"Wear the eyepatch, Brett. Wear the funky, funky eyepatch"

So, 13 weeks and 1 day later - here is the latest instalment of the Tommy B blog. Since we last spoke, Mumm-Ra made the short hop across to the other side of the planet to play their very first Japanese Tour. We took in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo and a rather smashing time was had by all...

OSAKA

Definitely a party town, Osaka. The night we arrived we hit a bar called Rock Rock which, by looking at the thousands of polaroids on the walls, has been frequented by just about every British band you could possibly think of. As a band, It's kind of a rite of passage to have a night out there then get snapped on the way out looking a bit worse for wear. If any of you are lucky to go to Osaka, check it out and let us know if we've made it onto the wall of fame - http://www.rockrock.co.jp/

The show the following evening was a really good way to kick off the tour, we even opened the set with a new song which, as I think I've said before, is the best 'Ra track to date in my opinion. As I'm so generous, I've included some footage of it from our Tokyo show, just scroll down and it's there in the Tokyo 1 video. So yes, Osaka - great. Day one video and photos....



The customary nerdy photo


We were playing in that building called Parco. On the 8th floor!!


More Osaka madness


What do you mean you've never seen a giant mechanical crab before?


Buckler


Rock Rock


Wave your chopsticks in the air like you just don't care


Buckler tells that Des O'Connor joke again


Keith hitting a homer in the fun-nest (is that a word?) building in the world


NAGOYA

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, or rather feeling the effects from the copious amounts of Sake ("sar-kee", in case you were wondering), we made our way from the hotel to the train station to get the bullet train to Nagoya. With a name like that, you can kind of guess what sort of speeds this thing hit. If we had them in the UK I'd get to London in 25 minutes, rather than nearly 2 hours stopping in places like Frant which, if you ever have the fortune of stopping at Frant, is just a field. So, big fast train and stewardesses than bow to you when you get on board. British Rail it certainly aint. Unfortunately we didn't have much time to explore Nagoya, though there was a Tower Records next to the venue which allowed us to blow our PD's for the week in record time. After another good show, we made our way through the city to a really cool restraunt. En-route, our sound guy Christian "Smooth B" Bayley treated us to a rendition of Singin' In The Rain. It's all in the video for your delectation...



Arrival in Nagoya


Yes, that's the album artwork!!


It was Halloween


Tate. Bags.


Bullet train excitement


TOKYO

Tokyo was, as last time, a real treat. Such a cool city. We were lucky enough to have a day off, in addition to playing two shows there, meaning a total of 3 nights. One of the highlights was a store near the venue called "Tokyu Hands", that's not a typo either. Just think of everything you could ever purchase ever ever ever. It was here, and it was quite insane. The fitness section was something else. You can see Noo, *cough* toning up his abs, in the video. We also managed to return to the Jazz Cafe from our last visit, as well as host a tea-party. Okay, it was for Sony competition winners and it was at Sony HQ. Mumm-Ra are well know tea lovers and gave four lucky ladies a masterclass in the art of tea-making, the English way. Again, photographic and film evidence below.

The 2 shows were really, really great. The last night was especially memorable, as not only was it a top gig but it was also the birthday of one Gareth Jennings. Cue party poppers, cake and an onstage rendition of Happy Birthday complete with out-of-place minor-chord from Noo at the end. For a final hurrah we headed to a Kareoke bar and sang the night away. I won't give away who sang what, but I've never heard anything quite like the one particular version of "Nothing Compares To You".

TOKYO DAY 1 VIDEO



TOKYO DAY 2 VIDEO



Back at the Jazz cafe. Niiiiiiiice.


Tate


We put Peter Beardsley on the guestlist on the off chance he might want to come along


Rock and Buckler sporting some of the many gifts given from the Japanese massive


Today's Live!


There aint no party like a Mumm-Ra tea-party


A piece of Tate art
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During "She's Got You High" on the last night


Smooth B and Sasha (who hasn't cut his hair in 24 years)


You may not know this, but Rock has a real fascination for ladybirds


A quite brilliant piece of art. Oli, Gareth and, who's that in the corner?....Piano Man!!


Raw fish. A lot tastier than expected


Japan Massive - November 2007



Okay, that's yer lot. Take care folks.

-Tommy B