Doberman (band)
Encyclopedia
Doberman is a Japan
ese ska
/punk
band. In 1998, the members of Doberman initially came together while studying art at Osaka University. However, the band did not fully launch and emerge into the music world until a year later. This nine member ensemble undoubtedly contributes to Japan's ska scene, especially influencing the two tone and Neoska subgenres, flavored by their own mixture of two tone and authentic ska.
Their first mini-album Ska Before Sunrise was released in 2000, followed by a second single, Tsuki in 2001. In 2002, Leap for Joy, Moonstruck Drunker, and Game came out one per month consecutively as their third, fourth, and fifth singles, respectively. These releases were coupled with the success of their first nationwide tour throughout Japan.
(That same year in October, Doberman was in talks with The Specials
, who were considering a two-band tour Specials vs Doberman, and subsequently becoming a hot topic all over Japan. The tour was unfortunately not brought to fruition.)
February 2003 saw the anticipated release of Doberman's first full album Zara Zara Texture. With continuing momentum, Doberman embarked on another tour, this time leaving their island home behind to play Europe. Even Japan's most successful artists face many challenges in overseas distribution and touring, thus this was indeed a notable feat in Doberman's history. While in Europe, Doberman impressed the Latin ska scenes throughout Italy and Spain with their unforgettably spicy live shows, including at the ska event Street Beat Festival, attended by thousands and featuring bands Banda Bassotti
and Capdown
.
(For most of the members, this trip was their first out of the country.)
A year after the release of Zara Zara Texture, Doberman's newest single Shashou wa Nekorondamamahttp://www.youtube.com/v/bZdfJpX_-Wc was a major debut for the band and perhaps one of their biggest hits to date. A professional music video was made from this single, employing striking cultural images of Japan
, as well as artwork by close friend to the band.
Overseas, word had spread from the band's tour the previous year, and requests reached Osaka for the band to return to rock the Mediterranean.
During April, Doberman toured Italy again, appearing on Italian TV and radio, as well as in newspaper and magazine articles, every one praising Doberman's performances, proving another tour successful.
Immediately upon returning to Japan, Doberman headlined King of Ska, the largest ska event in western Japan in its third year. Then in May came the release of their expectant second album Kieta Kyouken to Sore ni Matsuwaru Uwasa, and following soon after in June they kicked off their first country-wide tour in two years. As a kind of tribute Exhibition Doberman Europe Tour 2004 displayed photography and videos from the tour and went up in July. Partnered with the exhibition was Moonstruck Jamboree Special, an event that welcomed well over a thousand visitors.
More media attention came their way when Doberman was featured on Kansai TV's Standup! program over a four-week period, showing their documented tour in Europe. Doberman also took this opportunity to advertise their new album Leap for Joy. In September, Doberman joined a Fred Perry
compilation with a new song, My Ska Generation. Doberman performed alongside The Busters
(Germany) that November in 2tone Time, Japan's biggest ska event.
Doberman's 2005 releases include their single Akai Taiyo/Megami no Ju in July (7 inch in September), and their next full album Cu d'Etat in September. The band continued touring around Japan through 2006, also taking part in Festa de Rama, a two-day peace concert on the Hiroshima bombing anniversary in both 2005 and 2006.
Their most recent album is Zah!Zah!Zah! released in September 2006. Since then the band has been promoting this latest release. In December they headlined with special guests bands and artists at Big Cat Osaka, another two-day event.
Doberman plans to build on their popularity in Japan and hopes to expand in other parts of the world. They are looking to the United States as their next overseas destination.
Albums/CDs
Singles
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GJP12JvGxH8
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VUYhMt_L-AI
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZLvar-bADsg
Compilations
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aAH5NwX0uGs
http://neoska.com/a_rec/ASF
http://neoska.com/ska_jp/skamikaze/
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
/punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band. In 1998, the members of Doberman initially came together while studying art at Osaka University. However, the band did not fully launch and emerge into the music world until a year later. This nine member ensemble undoubtedly contributes to Japan's ska scene, especially influencing the two tone and Neoska subgenres, flavored by their own mixture of two tone and authentic ska.
Their first mini-album Ska Before Sunrise was released in 2000, followed by a second single, Tsuki in 2001. In 2002, Leap for Joy, Moonstruck Drunker, and Game came out one per month consecutively as their third, fourth, and fifth singles, respectively. These releases were coupled with the success of their first nationwide tour throughout Japan.
(That same year in October, Doberman was in talks with The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
, who were considering a two-band tour Specials vs Doberman, and subsequently becoming a hot topic all over Japan. The tour was unfortunately not brought to fruition.)
February 2003 saw the anticipated release of Doberman's first full album Zara Zara Texture. With continuing momentum, Doberman embarked on another tour, this time leaving their island home behind to play Europe. Even Japan's most successful artists face many challenges in overseas distribution and touring, thus this was indeed a notable feat in Doberman's history. While in Europe, Doberman impressed the Latin ska scenes throughout Italy and Spain with their unforgettably spicy live shows, including at the ska event Street Beat Festival, attended by thousands and featuring bands Banda Bassotti
Banda Bassotti
Banda Bassotti is an Italian ska-punk band formed in 1987 in Rome. Their songs are generally political in nature, focusing on Communist and anti-Fascist issues. Many are about Latin America, as well. The band was inspired by The Clash and The Specials. The band was very politically active from the...
and Capdown
Capdown
Capdown are a band from Milton Keynes, England. Originally known as Soap, their songs have political themes as alluded to by their name, which is short for Capitalist Downfall...
.
(For most of the members, this trip was their first out of the country.)
A year after the release of Zara Zara Texture, Doberman's newest single Shashou wa Nekorondamamahttp://www.youtube.com/v/bZdfJpX_-Wc was a major debut for the band and perhaps one of their biggest hits to date. A professional music video was made from this single, employing striking cultural images of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, as well as artwork by close friend to the band.
Overseas, word had spread from the band's tour the previous year, and requests reached Osaka for the band to return to rock the Mediterranean.
During April, Doberman toured Italy again, appearing on Italian TV and radio, as well as in newspaper and magazine articles, every one praising Doberman's performances, proving another tour successful.
Immediately upon returning to Japan, Doberman headlined King of Ska, the largest ska event in western Japan in its third year. Then in May came the release of their expectant second album Kieta Kyouken to Sore ni Matsuwaru Uwasa, and following soon after in June they kicked off their first country-wide tour in two years. As a kind of tribute Exhibition Doberman Europe Tour 2004 displayed photography and videos from the tour and went up in July. Partnered with the exhibition was Moonstruck Jamboree Special, an event that welcomed well over a thousand visitors.
More media attention came their way when Doberman was featured on Kansai TV's Standup! program over a four-week period, showing their documented tour in Europe. Doberman also took this opportunity to advertise their new album Leap for Joy. In September, Doberman joined a Fred Perry
Fred Perry
Frederick John Perry was a championship-winning English tennis and table tennis player who won 10 Majors including eight Grand Slams and two Pro Slams. Perry won three consecutive Wimbledon Championships between 1934 and 1936 and was World No. 1 four years in a row...
compilation with a new song, My Ska Generation. Doberman performed alongside The Busters
The Busters
The Busters are a German third wave ska revival band, established as a side project in 1987. Playing 2 Tone-influenced ska, they became one of the best-known German ska bands, having a minor hit single in Germany with a ska cover of Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry Be Happy" They signed to Sony Music...
(Germany) that November in 2tone Time, Japan's biggest ska event.
Doberman's 2005 releases include their single Akai Taiyo/Megami no Ju in July (7 inch in September), and their next full album Cu d'Etat in September. The band continued touring around Japan through 2006, also taking part in Festa de Rama, a two-day peace concert on the Hiroshima bombing anniversary in both 2005 and 2006.
Their most recent album is Zah!Zah!Zah! released in September 2006. Since then the band has been promoting this latest release. In December they headlined with special guests bands and artists at Big Cat Osaka, another two-day event.
Doberman plans to build on their popularity in Japan and hopes to expand in other parts of the world. They are looking to the United States as their next overseas destination.
Discography
Albums/CDs
- Zah!Zah!Zah!
- Cu d'Etat
- Kieta Kyouken to Sore ni Matsuwaru Uwasa
- Zara Zara Texture
- Ska Before Sunrise (mini album)
- Especial Doberman - 10th Anniversary The Best Album
Singles
- Akai Taiyo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GJP12JvGxH8
- Shashou wa Nekorondamama
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VUYhMt_L-AI
- Game
- Moonstruck Drunker
- Leap for Joy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZLvar-bADsg
- Tsuki
Compilations
- My Ska Generation (Bella Ciao)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aAH5NwX0uGs
- Asian Ska Foundation (Donten No Hana)
http://neoska.com/a_rec/ASF
- Tribute to Operation Ivy (Bomb Shell)
- Mo' Down Beat (Hidarikikino Waltz)
- Skamikaze (Wa-Kyoku)
http://neoska.com/ska_jp/skamikaze/
- Skankin' Jammin (Wa-Kyoku)
- Ska Bash (Doberman Ska)
- Step and Beat Vol. 1 (Dog Fight)
External links
Lineup
- Takashi Yoshida - lead vocals
- Mitsuhiro Gaki Kitagaki - saxophone, vocals
- Kunihito Swe Suehiro - trombone
- Shinya Goe Kawagoe - trumpet
- Kenji Hara keyboards, accordion
- Yasuhiro Koyama - drums
- Takuro Hirai - guitar, harmonica, vocals
- Yusuke Tanaka - guitar
- Yoshifumi Kishikawa - bass