Photo by Tedd Henn
In 1991, four students at Tokyo’s Mejii Gakuin University came together to form a band that would transcend the narrow cult of Japanese pop culture and gain the attention of the world. This picture is not a picture of them. The band I’m speaking of is ‘Thee Michelle Gun Elephant.’ The odd name was derived from a mispronunciation of the The Damned’s Album, ‘Machine Gun Etiquette.’ The musicians pictured, ‘Geisha Lightening’ are paying homage to this seminal Japanese band.
Photo by Tedd Henn.
Photo by Tedd Henn
DJ Brian Gilbert
TGME had long since been disbanded in 2003. Upon the sudden death of of founding guitarist Futoshi Abe in 2009, the production company that filmed their last concert, recut the film to include unreleased footage and dubbed it Thee Movie. The film went out on tour as if it were a band playing music venues to sold out crowds. ’Geisha Lightening’ drummer Rob Perry hoped that the tour would come to the states but when he realized that wish was a long shot he decided to host the experience here himself.
Photo by Tedd Henn.
Photo by Tedd Henn
’Geisha Lightening’ is made up of members of several notable bands including ’Love The Bomb,’ ‘Thee Lexington Arrows,’ and ’Young Jaguars.’
Photo by Tedd Henn.
Photo by Tedd Henn
Thee Tribute is ’Geisha Lightening’ channeling one of Japan’s most celebrated bands and is the first ever American tribute to ‘Thee Michelle Gun Elephant.’
Though the niche that TGME fills in Baltimore is small, the response from loyal fans was overwhelmingly positive. Few Americans ever had the chance to see this band live and for them this is as close as they may ever get. The performance comes complete with memorabilia and a screening of Thee Movie.
Photo by Tedd Henn.
Photo by Tedd Henn
If you have a penchant for Japanese rock or simply garage rock that is as good if not better than many American bands, you can catch the Thee Tribute on October 30th at the Sidebar.
Photo by Tedd Henn.
