The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass

Words by Jhoni Jackson

The underground rock ‘n’ roll scene in Japan is colossal, legendary even. All the genre offshoots—hardcore, punk, power pop, garage and so forth—are accounted for in the country’s vast and varied landscape. And, as Eric Davidson writes in We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut 1988-2001, Japan is traditionally the country where those genres “go to have jumper cables attached to their nipples.” While seasoned bands like Teengenerate, Guitar Wolf and The 5.6.7.8′s might already be on your radar, there’s heaps of lesser-known acts just as deserving of acclaim. Some of these standouts are greener groups still gaining ground, while others are as established as the aforementioned legends. All of them are doing their part to keep the scene as uniquely raw and brilliantly hyperactive as it’s always been.
THE AKABANE VULGARS ON STRONG BYPASS
This blues-punk combo—sisters Miki and Yumi Uchizono and former schoolmate Kei Sofue—is often deceptively labeled. They’ve played the San Francisco J-Pop Summit, though their grim-and-gloomy aesthetic bears little likeness to the typical J-pop sound. Sometimes they’re pegged as rockabilly, but they don’t employ an upright bass. And while guttural vocals and heavy guitar might make one assume they’re a hard-rock group, swinging melodies belie that descriptor. The girls don’t seem to have a home in the Tokyo underground scene, either. But that’s likely because they’re hell-bent on frequent touring—during their 2012 trip to the US, they hit the 12,000 mile-mark. Somehow, despite the blitz of performances, they managed to find time to record their first full-length, Proclamation. The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass seem to thrive on the intensity of a jam-packed itinerary, and even capsuled their love for touring by releasing a live album at the same time. - mtviggy

A few songs into Piranhas BC’s set, frontman James Thomason gave the standard concert shout-outs. He thanked the crowd, The Shredder and the local band that had played earlier.

“And of course, we are all here to see our friends from Japan,” he added, referring to the show’s headliner, The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass.

That wasn’t just talk, though. Sean Paul, Piranhas’ rhythm guitarist, hugged The Akabane Vulgars’ lead singer, Yumi Uchizono, and chatted with her briefly as she and her bandmates set up their gear. Members of Piranhas stayed close to the stage as The Vulgars played.

The Tokyo trio received similar goodwill from the rest of the audience. About 50 people came to The Shredder on Aug. 30 to watch The Akabane Vulgars’ second appearance in Boise. Only half as many people saw the first appearance, an opening set for The Vibrators last September. The crowd’s dancing and loud applause this night befitted the band’s fierce performance.

This wasn’t the only passionate response that this group has provoked. John Jimenez, a lawyer based in Seattle, discovered The Akabane Vulgars via Youtube. After the band’s set at the 2012 South By Southwest, he reached out with advice about finding a tour manager.

When The Vulgars asked Jimenez to fill that role, he agreed, purchasing a van and a drum kit. He drives the van and handles merch sales for the band’s current tour, which he estimated has included 50 shows across the U.S.

When asked why he decided to join The Vulgars on the road, Jimenez simply said, “It’s rare to find a band who’s good and who’s willing to go out there.”

The Shredder show began with a set by Exploding Head Trick. This performance felt slightly unpolished, but the local trio’s well-crafted songs and engaging stage presence got the night off to a good start nonetheless. Pleasantly rough vocals mixed with rumbling drums, melodic basslines and terse, snarling guitar solos.

Piranhas BC followed with a focused, high-energy set. The smart, catchy songs gained extra bite from the band’s locked-in groove, confident vocals and fiery guitar. A small mosh circle formed during a sharp cover of the Dead Kennedys’ “Holiday in Cambodia,” and the crowd responded just as enthusiastically to the original material.

But the response was even wilder for The Akabane Vulgars’ set. Yumi Uchizono’s throaty roar and thunderous riffs, Miki Uchizono’s thick basslines and Kei Sofue’s crushing drums got the audience whistling and throwing up the horns. At the end of the set, two men pounded on the stage and shouted for an encore. When the band returned to play a manic hardcore number, people started moshing.

Throughout the set, Miki Uchizono raised an index finger up in the air, making the “We’re number 1” gesture. She had a right. - BOISE weekly

Static presents a special weeknight show on Thursday, August 22 at 9 pm The Corktown Tavern. Japanese all-girl power trio THE AKABANE VULGARS ON STRONG BYPASS return to Detroit with special guests Detroit's own WHITE SHAG and THE LUCKOUTS joining the show.
The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass made their Detroit debut last September on their U.S. "Return of King Zero" tour, this year they are back to promote their two new albums, "Proclamation" and the live release, "Live in Brooklyn." The band blew the local crowd away with their performance and promised to return to the Motor City again this year.
“British influenced rock with a punk edged persona from the Japanese trio THE AKABANE VULGARS ON STRONG BYPASS. Their energy and style bursts out with their great track ‘Evening or Cabaret and Chain’. With a sound this good, give them a listen. You’re onto a winner!”– Digitalgig.co.uk
Sharing the bill once again will be a repeat of last year's triple bill with local powerhouse rock trio White Shag and the punk-meets-glam rockers The Luckouts.
For more info on the bands check out their websites:
www.akabane-vulgars.com
www.whiteshag.com
www.reverbnation.com/theluckouts
The Corktown Tavern is located at 1716 Michigan Ave. in Detroit, 313-964-5103. 21 & over are welcome and cover for this show is only $6. - MOTOR CITY BLOG Detroit

DEMO is proud to present THE AKABANE VULGARS from Japan on Saturday, August 24 at Memory Lanes with local bands WINTER LIGHTS and KISS OR KILL! The all-girl Japanese punk trio played two DEMO shows last year to rave reviews, and we're excited to have them back.



"If you were there to see a stereotypical Japanese pop band, you should have left right after the intro," writes St. Paul Live Music Examiner Monica Millsap Rasmussen of the band's September 2012 performance at Wild Tymes. "Their music was tight and powerful, their lyrics were soulful, and they held the audience's attention for over 40 minutes plus an encore."

Critics have called their stage presence dark and brooding, yet to anyone watching the band, it is clear that they are enjoying their time on stage. They are talented young women, playing together since 2005. Digitalgig.co.uk has described their sound as raw and melodic, a hint of British rock with a punk-edged persona.

The Akabane Vulgars are rising music stars. Once they have released their music across the country, they will definitely be back to fill larger venues.

This is a 21+ event with no cover charge. Music begins at 10pm. Don't miss out on this great show! - Deverse emerging music organization DEMO

Seattle, WA, August 23, 2012 – The bluesy, Japanese all-girl power trio, The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass, returns to take the U.S.A. by storm as they announce a new multi-city national tour kicking off tomorrow! Catch their songs and image at www.akabane-vulgars.com.
The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass 2012 U.S. Tour, “Return of the King Zero,” will take the band to 20 cities and formally kicks off on Saturday, August 25th with a performance at the 2012 J-Pop Summit Festival in San Francisco, following a warm-up gig the day before in Guala, CA at the Bones Roadhouse.

AUG 24, 2012 Gualala, CA – Bones Roadhouse
AUG 25, 2012 San Francisco, CA – J-POP Summit Festival
AUG 26, 2012 San Francisco, CA – Red Devil Lounge
AUG 27, 2012 Sacramento, CA – Blue Lamp
AUG 29, 2012 Los Osos, CA – Sweet Springs Saloon
AUG 30, 2012 Santa Barbara, CA – Whiskey Richards
AUG 31, 2012 Los Angeles, CA – The Redwood
SEP 02, 2012 San Diego, CA – The Ruby Room
SEP 04, 2012 Las Vegas, NV – The Beauty Bar
SEP 05, 2012 Reno, NV – Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor
SEP 08, 2012 Portland, OR – Slabtown
SEP 15, 2012 Seattle, WA – Slim’s Last Chance
SEP 18, 2012 Denver, CO – Lion’s Lair
SEP 19, 2012 Lincoln, NE – Zoo Bar
SEP 22, 2012 St. Paul, MN – Wild Times
SEP 23, 2012 Chicago, IL – (Private Party)
SEP 24, 2012 Chicago, IL – Double Door
SEP 27, 2012 Detroit, MI – Corktown Tavern
SEP 29, 2012 New York, NY – Lit Lounge
OCT 01, 2012 Brooklyn, NY – Trash Bar
The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass formed in 2005 and is composed of sisters Yumi Uchizono on guitar and vocals and Miki Uchizono on bass, along with drummer Kei Sofue. The band formed while the members were still in high school but the trio has gone on to enjoy a wide following in Japan with a unique brand of bluesy-rock vocals and soulful lyrics. The Akabane Vulgars is heavily influenced by Green Day, Joan Jett, The Beatles, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Japanese groups such as Blankey Jet City and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant.
The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass have released a self-produced CD, “The Rumps Smolder at the Gloom” as well as a 3-song EP, “We Need The Riot, Our Riot, Your Riot.” The band is preparing to record and release their full length debut on a U.S.-based record label later this year.
“We’re super excited to come back to America for this tour,” says singer Yumi Uchizono. “Each of us in the band has grown up steeped in American music and rock and roll, and it’s going to be so much fun to play for new audiences in these cities. We look forward to making as many new fans as we can!”
Tags: Akabane Vulgars, j-rock, Jpop Summit, jpunk
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 29th, 2012 at 11:20 am and is filed under Press Release, indie, rock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. - The Concert Entertainment Review

After Piranhas came the Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, an all-female trio from Japan. As soon as you read that last part, I'm sure that some of you hipsters immediately thought "Shonen Knife." A bit of advice: push that thought out of your mind right now before this group comes and rips your head off. "Fierce" barely begins to describe this group's mix of bluesy, swaggering grooves, metallic riffs, shrieking solos, bone-crushing bass and drums and howled, bellowed vocals. Their "House of the Rising Sun" cover made Eric Burdon sound like Anthony Hegarty. Would've been worth the price of admission all by themselves. - Here Comes the Dumptruck

We are The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass. We are from Tokyo and we are very happy to be here,” singer/guitarist Yumi Uchizono cheerfully introduced the band from the Wild Tymes’ Palace Stage in St. Paul, MN on Saturday, September 22.

The Akabane Vulgars had just performed their first song, “Bottle in Absinthe.” As they had made their way to the stage, their intro song, Paul Anka’s “You Are My Destiny” foretold the eerie transition from serene beauty to the raw bluesy punk rock of Akabane Vulgars. If you were there to see the stereotypical Japanese pop band, you should have left right after the intro.

Yumi Uchizono’s guttural vocals growled hit after hit of rock and roll energy. She was a female Eric Burdon. In fact, the middle of their set, they blasted through an inspiring rendition of “House of the Rising Sun.” Bassist Miki Uchizono strutted on stage like any good rock guitar goddess would with menacing expressions to boot. Kei Sofue, the drummer that steadily kept the rock beat going, would occasionally yell out in the sweetest voice, “one, two, three” before the band would break into another thunderous song, like “Little Rendezvous.”

The trio of women that made up the band all had her own stage persona that connected with the audience. Red and black outfits gave the women a compelling presence. These women have been playing together for about six years. Their music was tight and powerful, their lyrics were soulful, and they held the audience’s attention for over 40 minutes plus an encore. “Thank you. We will do for you one more song. We are very happy to be here,” said Yumi Uchizono as she strapped on her guitar and the band rocked on.

What had the audience expected? Maybe, covers of syrupy Karen Carpenter songs. What had the band delivered? Etta James vocals to punk beats. American pop of the 1980’s featured manly, male rockers from Gedi Lee to Prince singing in falsetto. Akabane Vulgars turned the tables and showed us feminine, female punkers emoting the devil inside.

Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass are in the middle of their first major US tour. Check out their website for more dates near you. - Examiner

Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass—that’s a mouthful—have been driving across the U.S., playing as many dates as they could, wherever they could. John Genzale saw them play at the SXSW festival earlier this year, and was so impressed, he offered, or demanded, that they let him take them on a tour across the U.S. He bought a van, a drum-set, acquired some speaker cabinets, and Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass provided the rest. They started off by covering the West Coast, doing nine dates in California, then over to Nevada for a couple of shows, and on up to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, where they played and did some recording. There they accumulated more CDs, T-shirts, and posters, and headed off across the U.S.A. They booked dates as they traveled and managed to play shows in five more states on their way across to New York City. They had two dates booked there, and added another show shortly before they reached New York. Admittedly, some of the dates didn’t draw much of a crowd for this band, who, except for their appearances at SXSW, were virtually unknown in the U.S.A. From what I heard, though, most of their West Coast dates went over very well, and MTV Iggy featured a story about them and their first U.S. tour, which Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass dubbed Return Of The King Zero. Yes, they do seem to like long titles. Their first CD is called The Rumps Smolder At The Gloom. Returning to the subject of the tour, many of the places they played invited them to play again any time they could return. So, as it happened, some of the places they played on their way across to NYC, they also played on their way back across to the West Coast, where they replayed some of the clubs that had booked them earlier along with some new dates. Often times the band slept in the van as they headed off to the next show. After the show at Trash Bar in Brooklyn, we found a place to eat before they took off for their two day drive to St. Paul, Minnesota. The first consideration was getting to the restaurant. I would have been the only extra passenger, but it was impressed upon me that they had no room in the van for another person. In spite of these cramped quarters, the band of three, and John, were all very pleasant and even sweet. They very much seemed to be enjoying their adventure.

I first saw them at a small club called Lit Lounge in the East Village of New York City. I didn’t know what to expect. Yumi Uchizono, the singer/guitarist, who also writes the songs, has one of the lowest female vocals I’ve heard in rock music. She isn’t gentle with it, either. A friend described her vocals as a growl, and there is a certain roughness to it. One of the positive things that first impressed me about the band as they did their sound check was that Yumi has a smoother voice than I had heard in the recordings. Apparently, she overpowers the microphones, which gives her vocals that rough sound. What impressed me next was the power and tightness of this band. They rocked hard and were well rehearsed. Yumi handles the vocals and guitar. Her sister, Miki Uchizono, handles the bass guitar and roams the stage as they play, and their friend, Kei Sofue, pounds the drums into submission. If you see Kei on a gig night, she’ll have a drum key necklace on. As I listened to them and watched them play, I was very impressed. This is a powerful band, and they are a rock band, but as I listened more closely, in spite of the power of the music, there’s a laid back quality to the rhythm Miki and Kei are providing for Yumi. The rhythm section is solid, but it’s relaxed, too. In spite of the very rocking sound of this band, I heard a touch of country music, and I wasn’t sure where it came from. Perhaps it was the confidence and bluesy nature of the rhythm section, but as Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass continued to rock through their set, and they were rocking hard, I began to feel that it was Yumi’s low, resonant vocals. In my mind they presented themselves as a slow drawl, and it could have been those vocals that made this rocking music with the edgy guitar possess such a confident swagger. As I listened, the music of this Japanese, female trio presented itself to me as a swaggering cowboy, and I had to respect them all the more.

Unfortunately, they were the first band to play that night, and though it was a Friday night, there were not many people there to enjoy the powerful music this band was presenting. On Saturday night, again, they were the first band to play, and again, there were only a few people when they began their set. The audience did slowly increase as they played, but it remained a smallish crowd. It was disappointing to see such a good band, who had come all the way from Japan, and driven all the way across the country, virtually ignored here in New York. I shouldn’t be shocked. I’ve been following the vibrant Japanese underground rock scene for a good long time now, and sometimes I wonder why these bands come to N - Anusaya

After Piranhas came the Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, an all-female trio from Japan. As soon as you read that last part, I'm sure that some of you hipsters immediately thought "Shonen Knife." A bit of advice: push that thought out of your mind right now before this group comes and rips your head off. "Fierce" barely begins to describe this group's mix of bluesy, swaggering grooves, metallic riffs, shrieking solos, bone-crushing bass and drums and howled, bellowed vocals. Their "House of the Rising Sun" cover made Eric Burdon sound like Anthony Hegarty. Would've been worth the price of admission all by themselves. - Here Comes the Dumptruck

Of all the bands lined up for Japan Nite 2012, The Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass were the one I found myself most on the fence about before the show. But when this trio of spooky chick rockers with a rockabilly flare and a graveyard aesthetic took the stage, it didn’t take me long to get it. Akabane vulgars serve up primal rock ‘n’ roll; short and rough around the edges. There’s a bluesy edge to their music that’s more pain than soul, like a victim out for revenge or a killer reveling in bloodlust.

And that’s how they present themselves; brooding and dangerous. Their album, The Rumps Smolder at the Gloom, has song titles like “Bottle In Absinthe” and “Strike a Match, Burn It, Cuz It’s Dark Enough.”

Despite insisting to keep up their brooding personas, they couldn’t help cracking smiles for just a few precious seconds before putting the persona back on. They were having a blast on stage and it was obvious to anyone watching. Even lead singer, crooning low octave vocals so gruff and harsh I mistook her for a man when I first heard The Akabane Vulgars, seemed more alive with each song. - Nihongaku

We weren’t quite sure we would actually find The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, playing live in some hidden corner of Pasadena and we are pros at finding bands in spots that are not the Troubadour or whatever. We’ve spent a lot of time searching for music. We’ve driven blindly in the pre-GPS days, waiting for the bass to shake our car. We’ve wandered through neighborhoods where they only sign of life was the sad shell of a gentlemen’s club. We’ve stumbled into backyards and even made our way through a maze of storage units. Anything to find the music. This time, though, our inner party compass, and all external means of mapping locations, were failing.

On this particular night, the quest to find the band led us to what my perennial partner-in-crime, Carlos, and I would consider uncharted territory. We were in Old Town Pasadena. This isn’t the sort of neighborhood we would ever associate with music we like. The streets are clean and lined with mall stores. There are crowds of people pouring in and out of restaurants with large shopping bags hanging from one arm and small children clinging tightly to the other. It’s family friendly, two words we will never associate with music and good times.


The Akabane Vulgars at Old Towne Pub in Pasadena (Photo: Liz O.)

We have been driving in circles for nearly a half-hour trying to find Old Towne Pub. There are signs everywhere, but not a single one indicated that we are where we should be. Part of the problem is that we have two different addresses for the space, one from the venue’s website, the other from Yelp. I strain my eyes looking at street numbers, neither one exists, it seems, although both should be no more than a block away from each other. We park and start walking, turning a corner when we spot an alley. There’s a tough-looking guy dressed in all black, the universal sign of a bouncer. We are here, even though we’re never really sure exactly where here is. Now we have to find The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, or The Akabane Vulgars for short.

Old Towne Pub is like nothing else in the neighborhood. In other words, I liked it. The venue is small, so small that a spot on a barstool will place you directly in front of the band on stage. The woman who tends bar also runs sound. There are, maybe, five or six people inside, all female, all kind of punk looking and apparently friends with the singer-songwriter who is playing. There are a few more people outside, mostly guys, some girls. I’m looking for the band, The Akabane Vulgars, an all-female rock trio from Tokyo, and their tour manager, John. Instead, I meet several other guys named John.

Finally, I meet the right John and he takes me out to the front of the club, where the girls are hanging out in an old, blue van. The Akabane Vulgars are Yumi Uchizono (lead vocals, guitar), Miki Uchizono (bass) and Kei Sofue (drums). Yumi and Miki are sisters. After six years of playing around Japan, they made their first trip to the U.S. early in 2012 for South by Southwest. Right now, they’re in the middle of their first U.S. tour.


The Akabane Vulgars at Old Towne Pub in Pasadena (Photo: Liz O.)

They’re already a few dates into the tour when we met. Yumi, who does most of the talking during our brief interview, tells me about the shows. There was the gig in Sacramento where a guy offered to be their roadie. “There’s no space in the van,” she says and all three laugh. I took a peek inside their van. There really is no room for a roadie. There was the J-Pop Summit in San Francisco, their biggest date on the tour so far. Yumi mentions that it was interesting to see people show up to the concert cosplaying characters from anime series like Neon Genesis Evangelion. “I’m not familiar with these things,” she says.

Back inside the club in Pasadena, there’s no cosplay, just a lot of rockers. By the time the band takes the stage, there’s a decent sized crowd in the room. Yumi says that she likes bands that “have career vision and a philosophy.” On stage, that’s what The Akabane Vulgars have. They are tight with big, bluesy vocals, big, thunderous music. They have a sound that’s far too large for such a small venue. At times, we have to stand right outside the open patio door to make up for the fact that we forgot earplugs. We can still see everything, hear everything, but there’s less chance of post-concert ear-ringing out here. The Akabane Vulgars are loud and awesome. They bust out a cover of “House of the Rising Sun.” I’m impressed.


The Akabane Vulgars at Old Towne Pub in Pasadena (Photo: Liz O.)

The Akabane Vulgars will be on tour through the rest of September. Check their website for shows. New York friends, note that they are playing shows at both Lit Lounge and Trash Bar in Brooklyn, so you have two chances to see them. I suggest you do. - Beatique

8. AKABANE VULGARS – WETBOY ELEGY
Japanese blues rock power trio Akabane Vulgars has the heavy eyeliner and doomy sound down, but the real chills come courtesy of frighteningly talented frontwoman Yumi Ichizono. In a live setting, her banshee vocals and wailing guitar solos can make your hair stand on end. - MTViggy

By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
Rafu Entertainment Editor

Sitting comfortably in a Central California hotel, bespectacled and sipping tea, the members of the pop trio from Japan seemed anything but threatening.

Their band name, however, longer and curiouser than most, would seem appropriate for a neo-punk group: The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass.

Singer and guitarist Yumi Uchizono explained the name is partly cheeky, constructed mainly to help the group stand out.

“We wanted something long, longer than most bands,” Uchizono, 28, said in a Rafu interview via Skype on Wednesday. “We put ‘Vulgars’ in it because we wanted to separate ourselves from the mainstream.”

A far cry from the hard-scrabble, working-class London punk bands of the late 1970s and ’80s, this trio of rebels lived a mostly ordinary life in the suburban Koto-ku district of Tokyo.

Uchizono’s bass-playing sister, Miki, had become so enamored with the likes of the Clash and Green Day that she envisioned her own band in 2005, recruiting former high school classmate Kei Sofue as drummer.

Well aware of the physical demands of up-tempo punk, Miki has said that she needed bandmates who were fit and could withstand the rigors, and that Sofue had been an excellent athlete in school.

When it came time to find a guitar player, Miki hired in-house, as it were, recruiting her older sis, who came with the added bonus of a deep, roaring growl of a singing voice.

“In Japan, and especially in our area, there aren’t many bands playing punk music,” Yumi said. “I was thinking about what kind of sound we should focus on. I think what we have created is very unique, especially for a girl group.”

The Akabane Vulgars, as they are known for short, are currently on a U.S. tour that will keep them on the American road for more than six weeks with stops in San Francisco and L.A., across the Heartland and all the way to New York City.

After tonight’s show at Whiskey Richards in Santa Barbara, they’ll be part of a Friday night showcase at the Redwood Bar & Grill in the shadow of the Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown.

The Vulgars have also added a show, Saturday at Pasadena’s historic Old Towne Pub.

This is the group’s second trip to the U.S., after being part of the Japan Nite lineup at this year’s South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.

Yumi said a major difference between audiences in the States and in Japan is the exchange between artists and audience.

“It’s like a discussion here, like a back-and-forth chat,” she said. “That really gives us a lot of energy.”

Barely a week into their tour, Sofue said she is already feeling a little fatigued.

“This is a great experience, but America is so big, the traveling makes us sleepy,” she joked. - The Rafu Shimpo

In the summer of 2005, an indie Japanese band was born, put together by brainchild and bass player Miki Uchizono. After deciding to start her own band, she enlisted the help of Kei Sofue on drums and her sister Yumi Uchizono for vocals and guitar. Together they form the band The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass, or The Akabane Vulgars for short.
The band is known for their bluesy, soulful vocals combined with traditional rock sounds, creating a unique listening experience for all to enjoy. The band hopes to make their music known across America as their embark on a nationwide tour in the United States that will bring them from coast to coast. The tour, titled "Return of the King Zero", kicks off with a free performance at the J-pop Summit Festival on August 25th in San Francisco.
JpopAsia had some burning questions for this up and coming band. Check out our exclusive interview with them below:
JPA: Miki Uchizono, according to the band’s profile, you’re the one who brought the band’s members together. What was it about your band mates that made you think they would be perfect for your band?
Miki: Because I thought they have good physiques. I knew our drummer Kei was an excellent athlete in her high school days. Playing this kind of music takes stamina! I was very confident in my decision, and I'm so glad that it works well. Maybe you think this a little bit funny, but I think their physiques also generate an important dynamic of our sound.
JPA: What made you decide to form a band in the first place?
Miki: The very reason was because I was asked to perform for an event that was planned by my friend back in high school. My sister was playing guitar in bands, so I that’s when I thought it would be nice to form my own band. Then I contacted Kei immediately.
JPA: Miki and Yumi, you two are sisters. How does that dynamic affect the band and your music?
Yumi: We are living together and spend lots of time around each other, and often share a feeling that is sometimes difficult explain or share with others. It might be because we are sisters.
Miki: It's one of the very important factors that generate the power in our music. I think sharing many kinds of feelings, not only positive things but also especially negative ones, is not always easy. So I can say the fact that we are sisters is a big dynamic within the band.
JPA: The full name of your band is The Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass. How did you come up with you band’s name? What is the significance behind it?
Miki: Well, we initially did want our name to be so long. But the name really stood out beyond others we discussed, and we knew some cool bands that had long names. So maybe we thought it would be exciting to do.
The meaning of those words Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass is not meant to be serious. But I can say we have special passion for the "Vulgars” part. When we were thinking of our band name, I was so eager to find a word that had strong power or a provocative image to show our attitude. So I thought it's the very word to represent our concept – We resist the world majority ignoring individual rights
JPA: The cover for your first 3 releases all featured hand drawn artwork. Who is the artist who draws them? Is this a pattern you’ll continue with future releases?
Yumi: All of them were drawn by Miki. Each artwork has its own story and they connect to our band’s concept. So our answer is yes, we would like to keep trying to take those patterns in our artwork for CD covers while continuing to search for and integrate new techniques.
JPA: Earlier this year, you released a compilation album which included 11 previously released tracks and 3 new ones. Are there any plans to release a full length album, or will you focus on releasing fewer high quality tracks?
Yumi: Yes. We want to record 3 new songs that were previously recorded live. We plan to record them during our U.S. tour and maybe we will record our newest song as well. We are looking at several options to release our music in the U.S. and we're very excited at being able to deliver our new song to everyone! The excitement we feel as we prepare for this tour gave me some inspirations to write this song! Thank you all for giving me the excitement!
JPA: You’re performing at the J-pop Summit Festival on August 25th and will continue touring throughout the US. What made you decide to hold promotions in the US?
Yumi: It's a difficult question to answer precisely. I think we have so many reasons and thoughts about coming back to the U.S. to play. What motivated us most was the great time we had playing at SXSW earlier this year. The show and the U.S. fans were brilliant. Great audience and they made a real connection with us. This was everything we hoped to do as a band and we just want to see more of America and play to as many people as we can!
It’s a hard feeling to express. The feeling we all had as we reached a first stage and played the U.S. was absolute. We believe that here is s - JpopAsia

SMOLDERING BLUES ROCK AND SMOKY EYES

By Beverly Bryan
September 6, 2012

Name: Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass
Where They’re From: Tokyo, Japan
When They Started: 2005
Genre: goth-tinged punk blues
Most Similar: The Gossip, The Suzan, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
Sounds Like: Desperate youth/bloodthirsty babes

Sometimes it seems like all the raw, brilliant Japanese rock bands have been around forever. There’s nothing wrong with that. Guitar Wolf will still liquefy your eyeballs live. It’s just that you want to see that torch get passed eventually and you don’t want to hear, “oh, we all like electronic music now.” Happily, the lengthily named Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass have got hold of that rock ‘n’ roll torch and they are waving it around in threatening manner.

The reckless power trio formed in 2005 when the members were in high school. Bassist/vocalist Miki Uchizono recruited her sister Yumi to sing and play guitar and her classmate Kei Sofue to be the drummer. As of this posting, they have only the 2010 EP Burn It, Burn. Girl, You Burn It, a couple of seven inches and a SXSW only compilation in their discography. Compared to the many established acts that have been around for a couple of decades, these ladies just happened.

Punk blues is a decent descriptor for their sound, but their actual profile is closer to rockabilly with that ever-winning combination of dark, hooky and dirty. Thickening this hearty soup is a backbone of wooden roller coaster-style pop punk (They love Green Day!) and some subtle-yet-distinct J-rock melodic elements. In a way, they show how awesome psychobilly could have been if only the wrong people hadn’t thought of it first.

(For real though, have you seen Fuckyeahpsychobillygirls.tumblr.com? What if all those beautiful people listened to bands with more than one chord progression between them?) Instead of hot-pink pompadours, here you get color co-ordinated vintage outfits. (Kind of a Sleater-Kinney meets Marissa Paternoster rock power suit thing.) Style points never hurt.

After attacking SXSW this year, they’re headed back to the States presently for tour dates and some recording. Rejoice and watch for a oak-solid debut full-length before too long. - MTViggy

SMOLDERING BLUES ROCK AND SMOKY EYES

By Beverly Bryan
September 6, 2012

Name: Akabane Vulgars On Strong Bypass
Where They’re From: Tokyo, Japan
When They Started: 2005
Genre: goth-tinged punk blues
Most Similar: The Gossip, The Suzan, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant
Sounds Like: Desperate youth/bloodthirsty babes

Sometimes it seems like all the raw, brilliant Japanese rock bands have been around forever. There’s nothing wrong with that. Guitar Wolf will still liquefy your eyeballs live. It’s just that you want to see that torch get passed eventually and you don’t want to hear, “oh, we all like electronic music now.” Happily, the lengthily named Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass have got hold of that rock ‘n’ roll torch and they are waving it around in threatening manner.

The reckless power trio formed in 2005 when the members were in high school. Bassist/vocalist Miki Uchizono recruited her sister Yumi to sing and play guitar and her classmate Kei Sofue to be the drummer. As of this posting, they have only the 2010 EP Burn It, Burn. Girl, You Burn It, a couple of seven inches and a SXSW only compilation in their discography. Compared to the many established acts that have been around for a couple of decades, these ladies just happened.

Punk blues is a decent descriptor for their sound, but their actual profile is closer to rockabilly with that ever-winning combination of dark, hooky and dirty. Thickening this hearty soup is a backbone of wooden roller coaster-style pop punk (They love Green Day!) and some subtle-yet-distinct J-rock melodic elements. In a way, they show how awesome psychobilly could have been if only the wrong people hadn’t thought of it first.

(For real though, have you seen Fuckyeahpsychobillygirls.tumblr.com? What if all those beautiful people listened to bands with more than one chord progression between them?) Instead of hot-pink pompadours, here you get color co-ordinated vintage outfits. (Kind of a Sleater-Kinney meets Marissa Paternoster rock power suit thing.) Style points never hurt.

After attacking SXSW this year, they’re headed back to the States presently for tour dates and some recording. Rejoice and watch for a oak-solid debut full-length before too long. - MTViggy