tokyo is full of tiny, pokey little bars hidden away down alley ways, up 3 flights of stairs, at the end of an elevator ride to the 8th floor, underground.... last nights gig took place on the 3rd floor of a narrow building right by the railway tracks. every time a train went past the building shook. this particular bar could not have fitted more than maybe 30 people, and that would have been sardine-can cramped. as it was, the musicians had to keep re-placing the mic stands as passersby knocked them sideways. most of the household were there - fern, gabe, even haruna, our workaholic, virtually-never-home-japanese flatty. it was great to be hangin' with some locals again (after my complaints yesterday that i hadn't hung out with any japanese folks for ages).

the evening was divided between 2 bands, missing scene (flatty dave + friend geoff) and a 3 piece blues band, the delta blues project featuring the hilarious frontman, mitsu, insane blues guitarist takenaka, and drummer hide (pronounced hi as in hilarious and de as in dead, not hide and seek). the bands were friends, and each played 2 sets.

missing scene were surprisingly fantastic, beautiful harmonies and all originals. quite mesmerising. mitsu from DBP got up and played a few numbers with them and really cooked. if you get a chance to see them, tokyo dwellers, you really should check them out.

now, i do like a bit of blues, and in this kind of environment - a tiny, cluttered 3rd floor bar that shook with every train, full of rowdy drunks - and a girl in a kimono dancing to nirvana between sets - is perfect (perfectly surreal perhaps?) for some down and dirty blues sounds. the delta blues project were so much fun to watch. the 2 guitarists had an absolute ball, and their gorgeous big smiles were delightfully infectious.

at 1000 yen including a drink, great value for money, even for this broke little chickadee.