5.6.7.8's rocks some socks

Media Credit: Courtesy Yamami / the5678s.net 1, 2, 3: Yoshiko Yamaguchi, Sachiko Fujiyama and Yoshiko ´Ronnie´ Fujiyama.

Five gong hits by drummer Sachiko Fujiyama signified that the 5.6.7.8's had arrived at the Black Cat Tuesday night. After toiling in relative obscurity for more than 15 years, through breakups and roster changes, the all-girl Japanese trio has seen a sudden rise in popularity during the past year since their appearance in Quentin Tarantino's blood-drenched epic, "Kill Bill Vol. 1."

The group was originally formed during a short-lived surf-guitar and early '60s resurgence in the late '80s and they were finishing up their short swing across the United States in a big way by playing the Black Cat to a packed house. By the time leader singer and guitarist Yoshiko "Ronnie" Fujiyama (no relation to the drummer) throated in coy, broken English, "We are 5.6.7.8's from Tokyo," the Cat purred approvingly.

Of course, the promoters seemed intent on making the crowd sing for its supper with two bizarrely mismatched opening acts that made Cat-goers hungry for something better. First up was the Fever, personal friends of the 5.6.7.8's who have been accompanying them across the States. Yes folks, another "The" band in an era when the prefix is starting to loose its charm again. The band itself was mediocre but competent, doing their best Ramones impression without a throaty bass line or much of a direction. C'mon guys, Johnny isn't even cold yet.

Next came Dead Moon, an aging punk band of what looked like Neil Young's demented siblings that no one talks to at Thanksgiving. Nevertheless, they've managed to maintain a small, cultish fan base. If nothing else, their handful of fans added a unique dichotomy to the place. Seeing a large Grizzly Adams knock-off adorned in a Smith college t-shirt, with fistfuls of beer in both hands, standing next to a petite young woman in a pink kimono was one of the more bizarre contrasts of the night.

Dead Moon was refreshingly dynamic at first, serving as rich chewing tobacco to the Fever's Bazooka Joe. The aging trio consisted of husband and wife Fred and Toody Cole, with Andrew Loomis on drums. According to allmusic.com, ol' Fred spent the Vietnam War up in Canada hunting grizzly bears. Most people would have probably wanted to hear stories about that instead of the last 30 minutes of their agonizingly long 45-minute set. Sorry guys, wrong card to go overtime. Pick up a bar of soap on the way out.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools