Miminokoto at the Penguin House in Tokyo 09.19.06 by Eric Nielsen
Miminokoto is a band you want to see in an intimate, hot room in the summer in Tokyo. I've seen Miminokoto burn down the room before but never quite like this (04 at the Penguin House and 03 at Hosei University in Tokyo). These guys are getting better and better with time. The emotion of the voice and the power of the band are what make the smoke start. Imagine, eyes closed, a smoke filled room filled to the brim with 35 people, you're only 10 feet away from the drums and amp stacks. Feel the waves of drums from one of the best, fluid, powerful drummers in the world, Koji Shimura (he's also one of the drummers for Acid Mothers Temple and formerly of Mainliner and HIgh Rise), feel the spit from Kawaguchi as he emotes a story of despair only available to him. An other world old Japan story that speeds up in the middle, that sounds as if his voice and body are in the twisted vices of some monster created in the atomic blasts of the last generations. Overhot super noise lead guitar break through the monster and blend with the psychedelic drums and melancholic voice to ride the wild slimy sea creature down. Down into some beautiful meaning. Down into some slow and thoughtful soul. Down to a place inside yourself that you remember. A place you want to be.

Their US tour last year kept them out of California and only on the east coast. But, this year Kawaguchi and his New Rock Syndicate will be making some dates in Northern California. The New Rock Syndicate plays October 7 - 9 in Northern Cal. Including a date at the UC Davis, KDVS radio show festival. Check out their myspace page for more details We'll have a review of their first album here soon, so check back. If you'd like to buy the New Rock Syndicate album in mp3 version you can get it at the Lotushouse Records mp3 shopzone