HACKNEY’S bakers and bloggers have been doing their bit to help victims of the Japanese earthquake, now it’s the turn of the rock stars.
Psychedelia-merchants Bo Ningen will be joined by Dalston-based Anglo-Japanese duo Comanechi for a special benefit gig at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen on 10 April, with
all proceeds going to support the Red Cross effort in the Japan.
Organiser Anthony Chalmers, from promotions company God Don’t Like It, said he felt compelled to help: “I’ve been following the crisis, and it’s been f**king devastation everywhere.
“There’s been a lot of death, even though Japan is exceptionally well-prepared for this kind of thing. I’m always meaning to do more charity gigs and this seemed like such a worthy cause. Having worked with a lot of Japanese bands in the past, I have a lot of affection for the country and its music.”
Mr Chalmers added that everyone involved had rallied round to ensure the gig could go ahead with minimal overheads.
“The only costs will be for cabs to get their equipment down,” he said. “Even TicketWeb have done us a special deal to remove their booking fee. Everyone wants to help.”
The bands involved still have strong ties to their homelands. Both sing in a mixture of Japanese and English, and Bo Ningen were in Japan as recently as February to sort visas for their English stay.
Meanwhile, for Comanechi vocalist/drummer Akiko Matsuura, the recent earthquake was a “frightening flashback” to the 1995 Kobe disaster, which she experienced first-hand.
In a post on her blog, she wrote: “I experienced Kobe 16 years ago. Friends and family died. I thought I was gonna die, even though my area wasn’t the seismic center.
“I thought we got bombed. I heard the ground dropping and I couldn’t move. My cousin, who lived on the 12th floor, thought that an aeroplane crashed in to the building. She suffered from being sick and dizzy for many years.”
Of the recent earthquake, she added: “This is breaking my heart watching the news. This is just devastating, so sad.
“I just hope that this doesn’t get any worse and hope many lives get saved soon.”
In addition to putting Comanechi forward for the charity gig, Akiko has also made a range of bespoke t-shirts, which she is selling online to generate funds to help victims of the earthquake and resultant tsunami.
“I’m finding a very good charity via my family,” she explained. “I’ll donate all profit and post the receipt on my blog to prove it!”
Japan Benefit will be held on 10 April at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen and is curated by God Don’t Like It. Tickets cost £7.50 and are available from TicketWeb (no booking fee).
Turning Japanese: What to expect from Hackney’s ex-pat heroes (… it won’t be a quiet one!)
Comanechi
Bass-less minimalist punk rumpus brought to life by vocalist/singer Akiko’s piercing-yelp and outré sexual aura. Like the White Stripes meets Siouxsie and the Banshees. After a crate or two of Asahi.
Try: ‘Naked’ from debut album Crime of LoveBo Ningen
Avant-garde noise-rock stompers given melodic ballast by a series of almost Byrds-ian choruses. With haircuts almost as long as their songs, and hippie threads almost as loud as their guitars.
Try: ‘Yurayura Kaeru’ from debut album Bo Ningen
