Yakuza

From: Belfast
Find out more: Scream_4_yakuza@hotmail.com
What we said about them: 'All that comes with the CD is a piece of yellow paper that isn't even cut square, but as I'm in the process of mentioning how they could learn a thing or two about presentation, the first track jumps up and down like a short child pumped full of sugar at a zoo and asks for an ice cream. And you know what? I think Yakuza can have one - not one of those pointless Mini Milk things, and they don't quite deserve a classic Magnum, but they are Calippo-on-a-hot-day good.

It's all recorded live, so the sound is rough round the edges, but if you listen closely, you can hear the singer (who could be called Jamesy, Davey, Rony or Philly) whispering about how he likes your shoes and then about how he's going to come up to your grave when you're dead, unzip his flies and piss all over the soil beneath which you lie in peace. First track 'Miguel' is controlled, varying between nicely poised dynamics that don't quite let the distortion out after the rabbit (instead loitering around the corner of Menace & Fourth Street) and lots of overdrive, wah-wah and the same insistent I'm-going-to-murder-you bassline that holds the tune together. The remaining tunes can be noise-for-noise's-sake at times, and Yakuza have clearly made a pact with the God of Wah-Wah in return for the blood of young virgins, but they don't quite match the (I'm going to say it...) elegance of the first track.'
(Freedom from excessive noise music column, May 2002)

2002: A year in the life of Yakuza

Who we talked to:
Davey: vocals, guitar
Phillip: bass
Ronan: vocals, guitar
Jamesy: drums

1. What's been the best thing the band has done this year?

Davey: Our split 7" with Mercury Tilt Switch - the best thing would have been recording and putting out those terrific tracks.

Phillip: The split single was really a highlight, getting some lovely vinyl pressed seems so much more rawk 'n' roll than using CDs. On a non-Yakuza level, organising a huge gig in a bizarre location (Dorkfest in Edendork Hall, County Tyrone) was very stressful but lots of fun.

Ronan: Releasing a split 7" with Mercury Tilt Switch, and the party we released it at have been two great memories of this year. Hearing your music on a vinyl format is pretty satisfying, as is getting a reception like the one we had at the release gig.

Jamesy: Putting out our split 7" with Mercury Tilt Switch and the launch gig for it.

2. What are your plans for next year, realistically and ideally speaking?

Davey: Touring aplenty and yip should happen. Ideally, I would like to experience more feelings of tranquility in my heart.

Phillip: Playing lots of gigs outside of Belfast would make me happy. I'd love to get over to England/Scotland/Wales for the craic. Also in an ideal world, I'd love the band to relocate. I'm not picky, anywhere away from Belfast would be great.

Ronan: Realistically, a quick tour round Ireland in January, a couple of dates in England and Scotland in February and another jaunt round Ireland in late February/early March. Also another release in the summertime (EP/album) would be a possible goal.

Jamesy: Aside from touring and recording, I just hope that as one of the best new bands of 2002, we can do diskant proud...

3. What has been the low point of the year for you?

Davey: I guess I'm tired playing the same old area again and again. I feel that there are plenty of places that would give more appreciation and you don't get the feeling you are wasting your time and hard earned youth.

Phillip: Every day between 9 and 5, Monday to Friday is pretty low!

Ronan: I would have said the three-month break we've been on that's about to end (Jamesy's about to return from a round-the-world jaunt to 'find himself') but that would be ignoring the horrific attack Jamesy and Davey were involved in earlier in the year. That was a very worrying time.

Jamesy: Well I enjoyed the three-month break, so I'd have to say horrific assault...

4. What are your top albums of 2002?

Davey: Tomahawks' album: Fantastic (all I can say, words escape me). Evangelists' Real Rabbit CD (don't tell them, they think that I hate them!).

P : Hmm, harder than it looks, trying to remember when albums were released. The Evangelists and Tomahawk are really fantastic, but Evil Heat by Primal Scream has never been very far from my CD player.

Ronan: ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Source Tags And Codes: I'm not even sure if it was this year, but it's probably my favourite album of the last five years. It's by far their best, although it took me a few months to realise it. From start to finish, there's just something awesome about it, it's very hard to pin down.
Tomahawk - Tomahawk: Again I'm not too good with the release dates with these albums, but it's a rare example of a band that works as well in practice as it does on paper. The Melvins + Helmet + Faith no More + The Jesus Lizard = astounding.
Desert Hearts - Let's Get Worse: OK, these guys are local to our area, but without showing any favouritism, this is an excellent album by anyone's standards. The songs are powerfully written and performed and highly original in the current 'post-nu-metal, post-post modern, post-retro garage, post-man pat' musical clime.

Jamesy:
The Redneck Manifesto - Cut Your Heart Off From Your Head: They are just an amazing and original band, they can be brutally heavy or really beautiful and are one of the best bands doing that kind of instrumental post-rock thing.
Sleater Kinney - One Beat: It's their best album yet I think, there's so much going on.
Tomahawk - far be it from me to buck the party line.

5. What's the best live band you've seen this year?

Davey: Tomahawk.

Phillip: J Mascis, solo, acoustic and really, really loud in The Limelight, Belfast.

Ronan: This'll probably seem like a cop-out, but probably my favourite gig of past year was seeing Television in Vicar St. Dublin. No new gems there I know, but it was fucking brilliant. Oh, seeing Fugazi in the Nerve Centre, Derry was also a bit of a ganks-soaker.

Jamesy: Tomahawk in Belfast and Shellac and The Icarus Line in New York all blew my tiny mind.

6. Who would you tip as your favourite new band(s) for 2003?

Davey: Killing Spree, Evangelists, inspiringly original.

P: The Dangerfields are a really entertaining punk band, I would like to see things go well for them. Also, The Desert Hearts: things are coming together for them at the moment and they deserve to be huge.

R: I'll say the Evangelists, if you've not heard of them yet. Why? You'll see: www.theevangelists.freeuk.com

Jamesy: The Evangelists, because they write really messed up, bizarre songs that are still really catchy and stick in your head, and their new CD is a doozy. Mercury Tilt Switch too, as they are our homies...

7. What are you band's New Year resolutions?

Davey: Not to hit people with stiff wolves, it makes them lie down and weep, it's just too drastic!

Phillip: To stop being so lazy and make this work once and for all. I think this may all be part of my mid-twenties crisis though!

Ronan: Play gigs in Britain.

Jamesy: To work out more and finally get that six pack.

8. What are your views on the plans for cloning a human in the early part of 2003?

Davey: I think it stinks, but if she's good looking and naïve, well.... hmm.
Phillip: Depends who's going to be cloned, doesn't it?

Ronan: Well... I'd need to meet whoever it is they're looking to clone, I'd hate to think I'd OKed the cloning of a complete fucker.

Jamesy: I think it's pretty stupid - why spend billions trying to develop a system for making people that is more complicated, inferior and less fun than the one we already have?

9. Sing us a Christmas carol…
Davey: 'On the first day of Chrimbo... and the cartridge was pulled from the bear's teeth.'

Phillip: 'Sleigh bells ring - are you listening?/ In the lane, snow is glistening/A beautiful sight/ We're happy tonight/ Walking round in women's underwear.'

Ronan: 'Silent plight / potato blight/ all is lost/ not eating right.'

Jamesy: 'Jingle Bells, Hannibal smells, BA pities the fool...'

10. If diskant could buy your band one thing for Christmas, what would it be? Go on, we're feeling generous.

Davey: A van, insurance and two more driving licenses (all one package, of course), thanks love.

Phillip: A big 70's kit for Jamesy, with a gong of course. A Marshall stack for Davy. Some bizarre pedals for Ronan. A Rickenbacker 4001 for little old me.

Ronan: The publishing rights to 'Happy Birthday' please, Santy!

Jamesy: Surprise us.

Article by Stu Fowkes