Melt-Banana ready to jolt city

By Ruth Milne, Rapid City Journal Staff Writer | Thursday, May 05, 2005

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Melt-Banana is coming to Rapid City.

The Japanese noise rock sensation has fans worldwide and received much publicity from the late British radio DJ John Peel. They have opened in Japan for a variety of big-name bands, including the Melvins, Pretty Girls Make Graves and Slipknot.

And this Sunday, they will perform in the Quality Inn ballroom.

Melt-Banana is going to be one of the biggest little concerts of the year, producing earsplitting sounds at heart-attack speeds in an intimate, all-ages show.

If you like punk, you will find Melt- Banana's intensity and ultra-short songs familiar. Fans of rock 'n' roll will like the heavy, hyperdriven guitar, and music snobs will like the fact that it's a "noise" band that goes beyond traditional instrumentation and songs.

Jet engine sounds, guitars and piercing vocals are all fodder for the Melt-Banana cannon. Female lead singer Yako shrieks in awkward English and yelps like a trod-upon poodle over the spastic music.

As the Quality Inn ballroom has no stage, Melt-Banana will be on a level with the audience at Sunday's show. Not only do Rapid Citians not have to travel to Tokyo to see Melt-Banana, if the mosh pit really gets going, they'll probably knock over the band's microphones. Now that's up close and personal.

Melt-Banana is on a two-month tour in support of its latest release, a compilation of earlier songs titled "13 Hedgehogs (MxBx singles 1994-1999)." See www.parkcity.ne.jp/ ~mltbanan/ for music and some interesting photos of Melt-Banana.

If you go:

What: Melt-Banana in concert, with local opening acts the Love and the Weather Machines.

When: 7 p.m. Sunday, May 8.

Where: Quality Inn, 1902 Lacrosse St.

Admission: $6 for all ages