Anamanaguchi/Peelander-Z/Starscream @ The Studio at Webster Hall (1/14/2011)

By Andrew St. Clair - January 19, 2011 | Email the author

Anamanaguchi Rock Out @ The Studio at Webster Hall

Photo by Andrew St. Clair

Last year, I saw Peelander-Z at Santos Party House and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever been to. If there was a Grammy Category for Most Entertaining Live Act Peelander-Z would absolutely be a nominee. So when one of my favorite live bands were added to the bill performing alongside two of the best (if not the best) 8-Bit/chiptune bands out there, it became a must see show.

Check out my review and pictures “after the jump”

First up on the stage are Brooklyn’s own Starscream, AKA George Stroud, on drums and Damon Hardjowirogo who navigates a couple of Nintendo Gameboys, keyboards, a mixer, and at least 5 effect pedals. The result is both soothing and destructive. Both retro and futuristic. As a bonus, and I don’t know why this is a highlight, during their set one of Damon’s Gameboys overloaded so the band had to stop in the middle of a song… and the audience cheered enthusiastically! I know Damon probably finds this annoying, but the crowd always seems to think it’s pretty cool (as did I).

Next up, the anarchy that is Peelander-Z was up next with a slightly stripped down stage lineup from the last time I saw them (Peelander’s Green, Red, and Yellow. No Peelander Black) but still massively entertaining. Appearing on stage with their bright colored costumes and a crazy energy, their enthusiasm is contagious and the crowd sings along to simple tunes like ‘Mad Tiger’ and ‘E-I-E-I-O’. And, let’s not forget about Peelander Pink, who acts as the occasional hype-girl, if you will. She passes out drumsticks and metal pans to the crowd for banging along to the beat. The secret to what makes their show fun is that you don’t have to know any of their material to participate. “How-ah do you like-ah your steak?” Peelander Yellow asks. “Medium Rare!!” the crowd answers enthusiastically. As crowded as the Studio was, Peelander-Z was able to convince the sold-out crowd to spilt right down the middle to make room on the floor for an impromptu conga line, audience limbo, and giant squid bowling.

Peelander-Z would be a tough act to follow for just about any band. But not Anamanaguchi. The band came out blazing with their hyper-active brand of 8-bit punk playing ‘Blackout City’, ‘Sting Operation’, ‘Helix Nebula’, and a new song currently titled ‘I Died at Hot Topic’. What gives the band an edge over most in the chiptune genre is their fusion of live instruments and 8-Bit gimmickry… which inspired the audience into moshing, crowd surfing, and even leg humping!

For their encore, Lead Guitarist/frontman Peter Berkman broke a string on his guitar and couldn’t find his backup quickly enough, so he asked to borrow Peelander Yellow’s ~~Epiphone Explorer~~ “magic guitar from the planet Peelander”. But the guitar wasn’t the only thing that was magic on that night. Peter proclaimed to the audience that it was “the best show we’ve ever been a part of.”

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