Turning Japanese

PEELANDER-Z

The problem with seeing a favorite band over and over again is that it might old. That’s why bands keep releasing new music, hoping to play old favorites, but mixing in new songs they haven’t tried before. Since Cristina and I have been steadily following Peelander-Z since 2008, I have to say that it’s been really fun to see the band through the evolution of their gigs. Sometime it’s the same-old-thing, but it’s fun and never gets old.

So, I have been listening to Peelander-Z’s new album, Space Vacation, it doesn’t capture the energy and happiness of seeing them live. But what it is, it’s a good themed album. Unlike their moving to the countryside theme of “P-TV-Z, Space Vacation seems to follow a visitor who came to Earth and is introduced to Sushi. It’s not as complicated as it sound.

The music is typical Peelander-Z, a little DIY and punk attitude, however I thought their lead single “Star Bowling” and “Mr Tea” sounded really pop. Fans of punk should be comfortable with “Big Bang” and “Sa Yo Na La-La”, which sounds like the Ramones from Japan.

As a cover-lover, you know that I did appreciate their cover of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”. I wasn’t absolutely sure if it’s some voice modification, but I think it’s Peelander-Pink on lead vocals for this song. One of the problems of reviewing music via digital MP3 is that they never send the liner notes so you have to guess at these things. I will find out the truth when I see them live in May.

BONUS: Listen to Introduction to Peelander-Z and Peelander-Black explained (26 mins in).

Peelander-Z, is, of course, always on tour:

04/11 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs 04/12 New York, NY @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise 04/13 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire 04/14 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar 04/15 Washington, DC @ DC9 04/16 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter 04/17 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall 04/19 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade 04/20 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum 04/21 Gainesville, FL @ Double Down 04/22 Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall 04/24 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks 04/25 Houston, TX @ Walter’s On Washington 04/26 San Antonio, TX @ The Korova 04/27 Norman, OK @ Opolis Norman Music Festival

04/28 Dallas, TX @ Prophet Bar 04/30 Kansas City, MO @ Recordbar 05/02 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater 05/05 Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy Theatre 05/06 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge 05/08 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater 05/09 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 05/11 Bozeman, MT @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge 05/13 Sioux Falls, SD @ Boonies Bar & BBQ 05/14 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium 05/15 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry 05/16 Chicago, IL @ Reggies Music Joint 05/17 Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot 05/18 Akron, OH @ Musica

Yeah, I know, you must be tired of hearing me talk about Guitar Wolf (here, here, here, and here) – but I wanted to remind you that Guitar Wolf’s show in Minneapolis is this week, on SUNDAY. I know it is Easter.

I will be picking up some 10″ of Jet Satisfaction which was originally released in Japan in 2009, but available for the first time in the USA with this tour. I did take a sneak peak at some of their tour merchandise at guitarwolfshop.com and I will likely pick up a set of pins as well. I wish bands would make patches; I’d love a Guitar Wolf logo to sew on my bag…

Here is what’s left of their USA tour:

BRIEFLY: