Dan Russell-Pinson – March 29, 2024
Otoboke Beaver has been away from their hometown of Kyoto, Japan since the launch of their recent US tour five weeks ago. Consisting of Accorinrin (lead vocals), Yoyoyoshie (guitar & vocals), Hirochan (bass & vocals) and Kahokiss (drums & vocals), Otoboke Beaver is an all-female punk band known for their high-energy punk songs and live performances. Their recent performance at The Underground in Charlotte on March 27th, 2024 was one of the last four shows of the tour.
Band member Yoyoyoshie, guitarist, performing at The Underground. (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
Many Americans became aware of Otoboke Beaver from a live performance of ‘I Checked Your Cellphone’, filmed in a Japanese coffee house. The video went viral for many reasons including Kahokiss’ lightning-speed, kinetic drumming, Yoyoyoshie’s maniacal stage antics and Accorinrin’s elegant movement and vocal delivery. The fact that this sonic onslaught was produced by four attractive women wearing colorful sundresses only added to the mystique.
Being more than four weeks into their US tour, Otoboke Beaver’s performance was flawless which is all the more notable given their song’s schizophrenic arrangements – sometimes changing tempo, mood and intensity every two measures. As everyone in attendance that night at The Underground can attest, the sound produced was delivered with an excess of volume. Anyone not wearing ear protection was certainly hearing a ringing sound the next day.
Bassist Hirochan performing at The Underground. (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
Despite the language barrier, the band was able to genuinely engage the crowd with guitarist Yoyoyoshie doing most of the talking on stage. The audience was charmed as she spoke about being in North Carolina for the first time, their experience the night before in Chapel Hill (even noting that it was the home of the band Superchunk), the beautiful weather and the cherry blossoms she saw.
Otoboke Beaver performed twenty songs mostly pulled from their 2022 album, Super Champon, and their 2019 album, Itekoma Hits. The long setlist is a necessity due to all their songs being two minutes or (sometimes much) less. Case in point, their encore song, ‘Let’s Shopping After Show’, is only 16 seconds long. Although most of their lyrics are sung in Japanese, many of their song titles are in English with silly names such as ‘You’re No Hero Shut Up F*ck You Man-Whore’’, ‘* Binge Eating Binge Drinking Bulimia’ and ‘Leave Me Alone! No, Stay With Me!’.
Drummer Kahokiss performing at The Underground. (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
After the band left the stage, the audience was confused and intrigued when Yoyoyoshie returned carrying a human-sized inflatable beaver – the kind you might find in a swimming pool. Before we had a chance to think, she threw the inflatable into the crowd and then jumped in herself crowd-surfing towards it. Unfortunately, Yoyoyoshie and the inflatable beaver became separated by a good distance, but the crowd expertly managed to reunite them allowing Yoyoyoshie to position herself on top. The audience carried her back to the stage where she rejoined her bandmates for the encore.
Yoyoyoshie crowd-surfing on an inflatable beaver at The Underground. (Photo by Dan Russell-Pinson)
Otoboke Beaver is a truly unique and exceptional band whose music can only be described as audible insanity. Their rise to fame from playing Japanese coffee houses to touring the world is truly astounding. The proof that they won over the crowd was evident in the massive line of 70+ people that formed at their merch table after the show which spanned from one side of the venue almost reaching the other side. I guess playing a 16 second encore is a smart way to keep the fans wanting more.
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