Hello folks,
On Thursday I went and watched Yo La Tengo play here in Tokyo. If you are not familiar with these dudes (and duddette), you can get a taste of their jive side (as opposed to their many other sides) here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT8t6Pm5WWQ). The Tengo and I have happily crossed paths before, so this was the 4th time I`d gone to see them. During the gig, which I thought was another great success (though my companion, Chris, had slightly different thoughts), it came to my attention that there were a few differences between a Yo La Tengo live show and a Watanabes one. Here were the 14 differences that stood out most.
1. Yo La Tengo use feedback intentionally, while ours is usually unintentional.
2. Yo La Tengo treat their roadies kindly and politely, while we are yet to secure any roadies (although if we were, we would definitely treat you kindly and politely. Any takers?)
3. The Yo La Tengo drummer looks ginger in some light, while the Watanabes bassist looks ginger in most lights.
4. Yo La Tengo try to keep a straight face but it`s perfectly fine to smile, while the Watanabes try to smile but it`s perfectly fine to keep a straight face.
5. Yo La Tengo like to warm up with a track approaching 20 minutes, while the Watanabes are usually 80% through their set at the 20 minute mark.
6. Yo La Tengo`s vocals were a little rough during the first 30 minutes, after which they really hit there stride, while Watanabes vocals are sweet from the get-go, but we don`t really know what happens after 30 minutes as as alluded to in point five, we have usually hit the showers by then.
7. Yo La Tengo`s members are in their 40s and don`t seem tired after a 2 hour set, while the Watanabes members are mostly in their 20s (except Stefan) and are often exhausted after 30 minutes.
8. Yo La Tengo change the dynamics drastically from song to song, but keep it pretty steady within the song, while the Watanabes keep it pretty steady from song to song, but try to mix up the dynamics within the songs.
9. Yo La Tengo gave the second best live show in Tokyo of 2009 at the Stellar Hall in December, while the Watanabes gave the best live show in Tokyo of 2009 at Kinoto, to farewell everyones favorite Belgian drummer, Flavio Jerome (pronounced in a sexy French accent of course).
10. Yo La Tengo have a lot of fans who wear glasses, while our fans generally have excellent eye sight, or else use contact lenses.
11. Yo La Tengo`s family element is provided by husband and wife, Ira and Georgia, while the Watanabes is provided by siblings Selwyn and Duncan.
12. Yo La Tengo seem to appreciate the respectful silence the Japanese crowd gives them, while the Watanabes are still trying to become comfortable with it.
13. Yo La Tengo seem to be wearing the exact same clothes they were wearing at the other shows I saw them play, stretching back 10 years, while in five years the Watanabes have gone through numerous outfits.
13. Yo La Tengo seem to have been listening to US college indie rock, noise rock, punk, 50s pop, motown, jazz and Simon and Garfunkal, while the Watanabes seem to have been listening to Mersey beat, Brit pop, Swedish Eurovision entries, Jangle pop and Simon and Garfunkal.
While there is no question we have our differences, our similarities are also many, which suggests to me we will hopefully be able to build a respectful, even friendly relationship between us in the future. I`m still a little miffed they didn`t ask us to open for them though, but all going to plan we`ll be opening for Pavement in April, so that will be some consolation.
In other news, our latest EP, there are ghosts around here is now available to buy in MP3 format on the excellent Japanese indie music site, monstar.fm. It is also available in hard copy from our favourite little music shop, More Music in Matsuyama, with delivery available throughout Japan at least, and maybe further afield if you ask nicely.
Watched School of Rock last night. Good clean fun and close to the bone. Nice.
Hope you have a great holiday period, full of both the giving and receiving of joy, and continue that on throughout next year, and all the years to come. Cheesy but sincere!
Cheers,
Ash Watanabe
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His career in music has taken him to Glasgow, London, Los Angeles, and now to Tokyo, where he has been working for the last 18 months, alongside several Japanese indie acts including Metro Ongen and The New House. His recent work with The New House made Single of the Week on iTunes Japan in October. 
