Melt-Banana blow the roof off Shaka's in Virginia Beach!!!!

Agata of Melt-Banana @ Shakas.

I recently saw recently Melt-Banana (a noise-punk/rock band from Tokyo, Japan) for the third time at Shaka's in Virginia Beach. Not to mention what could be better than some neat local bands opened up for them? That's right- Geneva, Pan Galactic Straw Boss, and Primitive Impulses all opened the show, which made for a nice a variety of openers all pulling from different styles. Though all the opening acts were great, I feel Geneva stole the show when it came to the three local opening bands!

Geneva @ Shakas.

Melt-Banana are incredible live, the energy is always a dominant force in their performance and along with their originality and totally unique sound. With Agata's unique laser-gun-like guitar effects, and Yako's yelping spitfire vocal attack, the band is kind've like punk rock from Mars. Agata's guitar effects frenzy and slide techniques galore in all his punk rock power chord fury combined with Rika's rocking bass as the backbone of the rhythm section and Yako's incredible commanding bark of a voice is both highly entertaining and strong and they have never failed to make my blood pump and speed my heart up while witnessing what they do.

Yako of Melt-Banana @ Shaka's.

Watching Agata play is amazing. He is so precise and also chaotic. His performance contains seemingly limitless energy, but it's not just random outbursts of energy; it's controlled energy! Melt-Banana controls the energy, just when you think it can't get any more intense; they make it blow up even more in the most inexplicably awesome way!

They did a lot of material from Cell Scape & Bambi's Dilemma, while not excluding highlight moments like: "Free the Bee, and "Lost In Mirror" from Teeny Shiny and some killer tracks from Charlie: "Circle-Jack (Chase The Magic Words, Lego Lego)", "Spathic!", and "Stimulus For Revolting Virus". Though I knew what to expect seeing them again, every time I see them they manage to blow the audience away every time. It is no wonder they've been a band for 19 years! I can't wait for their new full-length album to kick off sometime in I believe early to mid-2012; of course they've made no official announcements as to when just yet, this is a rough estimation).

Getting my copy of Cell Scape autographed.

I was lucky enough to meet them yet again; got autographs and the pleasure of their guitarist recognizing me and my homemade Melt-Banana hoodie from the last two times I've seen them in Chapel Hill. To have a band you truly admire remember you as a person and not simply another countless fan approaching them is truly an honor. He Said, "Hey! From Chapel Hill, right? I'm like, "Yeah!!!!"

Meeting Yako after the show.

I'm so glad they played close to home in Virginia Beach and they didn't have to drive to Chapel Hill again to see them, though I would have! They put on an amazing show at Shaka's and had everybody in their excited on their feet and jumping around; as always it was a really memorable show. If you ever have the chance to see them, do it! It doesn't get any more intense than getting to watch them up close.