Adventurasia Community

EVENT REVIEW
MOD MAYDAY 2001
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2001
SHINJUKU LOFT, TOKYO REVIEW

BY: Thomas Chadwick

I can do anything,
For something new,
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere! -The Who

Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (1965)

Defining the Mod movement has proven to be difficult given its mercurial and elusive nature. However, the feelings and images created by listening to the song Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere provide as succinct a definition as any.

With its slashing, yet melodic power chords, startling feedback and chiming harmonies Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere is a pop song that perfectly mirrors the boundless optimism of early/mid sixties England. Through its sharp, concise lyrics and revolutionary guitar feedback the song delivers a message of boundless confidence. In doing so, Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere freezes a moment in time and captures the passion and intensity of the original British Mod subculture with perfect clarity.

Thirty-six years later, many people still passionately ascribe to the Mod ideal outlined in Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere. On Saturday, May 19, 2001, hundreds of such Japanese gathered in Tokyo for Mod Mayday 2001, an event that will probably be the largest Mod event of 2001 held in Japan.

The evening’s festivities commenced in Shibuya at 10:00pm with a gathering of vintage Italian scooters owned by Tokyo’s top “faces”. After the gathering, things proceeded with a late night rally to the Shinjuku Loft club in Kabuki-cho. Soon the area surrounding the club was teeming with Mod “faces”. Vespas, Lambrettas, MGs, Austin Minis and even a Triumph TR4 were spotted in the immediate vicinity of the club. An air of anticipation cut through the humid and muggy Tokyo night as old friends were greeted and stories swapped.

The impeccably dressed throngs of Mods stood in sharp contrast to the garbage strewn streets and neon-lit tawdriness of Tokyo’s red-light Kabuki-cho district. Why the event organizers chose this area to hold the event escapes me as Kabuki-cho is hands-down the sleaziest, most depressing area in all of Tokyo. Perhaps the organizers were trying to test out Richard Barnes’ famous definition of the Mod lifestyle: “Clean living under difficult circumstances.”!

Shortly before midnight, the doors to the club opened and elite “faces” and eager “tickets” crowded into the expansive club. The organizers of the event had done a credible job of getting the atmosphere right as television screens stationed throughout the club’s two main areas showed clips from Ready Steady Go! and footage of The Who, The Small Faces, and The Kinks. (I could have lived without the footage of The Style Council!) Vintage 60’s pop was broadcast at low volume so as not to hinder further conversation.

The evening then proceeded with the first DJ set and the music level was raised so that conversation in the main hall became impossible and dancing became the only reasonable option. Further DJ sets followed, interspersed with performances by five of the most popular bands on the Japanese Mod circuit: (Freedom Suite, Phelge, Marquee, Blue Chips and Zoot Style). The music played by the bands ranged from Kinks style power chord pop to early Rolling Stones style R&B to Jamaican rocksteady/reggae. For sheer stage presence Phelge won easily with their charismatic front man (Try to imagine a 1965 Mick Jagger with Asian features!) and gambit of pulling members from the audience to join the band on stage.

In previous Tokyo Mod events there have been some jaw-droppingly amazing DJ sets that have mixed fantastic American R&B obscurities with aggressive pop, soul and pure rock and roll. I remember one DJ set from a past Tokyo Mod event that started with Otis Redding’s amazing Little Richard style Shout Bamalama and then blasted off from there with a set of rampaging R&B, storming girl group pop and delicious ska sounds, none of which I had ever heard before, even though I am a fanatic record collector! Pure heaven!

However, at this event I was a little disappointed as the music played by the DJs sometimes strayed too much from the core sounds of raw, American R&B and aggressive British pop music. This aside, all the DJ sets at Mod Mayday were still great fun and never failed to keep everyone dancing and having a great time.

After nearly six hours of non-stop dancing, chatting and watching bands, the event wound up at about 6:00am on Sunday morning. Many of the hardcore Mods, still buzzing from the excitement of the event, gathered for breakfast and then lunch (!) and further inspiring conversation.

Mod Mayday 2001 was a smashing success and a testament to the friendly, well organized Tokyo Mod scene. Many thanks to the DJs, band members, and the “behind the scenes” organizers who worked hard to make the event happen.

Although this event is over, there are a number of regular club events in Tokyo that cater to Mods looking for a night out. A short, but far from all-inclusive list of Tokyo Mod club events follows:

(Remember, club schedules change so please phone ahead before making any extra special plans.)

Club: Organ Bar
Event: Top Gear
When: every last Tuesday
Fee: 2000 yen
Tel: 03-5489-5460

Club: El Sonora
Event: Whisky A Go Go
When: phone for details
Fee: 2000 yen
Tel: 03-3403-1537

The Whisky A Go Go event is presented by a Mod collective called “Blues Dress”. They have recently opened a Mod specialty store (tailor made clothes, CDs etc.) in Tokyo. Although I haven’t had a chance to visit it yet myself, I can guarantee you that it will be very cool. For more information visit their web site at: http://olive.zero.ad.jp/MODS/

Club: Oto Shinjuku
Event: Gang Stage
When: every first Wednesday
Fee: unknown
Tel: unknown

Remember: Mods Rule O.K.!?

Filed under: Japan