Keiji Haino returns to ISSUE with a solo percussion set, closing our two-night series with the prolific icon of Japanese experimentalism. He is joined by two high-energy experimental rock outfits out of Brisbane, the heart of Australia's underground, xNOBBQx and X Wave— tonight in an expanded six-piece lineup.
One of most widely recognized and legendary guitarists to come out of Japanese underground rock scene of the 1970s, Keiji Haino is well known for his harsh blues-inspired solo guitar performances and torrential walls of sound with his band Fushitsusha. Much of his work bears an insular singularity, but his varied output eschews a signature style. Haino cites a broad range of influences, including troubadour music, Marlene Dietrich, Iannis Xenakis, Syd Barrett, and Charlie Parker. He has had a long love affair with early blues music, particularly the works of Blind Lemon Jefferson, and is heavily inspired by the Japanese musical concept of “Ma,” the silent spaces in music. For the last 40 years Haino has been prolific in his output and collaborations, working with everyone from Faust, Boris, Derek Bailey, Loren Connors, Stephen O'Malley, Oren Ambarchi, Jim O'Rourke and John Zorn.
xNoBBQx is a 2 piece experimental rock band from Sydney/Brisbane, Australia consisting of Matt Earle on guitar and Nick Dan on drums. Their sound has been compared to the joyous abandon of “a couple of 14 year olds bashing instruments in the garage with record pressed down on an old tape recorder” (Cyclic Defrost). xNoBBQx has toured both nationally and internationally over the last few years throughout the USA, Europe, New Zealand, Japan and China. In 2008 they showcased at the South by South West festival in Austin, Texas. In 2007 the renowned US independent label Siltbreeze reissued their debut LP Sunshine of Your Love. The members of the band also run their own independent labels Pulled Out (vinyl only) and Breakdance the Dawn.
Originally a three piece from the Blue Mountains, Australia, X Wave appear tonight in an expanded six-piece lineup including Adam Sussmann (guitar, vocals), Ryko (guitar), Matt Earle (bass), Kelly Keating (drums), Bonnie Hart (keys), and Nicola Morton (synthesizer). Taking a martial approach to punk and rock, X Wave make massively thuggish, effects-drenched songs of bum notes, closer to the original breakout rock/roll urge than any generic pretender. X Wave's intuitive high-energy style has few parallels— if your idea of ‘the canon’ has more to do with Harry Pussy, Arthur Doyle and the Shaggs than some longhair weeping into his sound hole, then this is where you plug in.
