It was my first time at the Bootleg Theater. My first time in that part of Los Angeles. I didn’t know what to expect of the venue, the crowd or the band I was to meet. After only speaking with Chris (lead guitar) for a few seconds over the phone, I wasn’t sure who I would be looking for. But after walking up to the door I was greeted by him. Soon after I helped the band bring the equipment into venue and was introduced to the rest of the band.
Italian Japanese consists of Chris, Allen (lead vox, guitar), Justin (drums), Daniel (bass, backing vox), and Sean (guitar, backing vox). The band is based in Silverlake, Ca, though the members come from all around. I soon knew that I had more in common with some of them than I originally thought. Chris, Daniel and I grew up in the same neighborhood and even attended rivaling middle schools. After watching their amazing set, I was then given the chance to sit down and get to know them a little bit more. A few Pabsts and random conversations later, I managed to fit in some actual interview questions that even then skewed off into random tangents…
Me: So any of you guys actually Italian or Japanese?
Chris: Allen and our old bass player are from Florence, Italy.
Me: Is that where the name came from?
Chris: We were thinking of Blonde Redhead actually. And it kinda made since because of Allen being both Italian and Japanese. And its like well that’s kinda cool, it’s the best of both fashion and design. And it combined both so it made sense. Just everything with fashion and technology and design and uhh, culture.
Me: Is that what you guys are into?
Chris: Yeah! I mean, I don’t know. I’m definitely into Japanese culture, I’m a graphic designer. I know we’re into fashion, But the gist of it is it came from how having a dual nationality and we were talking about Blonde Redhead that day.
Daniel: Fashion is a huge thing for me. I love Italian fashion.
Me: You guys have got style, like you dress nice.
Chris: Thank you.
Me: Like you’re suave, debonair.
Chris: Hahaha
Daniel: For me personally, I see all these indie rockers, I mean yeah anyone can wear a flannel shirt and stuff with the whole smug, dressing down kind of thing. I like us to be different. I really like the Franz Ferdinand or remember Morrissey back in the day?
Chris: I like Mad Men a lot, hahah.
Me: So how long have you guys been together?
Chris: He (Daniel) recently joined the band, like probably two months ago. But I guess playing shows, we’ve only been playing since January of this year. We recorded the record in October of 2009.
Me: Well how did you two meet, were you roommates first? (Because they’re roommates now)
Chris: No I met Allen through a mutual friend in San Diego and we started the band. And him and Justin were in a band. And so Justin joined the band. Then we had some personnel changes.
Me: Are you gonna keep this lineup?
Chris: Yeah, yeah. Its hard because people have different personalities and people come and go. We had a kid that was 18 years old and really talented. But he obviously wasn’t mature enough. And we’re all in our 20’s and 30’s.
Me: So if you had to play a show with any band who would it be?
Daniel: Living or dead?
Me: Uhhh, either!
Daniel: I’m a huge fan right now of Band of Horses. Radiohead obviously, but that’s kinda a cop out…Dr. Dog!
Chris: I’d like to play with the Walkmen.
This somehow led us into s**t talking about a band who shall remain nameless. Our collective dislike for this band only added to our list of commonalities. After this, the interview was essentially over which was fine with me because Daniel prepared a delicious pasta dinner back at the house for us. Amidst the brew, pasta bowls and cigarette smoke, I knew this band was full of real people, not pretentious douches that think they’re cool because they’re in a band.
Italian Japanese, aside from being a real chill bunch of rascals, make “math rock” less much geeky than it sounds. They make love to the stage during their performances and give the audience reason to come out of their shells and shake their rumps. Each of the members’ individual musical tastes all come together to form the sound they have. Phoenix, The Killers, and Minus the Bear are only a few of the bands they list as influences, though their tastes range from artists like Beyonce to The Flaming Lips. Their lyrics come from personal life experiences like relationships, drugs, and anything else we all go through that make the band and their music easy to relate to.
For a snippet of what Italian Japanese has to offer as well upcoming shows, look at the band’s
MYSPACE. Also read their backstory for the song “Jeremiah” by clicking
HERE. Cool guys they are, cool heartfelt music they make. Oh and to Daniel, “and check this out…it was a dude!”
Latest posts by Cervante Pope (see all)
