I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: November 17, 2023] Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

I found out about Mass of the Fermenting Dregs when I saw a big announcement that the band had sold out the Kung Fu Necktie and the show was being moved to Underground Arts.  They sold out KFN in a couple of weeks.  I checked them out and, discovered that despite their name, they are not a hardcore/noise band.  Indeed, they are super poppy and delightful.

Their own bio says

MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS is a Japanese alternative rock band formed in Kobe City, Japan. In 2007, they won the best artist of EMI Music Japan’s new comer audition and recorded their songs with Dave Fridman at Tarbox road Studio in USA. After they released their 1st album in 2008, they rapidly climbed the alternative-rock ladder in Japan. The band once paused their activities in 2012 then reunion in 2017. The current lineup consists of Natsuko Miyamoto (Vocal & Bass) , Naoya Ogura (Guitar & Backing vocal) and Isao Yoshino (Drums & Backing vocal). Known for their energetic, hair-flailing live shows and melodic, guitar driven pop sound, they are still one of the most exciting and attracted act in Japan.

In Japanese their name is Masu obu za Fāmentingu Doreggusus so the band’s name is shortened to Masu Dore–although I didn’t hear anyone call them that.

I mean, how to pass this up.  This was, as I understand it, their first time playing Philadelphia.  And the crowd was there in full support.

I arrived a little before the opening band went on and the place was PACKED (this almost never happens).  I couldn’t get as close as I wanted to, which was a real shame.

Bu after a few songs, when the full on pit started up, I was pushed far away anyhow, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.

What I enjoyed about this show was that fans were shouting things to them in Japanese and they were answering in Japanese.  No idea what was being said, but it was so cool to overhear.

They opened the show with two super catchy songs from their 2018 release No New World.  The  vocal melody of “New Order” is just dynamite.

Then they jumped back to their 2009 EP World is Yours for three killer tracks.   I have always wondered how fans in Japan could sing along to English bands.  I mean, sure some of them must know English, but surely they can’t all know it.  Well, here’s a band singing in Japanese and I find myself singing along having no idea what I’m singing.   I love the opening vocal line of “Aoi, Koi, Daidai-iro no Hibi.”  And when the roaring instrumental part kicked in, the crowd went bananas with a big mosh pit.  It was followed by the ripping (and full on thrashing) “She is inside, He is outside.”  The third song from the record was the cool repeating “Kakuiu Mono.”

After those heavier songs they shifted gears towards their newest album, Awakening : Sleeping.  They started with the song 1960, nearly 9 minutes and nearly instrumental, this song is a slow builder with a great groove and simple building guitar lines.  “Dramatic” is a sweet song with a lovely melody.

Then it was off to their first EP with another long track. The over 9 minute “Endroll.”  This featured a mid-song bass “solo” (not really, since the other members were playing too, but Natsuko Miyamoto played some great lead bass lines.

I love “HuHuHu” which was sung by guitarist Naoya Ogura who I could barely see all night.  This fun bouncer of a song is just delightful.  And everyone can sing along to “huhuhu.”

I was puzzled that :Slow Motion Replay” was listed as a cover.  But Natsuko Miyamoto released a solo album and this song is on it, but in a much more mellow version.  I prefer this faster version, which appears on No New World along with the super catchy “Asahinagu.”

It’s fascinating that they played so much from that 2018 album and only two songs from their most recent album.  Maybe that new record is too mellow to really rock out live.

They ended the set with “World Is Yours.”

And of course they came back for an encore. No one was leaving.  They played t wo songs from their debut EP.  The speedy “delusionalism” led into the utter chaotic demolition that is “Bears.” Bears saw the band making all kinds of noises–the bass was a rumbling engine of noise and by the end of the song Natsuko Miyamoto was down in the audience playing next to everyone.

It was such a good show.  I am so glad I went.

1. Sugar ⊗
2. New Order ⊗
3. Aoi, Koi, Daidai-iro no Hibi ¥
4. She is inside, He is outside ¥
5. Kakuiu Mono ¥
6. 1960 ⇔
7. Dramatic ⇔
8. End Roll ≅
9. HuHuHu ⊗
10. Slow Motion Replay ⊗ (Natsuko Miyamoto song)
11. Asahinagu ⊗
12. World Is Yours ¥
    encore
13. delusionalism ≅
14. Bears ≅

⇔ Awakening : Sleeping (2022)
⊗ No New World (2018)
¥ World is Yours EP (2009)
≅ Mass of the Fermenting Dregs EP (2008)