Up next at Tokyo’s HOSTESS CLUB WEEKENDER are three-piece power rockers LITTLE BARRIE from London, shaking the audience back into consciousness with a banging performance of “Surf Hell.” It almost seems like the volume has been turned up from the previous act, and the three musicians are obviously having the time of their life on stage, with massive grins on their faces. It was a feeling reflected in kind by the audience, as it’s difficult to not feel energised and engaged by a band so obviously passionate about their music and dedicated to putting on an amazing live performance.
Their old-school rock vibe is perfectly matched by their visual aesthetic (leather jackets and amazing haircuts) and enthusiastic performance, making for an intensely charged rock set. The drummer at times resembles Animal from The Muppets, with flailing arms moving so fast, they are difficult to see.
Little Barrie has the audience in the palm of their hand, able to conjure up a hearty group chorus of “You’ve gotta save my soul!” upon demand during track “Love You” – a sight not often seen in otherwise docile and unresponsive Japanese crowds. At the crescendos, it seems as though every pair of hands in the venue is raised clapping – a testament to how formidable this band is as a live performer.
Blowing away venues in the UK since 2005, Little Barrie are currently touring widely despite their last album release “King of the Waves” being almost 3 years ago, in December 2010.
They still make an easy feat of pulling a huge crowd; the group is a popularity powerhouse in Japan, with album “King of the Waves” flying straight to Number 1 in Japan on the iTunes alternative rock and Amazon rock charts upon release. In the past 8 years, Little Barrie has played a staggering 16 shows in Japan, including Summer Sonic, shows at Liquidroom, Unit and Quattro, and their last visit also being a Hostess Club event promoting the release of “King of the Waves” in 2010.
After 3 years away from Japan, the fan base here is evidently starving for some Little Barrie treatment and thanks the band with genuine and whole-hearted cheers. The group closes with “Postcode Blues” and are met with a seemingly never-ending applause, people in the audience emitting enthused “Sugoi ne!”s (“Amazing, right?”) to their fellow festival-goers.