I don't want to overstate things, but the band I saw the other night was the meaning of life. It's a punk/garage rock band called Electric Eel Shock from Tokyo, and they played at a very small club called the Bug Jar in Rochester, NY. As soon as they opened with the riff to "Iron Man," a feeling of glee flushed up in my throat. For some reason, though, it was a mixture of joy and guilt, like finding $20 on the street. From that opening thunder, I knew I was part of a select group (about 50 people) that had discovered something.

This was no cover band, mind you. They were just smart enough to realize everyone in the crowd was thinking "What does Japanese rock sound like?" and they needed to make an immediate connection.

This trio of dudes, who weighed hardly more than 300 lbs. put together, brought the heaviest melodic sound I've heard in a long time. It was almost like throwing all the Seattle bands together. Due to broken English (I don't think it was Japanese) and the noise frenzy, you really couldn't decipher many lyrics. There wasn't a need. I've never seen so many people smiling at a hard rock show. This may also have been due to the pesky lead singer contorting his face like Jim Carrey in "The Mask" while ripping through chords on his flying V guitar. He sported a Hendrix-like fro and whipped the crowd into mayhem over e-mail. Yes, e-mail. When asking everyone to sign up for their mailing list, he started yelling "E-mail" in this demonic, bellow, and everyone caught on and started yelling it back. He then delivered the funniest line in a while, "Sex, Drugs and Eeeeeeeee-mail."

And as if they needed to add to his stage presence, the drummer wore nothing but a sock. Yeh, the Chili Peppers have done it before, but I doubt in such an intimate atmosphere. After they finished the set, this guy's ass was within my reach as he meandered around the first few rows waiting to play the encore. Funny shit.

The only down side was the show was a little short. They played about 40-45 minutes. It might have been due to the bar wrapping up, cuz I know they have at least 2 CDs. Their debut from 1997 was called "Maybe...I think we can beat Nirvana." If Kurt were around it might be different, but the other night they did beat Nirvana.

And they beat all the other bands I saw in 2002 as well. Yeh, I've pretty much been stuck in Rochester, NY, for the last year, but they are up against some heavyweights. And although the show was technically Jan. 4, I'm going to include it with the bands I've seen within the last year.

1. Electric Eel Shock
2. Weezer
3. The Doves
4. La Pieta-A Brooklyn based trio that was the next best thing to Yo La Tengo.
5. Sparta

hmm, japanese rock. yes. i think i'll look more into that. thanks for the recommendation.
as for my top 5 of 2002... (and i'm incredibly biased)

1. LP (the best goddamned female rocker, ever.)
2. The All Thumbs Trio
3. Wilco
4. The Rolling Stones
5. Cracker

..whew... that was harder than i expected.
and i have to give an honerable mention to Aerosmith. those guys are still kicking and well into their 50s, so word to them. they always put on an incredibly high energy show.

ahh, Midpoint? I was there. A couple of our bands (Everyday Heroes, & Fenster) were there. Didn't catch any acts though. Just went for conferences/seminars and came home. I gave that Midpoint comp disc a spin though... couple decent bands. Cameron Meshell and Katie Todd Band stuck out as the superiors.

This is a little late but back to the original post way back from the 9th....FUCK YEAH!!! Electric Eel Shock rocked! I saw them back in November when I was visiting Seattle for a week. They were amazing. Like the MC5 packaged into three little japanese guys. When I saw them they also said the thing about Sex, Drugs, and Email!!! But I thought that he said "Evil" not "Email". If anyone has ever seen Guitar Wolf, another great rock'n'roll band from Japan, it was comparable to that, both put on a great rock'n'roll show and it was hard to tell if they were joking or what. But I talked to the guitar player briefly after the show and it wasn't a put-on, he didn't speak english hardly at all. I like that they just seemed to be having a great time onstage.

Electric Eel Shock are playing Cincinnati this April, check out http://www.thevoid.cc to see when. Hopefully someone will book them in Columbus, if not I guess I'll be making the trip.