Big Frog Jump

Starting last week with Asagiri, I find myself now in the midst of a giant musical swell. It's bloated with lots of rain, but if it continues on its current course it could reach 50 Year Storm strength by the end of the month.

This past weekend I teamed up with Richard Jordan for a trip to Tokyo to see the Bleshing Family and Big Frog host a homecoming show in Ueno Park.

Richard and I originally had plans to leave Saturday afternoon, but a typhoon blew threw and shut down all the trains, buses, and every other kind transportation between Nagoya and Tokyo.

I boarded up all the windows to my house before leaving for Nagoya Station on Saturday afternoon. Luckily, the typhoon missed Aichi Prefecture, but it pounded the Shizuoka and Yokohama areas heavily.


My house ready for a typhoon

After waiting around Nagoya in a hamburger shop all day Saturday for the trains to start running again, Richard and I eventually gave up and returned to Heiwa-cho with plans to leave first thing Sunday morning.

Sunday the weather was much better, but all the morning Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) were booked solid, so we had to get tickets for the Green Car (First Class) which was a very plush, but slightly more expensive ride.


Building on the way to Ueno Park

We arrived in Tokyo and made our way to Ueno Park on the Yamanote Line without any problems. Ueno is a very large park famous for its Cherry Blossoms in the spring, and to Big Frog members it's a place they have always wanted to play because they grew up in the area.


Ueno Park Pond

The concert didn't start for a few more hours, but Richard brought his camcorder for the purpose of documenting the entire affair and hopes to make a DVD movie from his footage.


Richard making movies

While Richard was recording the sound check and backstage preparations, I was busy checking out the enormous amphitheatre and helping Tokyo Ale set up their beer tent.


Stage Setting


Kento from Tokyo Ale, Yak, & KobaKen getting ready

I also helped blow up a few balloons for the nighttime festivities.


Yak blowin' up balloons like Louie Armstrong

Jason arrived from Tahara and soon after we met our good friend Mark Hallberg.


Mark, Yayoi, & Jason with the amphitheatre behind

Together we scoped out a few of the other vending stalls and got excited over the impending party.


Big Frog Merchandise


Big Frog CDs

After a very comical introduction by Bleshing Family member Shusen wearing a bright green frog helmet, Big Frog took the stage.


Big Frog Banzai!!


1st Set

Their first set turned out to be epic. It included a bust out performance of Snowbird, which hasn't been played in a number of years, and a great cover of Paradise City bluegrass style!




Ton


Shimi & Sato


Moccos

The second set, which was intended to be a joke, turned out to be my favorite because it was all acoustic and full of surprises. They started rockin' from the get go.


2nd Set

A few highlights for me were the Stayin' Alive opener followed quickly by the Outkasts' Hey Ya!!


Shimi, Sato, & Ton

Things slowed down a bit for the Boys are Back in Town, but when the four eyed dancing samurai brownie man came out on stage with the crew from the Shivamoon Java coffee hut beating djembes and shaking tambourines for We Will Rock You, the place came alive again!


Shivamoon Java crew

If that wasn't enough, a rousing acoustic version of Van Halen's Jump had me hopping all over the wooden seats of the theater.

The set closed with a traditional Japanese song called Beautiful Sunday in which Sato, the lead singer, improvised a vocal solo that conjured up some deep emotions around the crowd and left people teary eyed.

On top of all that, they came back for a monumental third set.


3rd Set


Estactic crowd

When a special guest guitarist named Enoki came out to play towards the end of the set, it sent one crazed fan into such a frenzy he jumped straight into the shallow pond directly in front of the stage.


Dude getting his feet wet

After all was said and done, the band and a large group of friends and fans went to an Izakaya for a bite to eat. Everyone was recapping all the fun, when Q-san, who had been stuck at his house all day due to a landslide caused by the previous day's typhoon, came busting in to announce he'd finally made it! Better late than never.


The Bleshing...

This was an incredible day celebrated with an amazing group people. I feel extremely fortunate to have been a part of it, and I can't say thanks enough to those who made it happen.

Stayin' Alive!!