Thinking for yourself
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Japanese Motors, an up-and-coming pop rock ‘n’ roll band from Costa Mesa that has been compared to TSOL and Social Distortion, will shake things up at Detroit Bar on Saturday during a hometown stop along their November West Coast tour.
“We are very excited about this show with two wonderful opening acts,” lead vocalist Alex Knost said. “The Muslims [San Diego] are one of the best bands in California right now and the Tijuana Panthers’ [Long Beach] rip-it-up 50s-infused rock ‘n’ roll is groovy.
“It should be a great time.”
The origin of Japanese Motors reaches back to like-minded childhood friends who bonded over their love of music.
They each played with various local bands before locking down the raucous-raising group Orange County knows today.
Under label Vice Records, Knost, guitarist Nolan Hall, bassist Daniel Michicoff and drummer Andrew Atkinson recently released their debut full-length album titled “Japanese Motors” on Oct. 7 shortly following the release of their single “Single Fins and Safety Pins” on Aug. 19.
They also released a 7” vinyl with Die Slaughterhaus Records last month.
The foursome’s feel-good beachy tunes, which convey the importance of free-thinking, acceptance and peace, draw an eclectic fan base.
“There is so much pretentious crap in the music scene, it makes you feel like you’re on a pre-civil rights bus ride or something,” Knost said.
“We see music becoming what it [initially] set out to destroy, when it should be inspiring and powerful.”
The band said it has no political agenda, but merely serves to inspire dance and thought, and to encourage people to think and act for themselves despite what they’ve been taught or influenced to do by authority.
“This is not just aimed toward our youth, but to adults who feel the [corporate and household] pressures and weight of the world,” he said. “Seeing as how we’re on the cusp of a financial depression, we see both dance and thought as our only option for the future.”
They are currently working on a new record, which they hope to complete within the year.
Until then, they’ll be touring cross-country in their rad ’83 Chevy van.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Japanese Motors
WHEN: Midnight Saturday
WHERE: Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa
INFORMATION: Cost is $10; call 1-800-594-Tixx or visit www.detroitbar.com for information. The first 66 people to enter Saturday will receive a free event T-shirt made by the band.
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