[ATTENDED: February 12, 2022] CHAI
I heard about CHAI from NPR. Bob Boilen had found them charming and said their live show was not to be missed. But since they were from Japan I had to wonder how likely it would be to see them. When they announced a tour, I grabbed pre-sale tickets even though I was sure it wouldn’t sell out.
It didn’t, of course, and it was scheduled opposite Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, so the two crowds couldn’t have been more different.
So here’s a brief histoy of CHAI
Chai was formed in 2012 in Nagoya, by twin sisters Mana and Kana. Mana, Kana, and Yuna were in the same class at high school. Yuna introduced the other band members to Japanese music that did not easily fit into the traditional definition of “J-Pop”, such as the band Cero or Kimyō Reitaro. After the members went to university, Mana became friends with Yuuki (originally from Gifu Prefecture, who had moved to Nagoya), and asked the four friends to form a band. The band’s name comes from Russian tea (known as chai). Kana drank the tea with jam with her Russian literature professor at a Russian restaurant, which she thought was cute.
Cute is the key. They wanted to make something that was neo-Kawaii. Not as limiting as what people thought of as kawaii.
The band came out in brightly reflective rain jackets with hoods. Underneath these were pink toile…outerwear. Underneath those were a kind of jumpsuit that had short sleeves and pants. In short, they were matching and they were a sight to behold.
Three of the women came to the front of the stage and faced away from the audience. The fourth, Yuni, sat at the drum set. She played a beat while electronic sounds swirled (I assume she was triggering, them, too, but who knows).
The other three women proceeded to do synchronized and, at times, wildly freeform “dances.” as they sang their hilarious song “No More Cake.”
Thank you for reminding me your daily makeup routine
But look at you
That’s way too much
That’s way too much
You’re not a cake
Look at you
That’s way too much
Your face is made up like a cake ha?
As the song neared its end, Kana was handed a guitar. She walked up front and proceeded to play a noisy, wonderfully wild guitar solo. Then she handed the guitar back and they finished the song. (more…)
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