Review: Melt Banana at the Subterannean

Melt Banana's Yasuko Onuki

Coming all the way from Japan on their fifteenth American tour, Melt Banana has solidified itself as an experimental punk rock staple, while remaining extremely inventive and fresh as they progress artistically. Interestingly, on Oct. 16 at the Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., they shared the bill with two local bands.

It can't be easy opening for Melt Banana, a band known not only for their intense music but even more for their extremely intense delivery. However, both Rabble Rabble as well as Swimsuit Addition provided all the energy needed to properly start a Melt Banana show.

Ichirou Agata, Melt Banana

The audience's reaction to Melt Banana was great and prominently displayed the devout following they have accrued over the years by cleverly blending experimental, punk and electronica.

The crowd was also diverse, with fans of all ages equally excited for the chaotic yet masterful signature performance, blending blinding fast speed (sometimes bordering on impossible sounding) with creative twists on heavy music.

Their sound is defined heavily by founding members and Yasuko Onuki. Agata uses a multitude of varying effects pedals (usually favoring Whammy and Digital Delay) to produce strange sometimes

Swimsuit Addition

Swimsuit Addition

electronic or digital sounds. He contrasts them with a clearer, distorted tone utilizing riffs heavily influenced by hardcore punk. Yasuko provides the vocals, contrasting her sweet demeanor with high-energy, sometimes just angry singing (or shouting) with lyrics that can make one question their understanding of the English language. This combined with a very erratic yet precise rhythm section gives Melt Banana a

Rabble Rabble

Rabble Rabble

sound in which they can pretty much stand alone. A sound that they have been developing over ten full-length albums, not to mention twenty-three EPs.

As far as a staying true to their reputation for delivering mind bogglingly dynamic performances, this night was absolutely no exception. Melt Banana moved the crowd to the point where the bouncer was inevitably called in. Luckily I managed to be right in the middle of the

Rabble Rabble

Rabble Rabble

insanity and enjoyed one of the best pits I have seen in quite a while. It was great to see all generations of fans being able to let loose and feed off of the bands aggressive, yet good-natured performance.

We were also treated to a set of songs Melt Banana has put their stamp on; the "8-seconder", a song that is literally eight seconds or less in length. These spirited vignettes proved that after twenty years together, Melt Banana and their fans alike have maintained the energy and insanity to make you forget it was a Sunday night.

Photos by Ellie Pritts Photography