Crazy date with J-rock’s Tomomi and Detroit7

Detroit7’s Tomomi Nabana, the second coming of Jimi Hendrix who is also really fun to hang out with, March 21, 2008.

She is the world’s best girl guitarist, and the best left-handed guitarist, and the best barefoot guitarist. How about just the best guitarist, period? That’s Tomomi Nabana of Detriot7, a J-rock trio that simply blew the doors off The Independent in San Francisco on Friday [March 21], just as they blew the doors off of every other venue on the eight-stop Japan Nite 2008 tour that ends today [March 23] in L.A.

I mean, Tomomi and her Detroit7 partners in J-rock crime, drummer Miyoko Yamaguchi and bassist Nobuaki Kotajima, are sensational rockers. That’s self-evident. But some American fans just aren’t ready for them, and when fans get hooked on Detroit7, look out. They can morph into monsters, like the drunken photographer that forced his way to the front, shoving me repeatedly while rudely thrusting a flash-camera rig in Tomomi’s face while she was ripping off yet another Jimi Hendrix-style blast, unfazed by the idiocy.

J-rock’s most adorable and talented feet belong to Tomomi Nabana of Detroit7.

Now, my colleague Chris pointed out that, while Tomomi does play left-handed as did Hendrix, she does not string up the guitar upside-down as did the Master. And she just twirls a right-handed guitar upside-down, with the point of it (normally pointed downward) sticking up into her midsection, making it just that much more difficult to play. No custom-made rig here. The ultimate improv.

That she wails out stunning vocals at the same time is beyond miraculous. You just stand back and admire the greatness.

Anyway, back to the sloshed photographer. He got so carried away with Tomomi that he kept bumping me, so I bumped back, and before you know it I was whacked upside the head – sending my duct-taped geek glasses flying halfway across the stage. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed (Chris makes a fearsome bodyguard and had my back) but my evening came to a premature, albeit merciful, end.

But not before Tomomi and her Detroit7 colleagues put on a grand show, and even took the time earlier in the day to visit and remind all of us why J-rock and J-pop are so wonderful.

Led by Tomomi, center, and the universe’s greatest manager, Ken Yamagishi, far right, Detroit7 arrives in San Francisco, March 21, 2008.

As for Detroit7’s set, it was, maybe, four or five songs, but they all just joined into one massive crazy-ass song with Tomomi zig-zagging all over the place, bare feet and all. Miyoko jackstomped the percussion equipment with a controlled fury that would make Zeus proud, and Nobuaki’s bass lines were nothing short of earthquake-level thunder without the lightning. Was that the Hayward Fault cracking? No, that was Miyoko and Nobuaki.

And to think I was able to hang out with these astonishing rockers beforehand, during the lull before the storm? Wow, what a life it can be sometimes. What a life.

Tomomi made the occasion complete later during the show when she strode right up to me, bare feet and all, and I was able to witness, less than a foot away, the blurred fingers of the world’s greatest female guitar player as she set those frets afire (I'm not exaggerating; Chris can tell you). That’s when Photo Boy came into the picture, but you know what? I don’t blame the guy. He was up against primal forces beyond his understanding or control, from a J-rock band whose trademark is a set of silver brass knuckles shaped into “DETROIT7” and shoved straight at you by none other than Tomomi herself. Wow.

Thanks, Detroit7, for the show of a lifetime. Thanks, Tomomi, for the astonishing guitar sex (oops, I mean guitar work). Thanks, Miyoko, for being one of the great rock drummers of the modern age, and thanks, Nobuaki, for the seismic bass lines.

Radicalipton, second from left, hangs out with his two new girlfriends, Tomomi, far left, and Miyoko, center, along with Nobuaki – all of sensational J-rock trio Detroit7.

And, finally, thanks to Ken Yamagishi, vice president of Hit & Run Inc., manager of the band who tagged along for the tour. Yes, this is the same Hit & Run outfit – a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music though I won’t hold that against them – that also rents out Puffy AmiYumi from time to time, so these superb musicians can treat us unworthy Americans to unearthly rock from amazing people.

“We are happy to be here,” Yamagishi said. We are, too, Ken. Keep the happiness coming, even if it does unleash an insufferable photographer or two along the way.

This is Radicalipton signing off – for now.