MEGABABE The El Mocambo, June 8
Sporting a name that sounds like it was borrowed from one of Godzilla's lesser foes, Tokyo's Megababe were definitely out to do some damage.
Looking at the band's three members, you wouldn't expect that three tiny Japanese woman would be capable of churning out a potent blend of punk and metal. But they did and absolutely obliterated the place, just like a certain 400-foot tall radioactive lizard.
Bassist Ako and drummer Miho created a gut-shaking bottom end while singer/guitarist Miyu's shattered the cartoonish image of female Japanese musicians created by bands like Shonen Knife and Pufi Ami Yumi with a Rodan-like shriek during one song.
Admittedly, their songs did start to run together by the end of their set but Miyu's frequent "rock on" gestures and Gene Simmons-style tongue displays were strangely endearing. One of the definite highlights was a rhythm section-only cover of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Give it Away", during which Miyu was sidelined due to problems with her guitar.
While the instruments did tend to overwhelm the vocals at times, Megababe still put on a fun and energetic set. Sure, some may view them as a novelty act (Pretty Japanese girls playing punk and metal tunes!) but there was something irresistible about their music and enthusiasm. Andrew Horan
http://www.sceneandheard.ca/article.php?id=1727
MEGABABE @El Mocambo
It's pretty hard not to love Megababe. The female three-piece laid out a blistering punk assault, made even greater by their spunky attitude and their inability to say much in English besides "We are Megababe from Tokyo, Japan!" While songs like "Speak Japanese Or Die" are easily accessible, Ramones-esque punk, there is a high novelty factor that comes with the band. However, their live show was so much fun that it was impossible not to have a permanent smile during it, which may be all that really matters. (sm)http://www.iheartmusic.net/serendipity/index.php?/archives/328-quid.html#extended
MEGABABE
From Tokyo, Japan, Megababe is an all-girl hardcore punk band. Well, hardcore in the sense that their guitar and bass playing can be fit into the hardcore genre, but these girls were CUTE. Cute like Josie and the Pussycats mixed with Hello Kitty. Again, a band that was nicely unpretentious and lots of fun to listen to. Their English was somewhat limited, which meant that they told us they were glad to be part of "Norse by Norse-east", which gave me ideas of punk rock Vikings. These girls are back in Japan by now, but hopefully they'll be coming back for another Canadian tour in the future.
http://theorangemonkey.livejournal.com/4482.html
someone's blog... Jun 9:
But for me the highlight of the evening was Japan's Megababe, a three girl punk group who fucking gave'er for their whole set. The drummer was the darlingest drummer ever since Animal, going fucking apeshit back there and NEVER BREAKING HER SMILE, and the bass player was just straight up hot, hotter than the bass player from Priestess, though perhaps in a less filthy way. Cuteness aside, though, those bitches fucking rocked. The vocals were great, powerful; the percussion what you'd expect if Animal wasn't just a puppet, and the bass was dayum, to fall back on similes, like a storm of dark maple syrup icicles. Fucking awesome.
Toronto Live! Club Hub (pics) the Showcase rotates sets of photoarchives from some of the most interesting live gigs to pass through Toronto.
2006 North By Northeast Music Festival photo by tysonwilliams.com.
