If any band has ever made me reconsider the old T-shirt adage, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old,” it’s Japan’s DMBQ. Last time I saw them, it was so loud I felt like throwing up for hours afterward. It was awesome.

DMBQ, playing at The Smell on June 8, are a Japanese mishmash of psychedelic hard rock, noise and garage. The sonic mayhem produced by their guitars is so loud it truly defies the label music. At their live shows, it’s often difficult to detect songs beneath the onslaught of sound. There is visual stimulation too: guitarist Toru Matsui with his guitar between his teeth, the psychedelic locks-thrashing of bassist Ryuichi Watanabe and singer Shinji Masuko singing through a gas mask and sort of playing with himself. Apparently, at a recent show in Minneapolis he set his pubic hair on fire. Something to look forward to…

I asked Shinji recently in an email if the volume ever gets to him. He responded, “Haha, I think I am fine. I like to play with big sound pressure. It is like arms, haha.”
(Interpret that for yourself.)

It’s been a year-and-a-half since tragedy befell the band when their van crashed while touring the States. Their drummer China Nishiura, formerly of Shonen Knife, was killed. It’s great to see the band back on a full tour of the U.S. with new drummer Shinji Wada, and they’ve said fans can expect a new album hopefully this year.

In the meantime, prepare for total destruction on June 8. And bring a barf bag.

photo provided by DMBQ