this tall building is self sufficient Eco building, actually generates enough solar power to sell to surrounding buildings as well.
Outside in the plaza is a strange giant spider sculpture, perhaps in wait of any remaining Leihman Bros execitives crawling about, last known haunt for them.
Last night went to another local gig in Shimo, "The Shelter" packed as usual. 200 people crammed into a tiny area.
The very first band on the bottom of the bill,"Winnie", would blow most Aussie power pop guitar bands right off the stage with their first song. My jaw was hanging on the ground for the first 3 songs, The rest of the set I was just smiling, wondering how any band could follow this act. Imagine Teenage Fanclub meets The Posies on nitro-fuel with 10 hit songs in a row. A powerful hi energy unit, great all original song rep. All sung in English with lots of deadly accurate 3 part harmonies, tight as hell imaginative guitar arrangements, powerhouse bass and drummer, lead guitarist could stand with best in the world. 4 boys, one girl on rhythm guitar (suitably cute) gave them a great vocal sound, no accents btw. Very original sounding act that could obviously tour the world and impress anyone.
2nd,band on, "Forget Me A Knot" was an even more hi-energy act, more of a mosh-pit thrash thing, but still a pop and melodic sensabilty underneath. The audience erupted immediately, crowd sufing jumping to the ceiling (which was padded), however no stage diving as it is considered rude to invade the artists performance space. They did however have a couple of guys at the edge of the stage to turn back anyone who accidentally got rolled to close to the monitors. The tiny female gtr player in the trio was very competent and held the whole thing together at all times with her Gibson hollow body guitar and Marshall amp issuing solid funky metallic sounds, rhythms and chord riffs so tight you couldn't jam a knife between them. bassist was a melodic player and a good voice too, he did probably most of the lead vocals as guitar player had her hands full. No ballads from these guys.
Didn't stay for 3rd band as was getting too much for in the venue with moshing and heat. Don't imagine 3rd band was gonna be any less enregy of softer LOL
Overall standard of both bands astounding. As usual with Shimo gigs no matter how small, always a star band on amongst the bill. 2nd band on last night, "Forget Me A Knot" are booked to plat Budokan tonight, so no wonder it was packed. A very scary thing for a western musician to see these sort of bands. No warm ups, no chill outs, just straight in at 110% first notes, except for a designated time in the set where the band talks to the audience and jokes around, to build a bond perhaps, but also to tell them of their next shows. All the while the audience is silently listening, so quite in fact, that you can here band tuning there guitars with out the amps on. Good value for mony gig even if just for the firsst band "Winnie" who were frightenlingly good and instantly likeable. I will be following this band on the net for sure and will be at the front if they ever come to OZ