There’s always something special about seeing a band at the top of their game playing live – the interaction between band members with the ability to lock into a groove and jam at an almost telepathic level can make for an impressive show. And on Tuesday night at the Horseshoe, a packed house was treated to not one but two such performances courtesy of two acts from Japan – Minami Deutsch and Kikagaku Moyo.
First up was Minami Deutsch, whose name translates to “South Germany” – an apt name since the band is heavily inspired by the Krautrock sounds originated by acts such as Faust, Can, and Neu!
In concert, the band’s long, hypnotic jams alternated between a locked-in motorik groove and pure balls-to-the-wall guitar freak outs. Those were basically the band’s two main gears throughout their roughly 40 minute set, though they did find time for the odd exploratory psychedelic passage here and there.
It was an absolutely beautiful performance. I came in as a curious admirer of what I’d heard from the band on record and came out a full on fan.
Following Minami Deutsch, headliners Kikagaku Moyo took to the stage and kept the psychedelic vibes coming with a sound that was a tad trippier and more expansive than the openers, though no less intense and just as satisfying.