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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Daniel Robson

‘We weren’t allowed to meet Oasis!’: Japanese punk band Otoboke Beaver on fun, feminism and famous fans

Otoboke Beaver on tour in Warsaw, from left, Yoyoyoshie, Accorinrin, Hirochan, and new drummer Leo
‘Comedy is in our DNA’ … Otoboke Beaver on tour in Warsaw, from left, Yoyoyoshie, Accorinrin, Hirochan, and new drummer Leo. Photograph: Mayumi Hirata

They say brevity is the soul of wit and few bands have as much of both as Otoboke Beaver. Playing short, sharp songs packed with equal parts ferocity and black humour, next week the Japanese quartet will play easily their biggest UK gig yet, at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium supporting Foo Fighters.

“We met Foo Fighters at an overseas festival, and again in Japan,” says vocalist Accorinrin as we chat in a music bar in Tokyo’s Shibuya district, a couple of hours before Otoboke Beaver go on stage and eviscerate an audience at the nearby O-Nest. “Dave Grohl told so many people about us, which helped us a lot. He didn’t have to introduce a nobody band like us, but Dave is always looking for newcomers and he wanted to hook us up within the music industry.”

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