DRUMKAN
Satoshi Tsugahara Vo+Gt / Goro Shimizuï Gt / Naoki Kojima / Drum
1999年1月、このあと始まるインディーシーンの潮流を前に、1枚のアルバムが生まれた。
drumkan 【blend】 1999 (C) Start Today Records
drumkanはこの後、多くのメンバーチェンジが連なったことが要因で、2000年代、数多くのインディーバンドが隆盛を高め、潮流に乗っていく中、2007年幕を降ろす。
ギター+ギター+ドラムのベースレス変形スリーピースバンドから始まり、日本語詞から英詞への変遷、海外バンドを次々に呼び寄せての日本ツアーを敢行、果ては米国ツアー、豪州ツアーと逆エモーショナル上陸で襲撃したりと、そのチャレンジ・フロンティアスピリットは、後進の多くのバンドとシナジーを共有。
前記、多くのメンバーチェンジと記したが、ドラム3人、ギター8人、ベース3人の計14名、その在籍したメンバー全員が、異存のない、いや、異存の出しようのない【真】のドラムカンサウンドの原型、ルーツメンバーで、2017 年再結成。
現メンバーはSatoshi Tsugahara Vo+Gt / Naoki Kojma Drum / Yasu Yokomizo Gt / K2O Bass にて活動を続けている。
- ReBranding
[HISTORY]
99年結成、5枚のフルアルバム、2枚のシングルをリリース。様々な活動を経て二度のアメリカツアーやオーストラリアツアーを行い
『Elliott』のドラマーKevin rattermanをプロデューサーに迎え三度のアメリカレコーディングを行う。
2007年には、アメリカで『AS LIFE』をリリース。また、自身のレーベル『waver waver』を運営しながら様々なアーティストをリリースし、シリーズツアー『Ex-hivision』を敢行する。
『Elliott』『mae』『Your black star』『Daphne loves derby』『dream state』『Sense field』『Garrison』『Brisk』
『Long since forgotten』『Further seems forever』など海外でも話題のインディーロックバンドを日本へ数多く招聘。
近年では、『Quicksand』『THURSDAY』を招聘し国内外を超えてインディー・エモロックを牽引しつづけている。
Drumkan, hailing from Tokyo, Japan is a miraculous achievement in Japanese indie rock. Since forming almost ten years ago, the band has managed to release six full length albums as well as numerous EPs and has toured Japan, Australia and America extensively with such bands as Sunny Day Real Estate, Elliott, Your Black Star, Mae, Further Seems Forever and numerous others.
Forging a sound from the raw punk of the indie underground with the power and melody of Nirvana, Drumkan has managed to create a sound which is one part wall-shaking punk to one part infectious pop. When you see them live, you’ll be blown away not only by their massive amounts of energy but also by how difficult it will be to get those damn songs out of your head for the next week!
A unique indie success story, Drumkan started out small and worked their way to the top, eventually signing with Japanese major, Limited Records, in 2000 and ultimately choosing to drop themselves from the label shortly after their first release in favor of the freedom of releasing records on their own label, maintaining their relationship with Limited on a distribution basis only. The band has since released records on their Waver-Waver label not only by themselves but also by Your Black Star, Jeff Caudill, and Long Since Forgotten.
Any band that has been together will go through a lineup change or two and that is certainly true for Dumkan. The one constant through the years has been the steady guitar work, rough voice, and amazing songwriting of frontman Satoshi Tsugahara. Tsugahara has led the band from the start and is currently managing the band’s label as well as the booking of all the band’s and label’s Japanese tours.
A group that has found a way to stay indie––as well as balance the expense and business end of touring and recording––is a rarity and few have done this as well and as gracefully as Drumkan. If you’ve never had a chance to experience this powerfull band, do yourself a favor: navigate to waver-waver.com or better yet, look for a Drumkan show near you. This truly powerful band will challenge your perceptions of indie rock for sure