A friend texted me last with some ticket info about a band called Band-Maid playing at NYC's Mercury Lounge. I didn't know who Band-Maid were, but I noticed tickets were $70. I don't recall anything ever being $70 at Mercury Lounge other than their IPAs. The photo of Band-Maid in the text is of Japanese woman with guitars in maid outfits, and their Wikipedia description reads:
Band-Maid, stylized as BAND-MAID and formerly as BAND-MAID®, is a Japanese rock band formed in 2013. The band combines a rock sound with a maid image modeled on Japanese maid cafés.
While this may appeal to some, I was immediately turned off by all of it without hearing a note, thinking first and foremost, I have a lawn, will you please get off of it. Band Maid, or is it BAND- MAID, has sold out the Gramercy Theatre and is now charging $70, which by NYC standards is admittedly not bad, but still twice the cost of a name headliner at the Mercury Lounge. And while they might be the greatest rock band since The Who, I saw nothing but gimmick. I hate gimmick.
It was time to listen. I mean, that's the right thing to do, yes?
These ladies play some damn good heavy metal. The two videos posted here both sound terrific, with a solid drum sound and some killer riffage. But I still have mixed feelings about all of this.
I can't help but think if both these songs were played without visuals, Band-Maid would be just another heavy metal band in the third slot of the Skid Row anniversary tour. But, from a marketing point of view, I think Band-Maid and all involved, are mad geniuses.
18 comments:
they're only a couple years behind Babymetal (who had a very Klaus Nomi thing going on), but they do play their own instruments. Let's face it, any heavy metal vocal besides the usual guttural roar of today is welcome. I always liked Girlschool, too.
I just want to be the guy in the back yelling for them to play My Woman From Tokyo.
Maid cafés? Okay, I've officially learned something new today.
Everything I read about Japan makes me wonder how our culture and theirs exist on the same planet, or even in the same dimension.
But at least they don't slaughter each other with numbing regularity.
I'm sorry; there are people who are willing to pay $70 to see/listen to these ladies live? Beyond this conversation on this board, I don't think anyone is going to give them a 2nd though by next week.
Kevin,
There is nothing wrong with their playing or their sound. They seem more than able. Actually, I dig them. My question is more about the gimmick overshadowing the music. Five American guys in jeans and t-shirts doing this music, and no one gives them a second thought, worthy or not. That's my problem with this.
look beyond the cute looking femmes wearing maid outfits and just listen to an audio of them. their musicianship and sound are no joke here boys and girls. i'm not going to argue with y'all about the $70 price tag. i'm a fan so i'm willing to pay. i know what i'm going to get when i see'em live and i can't frikkin' wait. i suggest you check out their 'live' stuff on Youtube, then come back and rant... or rave.
in case anyone's interested, have a BAND-MAID FB fan group here.
Band-Maid - East Coast (U.S.A.) Fan Base
OK. I'm a fan. This is the best group in the world right now, male or female. If you can find one bad song on YouTube, I'd like to know what it is. There aren't any. I have my ticket for the Dallas show. I'm flying from Florida. I'm 63 and have seen many great bands in my life time. These ladies will conquer the world!
Kuroppo would not be happy with you tagging her group as heavy metal, they are hard rock. Po.... Glad to see you didn't tell them off your lawn. Now try the video for Dice. Your mind will be blown....ppo
@soj,
I'd like to "look beyond the cute looking femmes wearing maid outfits" but I can't because they are cute looking femmes wearing maid outfits! Isn't that the point? I like the music. Why isn't that good enough?
Kirkscott2,
I appreciate your hyperbole. But if you can, tell me why exactly they are the "best group in the world right now."
To Unknown,
Apologies to Kuroppo. Hard rock or heavy metal, I like what I am hearing.
Truth be told...I'll be at that Mercury Lounge show.
They remind me of an Italian band I like: Belladonna.
They are better then a lot of other acts out there. It is hard rock not metal.
Captain Al
Here's the reason I think they are the best in the world. All of the really great rock bands are dying off, retired or just getting old. This is the Japanese invasion. If you look at each musician separately, bass, lead, rhythm guitars and drummer, they would rival some of the greats. The chemistry of this group is phenomenal. They feed off each other. Check out "Onset". It's an instrumental. Better yet, just pick a song at random. I predict you will be hooked.
Hard to put it in the right words. I think they have three things: women, Asian, ability to play. If you are in the mood for this, you may find it interesting. Japanese were famous for their mastering in tweaking. Call me old fashion but I am just not sure that rock and roll is something you can tweak to, either you connect or not. Again, for me, I was not even listening after 15 seconds but just watching.
This is me. I am not talking for anybody else.
Roy
The idea of a maid cafe is to treat patrons like honored esteemed guests. When taking that concept, and marrying it to authentic musicianship, that is a sharp contrast to the cutesy notion of Japanese 'maid cafes', you get a staunch mix of both worlds.
At its inception, the idea was that, one of them worked at a maid cafe, and afterwards listened to hard rock and heavy metal. The obtuse concepts were amusing, and the idea to make a band in that image was created.
Presentation aside, their stage presence, their abilities as performers and entertainers, and their musical talent, are no joke. It can be seen as a gimmick, or it can be seen as part of the experience.
They have a parallel group that does mostly versions of their own songs, but using traditional Japanese instruments, called Band-Maiko (a maiko being the step before a geisha). Again, blending concepts that don't seem to belong together, but pulled off with their own unique charm.
This is one of the more fascinating discussions here in a while. I definitely learned something. I've already copped to my "English-only-vocals-please" bias, but the band is tight -- the "live" clips on YouTube rock and the gimmick will definitely put asses in the seats, but there's only a handful of bands I'd drop $70 on for a ticket at this point (but I'm used to MidWestern prices so $70 for NYC seems...reasonable? I dunno...). The bass player is solid, though!
I anxiously await your review of the show!
"This is one of the more fascinating discussions here in a while."
I was thinking that exact thing, Shriner. The $70 ticket, by the way, includes a mandatory meet and greet, which makes it all the more annoying. No other price points.
There is a live clip of a song, "Don't You Tell Me," where the guitar player and bass player trade licks to what looks like a stadium crowd, that sold me. The Mercury Lounge holds about 250 people, so I imagine the adrenaline and sound will be 75% of it.
yes to all you said and yes they are fun is that still allowed
Is the gimmick more or less legitimate then first album DEVO? How about Ramones Costume? I think if the music is good enough, the costume only serves to get eyes on a band. I don't have a problem, re: the image.
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