GOKUMON & Chiaki Mayumura perform at Tokyo Calling Showcase

Those eager to explore the sounds of Japan’s indie music scene lined up outside Mohawk Tuesday night to attend the Inspired by Tokyo and Tokyo Calling showcases. Reaching capacity just minutes before the first artist Fuki Kitamura took the stage, the event was a beautiful blend of cultures and languages, uniting music lovers through the power of live performance.

The inside stage hosted the Inspired By Tokyo showcase, starting with the hypnotic Björk-esque beats and singing of Kitamura. Outside, the first band GOKUMON prepared to take the stage for the Tokyo Calling showcase.

Bassist and vocalist Junko explained to the audience that the name GOKUMON originates from a combination of popular character Goku, of Dragon Ball Z, and -MON from the iconic game Pokémon. The band’s full name is actually Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai, but Junko pointed out how easy GOKUMON is to remember in comparison.

GOKUMON formed in 2004, with members Junko, vocalist and guitarist Atsushi Osawa, and vocalist and drummer Asuka Kawamoto. A fourth member joined them on stage Tuesday, adding synth and presenting the audience with a projection of videos for each song, containing a translation of lyrics. The videos were chock-full of entertaining visuals and helpful sing-alongs, allowing audience members to further appreciate the lyricism of GOKUMON.

The opening song started with a bang, as GOKUMON sang about the importance of going to the gym against a backdrop of heavy guitar and fast-paced drumming. Despite instrumentation verging on heavy metal, the informative lyrics pointed out various muscle groups that needed to be exercised, with a breakdown section encouraging audience members to do squats.

The opening song was just the start of a set of kitschy songs pertaining to the mundane and often annoying parts of life such as going to the dentist, doing housework, and even having to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Despite the quirky subject matter of the songs, GOKUMON’s musical skills were undeniable. With Kawamoto playing the drums at incredibly fast tempos and Osawa slipping between singing and screamo-style vocals, the audience found themselves headbanging to songs about loving cats and the importance of hydration.

For their second-to-last song, GOKUMON sang a description of the various types of seafood enjoyed in Japan, releasing blow-up sharks into the audience. Osawa introduced their final song, one dedicated to the rice in Japan, saying that in succession with the seafood track, they were about to make sushi with their performance.

GOKUMON brought the energy, surprising all with their hilarious songs and visuals that helped convey the meaning of each track. Members played tight and seemingly with ease, as bassist Junko kept a bright smile on her face while delivering sick basslines and hardcore sounds.

After the impact left by GOKUMON, the next Tokyo Calling artist prepared to take the audience on a different journey. Chiaki Mayumura kept the energy high while shifting the sound from hardcore to pop. Clad in a sparkly jumpsuit, this pop princess began her first song of the night, calling to the audience, “I'm from Tokyo, nice to meet you!”

With an impressive vocal range and clear inspiration from iconic divas such as Mariah Carey, Mayumura sang and danced her way through her one-woman set. Halfway through the show, Mayumura changed the tone, trading the dance beats for an acoustic guitar. The stripped-down song highlighted her vocal chops, before building into another upbeat performance complete with Mayumura rapping and a dubstep-style beat.

Later, Mayumura played an electric guitar, inviting the audience to clap along as she played and sang. For the end of her performance, Mayumura returned to her dancing, complete with hairography and fancy footwork. Her excitement was contagious, as she wished the audience, “crazy days,” and bounced around the stage.

Continuing late into the night, this year’s Tokyo Calling showcase provided a unifying and electric night of music and connection. Language proved no barrier as audience members and performers of all backgrounds shared in their love of music.