So nice to get some new live music on this space. I've been prepping you on the up-and-coming L.A. band, Tashaki Miyaki for a while. I boasted about their Everly Brothers covers EP and their single, Best Friend. Now, seeing them live at Pianos tonight at the tail end of their month long tour away from home, I am glad to report that they are legit. Seeing them in their low-light, dreamy state brought comfort to me. I had a real bad day and had about 5 beers in two hours, and seeing the three-piece brought me back to earth.
I actually wasn't sure that it was them when they were setting up at Pianos. I had to look up some band photos to see if was them, only to realize that they didn't have any. Not that I think it was by design, but they have a shroud of mystery over them. They only have a handful of live shows under their belt, a few demos and little promo, but that what makes you focus on their comforting, middle-of-the-road, dissonant dream pop. Yes, they worship at the feet of Mazzy Star, but what they bring to the proceedings is a heavy guitar presence. Their guitarist can shred, so when you hear the two female of vocalist swoon, you are jolted when the guitar makes its presence known. A song like "Somethin' Is Better Than Nothing" is a good example when riding this lovely, smooth trance like state and then here comes that wicked guitar. It's that hard edge over the sweetness that will make you fall for them like I do.
Their sound is very much of the West Coast. If you have ever been to L.A., and looked out over the city at night, T.M. is what you will imagine the grid-light lights will sound like. Los Angeles is such a wide open, vast area and Tashaki reminds me of the times I've spent overlooking the city over a hilltop. It's a little fruity to say, but it is magical.
Give them a few more months or even a year to get some buzz, and then hopefully you'll be enchanted by them like I am. They might come back for CMJ so be on the lookout for that.
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