Tokyo based three piece, TsuShiMaMiRe has returned to the States to deliver some high energy, fist pumping Japanese punk rock. They’re touring the US, and a little bit of Canada with a career spanning set-list.
Fans gathered in downtown Raleigh venue The Pour House, and the show started with Carrboro natives, Mean Habits warming the crowd up with a rage filled set. Mean Habit’s describes themselves as seething hc-inspired post-punk, and that translates through their raw palm muted riffing, even though bassist Jojo couldn't stifle a grin at the end of every song. Mean Habit’s set was short and sweet, and ended with Arlo embracing their frontperson energy and grabbing the mic in both hands to deliver a raw heartfelt conclusion to their performance.
The crowd’s anticipation was palpable as TsuShiMaMiRe prepared to go on. Their set started promptly at 9 PM, introducing this tour as the Oversized American Dreams tour, and before the first song was over the crowd was jumping and pumping their fists to Mari’s effortless guitar chugging, Asami’s relentless drum grooves, and Yayoi’s thumping bass backbone.
Just when I thought that the crowd was as high octane as it would get, Mari asked if she could “Show us her soul”. The crowd obliged and the band kicked off SHOW YOU MY SOY SAUCE and I could feel the crowd jumping in unison to the beat of the song. The crowd singing the chorus along with TsuShiMaMiRe nearly overpowered the stage microphones. There wasn’t a dull moment between songs, while Yayoi and Mari would take a moment to tune, Asami would keep the crowd entertained with drum grooves, and ear to ear grins.
Like all good things, though, the show eventually did have to come to an end, but TsuShiMaMiRe wasn’t off-stage for more than 30 seconds before the chant “Encore! Encore! Encore!” started, and in the performer spirit, they obliged. After a moment's rest, the band came back on stage and strummed out Hyper Sweet Power for the waiting crowd, and after 3 too short minutes they put down their instruments and all went to the merch table. As if it were coordinated, the enamoured crowd simply turned around, faced the merch table, and nearly every person in the venue formed into a line to buy some merch and praise the trio.
TsuShiMaMiRe’s tour continues through June 27. With the energy and the love from last night, I think it’s safe to say that they’ll be back to Raleigh, NC before too long.
GALLERY
