Fujiya & Miyagi stopped by Rock and Roll Hotel last Thursday during their tour in support of their newest album Ventriloquizzing, which was just released January 25th on Yep Roc Records. It was a night of hesitant submission.
The sparse crowd formed a line of demarcation that began at the bar and extended to the back of the room during the ultra-loud, trippy performance by first opener, NYC duo Warm Ghosts. They have an apparent obsession with Hoobastank, singing first a song about them, lamenting that Hoobastank would not tour with them, and then closing with a cover. They appeared to be having more fun than the staid crowd.
The audience crept a bit closer, and the second opener, Brooklyn’s BRAHMS, warmed them up a bit more with a short set. A decent amount of head bobbing began, and their enthusiastic beats made me wish that this were a city that actually enjoyed dancing. Oh DC, you’re much too serious.
Even as Fujiya & Miyagi began, the venue was only about half full, which perhaps was the result of an unusually great Thursday night of concerts around town, including Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and OFF! both playing in other parts of the city. As they launched into a particularly drum-tastic rendition of “Cat Got Your Tongue,” the head bobbing eventually gave way to dancing, and David Best’s whispery, raspy voice started seducing the audience.
That night, Fujiya & Miyagi’s dark electronic rock was like the soundtrack to an uneasy dream, as they showcased both songs from the new album, including “Yoyo” and “Minestrone,” and crowd favorites such as “Collarbone.”Frontman Best became both the narrator and the provocative and predatory antagonist, as if he were taunting you in this dream while pursuing you through dimly lit, serpentine halls. You tiptoe around corners evading the chase, but in the end, you know you want to get caught.
The audience capitulated to the band’s vampire’s kiss of stalking melodies with unfeigned movement and heartfelt applause. After the band unceremoniously left the stage without comment, they were beckoned back for the evening’s encore, beginning with “Sixteen Shades of Black and Blue” and climaxing at “Ankle Injuries,” with its rhythmic chants of “Fujiya, Miyagi. Fujiya, Miyagi.”
Seeing Fujiya & Miyagi in this city is like giving in briefly to a naughty addiction, like having a puff or a sip when you’re supposed to be behaving. It’s ok, DC, you acquiesced for a moment and forgot to keep your distance. Uneasy dreams are a bit scary because they are unfamiliar, and just when you get comfortable and give in to the fantasy… The show’s over. It’s time to wake up.
