Going Steady

I first heard Going Steady around the summer of 2000. I used to download Japanese punk rock bands from Napster based on how interesting or weird their names sounded, and I guess Going Steady was an interesting enough name. Considering the other oddly named bands out there (Duck Missile, Pez Stomp, School Jackets) Going Steady was a rather normal name. I downloaded their first album Boys & Girls and thoroughly enjoyed it. At the young age of 17 I had yet to acquire my driver's license, so I took the train and bus to work, and I clearly remember a CD I had made for myself with the song "Universal" on it. That was pretty much my official song for the winter of 2000-2001 to accompany my lonely commutes.

I really liked Going Steady, much more so than their first album warranted. I liked them enough to keep track of their newer material which would trickle out over the next couple years. Their second album Sakura no Uta was more slick, yet more crazy at times, and I just ate it all up. However, it wasn't until I heard "Kakenukete Seishun" from their split CD with the HOLiDAYS that I started to think of Going Steady as my favorite band. What continues to boggle my mind to this day is that Going Steady only continued to get better from there.

Going Steady never managed to release a third album before breaking up, but their final three singles cemented them as my favorite band. The songs on Doutei So Young, Wakamonotachi, and Seishun Jidai were almost all 5+ minutes in length, yet they were able to match and sustain the energy and catharsis of the fastest, most wild, minute long song.

If anyone asked me about Going Steady, I would always recommend that they listen to these last few singles. Nobody alive can listen to "Wakamonotachi" and deny that it's amazing. The funny thing was that I never felt like either of their albums was good enough to be recommended as a whole, but these singles were so good that they could carry the weight of a horrible discography on their shoulders. Of course, Going Steady's discography wasn't horrible in the least, but rather very good.

So here I am today listening to Boys & Girls and Sakura no Uta again after a year or so of neglect, and I feel so happy, just like I did when I was 17. Cheers to "Universal" and "Ginga Tetsudou no Yoru".

There's a band now called the Ging Nang Boyz who are the remnants and successors of Going Steady's legacy. Both of the Ging Nang Boyz albums completely outshine Going Steady's. I'm still in awe of this band that only gets better. It feels pretty great when your favorite band is likely never to disappoint you.

SDO Interview

An interview I conducted with the most awesome Japanese pop band, Sugarhill Downtown Orchestra, has been published at keikaku.net.Their new album Fruits of the Music was released about a month ago, though I've yet to hear it. NOT N! That's in reference to me not having heard it yet. What is VERY N is their existence and awesomeness.

Ugly Duckling

I attended the Ugly Duckling show this last thursday at Brittania Arms in Cupertino. At the last minute, my friend Raph saw of flyer of theirs and called me up about the show. However, there was no info about it on the UD website, and the place they were supposed to perform at was a yuppy bar in the suburbs. Little did I know, that yuppy bar is apparently the new hotspot for hip-hop in the south bay (criminy, GZA's gonna perform there in a month!!).

UD's set consisted of songs mostly from their new album Bang for the Buck, and their last album before that Taste the Secret. Up until the show, I wasn't familiar with those at all, my familiarity having ended with their great album Journey to Anywhere. DJ Young Einstein bounced around behind the turntables as he orchestrated a set of slammin' beats. Non-stop, the party beats just kept coming. Andy Cooper, 6'7" MC, had to hunch a bit so his head wouldn't hit the ceiling, but he was flawless on the mic. Something about Dizzy Dustin's flow didn't come off as well live as recorded, but his charisma and interplay with the crowd was great.

Dizzy Dustin dressed up like a typical G-Unit-esque thug for their song about violent boneheads, "Mr. Tough Guy". Ironically, it was during this song that two boneheads in the crowd started fighting. Unfortunately, I missed out on the action and could only listen as it happened because I was in the bathroom for the third time throwing up the bad burrito that I had eaten before the show.

Also of note, the opening acts were both rather enjoyable. Having gone to many local hip-hop shows when I was an annoying opening act, I have a history of hating how pretentious and untalented most local underground hip-hop is. However, the first opener, Trademark, was an incredibly tight instrumental funk band. Their drummer was able to drum and play bass at the same time!!!!!!! For the life of me I can't remember the 2nd act's name, but he was an enjoyable enough MC, modest and energetic, with a really meek looking DJ.