Japanther @ NXNE 2009

Background/ Composition:
Japanther are two guys on drums and bass who sing into bright yellow phones. They're like a poppier, more melodic Death From Above 1979, but with samples and songs about skipping school and funny grade school rhymes instead of songs about doing it.

Grade: 95

Comment:
From the guys to their songs to the crowd to the venue, everything about the Japanther spectacle was downright amazing. Somehow, on a listless, gray afternoon, two grungy looking dudes with nothing but love in their hearts and f-bombs on their lips charmed almost the entire contents of a public square with songs like "Fuk Tha Prince-A-Pull Iz Dum." Indie kids were dancing and singing along. Kids were running around while their parents looked on in enjoyment, happily oblivious to the somewhat inappropriate lyrical content. And one nerdy dude in a windbreaker filmed himself rocking the fuck out to the band.

Achievement of Rock 'n' Roll Expectations
80-100: Exceeds skill and knowledge expectations, i.e. rocked us so hard we peed our pants.
70-79: Achieves required skills and knowledge. Meets rock 'n' roll standard.
60-69: Demonstrates some skills. Approaches rock 'n' roll standard.
50-59: Demonstrates some required skills and knowledge in a limited way.
00-50: Has not demonstrated required skills or knowledge.

Learning Skills: E=Excellent, G=Good, S=Satisfactory, N=Sad Really

Oral And Visual Communication
Eye Contact: E
Pronunciation: E
Stage Presence: E
Stage Banter: E
Image: E
Appearance: E
Use Of Stage: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
The duo's small setup, including a homemade banner, took up a small fraction of the square's stage, but their charisma more than filled the rest of it. Whether they were displaying their boundless energy by bouncing around on stage or telling the audience all about their boundless energy and thanking said audience for giving it back to them, Japanther commanded that stage and square better than most full bands do.

Musical Analysis
Level Of Participation: E
Problem Solving: E
Teamwork: E
Work Habits: E
Organization: E
Audience Participation: E
Sound: G
Composition: E
Songs: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Japanther’s music is a hell of a lot of fun. It's a giddy, lo-fi mess of samples of dialogue (that the guys never fail to mouth along to), fuzzy pop hooks and plain old youthful exuberance. The band sometimes border on the childish and ridiculous (for example, they have an album called Tut Tut Now Shake Ya Butt) but only in the best way possible.

Other Skills And Areas Of Interest
Charisma: G
Problem Solving: E
Teamwork: E
Sexiness: G
Haircut: E
Indie Rock Footwear: G
Nods To Disposible Fashion: G
Cool Equipment: E
Level Of Inebriation: G
Actual Ability: E

Strengths/Weaknesses/Next Step:
Despite the killer live show and sweet music, perhaps the best part of Japanther's set was their unbridled lack of cynicism. Not only did they give the audience the aforementioned talk on energy, they also gave another impassioned speech toward the end of their set. Japanther sounded genuinely excited to be playing for the crowd and even more thrilled to be making music at all, and let us all know that anything is possible. They didn't know how to play, they didn't know how to write songs. They just started making music and if they can do it, we can, too! It might come off as borderline cheesy in print, but it was so heartfelt in person that it was hard not to fall a little in love with Japanther and hate the world just a little less.