Day 5 Sunday June 17

The train ride from our local station to Tokyo went quite smoothly. Our new abode was only one stop away from Shinjuku. Easy to get to. However once we saw the room we would be staying in we were quite shocked at the smallness of it. 5 adults in one bedroom. In a hostel. Yikes.

How did we get to this? 3 days before we left for Japan we I got a message that our Air BnB in Tokyo for the final week was cancelled. The money was refunded plus we got a credit voucher for twice the amount. This should of proved to be easy with plenty of money to spend however there was absolutely nothing for a group of 5. I found 3 but they were incredibly expensive or miles away from the main hub. As in towards Yokohama. So I took the hostel for the first part of the week and got a nice place with the voucher for the second half.

Seeing the room and knowing we had a couple of snorers I went down to the desk and got them to give us another room just for them. Which was great. But it turned out to be just for the one night.

Atsushi

There wasn’t time to really explore because we had a gig at the Green Apple in Keonji. So just putting our stuff away and changing into our gig clothes we were back on the train. It was only a few stops away and we were there in no time and also well on time. Got to hear a bit of the Fadeaways and then Rock Juice sound checking. Toyoza and I swapped a few records and I got the new Fadeaways 10” 

The room was bright orange and looked like a coffee shop. No stage. But the sound was great. Gorilla* sound checked after us and since they were performing first we went down to the Irish pub downstairs for some dinner. 

Before we do we put our guitars in the backstage cupboard. Wall to wall guitar bags. No cars for bands here so everyone as guitar bags for the train. Frank Cotterell, former head of Waterfront Records joined us at the Irish pub. He was going to be DJing at most of our gigs from now on. Clearly he is besotted by Japan and no wonder. It’s probably the coolest place in the world. Frank as different records for each night and boy as he got some cool stuff in those boxes. Fifi (from Poor Cow) and Suzu would be playing records too.

Rocking with the Mellvins

Nearly miss out on Gorilla* and I end up leaving my drink behind and rushing upstairs. Glad I did because they are a great power pop band. Fifi joins them for a cover of the Innocents “Sooner or Later”. The Fadeaways are great and so are Rock Juice. Rock Juice play a song off their forthcoming album and I'm already singing along by the final chorus. Basically bands over here are great fullstop. 

We come on and blister our way through the set finishing off with “The Kids Are Alright” I finish up singing within the crowd with people crowding around the microphone. Including Atsushi and Fifi. at one stage I was crawling through the crowd. Then they helped me up as I feigned weakness. I guess I just got caught up in the sheer enthusiasm of the crowd. The Mellvins were there at the front. Rod got the rock god guitarist treatment. He was definitely rocking out.

Guitar God

Rod with Tomoko of Supersnazz, The Tweezers and Rock Juice fame

We come off sweaty and go over to the merch desk to sell some records and t-shirts. The 3000 yen for t-shirt and CD is quite popular. We make money on the merch and then somehow I lose money. God knows how but it’s gone. Not going to let it worry me and just write it off quickly so as to not let it get in the way of our enjoyment. Suzu plays a Rubettes song "Jukebox Jive" and I almost feel like dancing.

We’re tired and exhausted but there is an afterparty around the corner and we must go. This time it’s all the other bands and we drink and chat and Fifi tells me it’s the best gig he’s seen in ten years. I try my first Saki on this trip. And then my second.

 Eventually it’s time to go. We’ve missed the last train and the band decide to walk again. I’m not in the mood so Rod and I jump in a taxi but we take all the guitars. The rest of the guys are happy to stroll home. And have a beer at the 7-11 on the way home.

I don't hear them when they come back.

Toyozo (The Fadeaways) and the Mellvins up front