Peelander Z @ SXSW
THe first band I saw at South By Southwest was Peelander Z at Beauty Bar. It was totally accidental. I was sort of bar hopping on the Tuesday night before SXSW Music started and some people I met went to Beauty Bar so I followed them over there. There was some hip hop DJ in the front and when I made my way out to the back there was just chaos. I pushed my way through the crowd and I saw a sign that just said “STEAK” on it. I knew immediately what I was about to witness.
Peelander Z is the most insane Japanese band around which says a lot considering how weird the Japanese are. They also happen to be one of the most fun bands everywhere. I have seen them a bunch of times, but not in the last 5 or 6 years. They might be even better now. When I walked in they were nearing the end of their set where they hand over their instruments to members of the audience, pass out noise makers, set up bowling pins and throw a giant lobster man at the bowling pins. Somehow this makes sense in the context of the band as weird as that sounds. You clearly need to check them out if you get the chance.
Click here to see all the pictures of Peelander Z at Beauty Bar Austin during South By Southwest. And click here to donate money to the Red Cross’ Japan Tsunami relief efforts.
Yeah these guys rule, I “partied” with them in 2000, when they came for the Japunks throwdown, them and Bosstown Crusing Mania were sick, but the real draw for me were the girls from a band called Petit Mit who were incredbly hot and dressed like ladybugs at one point. I threw partied in quotes because we just drank beer backstage shout band names we liked back and forth because they spoke no English and I speak no Japanese. Good scene.
Yeah. They seem like they speak a lot better English these days….