“Jiminy Jilickers, Radioactive Man!” PunkSpring2015

              Every year since 2006, Osaka/Kobe and Tokyo have been host to the PunkSpring festival, headlined by punk legends such as Bad Religion, NoFX, The Offspring, and Pennywise and punk-inspired acts such as Weezer and The Hives. This year, the reasonably priced festival returns to Kobe World Hall on March 28. A ticket for standing room only, which I recommend, will set you back only ¥8,500. A reserved-seat ticket is available for ¥10,800, but most people will find it unnecessary at this venue. Tickets went on sale on Jan 31 and are currently available for purchase online or at any Lawson or Family Mart ticket machine.

The 2015 lineup features many great punk rock bands and Fall Out Boy, so if you are a fan of punk rock music or Fall Out Boy, this will be a can’t miss event! Starting at 12:00pm, bands will play 30 minute to 1 hour sets all day, with longer set times reserved for the headlining punk bands and Fall Out Boy. You’ll find that, unlike festival events in many other countries, you should have no problem walking right up to the front when your favorite awesome band or Fall Out Boy is performing, as the PunkSpring audience tends to be quite reserved. Don’t expect raucous applause, even when you have just witnessed a mind-blowing, supersonic punk tune or Fall Out Boy’s actions. The American bands tend to be baffled by the stifling silence, but they quickly realize the crowd just thinks they are being “polite” andare waiting for the next song. I will highlight some of the punk bands and Fall Out Boy below.

 

 

Rancid

Rancid was formed in 1991 from the remains of ska-punk legends Operation Ivy. Throughout the ‘90s, Rancid led the punk mainstream revival along with contemporary acts such as NoFX, Green Day, and Social Distortion.The band achieved their peak popularity with 1995’s …And Out Come the Wolves, which featured their most well-known singles: “Ruby Soho,” “Roots Radicals,” and “Time Bomb.” The first two singles were famously performed on Saturday Night Live. For newcomers to Rancid, that album will be the best route for pre-PunkSpringsing-along practice.Rancid will be the top act to see at PunkSpring, closely followed by Rise Against.

 

 

Rise Against

Rise Against formed in 1999 and was a Fat Wreck Chords staple in the early 2000s, touring with contemporaries such as No Use For a Name, Against Me!, and AFI. They have since gained immense mainstream appeal with a string of gold certified records starting with 2004’s Siren Song of the Counter Culture. They have received massive exposure through repeated radio play of their singles, including “Swing Life Away,” “Ready to Fall,” “Hero of War,” and“Help Is on the Way.” Noted for their intense stage presence, which has caused the band to stop and just watch the singer go wild a few times, Rise Against will likely take part in a friendly “who can go buck wilder?” competition with Rancid.

 

 

Zebrahead

Formed in California in 1996, Zebrahead’s Japanese following is crazy. Like, really crazy. Like, their popularity here in a country of 127 million probably easily rivals or beats their popularity in their homeland of the USA with its population of 316 million. This may have something to do with their machismo Orange County vibe, which most Americans have since found tiring, and their pandering to the Japanese audience by releasing exclusive albums and EPs, such as Stupid Fat Americans in 2001. The band’s blend of funk, punk, rap, ska, and metal is sure to ensure that you’ll find something to enjoy in their performance at PunkSpring. Also, expect this to be possibly the rowdiest crowd for one of the foreign acts.

 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Kobe-locals Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas are going to blow your minds, twice. That’s once for each singer, a screamerator and a sing songer, that front this post-hardcore act.These guys have been blowing up over the last several years and seem to be unstoppable. This is the Japanese act to see at PunkSpring, as they’re going to do their best to steal the show. Check out their singles “Virtue and Vice” and “Rave-upTonight,” the former known as the opening theme for the anime “Gokukoku no Brynhildr.” Get your dancing shoes worn in for these guys!

 

Fun Fact: Their song “Evolution (Entering the New World)” was used as the entrance music for former NXT wrestling champion Adrienne Neville when he wrestled as Pac in Dragon Gate Wrestling in Japan.

 

 

SiM

SiM are intense, pounding reggae punk (self-described). Get ready for some guitar upstroke, some easily repeated English lyrics, and some throbble jumping. They’ve only gotten more intense since forming in 2004 in Kanagawa, and MAH (vocals), SHOW-HATE (guitar), SIN (bass), and GODRi (drums) are going to try to blow the lid off the place. Listen to their singles “Anthem” and “Riot” to get a good idea of what to expect.

 

Opening Act: MY FIRST STORY

Newcomers MY FIRST STORY have only been together since 2011, but the show openers have big things ahead of them. Their perfect blend of American punk stylings and Japanese sensibilities makes for some awesome jams. The pedigree is there too, with Hiro, the singer, being the younger brother of J-Punk heavyweights ONE OK ROCK’s vocalist. Please hope with me that they play their atmospheric rendition of Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Getting Back Together” at the show. Also, check out “Fukagyaku,” which was used as the end theme to the anime “Nobunaga Concert.”

 

Early acts: New Politics,Knock Out Monkey, and possibly more

The early bill is rounded out by New Politics from Denmark and Knock Out Monkey from Kobe. Knock Out Monkey is sure to please fans of Zebrahead with their dude-oriented approach to pop punk (watch the videos to “Greed” and “Wonderful Life”), and New Politics, with their vaguely indie, alt-garage neo-Euro sound, will be the most different sounding act of the show (check out “Yeah YeahYeah” and “Harlem”). Don’t be surprised if one or two more acts are added to further fill the line up as well.

 

 

Fall Out Boy

Known for their bassist marrying Ashley Simpson and having impeccable taste in eyeliner, Fall Out Boy have been writing and recording their sounds since 2001. They have played on the same shows as punk bands countless times throughout their career. Some of their singles, such as “Dance, Dance” and “Sugar, We’re Going Down,” even landed them on the, now defunct, countdown show TRL, known as a bastion of original and highly inspirational music that was once hosted by TV’s Carson Daly. Fall Out Boy is sure to wow the PunkSpring audience members who were brought there by their significant others or friends that have never heard a punk song. It will be a glorious event for all, as Rancid will play directly before or after them.

 

Ticket Information

Punk Spring 2015 Osaka/Kobe

March 28, Kobe World Hall

12:00pm Doors – 1:00pm Start

Standing Room Only – Â¥8,500

Reserved Seat – Â¥10,800

T-Shirt combos also available

On Sale January 31^st online and at all Lawson, Family Mart, and other ticket retailers

www.PunkSpring.com

 

-Ryan Hertel

 

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (www.lasvegas-jp.com)

SiM (www.sxixm.com)

My First Story (www.myfirststory.net)

Knock Out Monkey (www.knockoutmonkey.com)