Oreskaband @ The Echo, 8/14/07

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How good is Oreskaband, the all-girl teenage Japanese ska band? They're so good that after two weeks of non-stop rocking blogging and partying at SXSW in Austin (highlighted by our first exposure to Oreskaband at their show at the Elysium), and after a stressful flight home, instead of taking a break from rock shows we landed in LA, unpacked, and hit the Knitting Factory to see our favorite new discovery play again at Japan Night in Hollywood.

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Last night Oreskaband drew an impressive crowd to the Echo, especially for a Monday. Their 40-minute set caused a few friendly pits, one fun floor-bouncing pogo moment, and it converted dozens and dozens of new fans. Most of whom followed them outside after the gig to fawn over them and get autographs as the ladies tried to cool off next to Sunset Blvd.

But there's no cooling off Oreskaband. They're red hot and wonderful. The give you hope for the future.

What makes them so inspiring is they're all about fun. Not sexiness, not cuteness, not coyness, and not about being a novelty. It all just seems to be about a group of young women who are really good at above-average pop/ska, which just happens to be a genre of music that is irresistible when played by adorable girls too young to get into the joint if they weren't on the bill.

In the crowd, allegedly, was one of the producers of the hit High School Musical, who reportedly is working out a deal with the girls to shoot their own movie here in LA in the fall. Until then the band, who have all just graduated high school, continues to tour. Their next stop being Idaho to climb aboard the Warped Tour for a little over a week, including a re-appearance in LA on 8/25, the last day of Warped.

Join us after the jump for a photo essay that tried its best to capture the energy of the show inside the sweaty club of happiness.

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photos by Sonny I. LaVista for LAist