Japanese noise-rockers the Boredoms will mount a rare assault on U.S.
shores beginning June 9 at the Seaport Atrium on New York City's
Lower East Side.
The monthlong tour -- the band's first North American swing in more
than five years -- will also include stops in Philadelphia, Chicago,
Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The caustic ensemble -- led by Yamatsuka Eye, who is also known by
such aliases as Yamantaka, Yamataka, Ai, EYE Y, Odd Bodysuit E.Y.E
(Dad), Rav Yechida and King Kazoo Eye -- released its tenth studio
album, Super Are, earlier this year. A collage of backward tape
screeches, monstrous guitar chords and cut-and-paste instrumentals,
Super Are features such spastic sonic assaults as "Super Going"
(RealAudio excerpt), "Super Coming," "Super Are You" and "Super
Shine."
The Boredoms, who have had a constantly shifting lineup, currently
include such cryptically-named members as guitarist Yamamotor,
bassist Hira, drummer/trumpet player Yoshimi and drummer Atari.
With the support from such fellow rockers as Sonic Youth and Nirvana,
the band was signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1993 and released the
unrelentingly abrasive Pop Tatari. In addition to being leaders of
the Japanese noise scene, the Boredoms have a reputation for over-the-
top stage shows that often involve odd theatrics and chaotic, high-
decibel sheets of sound.
The final date on the Boredoms' tour will be an appearance at the
July 4 rock festival This Ain't No Picnic at Oak Canyon Ranch in
Orange County, Calif. The roster for the show is packed with some of
the most popular and respected names in experimental and underground
rock, including Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney and Guided By Voices.
Also on the bill are rock bands Rocket From the Crypt, Sunny Day Real
Estate, Superchunk, Apples in Stereo and Mike Watt.
"[These are] diverse voices -- bands that aren't scared to be
different," said Mike Watt, the ex-fIREHOSE singer/bassist whose most
recent solo album, Contemplating the Engine Room, features the
track "Breaking the Choke Hold" (RealAudio excerpt).
"There's not one sound for everybody that day," said Watt, whose
early-'80s punk band the Minutemen recorded the song "This Ain't No
Picnic," which inspired the festival's name.
The Boredoms will be in good company on the Picnic bill, which also
boasts such avant-garde, ambient and offbeat artists as Hovercraft,
Scarnella, Will Oldham and the literary Belle and Sebastian side
project Looper.
Boredoms' U.S. Tour Dates:
June 9; New York, N.Y.; South Street Seaport Atrium
June 11; Philadelphia, Pa.; Trocadero
June 12; New Haven, Conn.; TBA
June 13; Washington, D.C.; 9:30 Club
June 14; Cambridge, Mass.; Middle East Downstairs
June 17; Toronto, Ontario; Opera House
June 18; Pontiac, Mich.; 7th House
June 19; Chicago, Ill.; Metro
June 20; Minneapolis, Minn.; First Avenue
June 22; Denver, Colo.; Fox Theater
June 25-26; San Francisco, Calif.; Slim's
June 28; Portland, Ore.; Crystal Ballroom
(i'LL BE TRYING FOR THIS ONE)
June 29; Vancouver, British Columbia; Richards on Richards
June 30; Seattle, Wash.; Crocodile Cafe
July 3; San Diego, Calif.; Brick By Brick
July 4; Orange County, Calif.; Oak Canyon Ranch (Los Angeles Orange
County Festival)
Yahoo! Groups Links
• To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theboredoms/
• To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[email protected]
• Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
― Reviewer: Sir Potomus (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (ex machina), Saturday, 29 January 2005 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)
WAIT The caustic ensemble -- led by Yamatsuka Eye, who is also known by
such aliases as Yamantaka, Yamataka, Ai, EYE Y, Odd Bodysuit E.Y.E
(Dad), Rav Yechida and King Kazoo Eye -- released its tenth studio
album, Super Are, earlier this year. A collage of backward tape
screeches, monstrous guitar chords and cut-and-paste instrumentals,
Super Are features such spastic sonic assaults as "Super Going"
(RealAudio excerpt), "Super Coming," "Super Are You" and "Super
Shine."
― Reviewer: Sir Potomus (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (ex machina), Saturday, 29 January 2005 00:59 (twenty-one years ago)