Wow, I can't believe Summer is almost over! We have been pretty busy over the last few months with a variety of gigs. On July 30, we performed at the Higashi Honganji Obon. I really look forward to this gig every year not only because it is held at our home temple, but because almost all of the TP members usually attend the event and perform. Since our group now consists of 19 members, it is really hard to have a gig where everyone can attend. I feel that Higashi Obon is one of those rare performances where almost all of the members get to perform together and to me, these kind of performances are the best.
Here are some pictures from Higashi Obon!
https://picasaweb.google.com/114821564668148213567/HigashiObonFestival03
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Nishi Obon
On July 10, we had a joint performance with Kitsune and the Chibis at the Nishi Hongwanji Obon. We met early at Higashi to run through some of the songs together before we headed over to Nishi. The Kitsune and Chibi parents were a huge help in transporting drums and people over to Nishi, so Thank You Kitsune and Chibi parents for all of your help!
Once we arrived at Nishi, we unloaded all of the equipment and got ready for the performance. Like most Obons, it was REALLY hot, but luckily the stage we performed on was covered so we were in the shade. There was also a nice covered seating area for people to sit and watch performances throughout the day.
The performance went well! That was the first time I performed with Kitsune and the Chibis outside of Rhythmic Relations so it was a lot of fun performing with them. They all did a really great job. We had a few slight mishaps with setting drums, which included some of the drums being set too close causing Sean and Kyle from Kitsune to almost hit each other and Jenny playing Expanding with her set backwards, but it all worked out ok. I don't think the audience could tell. Overall, it was a fun and successful performance. Thanks to Nishi for having us!
Adventures in Coeur d'Alene
The first stop on our glorious tour through the American Pacific Northwest was beautiful and green Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. This is where I had the rare chance to really get to know some wonderful ladies during the black of night in a new children’s recreation center. I realize this sounds like an odd experience. So, allow me to explain further…
Bryan, Brian, Yuri and I arrived at North Idaho College, after an afternoon of air and compact car travel, at about 9:30pm on August 5th. We pulled up to the outdoor stage just as David and Maz were sound-checking the last piece in preparation for the show that was to take place the following day. It looked like they were wrapping up, so we left everything in the car and went out to help. At the end of the sound check, we worked together to put all of the equipment into the recreation center, directly behind the stage, for the evening.
Hunger set in midway through clean-up, and we decided to get some dinner as soon as we were through. I remember mentioning during that discussion, probably because I was delirious and not using my brain filter, that I had had the urge to use the ladies room all afternoon, but with no success. Travel woes… Finally, as the last few pieces of equipment were being tucked away into our storage hallway, I thought I felt success coming on.
“David,” I said jokingly as I ran into the ladies room, “I’m going to use the restroom. Don’t leave without me!” As you probably guessed, I had no success. But that’s not all.
As I exited and re-entered the empty storage hallway, I thought I heard voices at the back of the center. I walked back into the dark area only to find the voices of the ladies who would later be my heroes. “They must already be outside,” I thought as walked to the door.
When I got there, the car and Taiko Project van were gone! I thought I saw the taillights of the van exiting the parking lot, but I couldn’t be sure. Of course, my phone was in the car. I ran to the tech guy nearest me and asked if he had Maz or Bryan’s cell phone number. He did not.
This is normally when the adrenaline would build up and one’s fight or flight instincts might kick in. If this happened to me, I didn’t feel it. I felt like a sleepy zombie as I wandered back into the recreation center to escape the bugs and plan my escape. I thought hard, and finally remembered that there was a gig sheet, with the necessary phone numbers, in the merchandise box in the hallway. Unluckily for me, the merchandise box was at the bottom of the equipment pile. “Oh well,” I thought as I began to dig it out.
As I was digging, the ladies I heard before came over and offered their assistance. I said I was fine, and that I was just looking for a document. I didn’t want to tell them I was in a bit of a pickle. I remembered, however, that once I had the phone numbers, I’d need to find a phone. And, they started to ask why I was the only one left. So I gave in and explained what I was doing. All three of them immediately offered their cell phones for me to use, and kept me company with great conversation while I dug. It was then that I felt it appropriate to laugh with them at this rare situation.
I will never forget the surprise and disbelief in the “WHAT!” I heard in Maz’s voice as I told him what had happened. He immediately turned around and was back, along with David and Yuri, within 10 minutes. I also will never forget the hug and apology (it was as if I had almost died!) from David as he jumped out of the van with a scared look on his face.
This was actually not a bad experience, but one that I thought I needed to share. After all, almost immediately after this most interesting part of the trip, a tweet to the world announced the story for all to read. I figured I better explain a bit further. I feel lucky to have met and chatted with these three wonderful ladies and two unique tech guys as I waited for my teammates to return. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to experience the North Idaho College green at night. And, I feel extra lucky to have great teammates who came back for me! They could have very well ignored the call. ☺ Overall, it was a great evening. I suggest everyone try it sometime.
Bryan, Brian, Yuri and I arrived at North Idaho College, after an afternoon of air and compact car travel, at about 9:30pm on August 5th. We pulled up to the outdoor stage just as David and Maz were sound-checking the last piece in preparation for the show that was to take place the following day. It looked like they were wrapping up, so we left everything in the car and went out to help. At the end of the sound check, we worked together to put all of the equipment into the recreation center, directly behind the stage, for the evening.
Hunger set in midway through clean-up, and we decided to get some dinner as soon as we were through. I remember mentioning during that discussion, probably because I was delirious and not using my brain filter, that I had had the urge to use the ladies room all afternoon, but with no success. Travel woes… Finally, as the last few pieces of equipment were being tucked away into our storage hallway, I thought I felt success coming on.
“David,” I said jokingly as I ran into the ladies room, “I’m going to use the restroom. Don’t leave without me!” As you probably guessed, I had no success. But that’s not all.
As I exited and re-entered the empty storage hallway, I thought I heard voices at the back of the center. I walked back into the dark area only to find the voices of the ladies who would later be my heroes. “They must already be outside,” I thought as walked to the door.
When I got there, the car and Taiko Project van were gone! I thought I saw the taillights of the van exiting the parking lot, but I couldn’t be sure. Of course, my phone was in the car. I ran to the tech guy nearest me and asked if he had Maz or Bryan’s cell phone number. He did not.
This is normally when the adrenaline would build up and one’s fight or flight instincts might kick in. If this happened to me, I didn’t feel it. I felt like a sleepy zombie as I wandered back into the recreation center to escape the bugs and plan my escape. I thought hard, and finally remembered that there was a gig sheet, with the necessary phone numbers, in the merchandise box in the hallway. Unluckily for me, the merchandise box was at the bottom of the equipment pile. “Oh well,” I thought as I began to dig it out.
As I was digging, the ladies I heard before came over and offered their assistance. I said I was fine, and that I was just looking for a document. I didn’t want to tell them I was in a bit of a pickle. I remembered, however, that once I had the phone numbers, I’d need to find a phone. And, they started to ask why I was the only one left. So I gave in and explained what I was doing. All three of them immediately offered their cell phones for me to use, and kept me company with great conversation while I dug. It was then that I felt it appropriate to laugh with them at this rare situation.
I will never forget the surprise and disbelief in the “WHAT!” I heard in Maz’s voice as I told him what had happened. He immediately turned around and was back, along with David and Yuri, within 10 minutes. I also will never forget the hug and apology (it was as if I had almost died!) from David as he jumped out of the van with a scared look on his face.
This was actually not a bad experience, but one that I thought I needed to share. After all, almost immediately after this most interesting part of the trip, a tweet to the world announced the story for all to read. I figured I better explain a bit further. I feel lucky to have met and chatted with these three wonderful ladies and two unique tech guys as I waited for my teammates to return. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to experience the North Idaho College green at night. And, I feel extra lucky to have great teammates who came back for me! They could have very well ignored the call. ☺ Overall, it was a great evening. I suggest everyone try it sometime.
Monday, August 29, 2011
TAIKOPROJECT Ventures Out to the U.K.!
Hi Everyone!
Hope everyone out there is doing well! And for those who had a chance to go out to the North American Taiko Conference, I hope you enjoyed your time there as well! This summer has been pretty busy for TP with Rhythmic Relations, taiko conference, obons, AND our tour out to the United Kingdom!
This summer we had the opportunity to go out and tour in Europe. Bryan, Maz, Jen, Courtney and myself headed out to the U.K. in July shortly after Rhythmic Relations. The tour consisted of LOTS of travel time on the plane and buses, as well as watching other taiko groups perform in the Taiko Festival. Once we landed in Heathrow, we drove to Exeter to meet members of Kagemusha Taiko. We finally met Jonathan Kirby, the founder of Kagemusha Taiko. We also had the opportunity to sha
re the stage with Kagemusha Taiko during our performance which was also part of the Taiko Festival in Exeter.
Although our trip in Exeter was short, we had many great adventures that included trying out all types of beers, enjoying the famous "cream tea," leading two workshops, and meeting people from different sides of the country! Thank you Jonathan, Oliver and the Kagemusha family for making TP feel so welcomed! We hope to see you all again soon!
Nisei Week Closing Ceremonies!
On August 21, we performed for the first time at the Nisei Week Closing Ceremonies in the middle of 1st Street in Little Tokyo. We had a little bit of fun rearranging some of our pieces to perform "in the round" with audience members around us 360 degrees. We did The Stroll circling around our Ohiradaiko, and then a first-time ever arrangement of Expanding dubbed "Circular Expanding" with everyone arranged in a circle facing outwards!
As usual, there were a ton of photographers there. Here are a few photos that were posted recently on Flickr--courtesy of Grant Palmer and Albert Lien:
As usual, there were a ton of photographers there. Here are a few photos that were posted recently on Flickr--courtesy of Grant Palmer and Albert Lien:
Weddings Weddings Weddings
It is definitely a summer of love as TAIKOPROJECT has worked to make a few people's special day perfect with our unique energy. TP has recently had the pleasure of performing at two weddings this past month in Garden Grove and most recently, Redondo Beach. It's always interesting to see how each bride and groom envisions taiko as a part of their wedding day, whether it is a performance for the guests at the reception or more recently, as live music during the processional and recessional. Glad we could be a part of such wonderful memories for the newlyweds and their guests - CONGRATULATIONS!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Stand Bags!
We just received a new custom set of stand bags from Toni Yagami for our Miyoshi Odaiko stand. I designed it with Toni so that we can pack it up and load it up for gigs quick and fast, and hopefully keep damage on it to a minimum!
Here is our Miyoshi Odaiko stand put together.
As some of you who have Miyoshi Odaiko stands (made by the inimitable Mark Miyoshi of Mt. Shasta, CA) know, his Odaiko stands break down into two main parts. Like so...
So, obviously, two custom bags were needed. Here's the first one, a small bag for the "cradle" or "heart" piece of the stand
The second bag is for the four legs. Toni and I went back and forth on how to design this one--looking at bags for "EZ Ups" and trying to figure out how to best make it work. Here the legs slide in and fit together snugly.
The issue was the casters. As you can see they swing around in a circle, and stick out a few inches, so the opening to the bag needed to widen out a bit in order to make sure that the bag could still close with the casters.
But the bags work great! Everything fits and now we can transport our Miyoshi Odaiko stand with ease and grace.
Thanks Toni! I still have to post photos of the shime stand bags and okedo stand bags...I'll do that soon, but seriously, I think all stands and taiko drums should come with a Toni-made bag when you first get it!
-Bryan
Here is our Miyoshi Odaiko stand put together.
As some of you who have Miyoshi Odaiko stands (made by the inimitable Mark Miyoshi of Mt. Shasta, CA) know, his Odaiko stands break down into two main parts. Like so...
So, obviously, two custom bags were needed. Here's the first one, a small bag for the "cradle" or "heart" piece of the stand
The second bag is for the four legs. Toni and I went back and forth on how to design this one--looking at bags for "EZ Ups" and trying to figure out how to best make it work. Here the legs slide in and fit together snugly.
The issue was the casters. As you can see they swing around in a circle, and stick out a few inches, so the opening to the bag needed to widen out a bit in order to make sure that the bag could still close with the casters.
But the bags work great! Everything fits and now we can transport our Miyoshi Odaiko stand with ease and grace.
Thanks Toni! I still have to post photos of the shime stand bags and okedo stand bags...I'll do that soon, but seriously, I think all stands and taiko drums should come with a Toni-made bag when you first get it!
-Bryan
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Helping Mayor Yamauchi Celebrate (x3!)
On Friday, August 5th, Taikoproject was lucky enough to help Mayor of Alhambra, the Honorable Gary Yamauchi, celebrate three momentous occasions: his second term as mayor, his birthday, and the 20th Anniversary of Tri-Star, one of the largest independent vending companies in Southern California that he founded and owns. It was a triple celebration!
The performers of the evening were Andrew, Courtney, Darren, Emily, and me. It would have almost been an ABCDE ordering of performers, but Courtney and I are both "Cs." So Courtney declared I would have to be Bandice for the night to fulfill the alphabetical ordering. (Why not Bourtney?)
We performed Many Sides at the celebration, and the event coordinators (one of whom was the lovely and amazing Ms. June Kuramoto) were kind enough to have provided us with seats at one of the tables so we could have dinner and stay for the event.
We listened to Congresswoman of the 32nd District Judy Chu pay her respects to the Mayor and his accomplishments, and sat down to a very appetizing and yum prime rib dinner. Mayor Yamauchi also made some remarks, and all in all it was a fun night for us. The City of Alhambra has such a great mayor and a great community, and the five of us were so glad to have been a part of it all that night.
Special thanks to June Kuramoto for all of her help and a big congratulations to Mayor Yamauchi!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
