The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion show at Shimokitazawa Shelter, Senda Bldg B1F 2-6-10, Kitazawa, Setagaya-ku Tokyo, Japan with Guitar Wolf on 17 November 2012.
Doors: 7.00pm
Guitar Wolf stage time: 7.30pm
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion stage time: 8.50pm
Front of House: Peter Arsenault
Backline Tech: Minoru
Sound Tech: Numata
Lighting: Kasai
Trucking: Takeshi
Interpreter: Ichiko Tsukamoto
Promoter (Creativeman): Issy Ishige
Production (Creativeman): Ken Kamenoi
nb. The photo above was used on the Guitar Wolf vs The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion CD/DVD set.
Live Photo: Takayuki Mishima (https://skream.jp/livereport/2012/12/jsbx_guitarwolf.php)
“…a tiny venue that will be bursting at the seams with guitar skronk, cigarette smoke and leather jackets.” – metropolisjapan.com
The Guitar Wolf vs The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion CD/DVD release includes live footage of the songs Gadzooks!, Tell Me That You Love Me, Sweat, Shirt Jac, Blues X Man, Soul Typecast, Unclear and Bellbottoms (with Seiji of Guitar Wolf).
Flyer Artwork by Rockin’ Jelly Bean.
Info: http://www.creativeman.co.jp/artist/2012/11jsbx/ / http://www.loft-prj.co.jp/SHELTER/
Tickets: http://eplus.jp/sys/main.jsp / http://t.pia.jp/ / http://l-tike.com/
Guitar Wolf: http://www.guitarwolf.net/ / http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/KS/GuitarWolf/
Live Review: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Skream: Feature / Live Review (PRESS, JAPAN):
2012.11.17@Shimokitazawa SHELTER
Reported by Yosuke Ito
THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION and Guitar Wolf. These two, who have been “passionate rock ‘n’ roll guys” ever since their debut and who have been allies (comrades in arms?) for 10 years, never dreamed they’d be playing against each other at Shimokitazawa SHELTER, a venue with just 250 cabarets. It wasn’t a battle of the bands, but a “decisive rock ‘n’ roll showdown.” Tickets sold out immediately, of course, and the day of the show was a brutal day, with torrential rain and cold weather making the atmosphere at SHELTER abruptly erupting, creating an intense performance that felt like a tropical zone, with sweat pouring down like torrential rain. Guitar Wolf was up first, and for better or worse, they’re still the same!
No, there’s nothing bad about it. They always put on a great show. Once Seiji gets his groove on, he shouts “Rock and Roll Baby” and the stage is ready to go. From there, he unleashes a furious performance. He performs the familiar hits “Blow it all night!!” – “Wild Zero” – “Jet Generation” and more.
The numbers from “The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion” exploded into a frenzy. Seiji’s dive, and the performance of bringing an audience member onto the stage and handing him a guitar pick, forcing him to play, were unchanging. They literally threw their whole being into this performance, making them the best live band ever. Was the outcome already decided? With the afterglow of their fiery performance still lingering, the next act, THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION, took to the stage.
The performance was like a straight ball contest. As a three-piece band, they threw back a fastball to Guitar Wolf’s fastball, not to be outdone. Just after the release of their new album “Meat and Bone,” which is touted as a complete comeback, it was clear that they were in great form. Russell Simins’ tight drumming, cool guitarist Judah Bauer’s sharp and bluesy playing, and Jon Spencer’s powerful roar! With a microphone in his mouth and a theremin exploding, the set was filled with youthful energy, like a return to the aggressive 90s, and continued like a fast-paced performance. After paying homage to Guitar Wolf, they launched into “Black Mold”! The audience responded well, and it was an impressive scene that hinted at a new anthem for Jon Spencer. “2 Kinds of Love” and they entertained from start to finish with a set that mixed old and new hits, including “Black Thoughts,” “Sweat,” and “Soul Typecast.” For the encore, they called out Seiji and performed “Bellbottoms,” an unexpected collaboration! At this point, Russell handed Seiji the drumsticks, which was a cute moment for Seiji, who seemed confused, but then he picked up the guitar and played a riff that seemed to be an improvisation, bringing the rock ‘n’ roll showdown to a close with a rapturous triple guitar performance. There was a lot of applause and smiles on the faces of the audience after the show, but winning or losing doesn’t matter, as both bands delivered a fantastic performance. Both bands are veterans, but what makes me happiest is that they continue to perform as “soulful rock ‘n’ roll (idiots)” as always. The smiles on their faces must have been a reflection of the emotions welling up inside them. Their rock ‘n’ roll spirit is still strong. This performance was convincing. Looking forward to their future endeavors, thank you! THE JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION & Guitar Wolf!”
