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May 13, 2014 • The Loafer, Page 27
Catch Daikaiju
when they make a tour stop in Johnson City at The Mecca Lounge on Friday, May 16th.
Daikaiju (Japanese for “Giant Monster”) is a psycho-surf band of kabuki-masked mystery men from the American South that has been touring relentlessly across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, developing a reputation for a not-to-miss live show characterized by muscular prog-metal riffs, math rock percussive complexity, and exotic reverbdrenched shredding. Pitchfork calls them “impressive” and Metal Injection gushes “very rarely am I this blown away by a band”. They’ve shared bills with Peelander-Z, The
Protomen, Japanther, Speedy Ortiz, Legendary Shack Shakers, Rasputina, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, The Mermen, Faun Fables, and Dick Dale. Daikaiju’s self-titled debut album was released by Reptile Records and garnered a 7.8 from Pitchfork while receiving rave reviews from Coke Machine Glow, Hybrid Magazine, Cosmik Debris, The Philler, and Juice Magazine, among others. The follow-up release, Phase 2, landed on numerous surf, heavy metal, and progressive year-end best-of lists, including one compiled
by Metal Sucks. The band released “Double Fist Attack” in early 2013 on a split 7” with Appalachian rockers Ampline and toured Southeast Asia over the summer (prompting an award of “Best Show by a Foreign Touring Act” by Timeout Beijing). Most recently, Daikaiju was included on an international surf compilation called Monsters of Surf, out on Ding Dong Records. Catch Daikaiju, May 16th at The Mecca Lounge, 117 Spring Street, Johnson City. 423-928-9360