who, along with creating some of the noisiest, most interesting music around as a post-punk garage band, also put out the extremely bizarre films, Wild Zero and Sore Losers , the former of which is best described by Wikipedia as a "'Jet rock 'n roll' zombie horror comedy cult classic." Indeed, all sorts of music genres take the stage in Japan -- and make their way to the US, where they find more popularity than they do at home.

These bands have a few things in common: first, each creates a distinct sound different from one another. Second, they have an over-abundance of energy and showmanship. Third, they represent a subculture of Japan not otherwise given a voice. And fourth, they simply are fine musicians.

Perhaps the first band to "make it" in America was Shonen Knife, an all-girl punk band that gained popularity with skateboarders back in the '80s. They were cute, singing "Bicycling is Fun," for example, with high pitched voices and cute little outfits. As they've grown older, their sound has matured to the point where they now tour large venues and attract a diverse crowd -- still skaters,yes, but also jocks, frat boys and hipsters.

Another Japanese band that first made strides here was the Boredoms. This noise band from Osaka features the very enigmatic Yamantaka Eye, the lead singer. With his crazy voice and onstage antics, he befriended the people in Sonic Youth; eventually the two toured together and collaborated on albums. The Boredoms also toured with Nirvana, giving the band an even greater audience of die-hard fans. The band OOIOO is an amazing offshoot of the Boredoms.

Other bands, of course, helped pave the way for new Japanese acts to tour in America, but there are simply too many to talk about.

Aside from Shonen Knife, many a girl group abounds in Japan. Along with the amazing eX-Girl, there's Cibo Mato, Red Bacteria Vacuum, Jinny Oops and Chatmonchy, the last three of which are new entries into the zany world of Japanese female rockers. I saw these three bands play at the Independent in San Francisco as part of Japan Nite, a night devoted to 5 Japanese bands, and let me tell you -- never have I seen such expertise on bass, drums and guitar. Each band had amazing energy, entertaining facades and hardcore music for all to enjoy. Their broken English is absolutely endearing; most Japanese band members don't speak English but rather try to sing in it at times, which is even more heartwarming.

These girl bands differ from, say, Bratmobile or Slater-Kinney, because they really attempt to put on a show, unlike the US bands who just come out and play. Jinny Oops, for example, came out in showgirl costumes and danced around as they played, showing an exuberance I've never seen before.

Perhaps the most versatile of the Japanese bands I'm talking about herein are the Acid Mothers Temple and the Melting Paraiso U.F.O., which formed in 1995. Led by Kawabata Makoto, the band has seen members come and go and the band's name changed countless times, yet Makoto keeps it all together, producing the band's crazy, loud psychedelia for which they are known. They are prolific producers of music; for example, in 2002, they released four albums and three EPs, all while touring, stopping at South by Southwest in Austin, TX, where they were named one of the top three bands at that renowned music showcase for new talent.

There's nothing like seeing the Acid Mothers play. Well, there's actually nothing like hearing them, because they play at such a loud volume, the likes of which I have never heard from any other band. Yet they show mastery in everything they do.

Honestly, I could go on and on about Japanese music and all the amazing bands out there, but this hopefully is an intriguing smattering of an introduction to some of my favorites.

If you want to venture off the path of the boring, then venture into Japanoise and all its splendor. When you see one of the bands, they will likely scream, "WE ARE FROM TOKYO (or wherever), JAPAN": before they play; this way you'll know not to expect the usual.